Les Miles and the Program

I graduated from LSU with my bachelor's degree in 1995 and then again in 1998 with my masters. My first football game was 1990 when an Archer-led team defeated Georgia. While I had been an LSU fan growing up, it was the first time I attended a game...I LOVED IT! Yet, the years that followed were tough... As the years wore on, we learned to find satisfaction in the little things: a long TD to Todd Kinchen in a driving rainstorm against Florida St., a devastating block against Texas AM by Odell Beckham, short lines at concession stands because there were so few people at the game, etc. We were never able to be excited about our season, our program. We settled.

With Dinardo, Saban, and Miles that all changed. Under Miles we have had an eleven-year stretch of seasonal excitement and our program is nationally respected. We won more often than not, much more often than not. Proudly, I wear my LSU hat in NYC. Yet, my friends and I faced a new series of frustrations—ones that come with winning. Over the years, we couldn’t understand why Miles would take a player out of the game after he just gashed a team (literally, sometimes we wouldn’t see that player again). It seemed EVERY time certain players were in the game (Trindon), the ball went to them. My eight-year-old nephew starting guessing plays based upon formation. The utter failure to develop a passing offense. The refusal to get creative with our talent (i.e. Guice and Fournette in the same backfield) Etc…

Yet, we are relevant again! For so many years running, we have been a part of the national conversation due to Les Miles. He has built a program that I am proud of!

I realize that it is time to move on. Frankly, I was very excited because it seemed that we were moving on to Jimbo Fisher. While I do not know if he will be successful here (I suspect he will), he is the kind of coach that you move onto from a Les Miles. Now, the word is there is no “done deal” with Fisher and Tom Herman (or someone of his ilk) may be the choice. I think it will be a sad day for the program if we let Miles go (and considering HOW it was done) only to settle once again.