Patience pays off for LSU's Flynn
There are no regrets. No second-guessing.
And at no point did Matt Flynn ever ponder what might have been.
As a backup, he stayed the course with great loyalty, learning from JaMarcus Russell and absorbing the intricacies of the offense.
That patience, as well as persistence, paid off.
Because now, it's his course, and he's the captain of the ship that is LSU football.
The Tigers' quarterback, a 6-foot-3 senior from Tyler, Texas, easily could have transferred for a chance at more playing time.
But he wanted to stay in Baton Rouge, knowing he would eventually get his shot, even if it would be for just one season.
"You come out of high school, and you're a competitor who wants to play," he said. "Sure, I wanted to play. But I learned a lot of patience, and I learned a lot about myself.
"I feel fortunate, going into my last year, that I have an opportunity to lead this team."
He knows he'll be heavily scrutinized, too.
Remember that guy JaMarcus Russell? He was pretty good - good enough that the Oakland Raiders made him the overall first pick in April's NFL draft.
However, don't expect Matt Flynn to feel added pressure from following in JaMarcus Russell's footsteps.
"I just don't see that pressure" he said. "And there's really no reason to. I'm just going to go out, cut it loose and have fun."
And there is precedent for him to do just that.
The fifth-year senior has seen action in 38 games, but has drawn just one start.
It was, however, a high-profile start.
With Russell sidelined by an injury, Matt Flynn got the call in the Peach Bowl against the Miami Hurricanes.
It would have been understandable if he was rattled, but he wasn't.
In leading LSU to a stunning 40-3 throttling, Matt Flynn completed 13 of his 22 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for another 39 yards en route to being tabbed offensive MVP.
"As a backup, you always know you are one play away," he said. "That's why you have to prepare every day as if you are the starter. Mentally, that's what I always did. You want to work hard and not mess up and have the confidence of your coaches.
"That's why I feel prepared today. I've been preparing as the starter for years."
His overall stats reflect that track.
He's 43-of-78 passing for 689 yards, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions, and has rushed 28 times for 125 yards and a score.
So it's not like he enters Thursday's game against Mississippi State lacking experience.
"He throws the ball well, moves around good in the pocket and makes good decisions," said MSU coach Sylvester Croom, who has lost all three games to LSU by a combined score of 135-24. "He's a top-flight quarterback that's had the misfortune of playing behind one of the best in the country the last couple of years.
"Obviously, he loves LSU. A lot of guys wouldn't have stayed. He could have gone anywhere else in the country and been a player."
He could have, but didn't. And now, he reaps the award of being the starting quarterback when the No. 2-ranked Tigers battle the Bulldogs Thursday night on ESPN.
"We're going to come out, put our heads on straight and put our best foot forward," Matt Flynn said. "It's the first college game of the season, and we're excited about that.
"I'm just thankful to be the starting quarterback. I can't imagine being anywhere else."
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