re: Miles DID NOT call for the spike. Video evidence

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Facts

1. The loss was due to poor clock management BEFORE the hail mary.

2. There could still have been a miracle win, but that chance was ruined, possibly due to an innocent mistake by assistants.

3. After the catch, Miles did not call for a spike, but his motions to the ref that TT was down with possession could have been misinterpreted by other coaches as a call for a spike, just as it was misinterpreted by many here.

4. Miles expected the field goal team to be getting onto the field as soon as the chains were being moved. When he saw nothing happening, he immediately called for the kick with his motions and through his headset, but it was already too late, and JJ was about to spike the ball.


My Thoughts:

I think Miles knew exactly where we were at all times. He thought the last timeout had been called quickly, but somebody screwed up and let too much time go by. Still, he knows it's his bad.

During that timeout, they planned the next play, in case they got the first but not the TD. With time, JJ would spike and buy time for the field goal unit. Without time, the field goal team would try to get out quickly and get the kick off.

But then, after the hail mary, Les ran out to make sure the refs did not award possession to Ole Miss (and the chains were being moved).

Then, Miles turned back to the sideline, saw JJ still on the field, and made his last-ditch efforts to clearly call for the kick with his leg motions (while also probably screaming at assistants through his headset that there was no time for a spike).

At that point, after the first precious seconds had been wasted, Miles had to be a little shocked that the kicking team was not in, and he also knew there was little hope for getting the field goal off, unless the refs delayed starting the clock.

The whole episode was certainly a clusterfrick, but I do not think Les ever called for a spike. Someone on the sideline did that, probably the signal caller, as JJ said, and he may have done that because he misinterpreted Les' arm motions to the ref about the TT catch.

In ten seconds or so, amidst such action on the field, questionable possession after the catch, and the chains being moved, the wrong call was relayed to JJ, possibly because the head coach's actions toward the refs were misinterpreted.

It was likely no more than an unfortunate mistake in the heat of battle, with time running out.

But that unforced error at the end would never have occurred if the final timeout had been called quickly.

I believe Les was honest when he said he did not understand how the spike was called.

Afterward, all I saw Coach Miles do was take full responsibility. But it was obvious to me that he was completely surprised by the unexpected spike call, which effectively destroyed any chance of a winning field goal at the end.

I also suspect he may have been erroneously informed that the crucial last timeout had been called, when it had not, which cost us the precious additional seconds we needed to win the game.

Les Miles is an honorable man of high integrity.
I personally also believe he is a great football coach for LSU, and I am not interested in any other coach leading our program at this time.

I expect great improvement next year, for both players and coaches (some new). JJ is gonna be a great QB, and I think we may again have a chance to contend for the whole enchilada.

It is every fan's absolute right to question any aspect of his coaching, but no LSU fan has any reason, thus far in his tenure here, to question the character and integrity of Coach Les Miles.

Just my 2 cents.

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