Marcus Randall Brings Versatility, Experience to LSU’s Offense
by Caroline Domecq
LSU Sports Information
After the national championship season of 2003, LSU fans expect nothing less than a top-notch performance from this year’s squad, especially from senior quarterback Marcus Randall.
Randall, a fifth-year senior, is one of the veterans on a team that last season was able to accomplish what no LSU team had been able to do for 45 years — win a national championship. And though he did not start a single game in 2003, he is still expected to lead the 2004 Tigers to another crystal football trophy.
The Baton Rouge native may not have been able to envision himself in this position today, but playing football is something Randall has wanted to do all of his life. Though he did watch LSU on TV, he admits to growing up a Southern University fan, where his brother Eric served as a four-year starter at quarterback and led the team to the Black College National Championship in 1995.
“My brother played at Southern, but I always watched LSU on TV. I only went to one real game in Tiger Stadium before coming to school here,” he said.
It is his brother whom Randall credits for teaching him the fundamentals of the game and instilling in him a desire to play.
“He had a big influence,” Randall said. “He’s the one who really taught me the game. He taught me the difference between coverages early growing up. Watching him play at Southern, I always wanted to play football.”
And while his brother had a tremendous effect on his football career, Eric served as a father figure to him as well.
“We always talk football, and since my dad died, he took over as my father figure and taught me a whole lot of different things, more than just sports. I look up to him for that and I respect him for that,” Randall said.
In the same way that his brother influenced his life, it was coach Nick Saban who influenced him to play for the Tigers.
At the time he was about to sign, LSU was not on the top of his list of possible schools. Not until head coach Nick Saban made a visit to his house.
“I really didn’t look to come here when I was about to sign until Nick Saban came,” Randall explained. “He came to visit my house with Jimbo Fisher and showed me the offense they were going to be running, and I really felt comfortable running that system. So I really put them as a top-three choice after that. And then I decided to come here.”
And four years later, Randall is set to take the snaps for the defending national champion LSU Tigers.
Starting again
Starting for a team that just won the national championship might be a new experience for Randall, but he has experienced the pressures of a starting quarterback in 2002. He started six of LSU’s last seven games that year, including the Cotton Bowl, after then-quarterback Matt Mauck went down with a foot injury.
He posted a 2-4 record in his stint as starting quarterback and finished the season with 1,173 yards passing and seven touchdowns. Also in that year, he earned the title of Southeastern Conference Player of the Week after his 179-yard, two-touchdown performance in the win versus Ole Miss.
And one of his seven touchdowns on the year was the legendary 75-yard Hail Mary pass to Devery Henderson, now known as the “Bluegrass Miracle,” to beat Kentucky as the clock expired.
In his career at LSU, he has played in 23 games and has passed for a total of 1,649 yards and nine touchdowns.
According to Randall, this experience is what placed him atop the LSU quarterback depth chart, one that also includes highly touted freshmen JaMarcus Russell and Matt Flynn. He credits this real-game experience with giving him the confidence to start amid the pressure of this season.
“It has helped me a whole lot. That’s why I think I have the confidence I have now, knowing the game speed and knowing the game-management skills I need to have as opposed to just jumping in there two years ago as a sophomore. I think that’s going to carry over and help me a lot more this season.”
A rowdy opener
Despite the real-game experience, Randall struggled in his season debut against Oregon State last Saturday. He entered the locker room at halftime 5-15 for 39 yards and an interception. The scoreboard read OSU 9, LSU 0.
And on LSU’s first drive of the half, it was second-string quarterback Russell who jogged onto the field, not Randall. It was Russell who was able to connect with wide receiver Skyler Green in the left corner of the end zone to put the Tigers on the board for the first time with 3:00 remaining in the third quarter.
It seemed as if Randall was finished for the game. But down by a score of 15-7 with 6:26 left in the game, Russell had to exit the contest because of leg cramps. Randall entered as quarterback again and led the Tigers to Oregon State’s two-yard line, where Russell’s fourth-down pass sailed over the head of Green.
The Tigers had another opportunity late in the contest, and with 1:05 remaining, Russell connected with wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and the score was suddenly 15-13. Russell dived into the end zone for the two-point conversion, and LSU was able to hold the Beavers and take the game to overtime.
Russell came in once again to lead the Tigers in the extra period. However, his leg cramps returned, and so did Randall into the game. And it was Randall who dived into the end zone on a quarterback draw, giving the Tigers the eventual game-winning score.
Randall said it was difficult to be calm on the scoring play, but that he was able to keep his composure and do what he need to do.
“I just tried to stay focused,” Randall said. “Coach (Saban) kept telling me to keep my head in the game. You never know what’s going to happen in a ballgame. Going back in and scoring a touchdown felt great.”
Saban said he was pleased with the way Randall was able to handle such a difficult situation.
“I think it says a lot about Randall and his character to come back in the game twice and make some type of plays to help us win the game,” he said.
Tiger Stadium support
Throughout the game last Saturday, the crowd was very loud at some points, forcing many errors for OSU. One thing Randall said he has learned in his four years at LSU is what kind of impact a crowd in Tiger Stadium can have on a game. He said that playing in Death Valley has been a wonderful experience, and that is due to the fans inside.
“It gets real loud, and they really get into the game a whole lot throughout the whole game,” he said. “And being here for four years, I’ve seen the crowd turn around games.”
The Tiger Stadium crowd will be behind Randall this year, hoping for a repeat of a national championship. And that is not an impossible dream with the talent on the current roster.
But even if Randall cannot lead to a repeat, he hopes that fans will remember him for his hard work and dedication to the LSU football program for five years. He wants fans to look back and say, “That’s a guy who came in, waited his turn and made the best out of his situation.”
And that is what Randall plans to do in 2004.