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Wright Thompson: The Obsession of Les Miles
Posted on 11/14/12 at 3:43 pm
Posted on 11/14/12 at 3:43 pm
LINK
***Also, the Behind-the-Scenes podcast on writing the entire story***
LINK
quote:
"Any lesson learned is a scar," he says. "Any open sore is a wound. You want to show your scars. Be proud of the lessons learned."
"What is the loss in the BCS championship game?" I ask.
"Both," he says.
In the Superdome last January, Miles and his Tigers came out in the biggest game of their lives and did not fire. Alabama won 21-0, and in the process took something even more precious than a national title. The Crimson Tide made LSU look structurally inferior, made Nick Saban seem able to find answers to questions that Miles didn't know to ask.
quote:
When the kick slips wide left, something happens. The carefully constructed circle breaks. Everyone can feel it: the crowd, the suddenly conservative defense on the field, the coaches calling the plays, the players on the sideline, even Miles. Alabama drives effortlessly downfield, the grandstands bleeding energy with each completion. Belief is hard to understand and harder to tame, and when it's gone, it's often gone for good. A.J. McCarron engineers a lethal two-minute drill, winning the game 21-17. At midfield, Saban tells Miles: "You guys outplayed us. You have a good team."
Outside the bubble, fans and pundits blame Miles. An offensive lineman on last year's team, T-Bob Hebert, lashes out on Twitter: "Coachin blew this game … A game in which LSU absolutely dominated; it's sad to see the players' hopes ruined by terrible decision making."
Inside the bubble, the Tigers enter the chute, some crying beneath their helmets, holding on to each other. Miles stands in the wide lobby between the tunnel and the locker room. He gathers the team. The only noise comes from a few intermittent sobs. His voice is soft. Nobody gave them a chance, he says, but they proved something about themselves. He tells them he's proud of them and that he's sorry for the calls that didn't work. His voice rises.
"We are all miserable," he booms. "I thought you played your asses off."
Players bow their heads as he starts the prayer.
"Dear Lord," he says, "we fought valiantly … "
***Also, the Behind-the-Scenes podcast on writing the entire story***
LINK
quote:
From the podcast: "One of our favorite franchises [LSU], we went down to the LSU-Alabama game a couple weeks ago, sent 43 writers, editors and phtographers down there [Baton Rouge], to show you from the minute they paint the field, to Les Miles' post game speech..."
This post was edited on 11/14/12 at 3:58 pm
Posted on 11/14/12 at 3:47 pm to PoliticLA
I read her the list of top-five opponents: "1, 1, 3, 5, 5, 3, 2, 3, 2, 3, 1." She looked stunned and, sounding a little in awe, asked, "We played all those people?"
Posted on 11/14/12 at 3:51 pm to dagrippa
Damn. Some serious solid enlightening information in that article
excellent
excellent
Posted on 11/14/12 at 4:02 pm to PoliticLA
That is a great piece of writing.
Posted on 11/14/12 at 4:05 pm to PoliticLA
frick ESPN and their fricking trolling piece. Nothing about how bama didn't even deserve to be playing in the mulligan game. Let's write a story on that; how okie ST got fricked and won their conference and political bullshite got the Gump cheating bastards in that game.
Posted on 11/14/12 at 4:10 pm to jdg91878
Dude, calm down. That is a fascinating article that is extremely well written. Give the man his due.
Posted on 11/14/12 at 4:12 pm to jdg91878
quote:
frick ESPN and their fricking trolling piece. Nothing about how bama didn't even deserve to be playing in the mulligan game. Let's write a story on that; how okie ST got fricked and won their conference and political bullshite got the Gump cheating bastards in that game.
Dude chill out! This is a great article about Les Miles lets talk about that
Posted on 11/14/12 at 4:13 pm to la_birdman
quote:
la_birdman
why the casty? actually read through or some of it...Wright Thompson is the shite.
ETA: I think some people are taking the title out of context
This post was edited on 11/14/12 at 4:14 pm
Posted on 11/14/12 at 4:14 pm to PoliticLA
quote:Best sports writer around
Wright Thompson
Posted on 11/14/12 at 4:16 pm to PoliticLA
quote:
The onside kick looks perfect, until it takes a bad hop just shy of 10 yards, touching the kicker. Alabama ball. But even in failure, the call works like gasoline thrown on the fire -- for the players and for the fans -- because everyone understands its meaning: All in.
Exactly.
Posted on 11/14/12 at 4:22 pm to PoliticLA
quote:
But even in failure, the call works like gasoline thrown on the fire -- for the players and for the fans -- because everyone understands its meaning: All in.
This is why I was okay with the gambles he took
quote:
When the kick slips wide left, something happens. The carefully constructed circle breaks. Everyone can feel it: the crowd, the suddenly conservative defense on the field, the coaches calling the plays, the players on the sideline, even Miles
This is what i can't understand. Why play not to lose when you've played to win all game.
Miles is the Man, regardless.
Posted on 11/14/12 at 4:26 pm to PoliticLA
Great article. The more I learn about Miles the more I like that guy.
Posted on 11/14/12 at 4:27 pm to jdg91878
quote:
jdg91878
why you mad tho?
Posted on 11/14/12 at 4:31 pm to ATLTiger
Before I click, not tl;dr?
Posted on 11/14/12 at 4:34 pm to PoliticLA
People may still question some of the things he comes up with but I dont think anyone will question whether he is fully engaged in his job.
I dont know if it is the authors intent but kinda makes Miles look like a modern day Don Quixote in football coaching shorts...
I dont know if it is the authors intent but kinda makes Miles look like a modern day Don Quixote in football coaching shorts...
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