I'll add in that period LSU turned down Spurrier when he was at Duke and Bowden turn us down because he didn't believe LSU was a stable program even though it had better potential than FSU did at the time.
So wait, you are saying people actually turned down LSU? With all this in state talent and the ability to get a huge huge paycheck isn't enough? You read this board for awhile you would think LSU fans were under the impression that we could pull Vince Lombardi's corpse if we wanted.
Thanks Winston. I didn't know/remember all the fine details and they are very interesting and all this happened around the time I was being raised in lsu football fandom. I remember the success of arnsparger and then the protracted decline. I've briefly researched Mac and saw that his program was good to middling but not truly a regular contender on the national scene. I also recognize the risk associated with cutting loose to aspire to greater things. I think it's worth it; there is no wonder those who don't will go to any end to defend miles. I can't say that mindset is wrong, but I disagree. The most poignant of your excellent post is cautioning about faith in the admin to navigate treacherous waters. I wouldn't be heartbroken if we cut bait with miles if things go south (I do agree that parting ways with miles both isn't going to happen and wouldn't be a good decision with his current and past success) but I would be deeply concerned with our ability to hire effectively, particularly with the BOS involved. I'm a huge proponent of a college football playoff, and I'm excited that well have a four team playoff, but the powers that be enacted about the worst version of a playoff possible. Something about adding money to the equation complicates making good decisions. Thanks for your thoughtful response. Even though this board is heads and shoulders above the other board, there is still too much partisan bickering and not enough thoughtful disagreement / discussion and mutual respect.
Actually Macs teams were contenders up until about 1976. It was a 10-game season in the 60's, so 8 and 9-win seasons were very good and ranked LSU in the top-10 regularly. There were few bowl games then and you damn sure didn't go to one with a 6-5 record, but LSU went bowling regularly. Mac's problem was two-fold. One, he had to play Bear Bryant every year, and Two, late in his career he had issues relating to modern youth and his recruiting dropped off. He had black kids on the team that he really didn't understand and white kids who wanted to wear their hair and beards long like their contemporaries and Mac was stuck in the 50's on that. The big problem was that LSU cut Mac loose instead of bumping him up to the Athletic Director job that he wanted. Mac would have hired the right coaches and our 1980's would have been far better. He proved his skill at administration when he turned the third-rate Tangerine Bowl into a first rate Bowl game, now the Capitol One, when he was Director there. Then he had a long career and distinguished career as President of the American Football Coaches Association.
Does anyone trust the LSU Bos to make the proper hire. Just one person? Probably not. This third part firm is probably the same one that drew toonces
