When it was reported that the “Honey Badger” was dismissed from the LSU football program, rumors began to swirl about the what, why and especially the when and where.
Where would Mathieu play this season? Would he play this season? When would he transfer? When would he speak out? Rumors followed after Mathieu’s visit to some local FCS schools resulted in a clarity of perspective–that his heart was still at LSU.
Various media outlets reported conflicting statements from various LSU sources. The facts: There were conflicting statements offered by LSU sources. According to the actual policy governing drug abuse and failed drug tests on athletic teams and within other university organizations at LSU, a third failed test results in a one-year suspension. After that year, the student may be eligible for reinstatement, contingent upon a negative drug test. In Mathieu’s case, he would need to be “re-offered” a scholarship. And I think that is exactly what he is hoping for.
He has left the university, he has gone to Houston and has entered the John Lucas Treatment and Recovery Center. He will also be mentored by John Lucas during the process. The trolls are out in full force, blasting the kid if he is attending this facility for using marijuana (something that he had tested positive for last season), but it seems the issue is far more severe than what the populace believes to be factual insight. Rumors in Baton Rouge are of cocaine, heroin, alcohol… Considering the life path that Mathieu has hacked his way through, it is rather typical to turn to various substances for that numbing effect. Such a statement is merely my own conjecture.
Ultimately, I’m hopeful, as are so many others, that this very special athlete can tap into his clean potential. It would be quite a story if he marched onto Death Valley in purple and gold in 2013.
