Miles out at LSU?

[Chairman Moe]

With the LSU ties & Jimmy Sexton as his agent, you know Jimbo Fisher is getting ready to have a Brinks truck in his driveway dumping money everywhere. FSU better get ready to pony up.

Yup; Mr Fisher will be well-compensated, for sure. And the LSU backers can afford him (or any other top coach, for that matter) as they are now getting in excess of 100,000 fans into Tiger Stadium with the most recent addition.

So, besides Fisher and Saban, who do you think the Tigers should persue? I know there are some who think that Lane Kiffen might get another shot (at HC) - though I think he's better suited as an assistant - and I've also seen Gary Patterson's name (TCU) thrown out there

 

[ricflair4LIFE]

To ricflair and deer head:

You do realize that Les is 62 yrs old, right? Not to say that he wouldn't be one of the better choices out there for a program to hire. But you gotta wonder how many more years of this Les would want to endure? A $15M buyout could keep Les in lots of ball caps, windbreakers, and grass to eat for many years!

Moe, today 62 is not old.. When he turns 70 then it'll be time to hang up the cleats. As far buyout, I agree. If they don't want him. Take the buyout and run.

 

[TD_6082]

Larry Fedora. He knows the area & I think Tiger fans want an offensive guy. The question is, can they stomach another coach with Southern Miss ties or did Curly Hallman leave that much of a bad taste in their mouth.

I would like to see Kiffin, Coach O and the gang in Miami. Lane is a much better fit there, imo.

 

[ThePanthers]

Miles is having a "special meeting" with his players this morning. He may be done officially.

Tweeted by NOLAnews.com

 

[drunkinoakland]

If Les gets canned for Larry FeDora something ain't right.

 

[pitt-girl]

I'll pretend to take the question seriously. I don't think you can compare the two at this point in their careers. No way would Les win as much at Vandy as Franklin. I'm fairly certain about that.

Franklin has yet to coach a team with any kind of comparable talent. I don't think Franklin can hang with Les when it comes to recruiting.

Jackie Sherrill once said Bear Bryant told him the three most important things about coaching are #1 Recruiting. #2 Recruiting.#3. Recruiting. That said, I would take Les.

OK, I'll bite. WHAT?

 

[pitt-girl]

I'm sure there are many LSU fans who'd love to see Saban on their side of the field, instead of 'Bama's. My guess is that they try to hit a home run with an established coach - preferably one who's around 50 or so - and rebuild (to an extent). If you go to their Rivals website, their 2016 recruiting class is littered with top star athletes. But what Les (and his assistants, in particular) has not done is develop a good QB. I could only imagine what our guy (Peterman) could do as their QB.

Moe - I too actually have a bit of a soft spot for LSU having lived and worked down there for a few years. But if this news about Miles is true, 1. What are they thinking?, 2. They must have some pretty deep pockets for that buyout and 3. What are they thinking? I understand they weren't in the NC hunt the last few seasons, but yikes, be careful what you wish for. (Signed, USC, Texas and Nebraska fans)

 

[Chairman Moe]

Moe, today 62 is not old..

ric, you're preaching to the choir; as a graduate from the class of 1974 . . .

I guess my point about "his age" is that he is past his prime - as a coach, and as a field manager. Granted, a lot of his "trickerations" have worked, and resulted in Tiger victories. But as a fan of the program (albeit, not one with any Louisiana roots) I am not seeing any "upside" to keeping Miles as the HC there.

Saban is also in his early to mid '60's, but seems more focused on winning and developing his team/players. And surrounding himself with more capable and younger assistant coaches. The OC and DC at LSU are also a bit long in the tooth.

In the competitive arena within the SEC (and in particular, the SEC West) the target is Alabama. But now, it appears that both of the Mississippi teams and Arkansas have eclipsed the Tigers as the Tide's closest pursuers. The hard core LSU fans aren't pleased. Personally, I'm leaning toward either a new HC/staff, OR a complete overhaul of the OC/DC and assistants.

 

[TD_6082]

If Les gets canned for Larry FeDora something ain't right.

It makes a lot more sense that firing Dave Wannstedt for Mike Haywood.

Les really hasn't done squat since the team that lost the rematch to Bama in the Championship game. Fedora has a much better resume than Miles did when Les got the LSU job.

