By rotating, I'm assuming you mean splitting the series, every other year kind of thing. No way, Ole Miss, Arkansas, should have the talent to hang with that kind of consistency. What you're describing is just the same thing that has plagued LSU these past few seasons. I don't see that at all. It's Alabama, Florida, LSU with a shout out, talent wise, to Auburn and Georgia (plenty dangerous) and then everybody else. The season records each year should reflect that. Which means "every dog has their day", "blind squirrels" and all that stuff.
While, in the past I would agree with you, and in reality this is more than likely the case. My point is that a strong factor for a coach to keep their job is that they can't continue to lose to their rivals, that they have to at least split those series over time. History shows that Ark and Ole Miss will be on the losing end more often than not, but recent history has the Tigers on the losing end of these rivalries. A fact that will cost Miles his job should it continue. I would also point out, don't take these 2 foes lightly or Bama will end up on the losing end in these matchups. Like it or not, right now with the coaching and talent they have, both are poised to give the top dogs in the SEC a run for their money. Taking them lightly will be a huge mistake on the gumps part. As you point out "every dog has their day", well their day could be now.
Is it becuase he came from a basketball school? He did play QB in college. That has to give him some credibility.
I don't think so. If all we lose to are top-5 teams then LSU is being highly competitive. He's keeping us within reach and there is not much more that you can demand from a coach. It takes a lot to win a title besides coaching. It takes a good schedule, no key injuries, talent (and Miles has done a superb job of that), and a lot of luck. We are not going to win every year, nobody does. Bama and Florida don't either and that is important. Those teams also have issues. What is important is being competitive over the long term and then the trophies will come.
No, it is because he initially drove the bus over the LaCross team from Duke a few years back, rather than show them support.
There's not really any evidence to back it up besides the usual "sources" and rumor-mongering, but it's based on the feeling shared by quite a few people, myself included, that Miles wanted to replace Crowton at the end of the 2009 season and Alleva refused to eat the buyout, possibly for political reasons due to the round of university layoffs and hiring freezes at the time, possibly because he doesn't have a whole lot of faith in Miles' HC abilities and wanted to saddle him with Crowton, or both. Given the way he handled the Duke lacrosse team scandal, I tend to believe politics is playing a significant role here. It ain't the same as when Skip was running things and, whether you agreed with what he did or not, you always knew he had the best interests of LSU athletics in mind.
Not arguing, but how do you think that translates into hiring a coach. If we do have to hire a new coach, what do you fear Alleva's politics will result in?
Alleva could end up hiring a great coach for all I know. He did hire Trent Johnson, and while I like his coaching philosophy, the jury's still out on whether he'll take LSU basketball to a higher level than Brady. I simply suspect that he doesn't like Les Miles for the HC job, and that if he could replace him relatively cheaply, he would, and that naturally depends on Miles' performance this season. I also suspect that if it comes time to hire a new coach under his watch, Joe Alleva will do what's best for Joe Alleva, not necessarily LSU. He's a hire like Michael Martin and Lombardi where I wonder what hole the LSU Board of Supervisors dug him out of.
At the same time, I wouldn't say we should be splitting with them. No one can prevent the exception to the rule. The rule is, talent and coaching win out. We'll see what happens, fortunately, the running game is the easiest to coach. Offensive lineman love it. Nothing gets a team more excited, then shoving the ball down someone's throat. It takes all the pressure off the quarterback, rolling out or not is immaterial. Having Joe Montana reflexes is a moot point. The blue print should be easy to see, just prepare like it's us.
