By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
The spotlight has been on former LSU and NFL star Tyrann Mathieu for the last two decades, but not Monday night as planned at the Shreveport Convention Center.
Mathieu was described as “under the weather” by Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl officials, who early Monday afternoon had to hurriedly spread the word that last night’s Kickoff Dinner was postponed because of the unspecified illness.
The south Louisiana resident, a New Orleans native who has settled his family on the north shore of Lake Ponchartrain, did not travel north for his appearance at the local bowl’s biggest annual event outside of bowl week.
Bowl officials intend to reschedule but no immediate information was available about the future plans. The Kickoff Dinner annually draws several hundred people and generates significant revenue for the Independence Bowl Foundation.
Loyola College Prep graduate Hunt Palmer, a popular Baton Rouge sports talk radio show host, hosted his show from the Convention Center Monday, then headed south after the bad news developed. Palmer was to interview Mathieu on stage in front of several hundred ticketholders.
Mathieu has recently spent time at the Kansas City Chiefs’ training camp in St. Joseph, Mo., at Missouri Western University, about an hour from the team’s headquarters at Arrowhead Stadium. His insights have been noted by media covering the team, notably his assessment of quarterback Patrick Mahomes Jr.’s status since knee surgery.
“He’s bouncing around, he’s hopping around talking trash, he’s the same old Patrick.—I think he’s really healthy,” said Mathieu, who played with Mahomes from 2019-21 I think they’re getting a really motivated Patrick Mahomes, I don’t think he’s been motivated since 2018 when (Tom) Brady knocked him out of the playoffs.”
Mathieu, a New Orleans native who became one of college football’s breakout stars with his dynamic play-making as a defensive back and return specialist for LSU in 2010-11, capped his 12-year NFL career playing for his hometown Saints after helping the Chiefs win a Super Bowl.
Mathieu’s appearance at the I-Bowl event was noteworthy for another reason. With no explanation provided, he had declined to participate in a post-program media session, unlike the star-studded roster of sports figures who have spoken at the event over its first 15 years: Terry Bradshaw, Bobby Bowden, Lou Holtz, Jason Witten, Emmitt Smith, Archie Manning, Herschel Walker, Steve Spurrier, Drew Brees, Marcus Spears, Kim Mulkey, Paul Skenes, Holly Rowe and Mack Brown.
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