 

[TD_6082]

BTW, If you want a good laugh, just google "Les Miles Clock Management"

 

[Chairman Moe]

Moe - I too actually have a bit of a soft spot for LSU having lived and worked down there for a few years. But if this news about Miles is true, 1. What are they thinking?, 2. They must have some pretty deep pockets for that buyout and 3. What are they thinking? I understand they weren't in the NC hunt the last few seasons, but yikes, be careful what you wish for. (Signed, USC, Texas and Nebraska fans)

Yeah, I know that other top programs have failed to maintain or grow their programs under new coaches. As I said in one of my latest replies to ric, I would be OK, too if they just have an overhaul of the staff and get a whole bunch of new/better assistants. LSU pays their assistants pretty well, so they should have the ability to hire some good ones. Maybe they pull an FSU and hire their OC or DC now that will be groomed for the HC job in another 3-5 years?

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

to pbrad and recruits:

Jimbo Fisher was the OC under Nick Saban from 2000 to 2004 and then stayed on another two years to be the same under Les Miles. He knows the area and was appreciated for his ability.

BTW, Les and the LSU program has been in a funk (record-wise) ever since losing in the BCS Championship Game to Alabama after the 2012 season. And getting worse. Despite recruits with multiple stars, their kids are not developing on the field, especially at the QB position. Fournette looked like the next coming of Adrian Peterson until defenses adjusted. Harris has been too inconsistent to balance the offense. I realize injuries have hurt, but as we all know, it's "next man up", and the "next men" haven't been ready to do their jobs.

In a way, LSU's program is a lot like many other of the "blue bloods" (Ohio State, Michigan, et al) whose fan base is rabid and large and demanding. The fans of LSU travel as well or better than any other college team. Losing four straight to Alabama; losing to its arch rival Ole Miss (and embarrassingly); losing to Arkansas consistently under Miles; the recent Bowl losses . . .

Look, I know we Pitt fans would give our left you know what to have the kind of program as LSU. We don't and in today's college football climate, never will. But being, albeit within the last 15 years, a pretty active Tiger fan, I know that the patience has run out for Les. He may win this week vs TAM, but even if he does, his record will be 8-3 / 5-3 in the SEC W, and will again settle for a lesser tier bowl than expected. High standards, I know, but when you've won two NC's in the past 15 years and played for another, the bar is raised a lot higher.

No, I do understand and don't think it is ludicrous to fire Miles. Or does Les just need an ace offensive coordinator and give him the keys? But I can understand LSU fans and administration's concern.

What is frightening is with these playoffs and the consolidation of powers in these conferences, it has become more cutthroat than ever. I don't think that is a good thing, I think there has to be a tipping point.

 

[Chairman Moe]

No, I do understand and don't think it is ludicrous to fire Miles. Or does Les just need an ace offensive coordinator and give him the keys? But I can understand LSU fans and administration's concern.

What is frightening is with these playoffs and the consolidation of powers in these conferences, it has become more cutthroat than ever. I don't think that is a good thing, I think there has to be a tipping point.

I'm pretty sure that I would get most of those who regularly frequent this board to agree that the one coach in college football who's got the most complete program right now is Nick Saban/Alabama. And as a former disciple of Bill Belichick he brings that "mentality" to their program, and surrounds himself with equally dedicated assistants. I may not like the "how" of Nick Saban (leaving LSU and eventually returning to the SEC to coach their hated rival) but have to like the results.

 

[drunkinoakland]

It makes a lot more sense that firing Dave Wannstedt for Mike Haywood.

Les really hasn't done squat since the team that lost the rematch to Bama in the Championship game. Fedora has a much better resume than Miles did when Les got the LSU job.

If you want to play the "hasn't done squat" card then what has Jimbo done without Winston. He's had very Les like results, with an easier conference and schedule while having better access to Florida recruits. What has Fedora done?

As for his clock management, so what. Successful NFL coaches bungle it every week. One weakness doesn't make a guy a terrible coach.

I think LSU is venturing very close to be careful what you wish for territory.

 

[Jpripper88]

I dont know......

The folks at LSU are used to success and know how to win. I am guessing that they see the shelf life of Miles as minimal at this point.

Like a big time football program usually does, they get out in front of this backward trend and find someone to interject new life into the program.

