It was a packed house compared to some games the last few seasons. It's quite obvious you aren't familiar with the new Tiger Stadium, it's a much different crowd than what it used to be. One of the most telling signs I saw\heard was several groups of long time season ticket holders(20+yrs) around me that weren't sure they were going to renew their tickets. Some come from out of state and are just disgusted with the constant under performing. It was a very angry and disappointed crowd leaving the stadium last night.
When that starts happening, and not until, there will be a change. Louisiana sports fans are crazy in many ways. Saints fans, for example. They used to attend games with bags on their heads- but they DID attend. Point being, tickets were still being sold.
Les' seat is never hot from his, and his agent's financial standpoint. He's getting paid an exorbitant amount for seriously sub-par performance. Even if he is fired, his buy-out is surely a pretty hefty number. It's as if college-football coaches in many cases are shielded from objective, or even partially objective, performance reviews that practically any other state employee would be subject to. As an extremely obvious side note, private employers likewise perform similar employee reviews. The ADs, or at least most of them, stay at at a fully kneeled bow towards their coach's agent.
I think what we have in Baton Rouge is a staff that is pretty darn good in the off season on the recruiting trail, better than most, and consistent, (although the state of the d line and linebackers and the flops recently have been bad over the past 3/4 seasons) as well as in the administrative aspect of running a program. But when it comes down to X's and O's, preperation for games, and then game day execution, they are just flat out average. And in the NCAA if you want to be the best or at least contend, average ain't cutting it. The talent LSU has makes average coaching look above average a lot of the time, most of it against weaker teams that have similar problems. here is a good question and be reasonable, if you were the AD today and take everything into account, recruiting, the next person in, when it happens, replacing all the other coaches on the staff potentially, every little thing that goes into getting rid of and bringing on the next guy, what would you do? Remember you can always give an ultimatum, or set a goal for next year behind closed doors, make demands as an AD. Have that come to Jesus if you will, and if you do that what are the parameters or goals, or demands you would make if you are the AD. Geaux.....
After last year I noted the lack of fire in Miles' approach these last several year and said he was at a crossroads. He needed to regain the passion he had and bring it down to his assistants and team. The desire and will to win is as important as anything in college football. I had hoped some of that fire was back and it seemed his 4th down fake vs Florida was a sign. I could overlook last week in Alabama because we were physically overmatched. However the poor excuse for preparation and coaching seems to give lie to the hope. It looks like Les is lost and too comfortable with things as they are. With the exception of coach O his assistants are older and set in their ways. They have none of the desire to learn, adapt and adjust. In this they are mirroring Les. Every coach faces this point. Bear did and found it in himself to change. I think Saban has done a similar adaptation. Charly Mac couldn't and put LSU in mediocrity. For a decade. Mack Brown, Bowden and others couldn't either. As many have said there is little to no chance that anything will be done to Les for a while. It is up to him to look into himself and be honest. If he can't find the same motivation he had he should retire. If he can he needs to be ruthless and purge the self satisfaction and 'old man' attitudes from his staff.
This is why he isn't going to be fired. No way LSU absorbs that cost; especially when the program is still making money hand over fist. Here's to hoping he's just burnt out and wants to spend more time with his family, but realistically, he's not going to leave that much money on the table. Practically no one would.
I'd seriously consider it if I could get the cash. I'd want some support, but I'd be willing to drag some people screaming and kicking.
They don't care if people don't show. The tickets are sold. The stadium is sold out. The only way things will change is if ticket sales drop off and that hasn't happened yet. When people don't use tickets they already paid for it doesn't matter. The stadium could be empty and it wouldn't matter.
