"Seriously, LSU’s Miles can coach"

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Seriously, LSU’s Miles can coach
By Dan Wetzel

ARLINGTON, Texas – He talks funny. He wears his hat funny. He sings “Calling Baton Rouge” in a funny way. He eats grass, of course, and that’s funny. He calls funny plays at the funniest times and even wins games with great comedic timing.

There was even one point during the fourth quarter here Saturday that LSU coach Les Miles shouldered up to a referee and appeared to be telling funny joke. And then there was postgame when he tried to say “Go Cowboys”, only with a Cajun flair.

“That’s spelled G-u-a-u-x,” Miles said.

Ah, no it’s not.

“G-e-a-u-x”

There you go.

Yes, the Mad Hatter is a big joke, until you have to play his LSU Tigers.

. . . because if there is one secret to Les Miles run of success, it’s that for all the funny things that happen in front of the cameras, there’s hours and hours of seriousness when no one is looking.

LSU began preparing its defense to handle Oregon’s fast-break offensive timing just days after last year’s victory in the Cotton Bowl. Throughout spring practice, and then into fall camp, Miles and his staff dreamed up a drill called “tempo” that would condition the Tigers for the challenge.

It featured one defense facing two offenses. One offensive unit would line up and run a play while the other huddled. When the play ended, the second offense would sprint into formation and snap the ball as fast as possible and the defense would have to scramble into position. Then the first offense would huddle and repeat the cycle.

It caused defenders minds to spin and their muscles to burn. It also got them ready to stuff the Oregon offense and negate the Ducks’ usual schematic advantage.

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