Tyrann Mathieu’s football future seems to be getting cloudier by the day.
Just hours after being dismissed from the LSU team last Friday for violating team and university policy, Mathieu arrived in Lake Charles to visit with McNeese State coach Matt Viator about possibly transferring there and playing for the Cowboys this season.
Mathieu left Lake Charles without giving Viator an answer, and sources said Mathieu, whose athletic scholarship was revoked when he was dismissed, reached out to LSU officials on Monday about possibly returning to school and paying his own way.
On Wednesday classes began at McNeese and there was no sign of Mathieu as Viator and the Cowboys continued preparations for their season opener Aug. 30 at Middle Tennessee State.
“I don’t have a clue,” Viator said Wednesday when asked if he had any idea what Mathieu’s plans were. “We’ve been in camp and going through two-a-days. I’ve heard a lot of things, but I really don’t know what’s going on, and I don’t know anybody that does know.”
Viator said he was still interested in having Mathieu join his football team, though he added that he can’t wait indefinitely for him.
It appears Mathieu doesn’t know what his next move will be. If he were to enroll at LSU, where begins classes Monday, it would be in hopes of being reinstated to the team for the 2013 season, but it’s uncertain if that would be realistic or even possible.
School officials have not addressed the possibility of Mathieu returning to the football team.
LSU vice chancellor of communications Herb Vincent said Tigers coach Les Miles spoke with Mathieu by telephone on Tuesday, but denied a report that Miles had encouraged Mathieu to pursue his future somewhere other than LSU.
Miles told reporters Tuesday that he wanted what was best for Mathieu, but said he was focused on getting the Tigers ready for their season opener against North Texas on Sept. 1 in Tiger Stadium. He reiterated that Mathieu will not be on the Tigers in 2012.
Vincent said approximately 20 schools have gone through proper channels in seeking the university’s permission to speak with Mathieu, who has two years of eligibility remaining, about transferring.
Tyrann Mathieu is a very good player and has done a lot of great things on the football field representing LSU. I realize he has done some stupid things, but in many cases has
put the Tigers back on the winning track, with great moves. There is the number 4 for
problems arising from any number of faults from a athelete. He has committed the same
mistake over again, but still a good player and needs all the breaks he can get, go tigers.