... "I found out the last time I went home over the summer that [my mother] got laid off from her job," he said. "I found out the day I got there that it happened the day before. And she had just sent me some money to drive back home. So I felt really bad because I had asked her for money before I knew, and she didn't have that much." Aghayere said his father and mother are no longer together, and he has not spoken to him in several years. "I'm using her getting laid off as motivation to do well here at LSU so hopefully, if I can play my game right and do well throughout the years, I can help her and give her everything back that she gave me when I was growing up," Aghayere said. "She's been having trouble finding a job." She was able to attend last Saturday's LSU game in Baton Rouge and celebrated Chancey's 20th birthday, which was on Thursday a week ago. "Oh yeah, she came and spent time with me," Aghayere said. "It was very fun and exciting for me to see her." Aghayere, one of the top defensive ends in the nation out of Garland High School in 2008 who turned down Florida, started Saturday's game against Louisiana-Lafayette at left defensive end. He also started at left end the week before against Vanderbilt as regular starting defensive left end Pep Levingston has missed the last two games with a knee injury. Levingston is not expected to play Saturday when the No. 7 Tigers (3-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) play at Mississippi State (2-1, 1-1 SEC) at 11:20 a.m., and Aghayere is scheduled to start again. "I'm still pretty surprised that I'm starting," Aghayere said. "Coming into the season I thought I was going to get some PT (playing time) and be in the rotation, but I never thought I was going to start so early. When Pep went down, they told me I had to jump in the row. And I was like, 'Well, let's go.'" Through three games, the 6-foot-4, 263-pound Aghayere has made seven tackles with a sack and another tackle behind the line along with two quarterback hurries and two pass breakups. "He has great wheels," LSU coach Les Miles said. "He's very tough and strong. He needs to use his hands a little bit better, but that's coming. He has understanding of the defense. He's not going to be really out of position. I think that if his improvement continues, when Pep comes back, he can still count on playing some snaps at end." For now, Aghayere will enjoy the starting role even if it does have its stresses."I'm still nervous every time I go out there," he said. "Because I'm trying to prove a point and I'm trying to make a big statement and trying to show people what I can do and improve my game every time I go out there. I have a lot to play for." LINK: LSU's Aghayere is playing for his mom | shreveporttimes.com | The Times
good read. it sucks pretty bad when stories of people getting laid off are common place. but that's how it is now. maybe his mom will get some help from this article... i sure hope so.
