Reflecting on everything before the bowl game and after weeks of agony following the decision to drag Miles through the mud before retaining his services, decided to be somewhat adult and put together a list that @red55 wouldnt 100% hate: GOOD: 1. We are working on a monster recruiting class for 2016 and have a staff of respected recruiters on the trail. 2. Despite it all, we have one more game this season to watch LF7 against a defense our offense matches up pretty well against (that's a hell of a claim, ain't it). We all know The Courageous Tiger, fully submerged at birth in the River Mississippi, is otherworldly on the gridiron. Plus, he's scheduled to return next year. 3. However it was handled, the message has been made loud and clear that what we've seen out of Miles lately is a fireable offense, except politics (money was not the deciding factor, ultimately). The fates deep on the Bayou have granted Miles life and the opportunity to repair at his discretion, which many reluctantly feel he has earned. 4. Rather than Kirby "Saban's" Smart or Will Muskrat, Miles is back. Jimbo would have been a coup and still is reportedly cool with da Tigers and Herman is still on the market and gets to display his mettle against a much more talented Free Shoes squad in ATL, where we once upon a Miles enjoyed a good deal of prosperity. 5. Bobby Jingle, reportedly a Miles croney and all around disappointment, is going bye bye. Hopefully Bel Edwards is wise to the choppy tides Miles has been riding and will not let FKing A repeat the mistakes of the past, should it come to that. 6. We could still win 9 games this year, with a asterisks next to #10 (the McNeese "wait and see, wait and see, no sorry we aren't playing it" game). Like we could say most years under Miles, it could have easily been worse. 7. Bowl game is in Houston, we've had some time to vent and work through the disappointment (somewhat), LSU and TT should be well represented in the stands, and it is a pretty intriguing matchup against teams on opposite ends of the philosophy spectrum. BAD: 7. We had a strong nibble from Felipe Franks, but he's off the hook and we aren't the only angler in the sea. QB, our eternal void, could really use a shot in the arm, and vitamin FF looks like it could only help. Our offense has been in a coma, with no indication that it will come to. The one hopeful sign is that good QBs often look bad early in their career and unless transfers happen we have two QBs with a year under their belt who we were at one point excited to have on board. Please be reminiscent of Mauck and Flynn, no more JJ and Perilloux. It seems likely that Cameron is back, time to earn that fat paycheck for realz, dog. 8. Steele may have been left a depleted cupboard, but our defense has not looked innovatively coached. Here's hoping O sticks around and Steele proves all the haters wrong in Round 2. 9. Miles is one of the winningest coaches in LSU history and will be a beloved figure no matter how this all winds up. He's also done less with more, presided over an increasingly stressed and fractured fan base, and has been on a downward spiral since Saban's mulligan. If he wants to be elevated above Saban for good and beyond doubt in LSU folklore, he needs a huge 2016. The most ardent minion would cheer in the streets if Miles can somehow right this Titanic detour and come out floating. Problem is, negas don't have much to hang our hats on. Miles is going to have to go the way of Mizzou and show me (us). UGLY: 10. BDP is still on staff, our STs is universally panned, and the third estate is still important. LSU has enjoyed great success in years past in this part of the game, has it withered so quickly? At least he can recruit we are told. Recruit BDP, recruit like you never recruited before. And be glad your benevolent master Miles has your back. 11. No Fun will be sniffing around campus imminently and they could really bite our nuts hard. Please sniff elsewhere, leave us be, it's Bama's turn to have an exodus. 12. If hope is not shattered it is at an all time low.
GOOD: 13. Miles came through this whole mess, except for the whole waning program thing, smelling like a rose (or at least rose scented febreeze). He handled the whole thing with class and quirk. 14. Basketball and baseball have high upside, but could also deliver major disappointment. It's an emotional time to be a tiger! C'est la vie; l'aissez les bon temps rouler! Carpe diem! Gracias! 15. We're in the home stretch for Hawthorne; he is the voice of the Tigers, freckles and all. He's given us some classic calls (and miscues). Early returns on his replacement are positive. That's about all the sunshine I can muster. Now, sleep (actually gotta saddle up and Geaux to work). Peace y'all (ala Paula Deen).
Well said. You are a much better writer than red and you spoke truths that he would try to spin into "the Golden Age."
Well it is the golden age and we have taken a slight fall. Les can get us out of it. Hang in there guys. Shoulda been 10 wins but we get 9.
We'll be fine guys. One way or the other. The 2016 recruiting class could be one of our best ever. There are enough returning pieces to next year's team to potentially give us a really strong season. So hang in there. And if the 2016 Tigers aren't up to par, Miles may get his walking papers.
