We were warned bout "Joe, I am the search"

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Joe Alleva, the ringmaster of last November's nationally ridiculed circus when Miles was almost fired, is "The Search."

Joe Alleva, whose first two head football coach hires as Duke's athletic director had a combined record of 13-90 overall and 6-62 in the Atlantic Coast Conference over nine seasons, is "The Search." Joe Alleva, who hired a Duke baseball coach accused by a group of players of suggesting they use steroids, is "The Search." Joe Alleva, who threw three Duke men's lacrosse players under the bus when they were accused of rape charges of which they were exonerated, is "The Search." Joe Alleva, whose two LSU men's head basketball coach hires have combined for one NCAA tournament win in the last eight seasons, is "The Search."

Joe Alleva, who basically communicates to the outside world via prepared statements, is "The Search." Joe Alleva, once described by former Washington Post columnist and noted author John Feinstein as "everyone at Duke knew that Alleva was a pleasant man whose next original idea would be his first," is "The Search."

Honestly, it's almost impossible for "The Search" to screw up the hire to replace Miles. LSU has the talent, the in-state recruiting base and the money to do whatever it takes to get the coach it wants. The one thing "The Search" finally learned in his 10 years as Duke's A.D. starting in 1998 is he must hire someone with head coach experience.

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Largely a basketball guy who was athletic director at Duke from 1998 until coming to LSU in 2008, his batting average in major sport coaching searches is .166. He is 1-for-6.

At Duke, he was 1-for-3 in hiring football coaches as Carl Franks went 7-45 overall and 3-29 in the Atlantic Coast Conference from 1999 through 2003. Then Ted Roof went 6-45 and 3-33 from 2003 through 2007, including 0-for-24 in the ACC from 2005-07. But give Alleva the benefit of the doubt there as many a good football coach would not succeed at Duke. But 0-for-24?

Finally, Alleva hit gold after the 2007 season with David Cutcliffe, who understandably struggled early but has taken Duke to three straight winning seasons and four consecutive bowls. Funny, though, Cutcliffe never liked Alleva and still doesn't.

At LSU, Alleva is 0-for-3 in basketball hires with Trent Johnson, Nikki Fargas and Johnny Jones. Caldwell and Jones are still coaching women’s and men’s basketball, respectively, and got off to good starts, but have recently taken dives.I love the take charge, Emmert-like spirit, but still, I’m worried. Alleva is 1-for-6, and he's not a people person as Emmert is.

And the bases are loaded with two outs.

A bad hire here, and LSU Football could be set back for five or more years. Yes, it’s a great job.

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