FOOTBALL: Georgia QB provides first test for Tigers’ defense, p. 5
ENROLLMENT: International student reflects on life at the University, p. 3
Reveille The Daily
www.lsureveille.com
FOOTBALL
Friday, September 27, 2013 • Volume 118, Issue 24
Mettenberger focused on game, not headlines surrounding past Tyler Nunez Sports Writer
As LSU senior quarterback Zach Mettenberger stood in the Football Operations Center on Monday night surrounded by reporters bombarding him with question after question concerning his family, hometown and personal life, he wanted to make one thing abundantly clear: this week is not about a homecoming. Not only is the Georgia native a former Bulldog, his mother has worked for the Georgia athletics department since 1998. But for Mettenberger, this is just another Saturday, another Southeastern Conference opponent, another obstacle for his team to overcome in order to achieve its goals.
“It’s more about the game and more about this team and the things he has to focus on besides just showing up in Georgia where he’s from,” LSU junior wide receiver Jarvis Landry said. “It’s bigger than that.” Unfortunately for Mettenberger, his checkered past, family ties and hometown apparently make for more headlines than “Just another game.” “I’m looking forward to Sunday morning tremendously,” Mettenberger said. “There is just so much put into this game that has nothing to do with the game that actually goes on between the snap and the whistle. The worst part is my mom has to deal with a lot of this stuff too, and that’s just unfair.” Saturday’s top-10 showdown in Athens, Ga., between No. 6 LSU (4-0, 1-0
LENDING A PAW Animals try out for therapy program
STORY JONATHAN OLIVIER Contributing Writer
B
oxers, terriers, retrievers, pets of all shapes and sizes – they’re all welcome for the Agriculture Residential College’s Animal Assisted Therapy Program. Multiple pet owners accompanied by their dogs gathered Wednesday evening on the grounds of the University School of Veterinary Medicine for a behavioral evaluation by Diane Sylvester, director of the University Tiger HATS (Human Animal Therapy Service) and veteran dog handler. The evaluations are meant to test the pets’ demeanor around strangers and other animals, and to see if they have what it takes to
SEC) and No. 9 Georgia (2-1, 1-0 SEC) will feature the SEC’s two most efficient quarterbacks in Georgia senior Aaron Murray and Mettenberger, respectively. The two have completed a combined 118 of 173 passes for 2,066 yards and 17 touchdowns and only three interceptions. “Aaron is a friend of mine,” Mettenberger said. “He’s a respected competitor and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to go against him. ... He’s had an outstanding career at Georgia.” Mettenberger treads in new water among the nation’s elite quarterbacks. He’s on pace to break LSU’s single-season passing touchdown record of 28 set by Matt Mauck in 2003 and join Rohan Davey (3,347 in 2001) and JaMarcus HOMEWARD BOUND, see page 11
Dallas (below), a trained therapy dog, partcipated in the evaluations of potential therapy dogs on Wednesday at the School of Veterinary Medicine for the Agricultural Residental College’s Animal Assisted Therapy program.
BRANT SANDERLIN / The Associated Press
LSU senior quarterback Zach Mettenberger (5) and Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray (11) pose together Feb. 26, 2010, while they both played at Georgia. Mettenberger was a Bulldog his freshman year before transferring to Butler Community College and eventually landing in Baton Rouge to play for the Tigers his junior season.
LAWSUIT
University will pay extra penalties Gordon Brillon
PHOTOS RICHARD REDMANN
Staff Writer
Chief Photographer
The University will be forced to pay additional thousands of dollars in penalties and attorney fees in the lawsuit brought by NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune and The Advocate, a state judge ruled Thursday. The University Board of Supervisors has faced a long, expensive legal battle with the two news organizations for the last six months over its refusal to release records from its search to fill the newly-created system president position that resulted in the hiring of F. King Alexander. Alexander’s was the only name released to the public as an applicant, and NOLA.com | The
participate in the AAT program. “I’m checking to see if the dogs have the right temperament in stressful situations,” Sylvester said. Around 20 AAT student members pair with animals to offer therapeutic treatment to those in need, said College of Agriculture Associate Dean Betsy Garrison. Pet owners are allowed to be present for the therapy sessions, but don’t participate unless they are students involved with the AAT program. The students volunteer time at Sunrise Senior Living in Baton Rouge and will be present for therapy for DOG THERAPY, see page 11
PENALTIES, see page 4
Read an opinion columnist’s point of view on the how the University is bullied in this case, p. 8