Joe Sloan details relationship with Garrett Nussmeier, role in return

LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier has waited his turn down in Baton Rouge. He’ll now, after three years, get his chance to be the Tigers’ QB1.

OC Joe Sloan, who was formerly the quarterbacks coach alone, spoke about his dynamic with Nussmeier during their time there together in a press conference he had on Wednesday. He started by looking at the position as a whole and explaining how he has had to learn the balance when it comes to it specifically.

“You know, the quarterback position? So, when I first was in coaching, I coached receivers for several years. When I was coaching receivers, you get an opportunity within the room to create a room dynamic and so many guys get to play,” said Sloan. “It’s a little bit of what I was talking about with Brad Davis, right, or what Cortez Hankton does with his group – just the dynamic of that unity together because multiple guys are out there at a time and you’re building that.”

“The difference in quarterback is you create that unity, right, and that comfortability within a room but, at the same point in time, there’s usually only one guy that gets to play,” Sloan continued. “The other guys have to be prepared but it’s a little bit of a different role.”

With that being the case, LSU has gone with Max Johnson as well as Jayden Daniels over the past few seasons over Nussmeier. That was them being transparent with him, though, like they are as a program throughout their locker room, in hopes that he’d continue to believe in their outlook for him.

“What I’ve found through mistakes in my past that I learned from is honesty and straightforwardness is the best way. That’s what we’re always going to do within this program. Coach Kelly challenges us. That’s what he’s all about,” Sloan said. We’re going to be honest with our players, tell them exactly where they’re at, and we’re going to give them the tools to where that they can develop and grow. Then we’re going to motivate them, challenge them, and hold them to a standard to do that. You know, coaching is about relationships and trust.”

“Garrett and my conversation back and forth, Coach Kelly’s conversation with him, and throughout our organization? We were honest with where he was.”

Now, Nussmeier’s time has come. That’s especially so with how he looked in his lone start during their win in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

That long-term work and commitment with each other has since paid off for all of them going into this season.

“Excited about the talent and potential that he has and who he is as a player,” said Sloan. “I’m assuming he felt himself getting better. He said, ‘I’m getting better and I’ve got an opportunity.’“

“I think you’ve heard it. I think this place means a lot to him,” Sloan added. “His teammates mean a lot to him and, you know, that was important to him.”

Most other quarterbacks might have gone ahead and transferred if they hadn’t yet started to that point of their collegiate career. Still, Nussmeier remained loyal and, in turn, has had that repaid by Sloan and the Tigers.

“I’m proud of him for that fact and proud of how he has worked,” said Sloan. “I’m excited for him.”

“It’s definitely unique,” Sloan said. “His story is maybe different from some others in college football today.”