It is fascinating to see the two views of Les held in Tigerland polar opposites. One minute he is a bufoon,an idiotand embarassment to all. Vilified everywhere. The next he is Uncle Les hero to his team and our lovable if some what zany guy who just may be the key to another NC. After the Tenn game he had few defenders and more flame shot at him than one can imagine. After Fla with similar end of game performance he is lovable Les to most. How does he do it or better yet why do we have such a schitzoid view of him? I think our main problem with him is that he isn't Nick Saban the uptight relentless, prepared type A winner take all terror. He doesn't have every move programmed out before the game. He is not a machine However two things save him. First he is a GOOD man and has done 99% of the things required to be a champ. He inspires loyalty in his players and is a happy man. His fault is that he is emotional and his emotions can interfere with his thoughts and actions at the wrong time. Will he win as manygames or NCs as Nicky? Probably not. Will he sometimes drive us to distraction? Probably Yet there is something positive that makes him better for the team (kids) school and better for us as our coach. What do you think?
I think he is a good man, a world class recruiter, a father figure to his players but not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Loyal and maybe stubborn to a fault (sticking with JJ when everything points to JL as being the better choice at QB at this time) and seems to have luck on his side most of the time.:miles: But, to answer your question: he is neither an idiot nor a saint/savant.:nope:
I agree there is also some of Charly Mac there as well (missed it by just that much chief). He is portrayed as one or the other by so many in this forum and it seems everywhere. The divergence of the camps it the amazing thing. It seems broad and deep a dissagreement as could be.
I used to think the former, but now I'm convinced that Les Miles is a genius. He's operating on a level so high that us mere mortals can't even begin to comprehend it.
I don't know why this isn't obvious to everyone, especially those from Louisiana. Miles visited a Voodoo Queen when he first moved down there and uses black magic to control games.
The question I have been pondering... Does his risk taking (and often hitting on those risks) offset any perceived ineptitude? In other words… How many games has his “Mad Hatter”-ness won vs. how many lost? It’s a least a push, if not favoring his side. So, despite the frustration that I feel at many times while watching the CLM-led Tigers, I am committing to try with every fiber of my being to just sit back and enjoy the ride.