I dont dismiss Miles as a coach. Extremely successful at LSU....however, im not so sure that it isnt the right time for a change.

They are? Before Saban they were a mediocre program, at best. They were Ole Miss. That is why they hate the Rebs so much. They had Billy Cannon and the '58 team and only 5 conference championships in 65 years before Saban.

LSU is a fine program, but their expectations are not based in reality. They seem to just have no recollection of their program pre-Saban. McClendon was there for 18 years and won 1 conference championship and finished 4th or lower in the SEC 10 of 18 years.

 

[drunkinoakland]

There is a man that exists that thinks Lane Kiffin and James Franklin are better football coaches than Les Miles.

 

[TD_6082]

What SEC school has expectations based in reality?

The problem now is that they aren't even Ole Miss. Les is 62, he is on a 4 year dry spell and he has been at LSU 11 years. It's time for a change. The program has evolved. They can recruit as well as any school in the nation. 3 or 4 losses a year there makes a coach expendable. They could throw Mark Richt a lifeline and get the same results.

 

[Chairman Moe]

I think LSU is venturing very close to be careful what you wish for territory.

As I briefly read through some of the fan's replies to the articles that showed up on both the New Orleans and Baton Rouge sports web sites, it is completely polarized. Either those that want him gone now or those that want to give him a few more years to right the ship.

I know that a couple years ago, when they lost about their entire Junior class to early departure for the NFL, that the program was going to suffer. Hard to have that many guys leave, and ones who were starters, and replace each position with an equal. I don't think that LSU was chosen (pre-season) to finish on top of the SEC West. Their early start (7-0 and with Fournette being an almost shoo-in for Heismann) was perhaps too good. Their wins were not overly spectacular; the running ability of #7 was the reason for many of them (wins). When LSU faced Alabama they got exposed. Arkansas caught them at the right time, and then Ole Miss further exposed them on defense.

My big issue with Miles, even if he is able to get an upgrade in his OC and DC, is that HE ends up making a lot of the "last minute" in-game decisions, rather than letting his coordinators plan out the events. The confusion that showed during the Ole Miss game when LSU had the ball 1st and Goal at the 1 yd line showed that in spades.

 

[ThePanthers]

http://espn.go.com/ncf/story/_/id/1...y-lsu-tigers-buyout-les-miles-contract-source

Boosters have ponied up the money and will pay for Miles $15M buyout.

Schad reporting it is likely he will be fired.

 

[TD_6082]

There is a man that exists that thinks Lane Kiffin and James Franklin are better football coaches than Les Miles.

They can sure as hell manage a game better than Les Miles. Kiffin can coach circles around Miles.

 

[TD_6082]

If you want to play the "hasn't done squat" card then what has Jimbo done without Winston. He's had very Les like results, with an easier conference and schedule while having better access to Florida recruits. What has Fedora done?

As for his clock management, so what. Successful NFL coaches bungle it every week. One weakness doesn't make a guy a terrible coach.

I think LSU is venturing very close to be careful what you wish for territory.

Fedora has never coached at a school with LSU's resources.

Fisher has lost 5 games the last 4 years. Miles has lost 14. Fisher recruited Winston out of Alabama. Why does it matter what he has done without Jameis?

 

[Chairman Moe]

http://espn.go.com/ncf/story/_/id/1...y-lsu-tigers-buyout-les-miles-contract-source

Boosters have ponied up the money and will pay for Miles $15M buyout.

Schad reporting it is likely he will be fired.

I know one thing for sure: I will miss Les Miles' press conference quotes; over the years he's had some doozies. Will never forget his "have a great day" at the close of his pre-game (SEC Championship) address to the press when rumors were out about his going to Michigan

Here is a link to some of his top quotes; really funny!

 

[pbrad]

I understand Jimbo was the OC at LSU for a number of years, that doesn't make LSU a better job than FSU. Jimbo and Saban are from West Va. does that mean they want to coach at WVU.Jimbo's agent should parlay this into a raise, if LSU pays the buyout and then pays a new staff of established coaches what they will be asking, the only programs competing for championships will have $50 mil. budgets for football alone.

 

[drunkinoakland]

They can sure as hell manage a game better than Les Miles. Kiffin can coach circles around Miles.

