Perrilloux's troubles continue

NEW ORLEANS -- Ryan Perrilloux heir-apparent to the departing starting quarterback of LSU's national championship team is in trouble again.

On Monday, head coach Les Miles suspended Perrilloux for an indefinite period. Miles would say only that Perrilloux, 21, had violated unspecified team rules. Miles has not been available for comment since and neither has Perrilloux.

With senior Matt Flynn moving on likely to the NFL and the Tigers' thin at quarterback, it's a headache Miles could do without.

Perrilloux was a spot player in the 2007 season. But his physical talents made him a factor in several games as LSU marched to the BCS championship game in January.

Last fall, Miles said he thought Perrilloux understood the conduct that was expected of him.

``Well, I know he missed a mandatory meeting,'' said Larry Dauterive, who coached Perrilloux at East St. John High School in Reserve. ``He was the only one on the team that missed it. You know he shouldn't have done that.''

The team meeting, the week after LSU won the national championship, was to set the tone for the offseason, Dauterive said.

Dauterive said Perrilloux also apparently missed classes to attend his father's funeral, but didn't tell Miles or his coaches where he was going or why. Dale Perrilloux Sr., 53, died Feb. 7.

``I just don't understand it,'' said Dauterive. ``In high school he caused zero trouble. He was always the first one at practice, the last one to leave. I've been doing this for 39 years and he's the best I've ever seen.''

Now, the LSU community is wondering whether Perrilloux's third team suspension will be the last.

``I love Ryan like a son, but I will understand whatever Les Miles does,'' Dauterive said. ``You have to wonder how many second chances he'll give Ryan.''

Perrilloux did not make the trip to Alabama last season, left behind after he was said to have been in a fight in a Baton Rouge bar. He was not charged after a police investigation.

In May 2007, Perrilloux was suspended when he was issued a misdemeanor summons by police after allegedly trying to use his older brother's driving license to enter the Hollywood Casino in Baton Rouge, sports information director Michael Bonnette said.

Perrilloux was cited for one count of misrepresentation to gain access and released, said Baton Rouge Police Cpl. L'Jean McKneely. The minimum age to board a riverboat casino in Louisiana is 21; Perrilloux was 20 at the time.

Perrilloux attended classes at LSU over the summer and performed community service in an effort to get back in good standing. He made it back to Miles' good graces in time for the start of fall practice.

At that time, Miles said there were steps Perrilloux had to take to return to full participation. He would not elaborate.

``With the privilege of being on our team comes responsibility,'' Miles said. ``It's been pointed out, and I think he's ready to comply.''

Meanwhile, Perrilloux has been listed by federal authorities as a person of interest in a counterfeiting probe under way for more than a year. No charges have been filed and U.S. Attorney Jim Letten has refused to discuss the case.

Perrilloux was considered the nation's top high school quarterback prospect when Miles, who had been on the job only a few weeks, signed him in 2005.

He won the 2004 Hall Trophy as the nation's most outstanding high school football player and was named Offensive Player of the Year by USA Today. He was also named National Offensive Player of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Columbus, Ohio, Louisiana's Mr. Football and Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year as well as a Parade All-American. Perrilloux was invited to the Elite 11 Quarterback Camp as well as to the Army All-American Bowl.

``He put a little school out in the middle of a cane field on the map,'' Dauterive said.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound signal caller took a redshirt year in 2005 and played sparingly as a third-string quarterback in 2006, appearing for mop-up duty in five games and completing only one pass in four attempts for 10 yards.

His biggest success came when he stepped in for an injured Flynn to lead the Tigers to a 21-14 victory over Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference championship game in December. Perrilloux also played in the Tigers' 38-24 win over Ohio State in the BCS national championship game.

It is not clear if Perrilloux's suspension will be lifted in time for spring practice, which begins Feb. 29. While it has a stable of running backs and depth at other positions, LSU lacks experience at quarterback.

``We have two other quarterbacks on scholarship,'' Bonnette said. ``We expect a third to join us in August, so if things go the way we hope we'll have four quarterbacks. None of them has much experience though.''

Also on the team are Jarrett Lee, who signed with the Tigers in 2007, and junior Andrew Hatch, who began his career at Harvard.

Dauterive said he had not talked to Perrilloux since the latest suspension. He said he has been fielding calls from Division Two schools interested in landing Perrilloux if LSU doesn't take him back.

``That boy is holding a $50 million check, and I know he wants to play in the NFL,'' Dauterive said. ``But every time he does something like this he tears another piece off that check. If he's not careful, he won't have anything to cash pretty soon.''