Hate to admit it, but ...

the Gumps appear to have been right. Saban's arrival in T-Town signaled an immediate decline in our program, and the eventual exposure of Miles as a clown masquerading as a college football coach. Next week's total and complete meltdown against the Piggies will seal it. Some additional observations --

1. The "I heard a verbal call for a time-out several times. I guess the refs didn't see it" is utter and complete bullshite and worthy of Iraqi Military Spokesman status. As soon as Ridley hits the ground, even if your "verbal call" isn't being heard, you should be signalling frantically to your QB to call time-out. There is no valid excuse or reason in the world why a TO wasn't called with no worse than 15 seconds left. Miles' thinking that we will accept his pathetic excuse is beyond a surrealistic nightmare. In fact, the whole last series of downs turned into a surrealistic nightmare for one of the highest paid staffs in the country that simply went into brain-lock mode.

2. This keystone cops display reminded me of two Jamarcus moments that on the one hand you could blame on JR, but after yesterday, I think firmly and finally proves that this coach simply does not have what it takes to prepare a team or a player for decisive, key moments --

a.) Aub in the 7-3 game when Jamarcus took a sack with no time-outs left; and

b.) the first year against U-Thug on that steamy Monday night. Remember at the end of the 1st half when Jamarcus had 30 seconds from the UT 25, but without any time-outs, he rolls left, gets tackled, no time left -- end of half. U-Thug comes back and wins [also don't forget Miles trying to call time-out at the end of the game when we intercepted -- absolute stupidity]; and

3. Maybe that Flynn to Byrd play ag/ Aub in '07 really did show Miles to be off his rocker. We all lauded it because it showed guts, but the national media blasted him for the possible recklessness of the call.

All in all, this coach showed in Year 1 that he was a deer caught in headlights. Nothing has changed in Year 5. He possesses zero ability to articulate any kind of comprehensive response to a question "on the fly." We see that. Recruits see that. The players certainly see these shortcomings and you know there is a boat load of dissension in the locker room. This team is a shambles -- maybe as bad as Dinardo's last year.

I predict a woeful performance ag/ the Piggies. If that happens, the axe should fall immediately, and when Monday Night Football comes to New Orleans 2 days after the Arkie game, LSU Brass should throw out the red carpet for Jon Gruden.