James Franklin can't manage a game better than Miles. While the LSU offense has been historically anemic over Miles tenure, at least his players routinely line up in the right place and don't fight with each other and the coaching staff during the game. Managing a game isn't just about managing the clock (which FYI Franklin has had trouble with too).

Kiffin had a shot at Tenn and USC, he did nothing at either place to show that he is a better coach than Miles.

Wipe away all of the X and O stuff and while both are great recruiters, I don't think either of them matches the recruiting ability of Miles. Miles has been excellent at both getting top line talent and identifying talent that Texas, Alabama, Florida, etc have failed to evaluate properly.

You fire Les Miles, you get what you deserve.
As I said earlier, my biggest fear is he ends up at Miami and provides a huge road block for Pitt moving forward.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

People forget it now but for a long time before Nick Saban, and later under Les Miles, the LSU job was nothing special. It was perceived sort of like South Carolina is perceived today - a program long on potential but short on actual results.

Here is their record in the 20 years prior to Nick Saban's 2000 arrival in Baton Rouge:
1980: 7-4
1981: 3-7-1
1982: 8-3-1
1983: 4-7
1984: 8-3-1
1985: 9-2-1
1986: 9-3
1987: 10-1-1
1988: 8-4
1989: 4-7
1990: 5-6
1991: 5-6
1992: 2-9
1993: 5-6
1994: 4-7
1995: 7-4-1
1996: 10-2
1997: 9-3
1998: 4-7
1999: 3-8
Total: 124-99-6 (.541)

For contextual reasons, here is South Carolina's record over the past two decades:
1995: 4-6-1
1996: 6-5
1997: 5-6
1998: 1-10
1999: 0-11
2000: 8-4
2001: 9-3
2002: 5-7
2003: 5-7
2004: 6-5
2005: 7-5
2006: 8-5
2007: 6-6
2008: 7-6
2009: 7-6
2010: 9-5
2011: 11-2
2012: 11-2
2013: 11-2
2014: 7-6
Total: 133-109-1 (.547)

That is not to say the Bayou Bengals can't upgrade from the Mad Hatter because they probably can. However, their own history proves that it is far from a certainty.

 

[ricflair4LIFE]

ric, you're preaching to the choir; as a graduate from the class of 1974 . . .

I guess my point about "his age" is that he is past his prime - as a coach, and as a field manager. Granted, a lot of his "trickerations" have worked, and resulted in Tiger victories. But as a fan of the program (albeit, not one with any Louisiana roots) I am not seeing any "upside" to keeping Miles as the HC there.

Saban is also in his early to mid '60's, but seems more focused on winning and developing his team/players. And surrounding himself with more capable and younger assistant coaches. The OC and DC at LSU are also a bit long in the tooth.

In the competitive arena within the SEC (and in particular, the SEC West) the target is Alabama. But now, it appears that both of the Mississippi teams and Arkansas have eclipsed the Tigers as the Tide's closest pursuers. The hard core LSU fans aren't pleased. Personally, I'm leaning toward either a new HC/staff, OR a complete overhaul of the OC/DC and assistants.

Hey, here's when you know you're old. I can remember watching Billy Cannon run for 70 (?) yards and a td against Ole Miss. It was on a black and white tv. If I remember correctly he was running right to left on the tv screen and LSU won the game 7-0. I think it was played at night. Not sure of the year. Sometime in the late 50s.

 

[Chairman Moe]

Hey, here's when you know you're old. I can remember watching Billy Cannon run for 70 (?) yards and a td against Ole Miss. It was on a black and white tv. If I remember correctly he was running right to left on the tv screen and LSU won the game 7-0. I think it was played at night. Not sure of the year. Sometime in the late 50s.

It was 89 yds - punt return - on Halloween Night in 1959; cemented Cannon's bid for the Heisman Trophy. What I think is cool about LSU is they identify every yard line, even the "5's".

Here's the link to Billy Cannon's famous punt return:

 

[ricflair4LIFE]

It was 89 yds - punt return - on Halloween Night in 1959; cemented Cannon's bid for the Heisman Trophy. What I think is cool about LSU is they identify every yard line, even the "5's".

Here's the link to Billy Cannon's famous punt return:

View embedded media

I got the yards wrong and the wrong score. Something else I didn't remember was Miss was undefeated coming into the game.

Thanks for the link. That's was great. Took me back many years.

