The Sword of Inigo Montoya: a screed about "mediocrity"

Good question. If by my tune you mean the above blather, then no, my tune won't change. Expecting LSU to lose no more than 2 games per year, EVERY YEAR, and equating a failure to do so as "mediocrity," is still patently ridiculous. Would it change my perception of Miles as someone who can coach LSU for the next 10 years? Possibly. It'd depend on the next year. If LSU goes 8-4 this year (assuming Arky is ranked when LSU plays them, and LSU loses that game), but goes 10-2 next year and ends up in the SECCG, then Miles is still on the level with Tubs, Richt, et al. But if he follows up 8-4 with another 8-4 in 2007, then we're probably circling the wagons on a Miles-led '08 team.

Keep in mind that EVERY TEAM in the SEC has had at least one season with a 3-loss or worse record since 2003. EVERY TEAM. Now, there are 2 asterisks - UGA's 3 loss season was 2003, when MNC LSU beat them twice. And AU followed up their FIVE LOSS 2003 with an undefeated season. But the fact remains that what you appear to be presenting as a doomsday-type scenario has struck, again, EVERY TEAM in what we consider to be the NCAA's toughest football conference, within the past 3 years. It is still my point that to expect such a season to NEVER visit Tigerland, and for Miles to be "on the hotseat" after only ONE such season, would be an unprecedented level of expectation.

 

Fantastic post.:thumb:

 

Oh no, my friend. I was very unhappy with the decline of LSU football under those two. To this day I have an intense disdain for anything Tepper. That's the whole point, really. We know what "mediocrity" is. We've lived through it. What's out there on the field now is far from mediocre. I guess that's the only plausible explanation for the gloom and doom from some LSU fans. It's like having cancer and going into remission. Life is great, but one little symptom and it's uhhhhh ohhhhhhh.

 

I see where you're coming from. I think sometimes that we (the Miles doubters, not haters) do just the opposite of forgetting how bad it was with Hallman and Dinardo that anything that comes remotely close to their pattern causes fear and the drudging up of terrible memories. I guess it comes with the territory.

Good post, and I agree. This season and the next should determine where Miles will be in the near future.

For me, it's not so much the loss, it's how we lose. I'd much rather blow out pansy teams and lose close games where we come out respected, rather than lose foolishly like against Florida this year, and Tennessee and Georgia last year. If we do lose to every ranked team this year, which I don't think we will, I think Miles time will be ticking...

 

yes i do. but if les is to be compared to any recent lsu coach's situation--its archer, not curley.

 

1. I havent seen any of this "fire Les Miles" crowd, other than a few way to the left supposed cyrstal ball types who say it's going to get worse. I pay them no mind.

2. There's allot of difference in someone voicing their opinion about some plays, players, observations of what went wrong, game analysis, second guessing some coaching decisions, etc.. AND saying we need a new head coach.

3. I don't know of ANY NCAA college football or PRO set of sports fans that DON"T get together and comment and make opinions on play calling, or players and how they play. This doesn't necessarily mean they want to fire the coach or fire bomb the stadium. EVERY school has it's doomsday people. We had them in 2003 and we'll have them in 2025 and they'll be here when we're dead and gone. if everyone agreed it would be a dull world.

Everyone loves a 9-10 win season and a bowl game, but it isn't wrong to discuss each game and critique the system, that's half the fun of it.

If you look at the games we won and the games we lost and do it on the merit of each game alone, you can see the times when we didn't bring our "A" game.
It's not wrong to state this fact. Some blame Miles, they can if they want, and I am sure they aren't all-together wrong.

I do remember what sets the great coaches apart from the mediocre coaches wasn't how well they won, but how well they lost. The great ones accept all the responsibility, then they correct and chew butt behind closed doors. And CLM may be doing that, I dunno. I got to give him the benifit of the doubt at this point.

No one is perfect, Coach Miles and the Tigers won't win every game, they are human. We can only hope He learns and teachs his team through the mistakes so they only get better. I have seen them play and I do know at times they can do better. Don't get me wrong they are great and I love it when they get cranked up.

You said something about a kids report card. If you had a genuis for a kid, you'd hold him/her to higher standards because the "potential" is there. If Coach Miles had to "rebuild" then I don't think the fans would hold him to that high of a standard. Truthfully, it isn't what the fans say anyway, it's the AD and other people in charge.

The point I am trying to make is when they play up to their potential, I really don't think anyone can hang with them. So what is their potential? I guess that is open for debate, but I do think they could have gone 2 out of 3 on the three road games in question. (AU, UofF, and UT.. excluding Arkansas because they were under the radar at the beginning of the season ) As of right now we might go 1 of 3.

Unacceptable? No it's not, it's just heartbreaking because of ( you guessed it ) Playing up to your potential, bringing your "A" game, whatever you want to call it. So some people over react? so what else is new?

Secondly, if someone wants to critique what they see, it is their right to do so. If we all had the same opinion on the pigskin we wouldn't need this forum.

Fire CLM? no way, let's see how he does and see if he can "fix" whatever goes wrong in big games. Besides, it's not so easy to get a "good" coach, much less a great one. Saban didn't start out as a house of fire.

have a great day.

 

Still, Archer never demonstrated Miles' (to this point) recruiting ability. Plus, Archer was too young and inexperienced to be head coach a pressure cooker like LSU. I think Miles knows what he's doing and I don't have any real concerns at this point. That said, losses to UT and Arkansas this year will bring the heat down on him and he'd have to come through big time in 2008, especially with the favorable home schedule. That's reality and I'm sure he's fully aware of the ramifications of an 8-4 or 7-5 finish.

Edit: That's a good post JS. I ignore the fire Miles crowd. I just have a problem with the guys who cannot enjoy a good win because they can't get over earlier losses.

 

For the record. I was pro Dinardo. He came in and brought the magic back to LSU football. He was a good coach. I will always be my believe the Ole Miss loss after beating the #1 gators was the being of his down fall. That game in my opinon cost the Carl Reese his defensive coordinators job and then Tepper came in. Dindaro's biggest fault was his loyalty to his friend Lou Tepper. I know Dinardo had to go, but he was good for LSU.

 

A very good post. I'm in the mediocrity crowd due to Les Miles. You make solid points. What most on here are probably afraid of is once Saban's talent is gone by next year you will start to see the Les Miles guys. Yes, we have some Miles recruits that are doing well as Freshman and sophmores but it seems like we (collectively) don't have the confidence in the coach.

When Saban was here teams were afraid of us. That seems to be missing with Miles under the helm. In addition, if you take Pelini away from this team I think you truly see what kind of coach Miles is. I think we would be in big trouble.

Add to the fact that Miles is not the fiery type of coach that Saban was and you start to get the Miles is "soft" sentiment. Couple that with us losing to two very good teams in Auburn and Florida now you have the voices getting louder that Les is not the right guy for this program.

We want our football coaches to get fired up when people are not doing their jobs. Miles lacks that on the sidelines and I think that is where the overall view of Les comes from. Right or wrong that is the case.

 

Inigo Montoya: Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father prepare to die