A grand jury met Wednesday to begin hearing evidence in the criminal case involving suspended LSU football players Jordan Jeffer-son and Josh Johns.

The grand jury heard testimo-nies from the Baton Rouge Police 'HSDUWPHQW� LQYHVWLJDWLQJ� RIÀ�FHUV�and a number of eyewitnesses. The grand jury will reconvene Sept. 28 to continue hearing testimony, and District Attorney Hillar Moore said he hopes to conclude the investiga-tion then.

“I believe that I could proba-bly make the decision now,” Moore told The Times-Picayune. “But this is the decision that I believe for the community, and given what’s gone on, it’s best that a grand jury make this decision.”

Moore said “many witness-es” appeared in front of the jury Wednesday, but neither Jefferson QRU�-RKQV��WHVWLÀ�HG�

“Obviously Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Johns are presumed innocent,” Moore said. “They are welcome to come to the grand jury next Wednesday. Their attorneys are aware that they are welcome to come, and we’d like to present this

Dancing through the halls of LSU is a smiling Sam Montgomery, halting his journey to class to converse with nearly every passerby and donning a Sonic the Hedgehog book sack.

Come game time, Montgomery isn’t unlike the famous blue hedgehog. Both speedy balls of energy can be found battling enemies, wreaking havoc on rivals and searching for rings.

“When I pound the ground, I kind of imagine myself powering up a little bit,” Montgomery said. “I pound the ground, and every last time I pound the ground I feel like my energy grows a little bit more and more.”

While video games like “Sonic” can be used as an escape from the rigors of school and work, Montgomery’s connection to the pop-ular hedgehog hero extends past the closing credits.

Montgomery dubbed Sonic his biggest motivator for game days, not because of his on-screen adventures, but in remembrance of Montgomery’s brother who passed away four years ago.

“People think it’s because I’m a silly guy,” Montgomery said. “But the reason why I do that is because I hold memories of my dear brother that died. That’s why I harp on Sonic so much. It’s a respect symbol to him,

Positions are just a formality for the LSU offensive line.

Offensive coordinator and of-fensive line coach Greg Studrawa teaches his linemen how to play each spot along the line and ensures they know each teammate’s respon-sibilities for every play.

If a player is injured or isn’t performing well, the backups can come in, and the line won’t skip a beat.

“You don’t know where people are needed,” said senior offensive

tackle Greg Shaw . “Basically all of us could play two or three positions. It’s important that [Studrawa] taught us that.”

When start-ing left tackle Chris Faulk went down with a leg injury against Mis-sissippi State, Shaw — who normally plays on the right side — stepped in. After starting right guard Will Blackwell committed two penalties in three plays against the Bulldogs, sophomore offensive guard Josh Williford entered.

“I like how the depth of the offensive line is coming,” said

LSU coach Les Miles. “I’m pretty FRPIRUWDEOH� WKDW� ZKRHYHU� ZH� À�HOG�

there, we will be put-WLQJ� À�YH� YHU\� TXDO�ity guys on the line of scrimmage who give us an opportunity to play.”

Shaw has grown DFFXVWRPHG� WR� À�OOLQJ�in for fallen team-mates. A career back-up, Shaw last saw sig-QLÀ�FDQW� DFWLRQ� ZKHQ�he replaced junior

right tackle Alex Hurst last season against Alabama.

“I felt like I’ve been waiting for this,” Shaw said. “I did not by any means want my teammate to go

SportsThursday, September 22, 2011 page 7

TRIAL, see page 10

ALTERCATION

Grand jury begins hearing testimony

Hunter PaniaguaSports Writer

FOOTBALL

ZACH BREAUX / The Daily Reveille

LSU offensive players line up Sept. 3 during the Tigers’ 40-27 win against Oregon.

Offensive line versatility benefi cialShaw moved to LT against Miss. StateHunter PaniaguaSports Writer

O-LINE, see page 10

‘I never stop thinking

about him’Dancing through the halls of LSU is a smiling Sam Montgomery,

halting his journey to class to converse with nearly every passerby and

Come game time, Montgomery isn’t unlike the famous blue hedgehog. Both speedy balls of energy can be found battling enemies,

“People think it’s because I’m a silly guy,” Montgomery said. “But the reason why I do that is because I hold memories of my dear brother that died. That’s why I harp on Sonic so much. It’s a respect symbol to him,

‘I never stop thinking

about him’Dancing through the halls of LSU is a smiling Sam Montgomery,

halting his journey to class to converse with nearly every passerby and

the reason why I do that is because I hold memories of my dear brother that died. That’s why I harp on Sonic so much. It’s a respect symbol to him,

‘I never stop about him’

Defensive end Sam Montgomery holds on to brother’s memoryMark ClementsSports Writer

MEMORY, see page 10

‘‘‘Whoever we fi eld there, we will be putting fi ve very

quality guys on the line of scrimmage.’

Les MilesLSU football coach

photo by ZACH BREAUX / The Daily Reveille

Jeff erson, Johns may testify next week

‘When I throw my hand up in the sky, sometimes I’m reaching up for power

from [my brother].’Sam Montgomery

LSU sophomore defensive end

down. I did not want it like that. But when the chance came, I felt like it was my time, and I was ready.”

Shaw is listed as a right tackle, but Faulk’s injury forced him to the left side. He admitted to struggling with small things, like remembering to put his left hand down instead of his right, but playing left tackle still came naturally.

“It was a little bit different on the steps, but the plays are about the same,” Shaw said. “Once you know that, it can’t get out of your system. It’s like riding a bike.”

