Patience Pays Off - After waiting 3 years, Nussmeier is LSU QB
Aug 29, 2024 12:52PM ● By Kelsey Swire
By Jim Gazzolo
Born in Lake Charles, Garrett Nussmeier seemed destined to be a quarterback.
His father, Doug, played QB for three seasons for the New Orleans Saints, among other teams. He then went into the coaching profession, spending lots of time in the SEC.
He is currently the quarterbacks coach with the Philadelphia Eagles.
While his father had to change his loyalties based on paychecks, Garrett Nussmieir never wavered in his love for LSU.
After a big high school career, he enrolled at LSU in hopes of being the next quarterback to lead the Tigers to a national championship. After waiting for the last three seasons, Nussmieir will finally get his chance this fall.
Passing on chances to enter the transfer portal and start someplace else, Nussmier stayed patient and after watching Jayden Daniels for the past two years, he is now the Tiger starter under center.
“There’s obviously temptation,” Nussmeier said. “I love playing the game of football. So obviously I wanted to be playing on Saturdays. But what kept me to stay was, I felt like when I was making my decision out of high school where to go to school, I felt like there was a lot of prayer involved.
“And God brought me to LSU for a reason. I did not feel it was my time to just pack up and leave.”
He took his time and he learned by watching and working hard to be ready and be the next man up. Now is his time.
“I have learned when and where to take my shots,” said Nussmier. “I'm not a finished product yet. And you always want to get better. Hopefully, I'm better in December than I am right now."
The redshirt junior has had his moments already with the Tigers. Subbing for Daniels in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Wisconsin, Nussmier threw for 395 yards and three touchdowns, earning LSU the win and himself the game’s MVP.
In 18 games with LSU, he has thrown for 1,720 yards with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has connected on 129 of 219 attempts.
His head coach, Brian Kelly, compares his new QB to a driver who finally has his own car.
“When you’re the No. 2, it’s kind of like a rental,” Kelly said during SEC Media Day in July. “You don’t care if you ding it up or get a dent. You’re not as careful. But when you own the care, there’s a sense of pride.
“He’s waited for his opportunity to drive this car and nobody is going to mess with it.”
Given the keys, Nussmeier will be the one driving the Tigers to wherever they go this season. Ironically, they open against a team that also has a QB who has waited his turn and played great in his bowl game last year.
LSU will open Sunday night against USC and Mike Moss in Las Vegas, having lost the last two season openers to Florida State.
It’s the night both have been waiting for, to finally be on center stage.
For Nussmeier it is his dream come true.
Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers McNeese athletics. He is the host of Poke Nation on CBS-Lake Charles