 

[pitt-girl]

They can sure as hell manage a game better than Les Miles. Kiffin can coach circles around Miles.

This is hilarious. I guess I must be missing the NC's that Kiffin (and Franklin, too) have won. And to put it in perspective Kiffin inherited a team rich with talent and still managed to get himself fired. LOL.

 

[Pittx9]

This is hilarious. I guess I must be missing the NC's that Kiffin (and Franklin, too) have won. And to put it in perspective Kiffin inherited a team rich with talent and still managed to get himself fired. LOL.

Agree that is one of the most absurd things I've ever heard. Kiffin doesn't belong on the same field as Les Miles.

I will say though, the SEC holds their coaches to almost unreachable standards. If Alabama does not win the NC this year, the pressure on Saban might be enough for him to seek a bigger payday at Texas. I used to think this was insane leaving Alabama for Texas. But more money and a chance to revive a once proud program that is now down would be a new task at hand for Saban. There is nowhere to go but down right now at 'Bama. He is absolutely in a situation where it's win the NC or it's a failed season. Miles is not in that bad of a situation, but having a guy considered the best RB in football and losing 3 straight games is means for dismissal at a lot of SEC schools. Sucks for him it wasn't last year, might have had a chance at the Michigan job if he was available before San Fran fired Harbaugh.

 

[TD_6082]

Rich in talent? USC lost 4 games in Carroll's last year, including a 55-21 beatdown loss to Stanford. Then came the loss of 30 scholarships over 3 years and 2 year bowl ban.

For crying out loud Miles' National Title tem had losses to Arkansas and Kentucky. The Tigers needed a miracle from Pitt to get to the title game. Talk about lucky.

Miles managed to get himself fired without any sanctions.

 

[TD_6082]

Pittx9, Nobody in their right mind would hire Miles over Harbaugh.

 

[Pittx9]

Pittx9, Nobody in their right mind would hire Miles over Harbaugh.

No they wouldn't. But Miles and Michigan had mutual interest before, so if they weren't sure if Harbaugh was going to be available for sure they may have just hired Miles assuming the possibility Harbaugh could stay in the NFL. Now his only chance of returning to Michigan would be Harbaugh leaving, and I think those rumors are absurdly false.

 

[TD_6082]

DVY... giving us a history lesson through the Archer, Hallman, DiNardo years.

I think the program is viewed in a different light now than it was back then. Not nearly as drastic, but much like Oregon.

Florida's history is nothing to write home about either if you go back to the pre-Spurrier days.

 

[Dr. von Yinzer]

DVY... giving us a history lesson through the Archer, Hallman, DiNardo years.

I think the program is viewed in a different light now than it was back then. Not nearly as drastic, but much like Oregon.

Florida's history is nothing to write home about either if you go back to the pre-Spurrier days.

My point is they are far from immune to making a bad coaching hire and destroying their program. It is always dangerous to fire a coach who is winning but not quite enough. You don't always advance like you think you will.

LSU is absolutely loaded so if the next hire flops they can buy their way out of that mistake and roll the dice one more time. In that way they are very different than a school like Pitt, which has a penchant for making stupid personnel decisions without the requisite financial wherewithal to fund our petulance.

 

[Chairman Moe]

Agree that is one of the most absurd things I've ever heard. Kiffin doesn't belong on the same field as Les Miles.

I think Lane Kiffin belongs on the same field as Les, so long as it's as an assistant coach. HC? Not so much

 

[Panther Parrothead]

No question - Les Miles. At least as a HC he's beaten ranked teams.

But...but...but..........can he dominate the state???

 

[TD_6082]

Lane is a lot better than people give him credit for. He's a guy people love to hate for whatever reason.

 

[drunkinoakland]

Lane is a lot better than people give him credit for. He's a guy people love to hate for whatever reason.

USC, TENN, and Oakland Raider fans probably have good reason to hate him.

 

[drunkinoakland]

Lane is a lot better than people give him credit for. He's a guy people love to hate for whatever reason.

Do some people wrongly criticize Kiffin? Sure. Do people, especially Pitt unfairly criticize Franklin? Probably.

The odd thing is though, that you have taken up the "good fight" for these two guys.

I don't think Franklin is nearly as bad as our fans are claiming (hoping) he is. But he sure as hell isn't anywhere close to what you make him out to be, either.