I don't really disagree with what you're saying but again, they are all issues that are being addressed. Just wait and see, no reason to panic.
No, no, & no. There's a strong correlation between not meeting expectations & a drop off in ticket sales/donations at every program. The fact that it hasn't happened yet is because it isn't a trend - yet. It is not "open ended, unsupported conjecture". Of course they are different. I guarantee that Miles will eventually be fired if he continues to underperform expectations. My PREDICTION is that it will happen this year (again, if he doesn't come very close to expectations).
It's not my job to name one. It's Alleva's. The question is only whether Alleva feels he can find one. No, they certainly weren't 2 years ago, and maybe not even for last year. That's why I wasn't on here saying this those seasons. THIS season is the one that matters, because the expectations ARE reasonable. I'm not writing this season off either. I very clearly stated that my prediction was based on a possible scenario. Why do a bunch of AD's make that same decision all the time?
CParso, I love you to death, and enjoy your posts, but how are you optimistic about a season that is going to be so bad we have to fire our coach?
I didn't say that the season would be bad, or even that we would not meet expectations. I simply made a prediction for IF that happens.
Interesting thread. Rather than take on what does or doesn't happen if Miles wins less than 10 games, how about some sun-shine pumping for the 2010 season? LSU managed to win 9 games last year with a dreadful OL, complete inability to run the ball, and dubious QB play. I say dubious because JJ had a high completion percentage and low interception rate; but he also wasn't good at pre-snap reads (especially to identify blitzes), was afraid to throw the ball except to wide-open receivers, and doesn't yet have the internal clock of when he needs to get rid of the ball. You can argue there's games LSU was close to winning, and games they were close to losing, but the bottom line is LSU still managed to win 9 games with one of the worst offenses in the country. Problems on offense started with the offensive line, which this year seems to have much more talented and athletic depth. Stud worked for Urban Meyer at Bowling Green, and Urban took Stud to Utah with him (Stud returned to BG when offered the OC position). That's a pretty good endorsement from one of the top coaches in the country. Stud did a terrific job in 2007 and 2008 also. I think last year was a combination of less talent on the line, probably some complacency that crept into the coaching staff after the 2007 title, conditioning issues for at least one of the veterans, and what I believe was a change in our blocking schemes to much more zone (like USC's inside zone, outside zone) vs the drive, trap, and pull blocking that you saw in 2007 and 2008. I suspect the blocking philosophy change came from Crowton but don't know that for sure. From what I saw in the spring game we've gone back to the pre-2009 philosophy, which Stud has proved he can coach. Les Miles had good running attacks at Okie State as both offensive coordinator in the 90s and later as head coach, and really last year was an aberration. I think he's capable of fixing the run game, even if it means he sits on Crowton and forces him to be less finesse and more power oriented. I'm not sold that we have a legit QB, and I think Crowton's track record is that he can ruin a young QB (Dennis Dixon at Oregon, before what has happened at LSU). Hopefully a revived run game will take the pressure from JJ and he can manage the offense and get some confidence. He still has the potential to be a pretty good QB if he doesn't start losing confidence. We're fine at WR, RB, and TE. Lots of weapons if our line is better, which I think it will be. With a good line LSU should be able to bury the bottom half of the schedule, which we weren't able to do last year due to offensive ineptness. On defense we replace a lot but I think we have more difference-makers on the field than we have in some time, especially at pass-rushing DE and probably the best pair of starting cornerbacks in many years. Development of the young DTs and OLB will determine how good we are on defense. I think the defensive line improved during the year in 2009, which makes me think Haley is probably ok as a coach, and I think everyone agrees that Chavis is an excellent LB coach and those guys will get better as the year goes on. It's also the second year in the system for the defense. Special teams have been spectacular under Joe Robinson. He might not be much of a recruiter but we've been lights out in every facet of special teams, getting better each year he's been here. We might have the best placekicker in the country in Josh Jasper, and Helton looks to be a very good punter for Joe Rob's style of directional kicking and coverage. We have good returners to replace Trindon Holliday and shouldn't lose much there. I'm not sure if people realize how many games Joe Rob's special teams won for us last year. Bottom line, I still think Stud is a fine coach, the OL has much more talent this year, the coaching staff has been rejuvinated with the addition of Frank Wilson and Billy Gonzalez, plus I think Les has had a fire lit under him compared to the last two years. The team has more talent than in 2009, especially difference makers. It's not a stretch to say a real, live running game means 10-3 is certainly in reach for this team in 2010, and a BCSCG run in 2011 is possible. Of course the wildcard is how much Gary Crowton can be reformed by Les Miles, and how good our QB play will be. But the other pieces are in place most every where else for a nice year in 2010 and a major run at titles in 2011.
That's a big question and not the only one. You are calling for a better coach and you don't even know if such a coach exists! Such are the disgruntled internet fans that Alleva will ignore. How so? We still have to play the last two national champions in a really tough schedule. We still have only the last two LSU quarterbacks that have proven not to be SEC caliber. Reasonable expectations for LSU in 2010 is 10-2 at best, 9-3 likely, and 8-4 possibly. Les won't be fired for any of those records. That's my prediction. I'll bet you a six-pack of Mexican beer if you ever finish that draft you've been chugging for seven years. Who? Who besides Auburn has fired a winning coach and hired a losing one? It really doesn't happen much, you know. AD's fire losing coaches and hire winning ones.
I am not calling for a better coach. Once again, I'm simply making a prediction based on a possible scenario.
