I would say a program grossing over 80 mill a year under it's current head coach is most definately getting it's monies worth.
Hence the comment about return. How long would LSU fans continue to be willing to pay constantly rising ticket/merchandise prices at its current levels, especially in a down economy, if Les keeps producing 8-9 win seasons but can't put up wins over the big boys in the SEC? 2 years? 5? 10? More than ever college football is a what have you done for me lately business, and while some people think 2007 will forever entitle Miles to a HC job at LSU regardless of performance, many others won't be as charitable if the trend of the last 2 years becomes a pattern. I don't pretend to have a crystal ball telling me what 2010, 2011 and beyond hold for this team, and even the biggest Miles-haters know deep down he ain't going nowhere for at least another 2 years, nor should he be sent packing. But what are realistic/unrealistic fan expectations in 2010? This isn't the 90s anymore where LSU fans would kill for an 8-win season and an Independence Bowl berth. For better or worse Saban raised the bar and Miles kept it there during his first 3 seasons. And the further away we get from 2007 and the longer it takes to get back to Atlanta, the more anxious and skeptical fans will get. And there won't always be the green QBs/RB injury/inept OC excuses to fall back on.
The loyal fans that stuck through Bertmans repeated slaps to the face will remain. They renewed their tickets during the Hallman and Dinardo disasters although Bertman ran many of them off when LSU started winning again. What you will lose is many of the wine and cheese, johnny come lately's that TAF brought in. You know, the ones that leave a one point SEC ball game at the end of the 3rd quarter. Either way, 8-9 win seasons are no reason to stop buying tickets, although fans shouldn't be satisfied with a team under performing compared to the talent on the roster. The worst season under Miles has been pretty damn good, something fans should remember. However there is no excuse for the way the defense performed under co coordinators or the way the offense has looked the last two seasons. Things are pretty damn good when the masses are whining and grinding their teeth after a 9-4 season. I'm not satisfied by a long shot, but I do remember the 90's too.
I do not think anyone here on TF would stop buying tickets for 8 9 win seasons, that is not the point. I think the point is after Miles contract, if he continues the recent trend of 2008 and 2009 and only gets 8-9 wins with the O at the bottom of the NCAA and so forth, does miles get a new contract. For some of us it is a NO. No, in no way do I think Miles will get fired. The contract is too huge to do that and Miles is not that bad of a coach to get fired. It is more a matter of what the LSU AD expects from this LSU football team. If Miles continues this recent trend and LSU wins less than 10 games in 2010 and 2011 with insane recruiting classes, I do not see a reason to give Miles ANOTHER contract. I think this is the point most are making.
Who are you going to hire to replace him? Remember you are telling the guy who replaces him that 8-9 wins will get you run out of town.
I couldnt count how many saints games I went to with maybe 100 people in the stands. Even in the late 90's when I would go with my parents to LSU games, no one seemed to care about their record and the stands seemed packed. People still tailgated and so forth.
Couldn’t tell you because I have not a clue who would be available in 2011.. Also, like I said, if the AD of LSU is fine with 8-9 win seasons 4 years in a row an average play from A+ recruiting then that’s fine by me, I will still watch. But honestly, I have more of a problem with GC than I do Miles. I also believe Miles will right the ship this coming up season. I am more speculating on the WHAT IF this trend continues.
Wow, you must have missed the last two years under Dinardo. I could walk down a whole section and still not have anyone around me within 20 seats.
The same type of person who wants to eventually be CEO of a Fortune 500 company instead of the owner of Billy Bob's Auto Repair and Fishing Bait his whole life. High risk (9+ win average), high reward ($4M+ salary). As I recall Dinardo was run out of town on the heels of an SECCG, too. It's definitely a high risk gamble, one that is dictated in large part by fans' wallets. Those wine and cheese fans of Skip's are the ones lining Les' pockets with a 7-figure salary. It's the price of big-time college football. Assumptions are a dangerous thing in a sport like football, but let's say for the purpose of discussion that the scenario I gave pans out. Will fans still be content with what would be a good, but 2nd-tier program with the occasional win over a Top 20 school? Or would they want to roll the dice in hopes of landing the next Saban or Urban Meyer, but with the understanding that such a move could just as well knock the program back down to sub-500 territory?
