This team is on one of the most impressive runs since the turn of millennium, of any team in the FBS. I hate to say this but I think the only way Miles will shut the detractors up is to win another championship either this season or next. The man deserves more respect than our fan base gives him, but at the same time, no one and I mean no one is above criticism. I have been a guy who has harped on Les doing something about the offense. I actually think this offense could work if the players executed. I think you will see a different team in Gainsville. If this game wasn't a wake up call I don't know what is.
We can't sustain this for much longer. LSU will soon start to lose out on many offensive recruits. That's been a concern for quite a long time now and I think that it will unfortunately start to materialize very soon.
I would argue that it is you all who need to obtain a firm grip on reality. When comparing Saban's time at LSU to Miles' you have to analyze the condition of the program when they were hired. Saban took on a program that wasn't in great shape. Miles on the other hand came into a completely different atmosphere with Saban having improved the caliber of the program. Any attempt to call me a Saban lover is ridiculous. You can't dispute the vastly different circumstances that were present upon their hiring. To deny this is to deny reality. Continue on with the praise for Miles though. We should remember that Les Miles doesn't define LSU. LSU football will go on without Les Miles. Also, I'm not speaking of him being fired. So, please don't go there. He will not coach the team forever. All I'm saying is that LSU football was here long before Miles and it will still be here long after Les Miles' departure!
As frustrating as it is for many LSU fans, it's twice as maddening for fans of other teams that Miles keeps beating. I just enjoy the wins and anxiously await the next week's contest.
Ok, but what does that have to do with Miles? The only thing Saban really did is win a championship, and installed a defense that was dominant year in and year out. It's not like LSU wasn't loaded with talent in the 90's. It's not like people weren't coming to games. Nick solidified the fence around the state a little bit better, scouted talent a little bit better, but was a far better coach than any coach we had had for close to 2 decades. You can't fault Miles for the situation he was brought into.
I'm not faulting Miles for the condition of the program when he arrived. I'm saying that Miles would not have been able to replicate Saban's success under similar circumstances. People always want to bring up some of Saban's key losses while at LSU or point to our most recent BCS title as clear evidence of Miles' abilities. I disagree with those assessments. Just take a look back at the BCS title season. I will happily eat my words if drastic changes were to occur.
Anxiously awaiting is the problem --- I would rather eagerly look forward to next week, but after last week, I really don't know what to expect in terms of the team's passion thus the anxiety. While I would always rather have LSU win than lose, I hate it when LSU falls short in a game that they don't play their best.
Again though, what does that matter? And to be honest, how do you know unless he was put in that situation? He wasn't. Do you dispute that Les is a great recruiter? I mean if this is all just because he was left with a good program, how has he been able to maintain it for 8 years? I could understand if he pulled a Larry Coker, but he hasn't.
That is not the issue. Who would you get to take Miles' place? There are very few coaches who could have replicated his record here. No we don't have Saban and it was unfortunate the way that situation unfolded. Saban regretted leaving here after the fact but it was a buisness decision for him. But that is water under the bridge. Miles knows football. He is not an offensive guru but still knows what it takes to win. Football has always been about blocking and tackling. Whoever does it best and plays fundamental football usually wins.
