From Stewart Mandel, SI.com Now that Saban has won another national championship in the SEC, and LSU has continued down its long slide toward mediocrity, who is more on the hot seat: Saban to win another national title or Les Miles to win? -- Pearce C., Baton Rouge, La. Miles -- and it's not even close. We're about to find out just how quickly a coach can go from national championship (2007) to the firing squad (2010?) in the SEC, because right now we're watching every LSU fan's worst nightmare play out: Alabama is turning into the kind of program LSU might have become had Saban never left, at the expense of the Tigers. I've been a big Miles fan in the past, but he's lost a lot of his luster the past two years. LSU's slide to 8-5 the year after the title season was forgivable considering how much turnover the Tigers endured that offseason (including at quarterback). This year's 9-4 season seemed more disappointing both because of the Tigers' offensive ineptitude (they finished 112th nationally) and Miles' repeated game-management blunders. There's still plenty of talent in Baton Rouge -- but it's young. LSU is only a year removed from landing Rivals.com's No. 2 recruiting class, and a lot of those guys are going to have step up to help fill the void left by veterans like Ciron Black, Charles Scott, Brandon LaFell, Trindon Holliday, Chad Jones and Harry Coleman. You know Miles must be feeling the pressure when the school's AD, Joe Alleva, felt compelled to write one of those "state of the program" letters to LSU's fans. "Improvements are already underway," he wrote. "We will work hard in the off-season to make the adjustments necessary to compete for a championship in 2010." Miles' record at LSU, by the way, is 51-15. Lane Kiffin, Pete Carroll part of endless coaching carousel - Stewart Mandel - SI.com
Mandel's right, it has been a nightmare, one that we'll continue having for a long time. It's been something that's bothered me since walking out the Superdome after LSU hammered Notre Dame and hearing that Saban was the new Bama coach. I didn't fault him for leaving for Miami because he'd been an idiot not to take the money. I didn't like the way he left but him going to Bama was a sickening feeling. It's taken him a very short time to put the Tide on top of the football world. Bama is 26-2 the last two seasons with a National Championship. I'd say that's nightmarish.
This truly is Miles' make-or-break year. I offer the guy my full support, but if he goes out there and proves that he hasn't learned anything about clock management, or why you can't leave explosive, game-breaking talent on the bench - well it may be time to move on. For me, this is the most troubling statistic (even more so than #114 in offense for 2009): Number of well-played games on both sides of the ball in the past two seasons: Two. 2008 Peach Bowl and 2009 Auburn.
Frankly, I don't care what happens with Saban and Bama, nor do I think whatever he does has any impact on LSU or it's supporting fans. Miles and the Tigers have had a 2 yr down period, something no different than any other program. Don't really see this as any concern other than the spin Dr's trying to give some alarmist fans fuel for their fire.
Disagree. The SEC West is a zero-sum game. If Alabama is on the rise, it affects all of the other teams (especially Auburn).
Not just LSU. Texas, USC, OU, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, Florida etc. Everyone may as well move to Div-III if they want to even have a chance.
whether most will admit it or not, there's a lot of truth to this. i'll never forget where i was the day saban was hired in bama, and thoughts that entered my mind at the time concerning the future and what it could hold for both programs. let's face it, winning a NC isn't going to hurt bama. it's not like they need help in the recruiting dept. the only hope now is that bama never wins another title in the immediate future and the fans/saban start to grumble and become discontent. you know like if bama is winning 9 games a yr and the fan base isn't satisfied. :hihi: but seriously with tenn being in disrepair and AU being down, who is going to consistently challenge the tide every year? ............oh wait, us, that's right. one good thing coming the next two yrs is that bama will have fla on the schedule just like us.
Yeh, that record just sucks. I love how some, including the media, ASSume that LSU will continue down the path it has been on the past 2 yrs, and that Bama is going to continue on the run it has had the past 2 yrs. Every yr brings an entirely new season, new play makers, loss of talent and playmakers, sometimes new coaching, etc. How is the hell can you ASSume that it will be status quo. Oh, I think I can ASSume I know the answer for those that are ASSuming this.
So you are obviously one of those that ASSumes things will continue to be status quo and that things don't change from season to season. Pretty short sighted if you ask me.
