Les Miles' OSU record is not much better: 2001 - 4 wins 7 losses 2002 - 8 wins 5 losses 2003 - 9 wins 4 losses 2004 - 7 wins 5 losses 1-2 in bowls Never beat Texas Blowout losses: 2001 45-17 against Texas 2002 44-9 against Kansas State 2002 49-24 against Texas Tech 2003 52-9 against Oklahoma 2003 55-16 against Texas 2004 31-15 against Texas Tech 2004 33-7 against Ohio State Its hard to compare the two and measure the success they had before LSU. Both coaches were coaching at a second fiddle school in their respective state. Nick Saban was at Michigan State, I'm pretty sure it is hard to get top talent because of Michigan and Ohio State for that matter. Les Miles had to compete with Oklahoma and Texas. I believe LSU hired those two guys because they took 2nd rate schools and made them competitive. I would imagine LSU thought would could these guys do at a school that automatically attracks top talent in the respective state.
But prior to both coaches ever coming to LSU, they were coaching schools that were #2 in their respective states. For Miles, Okla State is always 2nd fiddle to the Sooners...For Saban, Michigan St. hasn't held a candle to Michigan since....ugh....well, since.......oh, hell, I don't think Michigan State has EVER been on Michigan's level...
Tygrr, I'll agree with Atlanta Bengal, Michigan State was/will never probably be on the same level as a Michigan, were as OSU, probably a little easier to recruit.
You are exactly right. Here's what Saban did at MSU in the week to week AP rankings: Saban 1999 NR, NR, NR, NR, 19, 14, 11, 5, 11, 19, 19, 19, 17, 15, 11, 10, 9, 7 1998 23, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR 1997 25, 25, 25, 21, 17, 12, 12, 15, 21, NR, NR, NR, NR, 25, 25, NR 1996 NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR 1995 NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR Previous Coach(es) 1994 NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR 1993 NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, 25, 24, 22, NR, NR, NR, 25, 25, NR 1992 NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR 1991 20, 19, 18, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR 1990 23, 22, 19, 24, 22, 18, 24, NR, NR, 24, 23, 24, 23, 22, 16 Here's what Miles did at OSU in the week to week AP rankings: Les Miles 2004 NR, NR, NR, 25, 25, 22, 16, 22, 20, 19, 25, 23, 23, NR, NR 2003 24, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, 23, 18, 14, 21, 24, 23, 22, 21, NR 2002 NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR 2001 NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR Bob Simmons (without Les Miles who was with the Dallas Cowboys) 2000 NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR 1999 NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR 1998 NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR Bob Simmon (with Les Miles as OC from 95 to 97) 1997 NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, 20, 16, 12, 19, 25, 24, 25, 24, 24 1996 NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR 1995 NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR Pat Jones 1994 NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR 1993 NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR 1992 NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR 1991 NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR 1990 NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR 1989 NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR, NR Also look at it like this: Before LSU hired him, Coach Miles was the head coach at OSU. During 1998, 1999, and 2000, OSU finished 5-6, 5-6, and 3-8. Then Miles took over and went 4-7 his first year, but then went 8-5, 9-4, and 7-5. Miles beat a top 15 team during each of his first 3 years: #6 Oklahoma (2001), #5 Oklahoma (2002), and #13 Kansas State (2003). Before LSU hired him, Saban was the head coach at Michigan State. During 1992, 1993, and 1994, Michigan State finished 5-6, 6-6, and 5-6 (legally 0-11 since they had to forfeit their 5 wins). Then Saban took over and went 6-5-1, 6-6, 7-5, 6-6, 10-2. During his first three years, Saban beat only one Top 15 team: #15 Purdue (1996). In his fourth year (1998), Saban beat one top 15 team: #1 Ohio State. In his fifth year, he beat three top 15 teams: #3 Michigan (1999), #13 Penn State (1999), and #10 Florida (Saban did not coach this game, he had left for LSU). Both coaches were good selections for LSU, but Miles was the better one. When we got him, everybody was calling him and Urban Meyers the two hottest coaches in the country (this was at the same time that ND got Weis, and everyone was saying that both Urban Meyers and Les Miles were the guys to get over Weis). We were lucky to get him, and lucky he wanted to stay rather than go to Michigan.
First of all, that was an awesome post. Thanks for the time it took to look that up. However, Miles was not near Meyer's level and was not a top name. He would be compared to a Houston Nutt this year...sort of mentioned, but not a top candidate. This is not a shot at him as most candidates do not come from the top of a fan's list.
I think you also have to look at MSU prior to little nicky getting there. He inherited a disaster of a program. 2 years probation and sanctions from the Perles era ... 1996,1997 1994: 0-11 1993: 6-6 1992: 5-6 1991: 3-8 EDIT: that 0-11 season is misleading. It includes 5 forfeited games.
I think we all know Les has a set that Saban only wishes he had.....Saban would have had an MI on the field going for it once on 4th down...much less multiple times, sheeesh you'd have had to carry him off on a stretcher like Joe Pa...Its one reason I like Les so much...he has the faith...it doesn't always work, but he's always got it....:milesmic: My question...cuz I was too lazy to look it up and my coffee is kickin' in...did Saban at Mich State ever beat a "big name opponent", like Michigan? Miles at Okie State beat OU twice, as well a Texas Tech and other well respected conference foes on occasion...Saban did the same at Mich State, but did he ever take care of business with the big boys??
