so, this is really it? back to mediocrity?

Full dislosure: never a Miles fan (great man, good recruiter, not a good coach), certified negatiger

I've been watching LSU since the late 1970s, really paying attention since the 1980s. During that time, the school's been through peaks and valleys; however, only a few times were we "elite" or in that class.

However, for the most part, due to any number of factors (weak coaching (1970s, late 80s/90s/present, ineptitute in the AD (late 80s/early 90s), recruiting stumbles), LSU had been a "little better than average also-ran" in the SEC (and nationally).

In the 1980s, LSU flirted with the edge of becoming elite; however, Arnsparger left and the Archer hire derailed that.

In the 90s, Dinardo recognized the potential, put some things in motion that would help later, but he was not the guy to get it done.

That guy was here in the early 2000s and with a Chancellor and AD on board, made LSU elite. He left to pursue his dream (NFL) and LSU made a fateful decision, it hired Les Miles.

For a time Miles held the reins and maintained. Actually getting an NC six years ago with the help of a lot of those other guy's players. With the exception of the 2011 season, since the last of those players left, LSU has been mediocre at best - hearkening back to the mid/late 70s, and mid 90s, when 3-4 loss season and a mid/low tier bowl was the best we could hope for.

The problem is, Miles is still trying to "maintain.". It is his style. It's how he coaches. Little variance to gameplan, weak adjustments (if any). If LSU gets a lead - just hang on.

In the meantime, in addition to the fact that other guy has built a machine in Tuscaloosa (and, sadly, isn't going anywhere anytime soon), other teams (in and out of conference) have become, or are becoming elite. LSU is getting passed by, both in and out of conference.

Now, whether aTm will stay where it is after douchebag leaves remains to be seen; however, Ole Miss is good and getting better, and Auburn appears to be for real - and that's just the West.

It's not going to get any better with Miles as HC. LSU will continue to be undisiplined, will continue to make critical mistakes, will continue to underperform and will continue to lack the mental toughness necessary to soldier on and ALL of that is coaching. It was all laid bare on 1/9/12 and LSU has never recovered.

Since that date, that other guy has owned LSU. He has "made their asses quit" because he knows he can (he's done it before). Sadly, other coaches/programs know it to.

Being elite was fun while it lasted, but we are, in every sense of the word, back to being "average" at best as long as Miles is coach.