Step Back and Take a Breath

Bandit88 · Nov 28, 2008

Great post. And I agree.

Can we mail that out to the 70,000+ folks that can't seem to stay in the stadium and support the team in a loss or even a POTENTIAL loss?

I'll stuff some envelopes...

geauxtigs · Nov 28, 2008

Tiger420 said: ↑

It is interesting to hear all the Miles news that seems to crop up every year at about this time. It's also interesting to contrast that news from season to season. Being a fan by definition means that you are rarely able to have an unbiased opinion. Being a College Football fan increases the level of difficulty significantly. So when the rumor mill got fired up last year during a run to a National Championship the majority of the base was holding it's collective breath and vocally supportive of Miles. This year, on the tail end of a season that has missed expectations, records and players are being examined, coaching styles and approaches are under the microscope and doubt has started to sneak into the room.

As difficult as it is, it is important that you see the entire field and not just inside the 20. You can look at records and compare past performances. You can talk about players that the coach did or did not recruit. You can tear into piles of numbers, highlight some and ignore others to support your case. Although there are 50 angles on any of these discussions, everyone has the same root. They love this team, they are disappointed by the season's events and they want things to get better. It should be a healthy discussion and debate.

My simple take on it is this. I am looking for a coach that has good character first and foremost. I want a coach that cares for his players as much as he does the University. I want a coach that is concerned about his players as people first and athletes second. I want a coach that expects and develops good qualities in the young men he leads. I want a coach who inspires leaders and pulls a team together. I want to win but I want to win with a highly respectable program. Sometimes this means that you are going to lose a few people and that you are going to have to make unpopular decisions because your foundational principle is not winning first. To me, the coach that has done this better than most is Les Miles.

I would have loved to return to the SEC and National Championship again this year as much as anyone but that's just not possible every year. Every program goes through the cycle. That's just the way it goes. This team has been hit with a number of significant challenges this year and has had to work through difficult situations. As much as you experience in life you still cannot be prepared for everything that is going to hit you. This staff was challenged this year. They did very well in some cases and struggled with others. If success is your ability to leverage and act upon your collection of experiences then this team and staff should be better prepared for the future.

I think this year was a challenge to do what's best for the players (especially Jefferson and Lee), adjust to the changing conditions and try to put a winner on the field each week. That's a significant body of work. We as arm chair coaches and QB's have the luxury of being able to sit back, evaluate and compare and formulate our opinions without the added pressures of a responsibility to players, boosters, Alumni, fans and everyone else that has a stake. These are the times when you learn a lot about yourself, your team and those around you (including us as fans).

Personally, I am going to wait and see what happens this off season. There are some difficult decisions to make and a lot of reflection that needs to be done. If you have faith that we have the right guy then you should be confident that the right moves will be made. If I look back over the last few years and consider the challenges that have been faced and overcome then I am delivered a great sense of confidence that it's all going to be just fine. Think about how Miles' career began in 2005. Not many have had to face those circumstances and deliver a winner. Also think about the genuine devotion this coach has to the players, the university, the fans and the state. Finally, take a moment to look across the landscape and realize that in spite of the wins and losses this year we are in a great place. We have a damn fine football program a damn fine coach and damn fine University. A lot of folks would love to be where we are now.

Have a great day!

Happy Thanksgiving

:geaux:
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:geaux::crystal::helmet: Tremendous post!! Agree with every part of it. CLM and the team need our support now more than ever. Think about how many times they've picked us up over the years. All loyal fans need to let their voices be heard over the bandwagon and fairweather fans. I'm glad we have Coach Miles and I know he'll make the decisions necessary to get LSU back on top in 2010. :geauxtige:champs::LSU231:

geauxtigs · Nov 28, 2008

Herb said: ↑

As a Saints and Tiger fan, I would love to see either team gobble up Greg Robinson as defensive coordinator. How can we start a campaign to make that happen?
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:geaux::crystal::helmet: Wouldn't be a bad choice. What about John Chavis from Tenessee? He's had some great defenses up there over the years and knows the SEC obviously. I think this year his talent level was down compared to previous years. If he was working with LSU's talent the results would be like daylight and dark! Just throwin' that out there. There are many other good choices out there, I just think Chavis would be a great option. The main thing is to correct the Co-Def Coord. disaster. Peveto and Mallory are good position coaches and I hope that's what they go back to at LSU. I don't think they have to be fired, just replaced as Co-DC's. I've got confidence CLM will take care of this shortly after the season is over. :geauxtige:champs::LSU231:

Zardnok · Nov 28, 2008

Hell yes! The OP summed up my feelings pretty well. I had almost the same conversation with my Father in Law yesterday after dinner and a few days earlier with my step-father from Seattle who called me up to tell me that Washington was trying to get Les Miles and was willing to pay for him. I laughed at him. He can take my mom off to Washington, but he can't take my coach!

lawildbull has it right when he says, you coach at practice and manage at a game. CLM gets that.

:geauxtige

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Step Back and Take a Breath

Bandit88 Old Enough to Know Better

geauxtigs Tigers Forever

geauxtigs Tigers Forever

Zardnok Freshman

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