These are the type of situation that define character, the damned if you do and the damned if you don't. Miles and LSU would've been winners with either player. You don't build a business by backing out of agreements at the last minute.
A few comments: 1. If there is a bad guy here, it's Rueben Randle--not Les. He demanded what was best for himself over what was best for LSU. Now LSU has only one wide receiver in the class. 2. Benton isn't really a victim either. He's been courting Auburn for a month, took a visit last week, and Les has always told recruits, "if you're going to look, we're going to look. Benton failed to get himself eligible twice already and dropped out of Hargraves prep school which could have gotten him eligible last August. LSU has given him plenty of chances already. He was unlikely to make grades at LSU anyway. 3. Les did what he had to do for the good of LSU. Go with the guy who is academically qualified and has been playing football for the last two years. The guy who will make grades. The guy with the big ego who's apparently afraid of competition. Lets just hope Randle's dad doesn't turn out to be the next Sgt. Harrison--a coach's nightmare.
Sure, I believe that. Absolutely. By the way, I've got some beachfront property in Plaquemines Parish that I'd like to sell you.
which is why what clair said about his lying about taking a class bothers me. was he holding up his end of the agreement? you hold a scholly for two years and then find out the kid is lying about academics? what if les had gone with him and he couldnt play yet another year? the uproar would have been ungodly. i still contend that coach miles was placed in a bad position and there was no matter what he did, it was gonna get ugly.
My thoughts....when we're playing 'Bama, and Rahim Allen's got a clear shot at the QB, but gets dragged down by the tackle, and no flag flies, 90,000 Tiger fans go ballistic. When 'Bama's DE has a clean shot at the QB, and our tackle drags him down and no flag flies, 90,000 Tiger fans breathe a sigh of relief and say,"whew, got away with that one!" It's not hypocritical, its the nature of the game. I would love for CLM to be that one ivory tower standing tall in the midst of all the slop that is college football recruiting. But if we want to win national championships, we're going to have to accept the fact that he's going to have to get his hands dirty now and then. As long as rules are not being broken. But if we're all going to stand up and say that the coach's integrity supercedes what happens on the field, I suggest we all start tailgating Sunday morning at chapel instead of Saturday night at Death Valley.
I think this is without dispute. But it is still classic cya, and that is a break with integrity. Despite it being common place or not. I understand the predicament Miles was put in, and would have been as upset as anyone had he lost Randle, even with the dad acting in the manner he did. However I am dismayed that Miles resolved it in this fashion. IMO, besides being the wrong decision on moral grounds, it will wind up being the wrong one on a public relations basis. Hence, so many people are discussing it today. I am usually the first in line to defend Miles but this one really does not sit well with me.
