It took fans of The LSU Tigers some time to warm up to the football
team’s current head coach Les Miles, but he appears to have won over The
Tiger faithful in Baton Rogue. Prior to coaching The Tigers, Miles was
the head coach of The Oklahoma State Cowboys. In Miles’ time in
Stillwater, he was able to upset The Cowboys in-state rival The Oklahoma
Sooners 16-13 which prevented The Sooners from repeating as Bowl
Championship Series Champions in 2001. Miles came to LSU in 2005 and all
he had to do was replace Nick Saban who had won a BCS Championship in
2003. In Miles’ first three seasons in Baton Rogue, The Tigers finished
the season ranked in the top 10 which was highlighted by a BCS
Championship in 2007.
The skeptics of Miles wouldn’t give him credit as it was seen that he
won with Saban’s players. In 2008, The Bayou Bengals finished the season
with a record of 8-5 as they lost five conference games for the first
time since 1999. Since then, Miles’ teams have improved, but it hasn’t
helped him that Saban returned to The Southeastern Conference. After a
brief stint as the head coach of The Miami Dolphins, Saban became the
head coach of The Alabama Crimson Tide in 2007. Since Saban’s return to
The SEC, when The Tigers and The Crimson Tide clash it is generally for
The SEC’s Western Division Title as both teams have combined to win the
division five times since 2007. Last season Miles and The Tigers made it
back to The BCS Championship Game, but they met a roadblock in the form
of Alabama. Both teams were clearly the two best teams in college
football and it marked the first time that two schools from the same
conference would meet for The BCS Championship. The Tigers won the
regular season match-up in Tuscaloosa by a score of 9-6, but they were
dominated in the rematch 21-0 in New Orleans. Miles took some criticism
from LSU fans because The Tigers were dominated and more importantly who
they lost to.
won with Saban’s players. In 2008, The Bayou Bengals finished the season
with a record of 8-5 as they lost five conference games for the first
time since 1999. Since then, Miles’ teams have improved, but it hasn’t
helped him that Saban returned to The Southeastern Conference. After a
brief stint as the head coach of The Miami Dolphins, Saban became the
head coach of The Alabama Crimson Tide in 2007. Since Saban’s return to
The SEC, when The Tigers and The Crimson Tide clash it is generally for
The SEC’s Western Division Title as both teams have combined to win the
division five times since 2007. Last season Miles and The Tigers made it
back to The BCS Championship Game, but they met a roadblock in the form
of Alabama. Both teams were clearly the two best teams in college
football and it marked the first time that two schools from the same
conference would meet for The BCS Championship. The Tigers won the
regular season match-up in Tuscaloosa by a score of 9-6, but they were
dominated in the rematch 21-0 in New Orleans. Miles took some criticism
from LSU fans because The Tigers were dominated and more importantly who
they lost to.
Coming into this season, Miles was expected to once
again have a strong team until the wheels appeared to fall off. Gunner
Kiel who was one of the top high-school quarterback prospects
decommitted from LSU in favor of The Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Cornerback Tyrann Matthieu who finished fifth in the voting for The 2011
Heisman Trophy was dismissed from the team for numerous drug
violations. The Tigers appeared to be on the verge of being second-class
citizens to The Tide in The SEC West as Miles was thought to be
searching for answers. The Bayou Bengals have finished the regular
season with a record of 10-2 with the only two losses coming to The
Florida Gators and Alabama by a combined 12 points. Both of these teams
are currently ranked in the top four of The BCS standings.
again have a strong team until the wheels appeared to fall off. Gunner
Kiel who was one of the top high-school quarterback prospects
decommitted from LSU in favor of The Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Cornerback Tyrann Matthieu who finished fifth in the voting for The 2011
Heisman Trophy was dismissed from the team for numerous drug
violations. The Tigers appeared to be on the verge of being second-class
citizens to The Tide in The SEC West as Miles was thought to be
searching for answers. The Bayou Bengals have finished the regular
season with a record of 10-2 with the only two losses coming to The
Florida Gators and Alabama by a combined 12 points. Both of these teams
are currently ranked in the top four of The BCS standings.
Besides criticizing Miles for winning with Saban’s
players, skeptics felt that Miles was extremely lucky. Miles has the
reputation of being a “riverboat gambler” as The Tigers have converted
42 times on fourth down since 2007. This was highlighted by LSU going
5-for-5 on fourth down conversions in a 2007 victory over The Gators.
