From CFN's Monday Morning QB...http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2005/Columnists/MZ/MondayMorningQuarterback.htm IV. Why Les Miles is a Genius One has to admit: Les Miles made quite the favorable impression in his first game as LSU coach. Why? Well, one play told me a lot about the Boss Tiger. Given that this game with Arizona State was put into perspective—and therefore robbed of much of its intensity and bitterness—by Hurricane Katrina, Miles realized he needed to make the night fun and happy for his team, which had reasons to mail in its performance. Miles—as though he wanted to break and demolish any lingering tensions or uncertainties on his team—faked a punt in his own red zone. Yes, the play did work, but even if it didn’t, Miles still sent a message to his team: this was a hard week, but now we’re playing and having fun, so relax. Eventually, LSU did relax, but its coach set a very early and important tone to the contest with his fake punt, a tone that paid off later on for LSU. It wasn’t just the fact that the fake punt was perfectly executed. It wasn’t just the fact that the play came in LSU territory. It wasn’t just the fact that the fake punt came on the first drive of the season. No, those three things—in addition to the awareness of the Katrina aftermath—created a different emotional dynamic in this football game. The fake punt was just as much an act of psychological warfare for Miles as it was a chalkboard maneuver. His long-term vision and awareness make him a coach that, after one game, seems to have already understood how to handle his players emotionally. That bodes well for LSU in a season that is already much more emotional than anyone could have initially predicted.
It was a play called at the line when the gunner was left uncovered. You can bet Miles will let the punting team know that we don't audible to the fake on our own 10 yard line no matter who is left uncovered..
I don't understand what faking the punt has to do with handling the emotion of players. Whay historical proof does this writer have that the fake punt means anything substansial.
On 4th down, no matter WHAT background a head coach has (offensive side or defensive side), the call to punt or go for it DOES come straight from the head coach. Now, once he decides to go for it, the play to be executed might come from the OC, or someone else...but make no mistake about it--Miles has say so in whether to go for it or not.
In a way, Miles did "call" the play by apparently failing to coach the punter not to make the call in THAT situation.
I have to agree with Twisted Tiger, this play is usually an audible called at the line of scrimmage, but not normally deep in your own territory. That's probably why Arizona State had left the gunners uncovered, they weren't worried about LSU going for the quick pass. In any case, I loved it! Arizona State was caught with their pants down.
