Miles on the hot seat despite chance to finish season 10-3 @ TigerDroppings.com

Miles on the hot seat despite chance to finish season 10-3

by Chicken on Nov 22, 2009 at 10:44 pm	Comments (113)

Before Saturday's loss to Ole Miss, LSU was sitting at 8-2 and ranked No. 10 in the country. LSU had a realistic chance to finish the season 11-2, with its only losses coming to the No. 1 and 2 ranked teams in the country. Despite an anemic offense that has ranked amongst the worse in the nation, Miles could have kept his detractors at bay, at least for another season, by winning out.

Fast forward to today, when an overwhelming number of LSU fans are bewildered and embarrassed with how things unfolded in the waning minutes of yesterday's game, and are left wondering how Les Miles recovers from this.

Les Miles is now 7-8 in the SEC over the last two seasons, with a realistic chance to be 7-9 after this week's Arkansas game. Although Miles has an overall record of 50-14 at LSU, and this year's team can still finish the season with 10 wins, he will be judged less by his overall record and more by his SEC Titles, or SEC Title chances. Having a losing record (or non-winning record) in the SEC over the last two seasons will not help matters.

Consider this: since the post-Dinardo era, LSU had not gone more than two years in row without being in the SEC Championship game...until now. We played in the SEC Championship Game in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007. We will miss that game this year, which leads me to this: what does Miles need to do in 2010 to keep his job for 2011? I would imagine that he has to win the SEC West and/or play in a BCS bowl, at a minimum. This means that he will likely have to do what he hasn't done since 2007, which is win SEC games in November. LSU has now lost six straight SEC games in November. The last November conference win came against Ole Miss in 2007.

In November, LSU traditionally faces Alabama, Ole Miss and Arkansas, who are coached by Nick Saban, Houston Nutt and Bobby Petrino, respectively. These three teams will provide the toughest challenge to LSU winning the SEC Western division next season. Miles has now lost two in a row to Saban, three in a row to Nutt, and could lose his second straight to Petrino. Add to that two in a row to Urban Meyer's Gators and Miles is faced with a daunting task.

A continuation of Miles' losing streak to these coaches next season could spell the end of the Les Miles era at LSU.

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Posted by ShortyRob on 11/22 at 11:35 p.m.
With two of the most absurdly lucky victories in this history of college football.


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Posted by wahoocs on 11/22 at 11:35 p.m.
I think it's worth mentioning that when Miles gets beat this Saturday, LSU finishes FOURTH in their DIVISION. That's pretty remarkable for a team that was BCS #8 yesterday. He could have sufficed me with letting Crowton go at the end of the year, until the events unfolded yesterday.


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Posted by Chicken on 11/22 at 11:35 p.m.
quote: With two of the most absurdly lucky victories in this history of college football. Mississippi State and who?


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Posted by ShortyRob on 11/22 at 11:37 p.m.
quote: Mississippi State and who? UGA


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Posted by Chicken on 11/22 at 11:39 p.m.
Rob, to call the Georgia victory one of the "most absurdly lucky victories in this history of college football" is, well, absurd.


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Posted by ShortyRob on 11/22 at 11:41 p.m.
quote: Rob, to call the Georgia victory one of the "most absurdly lucky victories in this history of college football" is, well, absurd Oh cmon now. I know we love LSU but let's face it, after UGA scored, a few things kinda went our way, now didn't they?


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Posted by Hill Tiger on 11/22 at 11:41 p.m.
Any chance that Miles knows that he is a major frick-up?


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Posted by graychef on 11/22 at 11:41 p.m.
quote: I think it's worth mentioning that when Miles gets beat this Saturday, LSU finishes FOURTH in their DIVISION. I have a feeling that LSU wins Saturday. Not sure why. But just a feeling. I guess because I'm hoping the alternative does not happen...like finishing second in the game.


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Posted by Chicken on 11/22 at 11:45 p.m.

quote:
after UGA scored, a few things kinda went our way, now didn't they?

Rob, how long have you been off your medication? I wouldn't describe our last drive in the UGA game as being absurdly lucky. Comparing our goal line stand against MSU to our game winning drive against UGA makes no sense. They aren't even close to being the same.

Anyhow, this isn't about games we could have lost but won...every team wins games that they could have lost, and vice versa.


