LSU true freshman quarterback TJ Finley had tears in his eyes.
We’re not referencing any happy ones he may have had after Tigers’ second win of the season when they took the down the visiting South Carolina Gamecocks, 52-24, but about the ones the signal-caller shed before he took over for starting quarterback Myles Brennan, who is out indefinitely with a significant lower-body injury.
“I’m going to be honest with you,” Finley’s father, David Finley, told me ahead of Saturday’s game. “He had tears in his eyes. TJ is a team player. You don’t want to see one of your teammates sit out or sustain an injury where they don’t know if they’re going to come back from it or how they’re going to come back from it. He didn’t really want it like that.”
But at the same time, Finley’s father stressed a “next man up” mentality that he’s taught him since the days when he also played basketball.
“He’s part of the team, though, and they’ve got a game,” he said. “A guy twists an ankle? I need the next guy in to do something comparable to the starter.”
David Finley said the team spent a lot of time praying not only for a strong performance out of the young quarterback, but for his health. Finley’s father said that everyone, including Brennan and Finley, are only ever really “one hit away” from severe injury or being sidelined for a period of time.
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“We pray to God to allow him to perform at his best ability,” he said. “Whoever God sees fit will win the game, and there are people praying on the other side, but you’ve got to pray about you specifically and your abilities.”
It’s a part of the family’s foundation.
“That’s what we train him with and that’s what we stand on,” he said.
Finley was not without some true freshman mistakes on the victory, but LSU couldn’t have asked for much more from Finley, who looked completely composed in an offense he was only commanding for the first time of his career as the starter.
You can take the fact that punter Zach Von Rosenberg never had to see the field as proof.
“T.J.’s a cool customer,” David Finley said. “He’s relaxed. He’s been doing this as his life, so he’s pretty comfortable. He was ready.”
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Finley put his first passing touchdown of the day up with roughly 12 minutes remaining in the second quarter, sending a seven-yard strike to wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. in the corner of the end zone.
Finley was without an incompletion on that drive, completing all seven of his attempts for 69 yards.
It wasn’t perfect, though, as hardy any true freshman’s debut ever is.
Finley committed his first interception of the evening with a deep pass intended for Jaray Jenkins on what looked to be a miscommunication. The interception was returned for 56 yards, with Finley making the tackle.
All was forgiven though, as head coach Ed Orgeron didn’t bring fellow freshman quarterback Max Johnson to the field after the mistake.
Finley wasted no time making up for the blunder, though, sending a 51-yard touchdown pass to Marshall on the following drive.
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By the time Johnson took the reins of the offense with 7:39 remaining in the fourth quarter, Finley had completed 17-of-21 passes for 265 yards, responsible for three of the team’s touchdowns.
Finley’s coaches and teammates echoed his father’s thoughts on how collected the quarterback is, given his age, after the game.
“TJ was very calm before and during the game,” sophomore running back John Emery told reporters, “so it was easy to be on his side with everything.”
There’s no hard and fast timetable on when Brennan will be back from injury, but LSU should have no shortage of confidence in putting Finley out on the field after this one.
Finley isn’t basking in the glory of the win or looking for praise, but has his eyes fixed on Auburn instead, if he’s called up again.
“This is a big win for LSU and for this team,” Finley said. “If Myles isn’t ready to play next week, I’ll be ready.”
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Even after Finley’s strong performance, in which head coach Ed Orgeron commended him for the way he handled himself, his stellar arm strength and decision-making, there is no quarterback controversy in Baton Rouge.
“There might be on ya’ll’s part,” Orgeron said. “Everybody’s just yearning for it I can feel it.”
But if there’s one key takeaway for Orgeron from the show Finley put on that had the crowd chanting his name by the end of it, it’s that LSU can be confident in its depth at quarterback.
“If Myles isn’t doing well, I can put in TJ and feel good about it.”
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