@lsureveille
The Daily Reveille Est. 1887
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Volume 125 · No. 7
lsunow.com
INVESTIGATION
LSU student’s death ruled suicide STAFF REPORTS @lsureveille East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner William “Beau” Clark confirmed the death of Michael Nickelotte, Jr. was a suicide. Clark said Nickelotte, shot himself in the head. The Louisiana State Police Crime Lab confirmed the human remains found Friday night in a wooded area less than a mile away from Ben Hur Road belonged to Nickelotte. Nickelotte was last sighted in his East Campus dorm room around 1 a.m. on Sept. 18. East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Casey Rayborn Hicks said his body was discovered by hunters around 6:30 p.m., about 60 yards away from the road in the woods. LSU Media Relations Director Ernie Ballard said LSUPD confirmed Nickelotte’s bike was found at the scene. “We must now begin the sorrowful process of honoring his short life with us and laying him to his eternal rest,” the family said in a statement posted on Facebook. “The support all have shown over this difficult time has been heartfelt and inspirational. Please continue to hold us in your prayers so that we may get through this difficult time.”
STRONG AS IRON
Dekeriya Patterson overcomes anemia to play for the Lady Tigers BY JARRETT MAJOR | @Jarrett_TDR
PHOTO BY WHITNEY WILLISTON
Before LSU freshman women’s basketball player Dekeriya Patterson ever played a minute of high school, basketball in she was offered scholarships from its top programs. Louisville, the then defending national runner-up, and LSU were among the universities that offered her a scholarship. But by the time of Patterson’s sophomore season, things had changed. Patterson was struggling to get down the court and was losing the interest of the big time schools. She lost 20 pounds in weight and struggled to sleep; things had taken a turn for the worst. Patterson was diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia but is now back at the top of her game. “Now that I am healthy, I am going full force,” Patterson said. “I am ready for the season to come. I feel more confident than I felt before.” Iron deficiency is common with more than 1.5 billion cases worldwide, and is quite treatable with only 54,000 deaths attributed to iron-deficiency anemia. But Patterson could have been a
statistic. When she was playing without treatment she was at increased risk of a heart attack and stroke. Her doctors were surprised that she was even able to play. “It was really heartbreaking,” Patterson said. “I felt like I was not going to be able to play basketball again.” Patterson was offered a blood transfusion to get her blood iron content to a healthy level, but that would have meant she would not be able to play her junior season. For Patterson, that was never an option. Instead, Patterson took a series of beet juices and iron pills. In a week her blood iron content was back to a healthy level, and Patterson was able to play again. Her game improved dramatically. Patterson was able to get down the court without tiring and was able to practice without having to rest. She led her high school, Dunbar High in Fort Myers, Florida, to the state tournament. By her senior season, she was back at the top of her game.
BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY
see PATTERSON, page 5
FOOTBALL
Live2Serve serves local youth through interaction, play
Orgeron hopes, prays to solve LSU’s problems in the trenches
BY MACKENZIE TREADWELL @mackenzieelizaa
BY BRANDON ADAM @badam_TDR
Every Wednesday afternoon, Jacob Allen Nichols heads to the Baranco-Clark YMCA to host Live2Serve, his personal project in the downtown area since 2011. The nonprofit organization strives for authentic investment in Baton Rouge youth through interaction and play. It all began when Nichols met 7-year-old Tyler one day at a gas station in 2010, during Nichols’ freshman year at the University. Over shared candy bars
The Tigers may have two losses on the season, but they have continuously lost at the line of scrimmage throughout the season. Offensively, the line cannot protect senior quarterback Danny Etling, and defensively, the line fails to generate consistent pressure and consistently gets blown off the ball in the run game. Excuses have been made about depth and experience, but LSU just flat out lacks elite-
see LIVE2SERVE, page 5
KATE ROY / The Daily Reveille
Kinesiology sophomore Brooke Holley carries a child on the way to Live 2 Serve’s headquarters on Sept. 27.
see LINEMEN, page 5
KIM NGUYEN / The Daily Reveille
LSU senior fullback John David Moore (18) prepares for a play during the Tigers 45-10 victory against Chattanooga on Sept. 9 at Tiger Stadium.