Ode to Jarrett Lee

It’s one thing to fail. It’s another thing to get up, dust yourself off and humbly start over.

At a time when the country is fawning all over LSU’s stars and starters, let’s not forget about the contributions and sacrifices of Jarrett Lee, an LSU Tiger whose grit and patience proved essential in helping LSU put together its historic season.

He arrived at LSU a prince of Texas Friday nights, a quarterback who shone in a state where high school football is a religion.

Then, long before Lee was ready, the starting quarterback got himself kicked off the team, thrusting Lee into the vortex of pressure and attention.

He showed fleeting glimpses of that beautiful arm that once ruled the Texas night, but he famously threw a half-dozen pick sixes before he was finally, mercifully benched.

He never hung his head in shame, and he did not walk away. He kept working, He got fitter and grew to accept his No. 2 position behind Jordan Jefferson.

Then Jefferson got himself suspended just days before the epic season opener, and for the second time Lee found himself thrust into an unexpected limelight.

But this time, he performed splendidly. He dispatched the nation’s No. 1 ranked team 41-17. Over the next two months he would throw 14 touchdowns and only one interception, leading LSU for more than half of this epic undefeated season.

But then, against ferocious Alabama, he threw a pair of interceptions. Again, he was benched.

Since then, Lee has seen hardly any playing time. Rather than sharing in the credit for the season, Jefferson has enjoyed the glory as the starter of a team that has won games not because of its offense, but frankly, in spite of it.

In life, as in football, it’s not about who gets knocked down, because eventually we all get knocked down.

It’s about who gets back up and keeps trying.