Article about Coach Miles

John, that isnt an opinion, it is why the comparisons are made. You are assuming people look deep into an issue, which isnt anywhere near the truth.

No

 

I'm just saying that the author of the article we are discussing is ridiculous. The guy isn't that great as a sportswriter (which is why he is writing for some amateur blog instead of writing for a legit media outlet). Now, speaking of legit media outlets, let's look at Rivals.com. They currently rank Les Miles as the #4 coach in the country, behind Carroll, Tressell, and Meyer, and ahead of Stoops, Richt, Beamer, Grobe, Tuberville, Mack Brown, Dennis Erickson, Spurrier, Saban, etc etc etc. http://collegefootball.rivals.com/viewCFSE.asp

 

To be fair, that isnt a list of best coaches, rather who is hot at the time. For example say USC loses to Idaho in a game...Pete would fall 10 spots. However, I dont think is realistic. I get your point, just wanted to argue it.

 

comparisons with these coaches are only valid if they inherited winning programs like clm did. huge difference between inheriting talented losers and talented winners---its the difference between dinardo's teams and saban's teams.

what saban did was amazing. the toughest thing to do. regardless of how well clm does, we'll never know if he was "capable" of doing the same. (not that i care)

 

Well, let's look at the list.

Coaches that took over teams that were powerhouses (consistently in top 10 under previous coach):
Jim Tressel, Ohio St (John Cooper, who would win 10 games before losing to Michigan)
Lloyd Carr, Michigan (Gary Moeller, who had about the same success as Cooper)
Dennis Erickson, Miami (Jimmy Johnson: 1 MNC and 2 more appearances in bowls that would decide MNCs)
Dan Devine, ND (Ara Parshegian: 2 MNCs, including the year before he left, and denied AMAB one in his last year)

None of these guys are considered the best ever at that school. Les Miles fits best in this group, but only because LSU was only 2 years removed from a MNC.

Coaches who took over consistent winners, but not powerhouses
Urban Meyer, Florida (Ron Zook)
Barry Switzer, Oklahoma (Chuck Fairbanks, I think)
Gene Stallings, Alabama (Bill Curry, who was always hated by the AMAB Faithful, but had some pretty good teams, including a 10-game winner the year he left)

Again, none of these guys are considered the best at their school. Saban took over LSU in similar circumstances, mainly due to the previously mentioned talent left by Dinardo. (This is also the situation Saban stepped into at AMAB, despite what the AMAB fans want to tell you.)

Coaches who took over teams that had fallen into a 3-year, or more, losing pattern:
Bob Stoops, Oklahoma (The John Blake/Howard Schnellenberger years are not remember fondly in Norman)
Pete Carroll, USC (Bringing back John Robinson was a mistake)
Lou Holtz, ND (Gerry Faust--need I say more?)
Ara Parseghian, ND (Joe Kuharich--only ND coach, including Gerry Faust, with a losing overall record)
Frank Leahy, ND (Not sure who was coach before Leahy, but he wasn't exactly memorable)

This is the pattern Dinardo stepped into, and obviously nobody thinks he is anywhere near the coach these guys are/were.

Coaches who built a winning tradition where none existed before:
Knute Rockne, ND

Hard to say which situation is tougher, due to the vast number of variables. That said, clearly the personality of the coach will dictate how well they can handle each of these situations. Miles was under a lot of pressure last year and handled it pretty well (very few people in BR would have settled for less that a MNC last year). It will be interesting to see how his teams develop when the expectations aren't quite so high.

GEAUX TIGERS (Have a Great Day)

 

Unfortunately for Coach Miles, he will have to live with this stigma until the team is completely his and his players perform to the same level that he has been able to coach the recruits that Saban landed. Granted most of the players over the past 2 yrs never really played for Saban, the shadow still remained. Like the saying goes, "you never want to be the guy after The Guy". Miles has not disappointed the Tiger faithful. and I don't believe he will let up. LSU will have winning teams for a long time to come under Miles. He has proven to be and excellent recruiter, a top notch developer, intelligent with his hires, and successful at all he has done as our head coach.

 

Exactly my point, the media can make this go on for ever if they so choose. The program never would be back on the map if not for Saban, we wouldn't be landing the recruits and coaches if not for Saban, the facilities would not be where they are if not for Saban, and so on and so on. The stigma can go on forever, but as a fan I feel the last 3 yrs have been all Miles, regardless of what some sports writer or some fans may want to believe.

This same stigma could be placed on almost every succesful coach out there, if the media so desired. Fortunately for me I am a believer in the now, and now it is Miles era, and he is doing a damn fine job. I think his teams are some of the most exciting that I have watched in my life time of watching LSU and college football. His gutsy play calling is what it is all about. Be a gambler and take risks. Some times they pan out some times they don't, but if you don't try you can't have the opportunity to succeed. Miles is successful, and I look forward to watching His teams for a long time to come.

 

Idiotic comments like these in an idiotic thread like this keeps this argument alive. Let it go, move on, and enjoy the greatest era of LSU football ever.

 

Now, are you sure that Hookfin belongs on that list? He was a playmaker--for the other teams.