Why Les Miles is hands down Coach of the Year and thanks to our seniors

First, there is no one else that I would rather have coach our team and be the head of our program than Les Miles.

In looking at all the preseason and postseason picks for SEC and National player of the year, freshman of the year, etc., it seems very few LSU players were named (I know, TM7 and Claiborne are now on some finalist lists, finally) on those lists.

At first, that use to upset me, but then I realized - Miles coaches a team. A group of players that actually forms a unit that is more powerful than any one player. If a player gets injured, someone steps up. If a player makes a mistake, on or off the field, another player steps in. Most of our players were high school all-stars and highly rated recruits, as evidenced by our past recruiting rankings, but they don't sulk when they don't start. They don't pout when they only get 10 carries at RB. They don't leave when the going gets tough and they don't bad-mouth our coach when they leave our program.

We have guys like Matt Flynn that stuck around to win a national championship when he could have gone back to Texas. We have a player like Jarrett Lee that has stepped up this year and in past years and kept our program alive. We have a player like Jordan Jefferson that battles back from off field incidents and is welcomed back by his teammates who stuck together to support him while he was out. Those are examples of what a team is and should be. That is why we are successful.

I look at other major programs, like Texas, and see their starting QB (#1 high school QB in the nation his senior year) leave after he was demoted this fall, in the middle of the season no less. Then a few weeks later, a top high school running back at Texas leaves after he was not named the starter.

Thanks to all those seniors that stayed 4 or 5 years to make this program proud. Win, lose or draw this Friday, we appreciate the many thrills that you have provided for the past 5 years. We are proud that you are on our team playing for LSU and not for yourself.

Thanks to Les Miles and his coaching staff for making it all possible. Geaux Tigers.