Is it really that unrealistic to stock your wardrobe and house with LSU gear (costing loads of $$$), pay $50 dollars a ticket to see the games, listen to the head coach stumble over himself in press conferences his entire tenure, to see this team decline not only one year but the next, possibly worse than the year before, see the team struggle against teams like Miss. State, La Tech, Washington and ULL, see the head coach make another boneheaded mistake with clock management this time to embarrass the university across the nation, and not be frustrated and wanting change? Miles said all last season that his defense was prepared (and they weren't) for the stuff that UF, UGA, Ole Miss and Arky threw at them, and that things would be fixed (and it never was) on both sides of the ball, and this year, he has been saying that things will be fixed (and they haven't been). I predicted LSU would improve and go 9-3, blowing out the OOC teams and executing better. This hasn't happened. So far, most of the wins have been hideous, getting by on talent alone, and the reason so many of us were upset after the first couple of games is because we saw no improvement and the writing on the wall for the rest of the season. It's unrealistic and ridiculous to be happy, content and complacent with what is happening. Over the last two years, LSU has declined majorly since Miles' first three years here. There is no denying this. And while many "realistic" LSU fans have their head up their rear end, many of us are hoping that things will change pretty soon before we turn into Miami. With that said, Miles isn't going anywhere soon. In order to fire him, nearly the entire staff would have to go, and that's even bigger $$$. It's a joke that a lot of us see these top-5 recruiting classes for the last two years being manhandled by Troy, La. Tech, Miss. State, Udub, etc. Great coaching, eh? It's sad when people post on this board that one of their favorite memories in Tiger Stadium was when the LSU defense had a goal line stand against ULL. My, how far we've come. I remember when Saban brought back the tenacious-minded defense my dad used to talk about when Casanova was there. Attacking and always wanting to stop the offense from gaining any yards, let alone just having a good redzone defense. I was used to the Dinardo years, so I was impressed greatly, especially with the 2003 defense. Chavis, on the other hand, is a boring, bend and break (when playing good teams, he just bends when playing wimps) coach that has no LSU defensive qualities. He's okay with giving up a million yards and 3rd downs if it means being decent in the redzone. Many of us LSU fans are defensive purists, which is why we were so happy to see that strong total defense return with Saban, despite it not always being so dominant. There was fire there. Now, lethargy. I'm a poor college student that will show up to the stadium on Saturday to buy tickets as a gift to myself because it's by b-day and I'll have the extra dough ready. I will cheer for the Tigers and stay the entire time, regardless if it's a 63-0 blow out in Arky's favor and in freezing cold rain, because I love the Tigers. I know there is a greater chance now after last week's let down that the Tigers could fall to Arky, but I'm a fan and want to see them play anyway. But I'm "unrealistic." Those of you who think you are better fans than the rest of us also need to chill out and realize that this team means just as much to us as it does to you. In the words of your god, "Have a grrreat day."
and now, having read this i realize for the first time (an epithany of sorts) it really, really, really is all about you!!!! no, really! after this post i wonder how long it will take to rename the stadium? i mean that would be majorly incredible in a myopic sort of way.... i think your pampers need changing
The ledge of the Miles bandwagon. LSUMM, if it weren't for the total incompetence displayed nationally in the final seconds of the Ole Miss game, it wouldn't be as bad (bad, but not as bad). The fact is that Miles was exposed yet again as not having any clue as to how much time is on the clock and what to do in those types of situations. That is frustrating and if it were any other school, the same thing would be happening. The sad part is that the final minutes of the game is the main focus, while the entire game (and the last two seasons) was a coaching fiasco. Even so, if Les Miles sticks around much longer, I still want the Tigers to win.
Good post Punk, I respect it. I don't agree with it in general, but a well written and thought out post. Miles had 3 great years his first 3 here, I don't think anyone disputes that. That proves that he can get things in order and WIN. Then his hand picked DC gets a chance to be a head coach and departs. He has to kick his starting QB (Parade all american) off the team, which given the situation we all agreed was the correct thing to do. Then we cry like babies when we are weak at the QB position and are forced to play redshirt frosh and true frosh or true soph QB's for two seasons. But this is college football, and players come and go all the time. Assistant coaches and coordinators are coming and going all the time. Its hard to get it to all come together at the same time to hit a championship pitch, especially every season. Blue chip recruits turn out to be not so blue chip. Look at Tx. with Colt McCoy as a redshirt frosh, not so good. Now he's in the run for the national championship and Heisman as a sr. Sometimes you have to give people the chance to develop (like JJ) and for all the pieces to come together (Tx recently hired Muschamp from Auburn as the DC, where they were weak). You will not win the Nat. Championship every year. How long are you going to give the coach before you fire him? Two years ago we were all happy with Crowton. He had a 5th yr. sr. starting at QB, and helped us win a nat. championship. You can't say Miles messed up picking the OC that time. It may not work out well in the long run, but it was a solid pick, and the Oregon offense looked very good while Gary was there. For those of us who defend Miles, we don't think he is a god, don't imply that which has never been stated nor implied. You are just making stuff up, and that weakens your case. In judging Miles career at LSU, keep it all in perspective, and ask how many moving parts there are in this program and just how bad is our current record of 8-3, when you picked us to go 9-3 (I did too). We lost close games to #1 and #2 (vast improvement over last year when we got blown out several times). That's what I was looking for, improvement, and we got it on defense. Attacking, bend and not break, I don't care, I just care about wins. Bill Arnsbarger was a pretty good defensive coach in the NFL and at LSU in the late 80's, and he was bend and don't break. I liked the defense this year. I did not like the offense this year. I did not like the QB play last year or this year, but they were a redshirt frosh last year and a true soph this year (and neither was ready for the job IMO). Let's see what happens after the season is over. But the team will probably improve at the QB slot just by virtue of the guys having a years experience under their belt. Amazing how that helps college kids.
I fully understand your position, and agree to a point... but lets see what a new OC does next season. If we still struggle and barely manage 20 points a game then i'll agree it'll be time to look for another HC... but I think due to his success here, he deserves another year to right these last two seasons.
i think you'll get what you want next year. either the tigers will win the west and you'll be happy. or the tigers will falter again and miles will be fired and you will be happy with the change. or.......he could continue to win unimpressively squeak by enough to keep his job with maybe a west win, a loss against whoever in the east, and a cotton bowl appearance. and they'll bring him back john brady style. i'm voting for the first option.
I predicted an 8-4 or 9-3 season. After the Bama game it looked like we were headed for a 10 win regular season, but it didn't happen. What bothers me though is... say Miles does get fired this year or next... there's no garuntee a new HC will be successful here, it'd really suck to get a new coach and end up with a worse record.
