Summer school begins today

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LSU student-athletes, including incoming freshmen, report Monday

Senior quarterback Jordan Jefferson, pictured left, is one of hundreds of LSU student-athletes back on campus beginning today (photo by Maggie Bowles).

By BEN LOVE
Tiger Rag Editor

In early June in Baton Rouge, it’s no surprise to see folks flocking to the LSU campus.

Difference is instead of purple-and-gold clad fans preparing for an NCAA baseball regional, the masses congregating effective today are headed to class.

Monday marks the first day of the LSU summer session, a period of time in which many, if not most, Tiger student-athletes get ahead on their studies in advance of the upcoming academic calendar year.

Included in this lot on campus are the incoming freshmen, attending class at LSU for the first time.

According to the LSU website, the longer summer session runs from June 6 through July 28 with midterms running from June 27-29 and finals July 27-28. Commencement is August 5.

There is a separate abbreviated session running from June 6 through July 9, though Bill Martin, LSU associate sports information director, indicated most student-athletes “typically” attend the two-month-long summer school session.

As far as the football team, Martin also confirmed that “most of our guys are all taking classes,” with attendees ranging from upperclassmen like Jordan Jefferson down to incoming freshmen, of whom Martin believed all were in-attendance beginning today.

Here is a quick list of the signees in LSU football’s Class of 2011: Jonah Austin (OT), Odell Beckham (WR), Jalen Collins (CB), La’el Collins (OT), Micah Eugene (S), James Hairston (K), Kenny Hilliard (RB, early enrollee), David Jenkins (CB), Anthony Johnson (DT, early enrollee), Mickey Johnson (DT), Jarvis Landry (WR), Alonzo Lewis (WR), Terrance Magee (RB), Ronald Martin (S), Zach Mettenberger (QB, early enrollee), Jerrard Randall (QB), Trevon Randle (OLB), Jermauria Rasco (DE), Stephen Rivers (QB), Quentin Thomas (DT), Paul Turner (S), Trai Turner (OG) and Corey White (OG).

All three early enrollees listed above actually began taking classes in January, and the trio also participated in LSU football spring practice. Johnson and Mettenberger both competed in the Spring Game, though Hilliard did not.

UPDATE (11:00 a.m.): After first posting this, Tiger Rag learned from a different source outside the LSU football program that Alonzo Lewis is not yet on campus, either finishing high school requirements or awaiting clearance from the NCAA.

Senior Associate Sports Information Director Kent Lowe said the men’s basketball team reported to campus yesterday, with all three true freshmen — Anthony Hickey (PG), John Isaac (SG/SF) and Johnny O’Bryant (PF) — joining the returnees, to the best of his knowledge.

For the returning student-athletes in all LSU sports, today begins a time to play academic catch-up and chase down degrees while their sports’ schedules are dormant. For the incoming freshmen, it’s the start of an adjustment period to all things college.

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Editor Ben Love covers LSU football and men’s basketball for Tiger Rag. Reach him at ben@tigerrag.com.