RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Just when you think you couldn’t possibly choke down another ridiculous unintended consequence of college football’s NIL era, peak stupidity strolls into the room.
And he wants his No. 5 jersey back.
This cannot be Jayden Daniels’ idea. I absolutely refuse to believe it.
Someone, somewhere in his orbit, has convinced Daniels he’s bigger than the LSU football program . That a quarterback who didn’t win a championship at LSU — but won a Heisman Trophy — should have his number retired.
And if it’s not retired or not used, he says, LSU can no longer use his name, image and likeness to promote the program, Daniels’ attorney said in a cease-and-desist letter to the university .
That’s one helluva gutsy move.
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Just a quick point of parliamentary procedure, if I may, Mr. Daniels? You may not want this fight.
You may not want to rattle the cage of a university, football program and governor of the state of Louisiana — a trifecta that has proven over the past eight months of the Lane Kiffin Extravaganza they don’t give a flip what anyone thinks.
Much less a quarterback who lost seven games in two seasons .
You want to go down this road, let’s go down this road. We cease and desist you.
Come get your Heisman Trophy from our storied trophy case. Better yet, we’ll snail mail it to you.
Take that trophy and give it to whoever filled your head with this horrific idea, and they can watch it collect dust on their fireplace mantle. Paint it maroon and gold and stick a Sparky fork in it, for all we care.
You’re excommunicated. You’re no longer welcome at the LSU football facility, on the sideline during games, or at alumni events. Your name and accomplishments will be deleted from our record books.
Let’s not forget what Daniels was as a football player before he arrived at LSU and won the Heisman. In the parlance of NFL talent evaluators, he was just a guy.
About as raw and unrefined as it gets.
In fact, when he announced he was transferring from Arizona State, a few of his teammates posted their thoughts on Instagram while clearing out his locker. Let’s just say it wasn’t too flattering.
Brian Kelly spent three-plus seasons as coach at LSU, and the one thing he did better than any other was develop Daniels. In fact, you could argue Kelly’s downfall was he strayed away from what he did best — developing quarterbacks — throughout his entire career, and became more of a CEO at LSU.
He got his hands on Daniels in 2022, and immediately started coaching him hard. He refined his mechanics to better suit his talented arm, he forced him to believe in himself and let it rip.
Take chances. Throw into coverage and trust your ability to get the ball there.
Daniels was always a dangerous runner at Arizona State. He was never an elite thrower.
By the time he left LSU, he was the best thrower in college football. He understood passing concepts, and was prepared for anything.
With LSU, he was the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Had he left for the draft after his three seasons at Arizona State, he wouldn’t have been selected in any round.
Let’s not get it twisted. Daniels won a Heisman at LSU because LSU developed him, and put him on the biggest stage to play in the biggest games. Many of which he didn't win.
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This isn’t about whose jersey is retired or taken out of commission at LSU, and whose isn’t. It’s not about Joe Burrow, and the reality that no one has worn his No. 9 jersey since he left after the 2019 season — after winning a national title and a Heisman.
It’s not about Kiffin and his decision to give the No. 5 jersey to a cornerback who says Kelly promised him a year ago that he could wear it.
This is about Jayden Daniels believing he’s bigger than the LSU football program. And that’s not the way it works, my man.
We see your cease and desist letter, Mr. Daniels, are raise with our excommunication.
You decide.
Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB . Listen to him daily, from 12-2 p.m., on 1010XL-Jacksonville .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jayden Daniels thinks he's bigger than LSU. Good luck with that | Opinion
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