Senior QB learns from rough ’08 season

Second chances are hard to come by in sports.

One wrong move, and an athlete could forever be remembered for his gaffe rather than his glory.

For many in Baton Rouge, the name Jarrett Lee brings back haunting images of a struggling young quarterback thrown into the spotlight as a freshman with the task of leading the No. 6-ranked football team in the nation.

Tiger fans aren't the only ones with that fateful season on their minds.

"I know in 2008 there were some things that happened that I still keep in the back of my mind because I don't want those things to happen again," said Lee, the now-senior quarterback who will get his shot at redemption Saturday night against No. 3 Oregon. "I knew I needed to make some changes."

Those "things" Lee referred to were interceptions, and he had 16 of them in 2008 – the seventh-most in the nation.

Rather than dwell on his frustrating freshman campaign, Lee said he used it as a learning experience to prepare him for future endeavors.

"You're going to throw interceptions, you're going to have bad plays and you just have to bounce back and go to the next play," said Lee, who threw for 1,873 yards and 13 touchdowns that season. "I don't regret 2008 at all. If anything it made me a better person and a better player."

After leading LSU to a 7-3 record in the regular season through the first 10 games, Lee suffered an ankle injury against Ole Miss and missed the rest of the season.

While watching from the sidelines as fellow freshman Jordan Jefferson became LSU's starter, Lee said he debated transferring but let that thought vanish.

"A few years ago [transferring] did cross my mind," Lee said. "But it was only a thought. It was nothing I continued to talk about or wanted to do. I didn't come to LSU to transfer. I came here because it's a great tradition and a great staff and great people. I want to finish out here at LSU."

Looking back on that troublesome season, junior wide receiver Rueben Randle complimented Lee on his perseverance through the hard time.

"Jarrett's a strong guy. You've got to give it to him," Randle said. "It's kind of hard for a guy to stick around after the situation he put himself in. I don't know if I would have done the same thing if I was in his shoes."

Now the reins are back in Lee's hands, and the outlook seems a bit brighter.

His sprinkled contributions last season induced discussions and disagreements on whether Lee or Jefferson was the answer to the offense's struggles, which finished 86th in total offense and 107th in pass offense.

Most notably, Lee played vital roles in wins against Tennessee when he passed for 185 yards and marched the Tigers 68 yards down to the two-yard line on the final drive of the game; at Florida when he led a 63-yard drive and hit former wide receiver Terrence Toliver for the game-winning touchdown with six seconds left; and at Alabama when Lee completed a 47-yard pass on third and 13 to allow LSU to drain the clock against the Tide.

"I think in the three games that he played significant football a year ago he showed poise," said LSU coach Les Miles. "We felt that he was really throwing the ball well and that the style of football that we would use with him in the game was the style of football needed to win that game. That depicts a guy that plays in pressure situations."

Lee finished last season completing 54 of 89 passes for 573 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

He said the big games last year gave him "a lot" of confidence and reassured that the Lee who takes the field Saturday is different than the one who suited up three years ago.

"When your number is called, you've got to come in and make the most of it, and that's something I tried to do," said Lee, who has trimmed down to 206 pounds. "I've become a more mature player on and off the field, and I think I've come a long way. I've tried to stay a little more poised and not force stuff."

Even if question marks still surround the passing game, sophomore running back Spencer Ware assured Lee that the running backs have his back.

"I had a talk with Lee," Ware said. "I said, ‘We've got to do this, whatever we've got to do. You've got to make the throws.  You've got to make the reads. You've got to make the checks. We've got to rise to the occasion, not just you, but all of us.'"

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Contact Mark Clements at mclements@lsureveille.com