Miles’ gambles are calculated which is generally why he tends to come
out smelling like a rose, but the bottom line is that the man can
coach.
players, skeptics felt that Miles was extremely lucky. Miles has the
reputation of being a “riverboat gambler” as The Tigers have converted
42 times on fourth down since 2007. This was highlighted by LSU going
5-for-5 on fourth down conversions in a 2007 victory over The Gators.
Miles’ gambles are calculated which is generally why he tends to come
out smelling like a rose, but the bottom line is that the man can
coach.
Miles was an offensive lineman for The University of
Michigan under legendary head coach Bo Schembechler. Miles went on to
be a graduate assistant under Schembechler from 1980 to 1981 before
returning to serve as the team’s offensive line coach from 1987 to 1994.
Like Schembechler did at Michigan, Miles has built his teams in his own
way. The Tigers are generally sound in special teams, they are also
able to run the football and they play good defense. Since 2007, The
Tigers have finished in the top 10 in total defense on three occasions
which is impressive being that they play in a conference that has
produced the last six BCS Champions. Miles consistently sends impact
players to The National Football League such as Arizona Cardinals
cornerback Patrick Peterson who tied an NFL record last year for most
punt returns for touchdowns in a season with four.
Michigan under legendary head coach Bo Schembechler. Miles went on to
be a graduate assistant under Schembechler from 1980 to 1981 before
returning to serve as the team’s offensive line coach from 1987 to 1994.
Like Schembechler did at Michigan, Miles has built his teams in his own
way. The Tigers are generally sound in special teams, they are also
able to run the football and they play good defense. Since 2007, The
Tigers have finished in the top 10 in total defense on three occasions
which is impressive being that they play in a conference that has
produced the last six BCS Champions. Miles consistently sends impact
players to The National Football League such as Arizona Cardinals
cornerback Patrick Peterson who tied an NFL record last year for most
punt returns for touchdowns in a season with four.
Miles had a chance to leave Baton Rogue when he was
courted by Michigan to be the school’s new football coach after Lloyd
Carr retired in 2007 and once again in 2011 after the firing of Rich
Rodriguez. Miles turned down his alma mater both times which made Tiger
fans accept him even more.
courted by Michigan to be the school’s new football coach after Lloyd
Carr retired in 2007 and once again in 2011 after the firing of Rich
Rodriguez. Miles turned down his alma mater both times which made Tiger
fans accept him even more.
In the current BCS standings, The Tigers are
currently ranked seventh. In the current BCS format, only two teams from
a conference are eligible for a BCS bowl game. With Alabama, Florida,
and The Georgia Bulldogs all in front of LSU in the rankings, The Tigers
won’t be going to a BCS bowl game which is a shame because this team
can play some football and they are a big time team. In The Tigers last
four games, junior quarterback Zach Mettenberger has stepped his game up
as he has passed for more than 200 yards in each game. Defensively The
Tigers are ranked ninth in the nation in total defense as they are led
by a pair of junior defensive linemen in Bennie Logan and Sam
Montgomery. Logan in keeping with LSU’s tradition of having a senior
captain of wear number 18, is anchoring a defensive line that is barely
yielding three yards per rush. Junior linebacker Kevin Minter leads the
team with 111 tackles as he has the ability to cover from sideline.
currently ranked seventh. In the current BCS format, only two teams from
a conference are eligible for a BCS bowl game. With Alabama, Florida,
and The Georgia Bulldogs all in front of LSU in the rankings, The Tigers
won’t be going to a BCS bowl game which is a shame because this team
can play some football and they are a big time team. In The Tigers last
four games, junior quarterback Zach Mettenberger has stepped his game up
as he has passed for more than 200 yards in each game. Defensively The
Tigers are ranked ninth in the nation in total defense as they are led
by a pair of junior defensive linemen in Bennie Logan and Sam
Montgomery. Logan in keeping with LSU’s tradition of having a senior
captain of wear number 18, is anchoring a defensive line that is barely
yielding three yards per rush. Junior linebacker Kevin Minter leads the
team with 111 tackles as he has the ability to cover from sideline.
When Miles came to Baton Rogue, some might have
thought that the pipeline of talent that Saban had started would have
come to an end, but with another top 10 finish more than likely on the
horizon for The Bayou Bengals, Tiger fans are finally embracing Miles as
one of their own.
thought that the pipeline of talent that Saban had started would have
come to an end, but with another top 10 finish more than likely on the
horizon for The Bayou Bengals, Tiger fans are finally embracing Miles as
one of their own.
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