Coaches Hotseat: Les Miles and LSU

The biggest thing I have to disagree with when it comes to LSU fans is the rivalry aspect. I don't discount your team at this point in history, but to about every man, everyone on the Bama sideline is looking at UT and Auburn as the two rivals. I saw an LSU fan on one forum say it was LSU v Auburn, but I don't see how that can surpass Georgia or Bama.

Not discounting this fact. Your success has me watching. Of course, I've been watching LSU for years and years.

Care to name one, simply one, example?

I swear PT, you know damn well you have had success in a down period of Bama football. I'm not happy about it. But, the notion that simply because the location has changed and now it has a bearing on the outcome? I'll cite one example. Your home field advantage has worked how well with UGA that wasn't rebuilding?

The only thing Alabama fans worry about when they visit JH is if the sewage lines are working. And yes, that's a true story and the reason I'll never visit West Opelika again. :thumb:

 

I think many of the younger generation fans of both LSU and AU consider us a great rivalry. It's determined the West most years for the past decade and looks to be more of the same for some time to come.

Add to that the intensity and hard-hitting of our games and how close most of them have been, and there you have it: instant rivalry.

 

Gah lee Terry, that sounds like you don't give us much credit, either. I'd have to believe UT and Auburn are far from the only ones being looked at though. The LSU loss seemed to send the season down the tubes.

It was like that was the litmus test for the team and SO much emphasis was placed on that game to the point in which the season was being based on the outcome. I know you are privy to sideline conversations though so I'm not disputing it, just find that hard to believe.

Even USC posters on their forum are beginning to say that, though they don't like him, they see some good things in Miles.

 

Alabama's home field advantage at Legion Field is well documented and leaves little room for debate. Their primary advantage was in controlling the ticket allotments for Legion Field games, which basicall assured them of a home edge in nearly every contest they played there.

And by "down period" in Alabama football, you must be speaking about the past 25 years, correct?

There are actually several "scientific" studies about this phenomenon, one of which appears in The Social Science Journal:

Abstract:

I'm sure you'll be missed ...... :yelwink2: j/k

 

Every team has a place in the history of the NCAA, right?

I understand your thought process about the LSU loss sending the team in a spiral, and in a way it did. But, that was only part of the equation. As example, can you name another team in the NCAA that had to start 8 different offensive lines in a 12 game season? (self inflicted, granted) I DO NOT discount the point of that being a heart-breaking loss to the team. I do have to ask you to weigh how "learning to win again" means something in this sport? That last few minutes was tight on all of us, no? The fumble...

I look not only at the past 2 years, or 6 years, or 10, 20, 30...on how a program is defined. When I saw the news about Billy Cannon my first thought was, "It's about time."

 

I definitely agree. In fact, I'd say, without hesistation, it can be said in any team sport. Our baseball team is a prime example. Have to learn to put 'em away, finish the game...

I also now understand what you meant about programs. Frankly though, not discounting the importance of history (Semantics here :wink in defining a program, the here and now carries more weight in terms of those last quarter heroics imo.

 

Great example!

 

1992 MNC, 1999 (won SECC), 2005 (screwed up and won ten games)

Let's see, 2007-25 yrs comes to around, hmmm (foot tap, foot tap, scratch head with pencil)....uh 1982. I'm not too good in math so check my numbers.

But I will say we've got some catchin' up to do to impress anybody other than ourselves. :thumb:

 

For those who haven't heard it, it seems appropriate to link to the youtube audio of one of Bo's speeches - decide for yourself if Miles and Bo sound alike:

Bo Schembechler THE TEAM Speech