OK ...Another question for the LSU fans ...?

The timing argument only goes so far in explaining why Miles was hired by LSU. Everybody knew that Saban was very likely to go to Miami as early as a week before it was announced (on the 25th, BTW). Now, that meant that some coaches were already gone, but Meyer wasn't coming here under any circumstances, and Spurrior's timeline was much earlier than that. After Meyer turned down ND, the Irish focused on Weis, who probably wasn't coming to the Bayou either. Looking at the rest of the list, LSU wasn't likely to go after any coach those schools were going after. So, LSU's list of candidates probably wasn't affected by the timing.

Miles had competed well against Bob Stoops while at OSU, so he was the person who had the similar resume that worked so well in the hiring of Saban. (He was my choice at the time, but I had no inside knowledge.) Other favorites were available, like Dennis Erickson & Butch Davis, but their resume was too different and Miles became the guy. I think he knew this and was distracted during that Alamo Bowl.

Miles is a master at showing that what you see may not be what you get. People want to say that the Florida, Auburn, AMAB & Tenn game were won because of luck. That fails to take into account the plays that turned those games. Against UF, the 4th down distances were very favorable for a team that was dominant all night in run blocking. Against Auburn, the team lulled Auburn into complacancy before striking--had it not worked, we still would have had the opportunity to kick a very makable 40 yard kick. Against AMAB, the blitz was called at the most appropriate time--when we knew AMAB was going to pass. And against Tennessee, the defense baited Ainge to throw to the one receiver who looked open for the 1st down--when the play set up, you could see how much further off the line Zenon was than the other DBs.

The point is that those calls actually ended up being pretty well designed plays. (The AU pass should have been snapped earlier, but that may not have been Miles' fault, but Flynn's.) Well designed plays come from good coaches, and Miles hires solid coordinators.

Miles himself gets accused of not being a good game manager, I think that is over stated. Every coach has calls he wishes he had back--it's the nature of the business. He has managed games well enough to be 33-6 in the last 3 years, which is better than all the coaches at the schools you mentioned. And don't tell me he has more talent than ND or Florida--I'm not buying that.

Like all coaches, Miles will have to prove himself over time. But when he beats Coach Sweater Vest, maybe people will stop talking about his hat and compliment the brain inside it. Maybe then people will realize that he is much more than the "best available at the time".

GEAUX TIGERS

 

Hell, I'd run through a wall for him. :thumb:

The 28 pants I wore in high school football, now that's a different issue. :lol:

 

I will add to what people have said about Les Miles that he has the good sense to hire great assistants and to let them do their jobs. If a person is smart enough to get good help and give them responsibility, the enterprise he runs can have more success than it would have had he made all the decisions himself. I think Les Miles's press conferences and his on-the-field affect make lots of people think he's not top notch, which is fine with me. As long as he keeps winning and bringing in top recruiting classes and hiring great assistants, he can stutter and stumble through every press conference.

I think everyone is over-dissecting Miles. I guess it's because of the rumors about the move to Michigan (which is dead--partly, I've heard, because Miles knew he would not be able to hire his own assistants and when Michigan didn't call his agent he realized there was a lot of politicking going on which would be tough to deal with.) Anyway, every coach can be put under a microscope but I defy you to find a coach who has as good a record in his time at the school he coaches now as does Les Miles. The proof is in the pudding.

 

Solid...reply...well thought out and classy response. You are a credit to your peers on this site.

Overall I think Miles has some personality that I wish Tressel had, but on game day, as a recruiter, and most of all with his championship track record I would take Jim Tressel hands down as I think most astute football experts would as well.

 

Not completely appropriate for this thread but what the heck.......

You can't got to any message board in the SEC, or other conference for that matter, where you won't find references to Miles as a bad/average/half-ass coach, dumbass, etc. My question is what has Miles specifically done in his coaching history to develop this reputation. Never once have i seen any of these observations site any specific events to support this. Every coach in the history of college football has made some boneheaded decisions, none better or worse than what Miles has done, yet Miles gets crucified for something he's done that i haven't a clue what it is.

Someone please enlighten me........

 

Les is a great recruiter and a mediocre coach. He has two very good cordinators and he manages people well. He's good for one bad game a season. As long as he remains a top recruiter, the talent that he draws will keep him in the upper echleon of head coaches in college football. LSU's recruiting classes go as Louisiana's recruits go. As long as the best and brightest attend LSU, hr'll be fine.

In short, he's the purple and gold version of Mack Brown. Our version of Vince Young will be a Junior next year.

Tressel is hands down the best coach in college football.

 

They think he doesn't know how to fit a hat.

They point to the attempt to call a timeout after an interception in the 05 Tenn game.

They point to the penalties in this year's AMAB game.

They point to Pelini having to poke him to call a timeout in the Arkansas game.

They point to him not being slick in press conferences--the media really harp on this one.

They are wrong.

GEAUX TIGERS

 

Most of the Tiger faithful have already touched on most of this, but I will try to add.

Average coach? Maybe, but his record speaks for itself. I prefer to think of him as a smart and gutsy coach. He knew we had the momentum against Florida and had the guts to go for it on 4th and short numerous times. Miles was smart enough to know that with the clock winding down against Auburn, they wouldn't be expecting a last second shot to the endzone. Miles had the guts to take that shot. Today I am proud of the risks we've taken- they've helped us get to the title game. I may sing a different song in 2 years when a gutsy call costs us a win or two. For now, I am all about the hat!!!

Recruiting at Oklahoma St- gotta be a nightmare. You're a D1 school competing in a fine conference, but you don't get first dibs on top level talent. Comparing Oklahoma to Oklahoma St is like comparing Nike to Converse, or Chevy to Kia.

Saban's talent? Give Saban some credit, but Miles has developed these kids into the players that they are. Miles has been here 3 yrs and this great crop of seniors we have now were obviously entering there Soph yr when he arrived. These guys are- Flynn, Doucet, Hester, and Dorsey, Steltz, Jonathon Zenon, Chevis Jackson, Ali Highsmith, Luke Sanders, and about 15 others that you've never heard of. Miles and his asst coaches have done a great job developing these kids.

Argument #2 against the Saban theory- When you come behind someone as the new boss, leader, General Manager, Head Coach, etc, you have the opportunity to look at what your predecessor did right, wrong etc and make necessary changes/ corrections in order to receive better results. This isn't rocket science. Urban Meyer, considered to be a great coach by many, came into Florida and had immediate success. Did he do it w/ Ron Zook's players? Or did he take what Zook had and make it better? IMO, this is what Miles has done.

Who has Miles brought in? Ryan Perrilloux, Brandon Lafell, Demetrious Byrd, Keilland Williams, Trindon Holliday, Colt David (K), Richard Murphy, Danny McCray, Tremaine Jackson, Darry Beckwith, Ciron Black, Richard Dickson, Terrance Tolliver, Herman Johnson, Tyson Jackson, Marlon Favorite, Chad Frikkin Jones and a cast of other young players that will make their presence felt in years to come.

:crystal: :geaux: :crystal: :geaux: :crystal:

 

Tressel is hands down the best coach in college football.[/quote]

I'm guessin' you're not Urban Meyer.