Picturing the two (CLM and CNS) faces in my mind, along with their expected facial expressions and the expected words coming out of their mouths under several different circumstances best illustrates WHY I like CLM more than CNS. Remember, picture the expected facial expressions! Recruiting my son to play... In the locker room after a win or a lose... on a Monday, after a win or a lose... in times of condolences, such as a parent passing away... OK, has CNS facial expression changed in ANY of those situations in your mind? It hasn't in mine. It's either accomplish the mission and win the NC, or it's doomsday. What about CLM? I see a man capable of having the appropriate and varied emotion here. Basically, with CNS I see great success, but little enjoyment. With CLM I see really good success, and someone who makes it a point to stop and smell the flowers along the way. Now, does CLM drive me absolutely bat shit crazy at times? Absolutely! But there's a balance with CLM that I just don't see with CNS. I can't help but like the man and his heart. Can you say the same about CNS? While I'd love to win championships every other year, I 'd hate to see my ultra successful head coach on TV every night with a frown on his face explaining how we failed, even if we won. As I've heard before, there has probably been no person who, on their death bed, has said, "Lord, I wish I would've spent more time at the office". I can't help but think CNS will not be any different, even if on the surface I think he could be the exception.
My fingers are cramping as I type this, but Saban is, arguably, the best coach, at least at a top flight school, in the country. Miles is among the top ten coaches in the country. So, you are willing to lose a top ten coach in the off chance that we might be able to find somewhere a coach that can beat the best coach. Gotta tell you, I don't like those odds.
I estimate Miles vs Saban discussion now rank 2nd behind porn for overall internet content. Let's see if I can answer the question....I am a supporter of Les Miles. I also acknowledge (hold on to your hats) that Nick Saban is a better football coach than Les Miles. There!! I said it!! He knows more football and he is more successful than Miles. It can not be denied. Guess what? He's more successful than anyone in the business right now, and no one you would bring in to replace Miles will change that. We love Les Miles because he's 102-27 as LSU's head coach. But break those numbers down a bit. In the toughest conference college football is ever seen, Miles is 52-15 in the regular season against any coach not named Nick Saban. That's a 78% winning percentage. He's 36-16 against any top 25 opponent not coached by Nick Saban. That's 69%. And he's 45-2 outside the SEC, both losses in bowl games. His recruiting classes are among the best in the nation every season, and he's done it with nary a hint of scandal. One assistant recruiting one player popped up on NCAA's radar under Miles. That coach was shown the door and the player's recruitment ceased. Miles' scheme of offense is maddenly out-of-date, and he butchers the English language on occasion. So the fuck what? He wins, he wins consistently, and he does it without cheating and without having officials in his pocket. LSU football is more respected nation-wide than ever. I was having a phone conversation with a guy in Michigan Thursday, and during a lull in the conversation, he said,"btw, Go Tigers, I hate Alabama." (he was a Sparty, not a Wolverine) Miles' major flaw is he has trouble beating Nick Saban. Know what? So does every coach in the country! Don't be fooled by Stoops last January. 'Bama under Saban routinely lays eggs in bowl games that are not the NC game. Stoops isn't leaving OU anyway. Any coach you brought in to replace Miles will have the same problem, with no guarantee they would manage the same success in other areas that I pointed out earlier. Finally, if championships are all that matter, ask yourself two questions: what might Miles' championship resume look like today had Saban not chosen to take the Bama job, and how is it Miles' fault that he did?
I can say in one word why the fans like CLM: integrity. How many coaches in CFB today have this? Saban, I don't think so; in fact, an emphatic "no" to that. Who would I rather have coaching my team? CLM, hands down.
We're not stating why we like Les Miles because most of us here have been on this board for years, and we know whether we like him or not. There's plenty of people on both sides of this issue, and it has been discussed ad nauseum. You stroll onto the board and choose to use your first post to whine and complain like a three-year-old who lost his favorite teddy bear. That probably won't buy you much credibility, nor will it make us answer your slanted question.
Ok, genius, I'll bite. - He wins a lot. - He's charismatic. - His teams are exciting and competitive. - He recruits top-ten and sometimes top-five classes. - He has never lost a non-conference game in the regular season, despite playing some very tough teams. - His tenure has been the driving force in: getting LSU on TV more often, and in more marquee time slots, increasing the value of LSU Football by millions of dollars, Tiger Stadium expansion. - In nine complete seasons, LSU has finished in the Top 20 nationally eight times, and in the Top 10 five times. - He has turned down his alma mater twice, because he likes it here - In a decade when we've seen powers like Tennessee, Florida, Auburn, Georgia turn in hot-and-cold (and sometimes awful) seasons, LSU has stayed at or near the top. - Outside of very minor violations, the program has been squeaky clean. - He's "only" won it all once? DUDE WE'VE ONLY DONE IT THREE FUCKING TIMES, EVER!
My view on Miles is really has more to do with him being our coach period. Since I live in Oklahoma City I've seen him from the beginning of his head coaching career. I watched him get destroyed in the Big 12.My beef is why was he hired. I hear people say that the way that he coaches is his style. That's not true. At Oklahoma State they are still running the same spread offense that they ran when he was there. He has maintained the success at LSU and I'm grateful for that. When does he take this program to the next level. All great coaches adapt to the game and improve their skill set. If he is willing to realize that College Football has changed and take the chances to improve the long term results I would be in on him. We're losing 2-3 games right now if we change and lose 2-3 games while building for the future. I just can't handle the same mistakes every year.
