Most of us predicted from 2 to 4 losses. Right now the Tigers are in position to end up with from 2 to 5 losses, depending on whether they are motivated by a trip to the Mister Whipple Don't Squeeze the Charmin' Bowl. OK, we were 7-0. Despite the same old same old 3 yards and a cloud of dust offense and the lack of a killer instinct on defense most of us drank the Kool-Aid. We really started to believe that this team could overcome it's limitations and somehow be more lucky than good and somehow get into the CFPs. Even win. Well, our luck has run out and we aren't good enough to make our own luck. Les Miles has been getting away with mirrors and puppet strings for years. When does 80% become 70% then 65%? When will Joe Alleva and the Board of Supervisors fat cats say enough is enough? Are they going to be satisfied with mediocrity as long as gullible fans continue to buy all the tickets? Let's face it. Miles is not going to be fired this year even if we lose out and end up 7-5. But his ass will be very warm on the hottest seat in college football. I don't know if Joe Alleva has the balls or the authority to lay down the law and tell Miles that he HAS to delegate authority to a good offensive coordinator! I don't really believe we can lay all the blame on Cameron. I can't believe the man who mentored Drew Brees, Phillip Rivers and Joe Flacco chooses to run this offense on his own volition.
IF the mass exodus of fans during the 3rd and 4th quarter does not speak volumes to Alleva, then he should probably be on the same bus Miles leaves town on. Most fans can accept a loss where you are not as good as the other team and just get beat (Alabama), but fan base is not entertained by repeatedly fielding a team that looks un prepared, sloppy, poorly coached, etc.... year after year. The rapid decline is alarming and I think your ultimatum that Alleva needs to lay down to Miles is spot on.
Honestly, Im mad at myself for being fooled again by another win loss record only start. A win is a win true, but you can tell a lot by how the team looks in those wins, and the signs were there folks. But you start to say to yourself, you know, those other teams, hey they are flawed too, and you think that maybe talent will eventually shine and ole Les will pull that horseshoe out again and it happens every now and then, like against UF almost every season. And then you realize you fell for it again even when the truth was stating you in the face all year.
If that's the case though, and Cameron is at fault then why is Harris' footwork crappy, why is bouncing balls off of defender's helmets and throwing it into defender's backs and taking the entire play clock in his own endzone to realize the play clock is at 1, or holding onto the ball for 10 seconds until he sacked and not throwing the ball away? Cam deserves some of the blame for at least the QB not looking prepared.
Fans have been leaving at the end of the 3rd quarter for years. Hell, I see fans in my area pick up their seats and leave at halftime sometimes. Fans leaving isn't going to tell Alleva anything and they'll sell any non renewed tickets to the next yuppie that wants to be seen at the games. Alleva will start paying attention when it starts hurting the pocketbook. That probably means when boosters stop writing checks.
I think Alleva understands the basic feeling of "Tired of this shit", prevelant in the fan base. I think he could nut up and surprise some of you folks.
I agree and I have said this in other posts. I don't think we can 100% blame Cameron. This O looks a hell of a lot like what we have had year in year out. The only constant is Miles. One thing I thought interesting is when we did the fake punt on florida I though "well miles got his balls back, that is encouraging" problem is (and it was apparent after the fact) that he was talked in to the play by the players. I mean what the hell! Who is running the damn team? I know it is going to freaking hurt to rip this bandage off and debrid the wound but if we don't gangrene is going to take the whole thing down eventually. Eventually people will stop paying the inflated prices for games and stop buying the tiger dogs. I mean it is hard to legitimately say lets go spend freaking hard earned money (especially in this shitty economy) to watch a bunch of extremely talented kids be embarrassed because of our idiotic coach. It was said earlier not until the ticket sales start dropping will our idiot AD care. Personally, I have a good TV and cold beer I can watch us get embarrassed year in and year out in big games at home.
A lot of people forget that Mettenberger had three years of eligibility at LSU. I will contend that he had more QB ability in his little pinky than did Lee/Jefferson, yet he did not see the field his first year at LSU. His second year was far from the "savior" material fans thought it would be. He was very good his third season, of course he had tons of help at WR and RB position. I wonder if Cameron has that "long term" mentality with his QB's and thinks Harris will pay off next season?? I don't buy into it because so many other programs can develop a QB quickly and get results (considering the QB is talented, which I think Harris is). For example, look at the Miami QB. They had shi* to work with down there and yet they have developed him. There are many more examples, but I do agree that Cam's development of QB's seems to be on a slow curve, but College Football is not a slow curve.
Here's a head scratcher for you, Miles said today Hawkins didn't practice, he hopes to get him back Tuesday but said if he can't go, certainly KJ Malone is a capable player but we would have to look and see and maybe move someone a tackle around, you never can tell. All KJ Malone did was come in and record 5 knockdowns and not give up a sack, but why would we wanna keep him in that role when we could fiddle around mobs the other tackle to left tackle?
