LSU’s Mathieu kicked off team for violating rules

LSU’s national championship hopes were hurt today when Heisman Trophy finalist Tyrann Mathieu, better known as The Honey Badger, was kicked off the football team for breaking team and school rules, head coach Les Miles announced at a pre-practice news conference. Miles would not specify the exact reason Mathieu was dismissed from the team, saying only that Mathieu is a “quality, quality guy that had a behavior issue and that’s it.” Athletics Director Joe Alleva says Mathieu, who was suspended for a game in 2011 for failing a drug test, violated an athletics department rule and had his scholarship revoked. Mathieu could stay at the school and pay tuition, but Alleva says that’s probably not likely. The 20-year-old Mathieu won the Bednarik Award as national defensive player of the year last season and was big-play machine at cornerback and on special teams. The All-American scored four touchdowns—two on punt returns and two on fumble returns—intercepted two passes and caused six fumbles and recovered four. He was suspended for the Auburn game and LSU still won 45-10 without him. The Associated Press has the full story here.