Will 2010 Be Miles’ “Last Stand?”
August 31st, 2010 10:27 AM║ Posted By: John Pennington ║ Permalink
║ Schools: LSU
For those of you who don’t believe Les Miles’ seat is at all warm, check out the views of John DeShazier of The New Orleans Times-Picayune:
“… there’s no doubt this season has a ‘last stand’ feel to it for LSU coach Les Miles, no denying that it’s warm in Baton Rouge and pressure is dialed up for the No. 21 Tigers to do more than win eight regular-season games and player in the Chick-fil-A Bowl
“If the 2010 Tigers win 10 games — or maybe nine against the right teams — and finish better than .500 in the SEC West Division, the consensus is that Miles will be safe.
“If they win eight games or less and flop in the conference, a win against Alabama might not be enough to save his job.”
If Miles wants the heat on the Bayou to be turned down a notch, the prescription is pretty simple, in my view:
1. Beat Nick Saban. Miles’ situation would not be as tenuous had the man who built up LSU not returned to the SEC and immediately built up Alabama.
2. Beat Nick Saban. Yes. It’s that important. If LSU goes 11-1 in the regular season with the loss coming to Bama, there will still be some grumblers in Baton Rouge. “Even in his best year, Miles can’t beat Saban,” would be the cry.
3. Beat Nick Saban. Have I made that clear enough yet?
4. Win at least 9 games, preferably 10 or more. Nine wins with a victory over Bama should ease the heat on Miles… until 2011. Winning 10 games (and nipping Saban) would go a long way toward proving that the loss of Ryan Perrilloux really was the only thing that led to LSU’s two-year mini-slump.
5. Don’t be a schmuck. When fans are grumbling, the worst thing a coach can do is become ornery. Miles can get ornery. He’ll need to watch the way he handles his press conferences and radio shows. He’ll also need to avoid embarrassing meltdowns like the one that struck during last year’s Ole Miss game. The coach can’t afford to mismanage the clock (or something of that ilk) and then get caught making up excuses. “I didn’t say spike it.” “Coach, here’s the video.” “Oh.”
