Lonn Phillips Sullivan
Aug 29, 20203 min
by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
@LonnPhillips
Instead of the loud banter and smashing of pads or big hits on the practice field Friday, LSU's entire football team practiced something far more important off the field today: a unified demonstration through campus in what was a historic day for Tigers football and the Baton Rouge community.
Team leaders such as DE Andre Anthony and SS Jacoby Stevens met with Coach Orgeron and explained to him their course of action.
"We just had a very productive team meeting, Andre Anthony and Jacoby and the team leaders got together...and I FULLY support them," Orgeron spoke before the media, led by LSU Legend Jacques Doucet's legendary WAFB team, "I understand their feelings, we're like family, there's a lotta hurt goin on and I wanna let them know that I fully support their decision. We will continue on, we will come back to practice on Monday a closer team, we're gonna have a more open dialogue on things that are goin on besides football and we'll take care of each other like a family."
First, the coaching staff scrambled trying to figure out what was happening, Orgeron hearing things "He'd never known or experienced before."
During Orgeron's press conference on campus, Jacoby Stevens could be seen to his left nodding in solidarity with the understanding and the unity expressed by his coach.
All players participated, everyone was all in...nobody was holding out or had to question themselves...these leaders acted quick, responding to the boycotts of NBA or MLS teams and made their decision; unlike other entities, (RSL ding ding ding) the Tigers' boycott of Friday practice received the full endorsement of the coaching staff and athletic director, an unprecedented showcase of leadership, strength and unification by the LSU athletics department.
This is what it's all about.
"We need to do something," Stevens reportedly said.
The entire team assembled on the west side of Tigers Stadium at 1pm, braving hurling rain in masks and black clothing. After assistant coaches spoke with the team, the players stood as photos were snapped, each player raising a solitary fist in the air.
They met with LSU president Galligan for 15 minutes before meeting around DBs Coach Corey Raymond. Stevens and Anthony leading the charge.
“We said 'f**k practice today,'” junior Soni Fonua from my hometown of Salt Lake City said in an Instagram video. Fonua filmed the players walking through campus. He held his right fist in the air. “That s**t is not important today.”
“I'm not saying that all cops are bad," Stevens said. "I'm not saying we don't need law enforcement. What I am saying is that we need to have conversations about social injustice. We need to have this conversation and admit there is racism out there. I feel like if we have those types of conversations as people — I think we're very intelligent people and a very intelligent nation. I think if we have that conversation and actually admit it, I think we can make a lot of improvements.”
“I hope it encourages people to bring up the conversation,” Stevens said. “I know that this march from Tiger Stadium to here is not going to make 100% complete change. But I do feel like that it's going to encourage people and let people know we hear you. We're in there with you. We're going to continue to fight until we become equal.”
Today will be remembered as a historic day for LSU Tigers football, a day in which every man in purple and gold took action and spoke out for what was right.
by LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
SHOUTOUTS TO:
JACOBY STEVENS & LSU'S PLAYERS