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Posted by wahoocs on 11/22 at 11:46 p.m.
I'm having a hard time seeing this beat up squad muster up enough to sacrifice themselves for an imbecile. We will have to score points to beat Arkansas. How do you propose that offensive production gets coordinated? They couldn't do it with a healthy QB and two senior RB's with NFL potential.


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Posted by AlwysATgr on 11/22 at 11:48 p.m.
Chicken - not trying to be a horse's rear but does this mean you're adding Les to the "hot seat" list on the Coaching Changes board?


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Posted by LSUtoOmaha on 11/22 at 11:48 p.m.
Hell We could've beaten Ole Miss yesterday and we had a shot vs. Bama. What the hell is your point with all this "close to being" bullshite? We are what our record says we are.


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Posted by Chicken on 11/22 at 11:50 p.m.
No, because Les has a slim chance of being fired after this season.


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Posted by cardee2003 on 11/22 at 11:51 p.m.
we are beoming an average team and we shold be coached by a average paid coach


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Posted by garrettpz71 on 11/22 at 11:53 p.m.
quote: With two of the most absurdly lucky victories in this history of college football Les has had quite a few of those over the past 5 years.


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Posted by ShortyRob on 11/23 at 12:04 a.m.
quote: No, because Les has a slim chance of being fired after this season. And honestly, I don't believe he will be either. I simply believe/recognize that what we witnessed is the beginning of the end for Miles. This aint the NFL. You don't get to draft players. If they think you're an idiot, they don't have to go play for you.


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Posted by Chicken on 11/23 at 12:07 a.m.
quote: I simply believe/recognize that what we witnessed is the beginning of the end for Miles. Not so sure about that...I feel much better about our chances next year with a junior QB, and a more experienced line (well, at least the center and one guard and a tackle will be back)...


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Posted by LSUsmartass on 11/23 at 12:08 a.m.
quote: No, because Les has a slim chance of being fired after this season. If what people are saying about the CST replay of the game is true, its going to be more than a slim chance...IMO of course


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Posted by ShortyRob on 11/23 at 12:09 a.m.
quote: Not so sure about that...I feel much better about our chances next year with a junior QB, and a more experienced line (well, at least the center and two guards will be back).. Two things. 1)NOTHING about the last two years indicates to me we can expect much from our OL with this staff. 2)Did you see the face of that QB after the game? He thinks Miles is a bigger idiot than I do.


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Posted by Factsman on 11/23 at 12:11 a.m.
I woulda already fired him. But herd from high upper no shot he gets fired this yr no matter what and this guy wants him gone too


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Posted by LSUsmartass on 11/23 at 12:12 a.m.
Facts I bet you know some really high ups, talk to a few more and tell them to do what it takes.


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Posted by Factsman on 11/23 at 12:14 a.m.
I been trying all day


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Posted by LSUMafia on 11/23 at 12:17 a.m.

I think even worse than not getting to the SECCG is two things.

First, LSU under Saban, despite coming off a 3-9 season, either won the west or got a share of 2nd in the division every single year. If LSU should lose to Arkansas and Ole Miss beats MSU, then LSU will have finished 3rd two years in a row in the west by choking in November.

Secondly, we have 7 wins in the SEC the past two seasons. The only dominant win has been Auburn this year. We nearly lost to MSU two years in a rown, nearly lost to Auburn last year, and have lost to Ole Miss and Bama twice and Arkansas twice (potentially three)straight times.

While Saban had an 8-5 year in 2002, 2 of those 5 losses were OOC to top 15 teams. This happened despite losing our starting QB and required a blown coverage in the Arkansas game to not make the SECCG that season.


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Posted by RockChalkTiger on 11/23 at 12:18 a.m.

OK, silly theory, but over the last 24 hours I've heard plenty, so here goes:
LSU Baseball NCs (before this year):
1991
1993
1996
1997
2000
LSU Sugar Bowl appearances:
2001
2003 (NC)
2006
2007 (NC)
2010?
Would a Sugar next season (BCSCG is in Arizona) be enough? Tebow is gone. Bama & Ole Miss are at home. JJ is a year older, most of the D is back.
Is a SEC CG appearance and a BCS at-large that unrealistic? Especially if Crowton is gone and Miles is coaching for his job?


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Posted by LSUsmartass on 11/23 at 12:18 a.m.
Tell them to come together as private donors and make something happen


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