Miles said he expects Faulk to recuperate in time to play Saturday against West Virginia, but Shaw said he practices as if he’ll start.

“I feel like I can do better,” Shaw said. “Nobody’s perfect, but I always try to aim to do better than the last play.”

For Williford, his action against Mississippi State marked a return to WKH� ÀHOG�� :LOOLIRUG� VWDUWHG� DW� ULJKW�guard last season after Blackwell suffered a season-ending injury, but Williford struggled with an ankle in-jury during fall camp.

“It’s hard going to practice and being injured and just having to sit there,” Williford said. “It just felt so good to be out there with the O-line again.”

Williford said Blackwell will

regain his spot in the starting lineup against West Virginia, but Williford FRQWLQXHV� WR� SUHSDUH� WR� ÀOO� LQ� DW�whatever spot he might be needed.

“[Blackwell’s] the No. 1 dude, but I’m here to back him up,” Willi-ford said. “I’m here to back up him, [senior left guard] T-Bob [Hebert], anybody that needs a breather. I’m there for them to go in.”

to show him that I never stop think-ing about him.”

John Darrell Adams, Mont-gomery’s brother, passed away Feb. 5, 2007, after being shot 12 times outside a sports bar in Columbia, S.C.

Montgomery said as a child, his brother got him hooked on video games, which now serve as a reminder that Adams is never far from Montgomery’s heart.

Since Adams’ death, Mont-gomery has used their mutual love of video games as an enduring bond of brotherhood.

“My brother used to play all these Final Fantasy games and stuff like that,” Montgomery said. “One of the things I took under my wing was Sonic the Hedgehog. He really loved Sonic, too, and I think in a way this is a symbol to show that my brother hasn’t been forgotten.”

Montgomery said his brother often went by the nickname of “Sonic” because of his love for the character.

The 6-foot-4, 245-pound de-fensive end said he has since ad-opted his brother’s alias on and off WKH�ÀHOG�

“When I actually call myself ‘Sonic,’ it’s like us being one, so we JR�RXW�RQ�WKH�ÀHOG�WRJHWKHU�µ�0RQW-gomery said. “It actually encour-ages me to do better in everything I do, because I’m walking around with his living name.”

Following the death of his brother, Montgomery stepped onto WKH� IRRWEDOO� ÀHOG� IRU� WKH� ÀUVW� WLPH�his junior year of high school, where he developed into a four-star recruit and the No. 6 weakside de-fensive end in the nation.

Since entering college, Mont-gomery said he began opening up about the loss and often does ges-tures in honor of his brother.

“When I throw my hand up in the sky, sometimes I’m reaching up for power from him, or I’ll say a slight prayer and tell him to get me through this game and give me the strength I need to make this play and give me the wisdom that I need to focus and do the right things,” Montgomery said. “I really wasn’t that open with it in high school. It

just now started coming back out in college.”

Through three games this sea-son, Montgomery has 11 tackles — 2.5 for a loss — and half a sack, and he made his way into the minds of Tiger fans forever after repeatedly pounding the ground before snaps in the Tiger’s season opener against Oregon.

“The enjoyment that I get from Sam is that he is an unten-dered spirit and he enjoys playing,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “My kids watched him pound the turf at Cowboys Stadium ... and it just scared them. He’s very emotional, plays with great passion, and I want him to stay that way.”

The redshirt sophomore re-ceived freshman All-SEC honors despite playing just four full games, and has earned himself a starting job on what many experts regard as one of the best defensive lines in the nation.

Based on Montgomery’s LSU career thus far, it’s safe to say his inspiration is paying dividends on WKH� ÀHOG�� HYHQ� LI� VRPH� WHDPPDWHV�don’t understand from where his vast love of cartoons stems.

“Ever since I’ve known Sam, he’s been the craziest dude I know,” said sophomore safety Eric Reid. “As long as he keeps making them tackles, it’s good.”

matter as fairly as we can.”Michael Bienvenu, the attor-

ney representing the four alleged victims, said three of his clients WHVWLÀHG�:HGQHVGD\��LQFOXGLQJ�$Q-drew Lowery. Bienvenu said his clients have served as witnesses in the criminal proceedings, and KH�DQWLFLSDWHV�ÀOLQJ�D�FLYLO�VXLW�UH-gardless of the grand jury’s deci-sion.

“Certainly we have an inter-est in what the grand jury does, the ultimate outcome, but it has no bearing on the possible civil rami-ÀFDWLRQV�RU�DQ\WKLQJ�OLNH�WKDW�µ�%L-envenu said.

LSU football coach Les Miles said he was aware of the grand jury proceedings but wasn’t informed of what happened. He said he will wait to make a decision on Jeffer-son’s and Johns’ possible reinstate-ment until the case is resolved.

“I don’t want to speculate about any of that stuff until I know more,” Miles said. “I want you to know I’m just as wanting of infor-mation as anybody. And certainly, action and consideration will take place after we understand the resolution.”

The Daily Reveillepage 10 Thursday, September 22, 2011

Contact Hunter Paniagua at hpaniagua@lsureveille.com

O-LINE, from page 7TRIAL, from page 7

Contact Hunter Paniagua at hpaniagua@lsureveille.com

CHRISTOPHER LEH / The Daily Reveille

LSU sophomore defensive end Sam Montgomery takes a knee Sept. 10.

Contact Mark Clements at mclements@lsureveille.com

MEMORY, from page 7