MrSEC » LSU

Not Cool… LSU’s Miles Disses Ex-QB Commit

John — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:58:55 +0000

Les Miles did a fantastic job coaching LSU this past season. He led his team through the nation’s toughest schedule, avoided dozens of potential off-field pitfalls, won the SEC and made it all the way to the BCS Championship Game with a team that’s still awfully darn young.

If Oklahoma State hadn’t fallen at Iowa State — setting up an LSU-Bama rematch for the title — there’s a good chance Miles has another championship ring in the vault today.

So let’s not start with the “you hate Les Miles” bunk. Personally, I think he was the nation’s best coach in 2011 (it not early-January 2012, certainly 2011).

But grown millionaires shouldn’t take potshots at teenagers. Period. End of story. Regardless of setting. Too bad then that Miles did just that with regards to Notre Dame signee Gunner Kiel.

When the five-star quarterback prospect changed his mind last month and enrolled in South Bend rather than in Baton Rouge — most say his mother’s emotional plea to stay close to him led to the switch — Miles tried to be magnanimous.

“There’s a point in time where young people make a variety of decisions for a variety of reasons,” Miles said on January, 17th. “The only thing I can tell you is there’s a guy in the Midwest who felt staying close to home was the right thing, or maybe here’s a guy in any number of places where the decision comes down to staying close to family and representing a stadium or team nearby. I understand that very much. If that’s the cast, then we need to have people that are going to be happy here in Louisiana.”

Well, it doesn’t sound like Miles understands that “very much” now. Speaking at a booster function on Wednesday, Miles questioned Kiel’s heart and talent:

“There was a gentleman from Indiana that thought about coming to the Bayou State. He did not necessarily have the chest and the ability to lead a program, so you know.”

Naturally, LSU fans roared with approval. Their coach had just fired a pretty big insult at a teen who dared to stay close to home to be with his family. Hoorah! The hometown Baton Rouge Advocate even cited Miles’ “wit.”

Sorry, folks, but that’s weak.

Miles knew what he was doing and who he was speaking to. How better to sell fans on the idea that three-star QB prospect Jeremy Liggins is a better acquisition than the five-star Kiel than to just go ahead and rip Kiel?

Liggins — who may turn out to be a better quarterback than Kiel in the long run, who knows? — was praised by Miles for having the grit and gumption to leave his home state for the Tigers.

“Liggins stood up in the middle of Mississippi and said, ‘I’m going to a place where we can win a national championship,’ and I like that man’s style,” Miles said.

Some are sure to defend the coach by stating that his rip of Kiel came in a talk with fans. He was just giving them some red meat. True enough. And if he’d said, “We’re gonna win a national title,” I’d have no problem with it.

But when you take a personal shot at someone else — in front of the media — it’s bush league. Lane Kiffin didn’t get a pass in 2009 when he claimed in front of a Tennessee booster club that Florida’s Urban Meyer had cheated while recruiting a UT signee (nor did he deserve one). For Miles to publicly question the heart and leadership qualities of a young man he’d just tried to bring into his program is hugely disappointing and he deserves the backlash he’s going to feel for it.

And there will be some.

Perhaps people will realize that Miles worked hard to land Kiel, someone he now says didn’t have “the chest” to lead LSU. Doesn’t that mean Miles failed to properly evaluate the kid?

Perhaps Kiel himself changed his mind about LSU after watching Miles go with his run-firt quarterback for all four quarters of the BCS Championship Game, rather than turn the ball over to his pass-first quarterback. We’ll never know because Kiel didn’t rip Miles or LSU when he landed at Notre Dame. (Though most everyone else in America ripped LSU’s offensive showing in that game.)

And forget the perhaps on this one, it’s guaranteed: Rival SEC coaches who recruit against Miles are sure to remind parents that LSU’s coach will say anything to land their son… but he’ll turn on him quicker than a bell clapper in a goose’s rear if he inks elsewhere.

This one was bad form from a good coach.

LSU Set To Hire Raiders’ Henry

John — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:41:58 +0000

Les Miles said earlier this month that he planned to go to the NFL to find a replacement for departed receivers coach Billy Gonzales. Seems that’s exactly what he’s done. Multiple sources “close to the football program” claim that Oakland Raiders tight end coach Adam Henry will be joining the Tigers staff by the end of the week.

LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette said the school is finishing up details on a contract.

Henry has spent the past five years in the Raiders organization, the last three working with the team’s tight ends. Prior to Oakland, he served as an assistant at McNeese State in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Gonzales left LSU to become the offensive coordinator at Illinois.

LSU’s Johnson Unhappy With Late Technical

John — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:42:36 +0000

With 4:45 to go in last night’s game, LSU trailed Mississippi State by 11. A furious rally cut that lead to a single point with 18 seconds left, but the Bulldogs prevailed in the end 76-71. Tiger coach Trent Johnson was less than thrilled with officiating that — in his view — helped the Dogs hang on for a homecourt victory.

In the game’s waning seconds he received a technical foul for sharing his views with the officials. After the game, he explained his displeasure:

“When you’ve got good kids and they struggle and they fight and there’s things going on out there you don’t like, that’s hard…

The game was decided on the boards, but there was a reason for that. You can’t be as aggressive as you want. I just want a clarification so I can help my kids.”

Johnson handled that one well. Good thing. If he hadn’t he may well have gotten one of the league’s “don’t blast the officials” fines.

Miles Shoots Down Rumored Brouhaha At LSU

John — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:58:20 +0000

You can add another name to the list of LSU folks denying that a pre-BCS title game fuss led to an uninspired performance in the biggest game of the year. The new name? Les Miles, who was asked if there was any truth to the rumor of player dissension:

“Not at all. We took the field just like we always have. There’s never been any issue prior to a game. There has never been a player-coach interaction before or after a game that was negative.”

Most of the rumors and messageboard posts claim that part of the team wanted Jarrett Lee at quarterback and part wanted Jordan Jefferson. Miles never did go to Lee during the game, but his explanation at a presser yesterday was the same one he delivered after the contest last Monday night.

“I do think about the ability to change quarterbacks,” Miles said. “That was a question that I had. I brought it to my staff. … I can tell you that Jarrett Lee did come to mind, we do have confidence in Jarrett.”

But, LSU crossed the 50 or the first time all night early in the fourth quarter. Down 15-0, Miles felt Jefferson still gave his team the best chance to come back.

“Jordan Jefferson had put us in that position (at Bama’s 32 thanks to an 18-yard quarterback scramble), and the way the pass rush was going in that game we just felt like we needed a mobile quarterback to make a play like that and then understand that if you finish just one drive and score seven, it’s a completely different game. We just felt like we needed that guy who might be able to get loose with his feet.”

Since the title game, LSU has lost out on star quarterback prospect Gunner Kiel and seen three underclassmen declare for the NFL draft. What was bright and cheery on the Bayou last Sunday has turned dark and dreary in the minds of many over the last 10 days.

But Miles isn’t stressing. “We return a team that in my mind will have just as much talent and be just as capable as any that we’ve had… The fundamental of this program is to win championships and this team is a championship team. We won the West. We won the conference and certainly in our view the conference is the best in the country. We spent 11 weeks as the number one team int he country and repelled all comers. We played eight nationally ranked teams, beat the national champs in the regular season and played in the last game where only two teams get to play. I cannot bemoan this team’s success, and by any measure this is a great year.”

True enough. But what about the quarterback spot next year?

“We’ll throw the football more,” said Miles. “I think there will be a fun approach, a different view of our quarterback position now, and I think it will allow us to throw the football more effectively and to approach a gameplan that can feature some receivers and some balls being thrown down the field maybe a little bit more efficiently.”

Perhaps there would be a lot less griping in the LSU camp today if Miles and company had just tried that approach a time or two against Alabama in New Orleans.

Hebert Not In Hot Water With Station For Actions At LSU Presser

John — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:19:25 +0000

As most of you know by now, former NFL quarterback and current New Orleans radio host Bobby Hebert opened Les Miles’ post-BCS title game press conference with an emotional rant that forced someone in charge to ask Hebert if he even had a question.

Some LSU fans — who were also mad at Miles for losing one game out of 14 this season — have supported Hebert’s bush league actions. But most media members — who know that a) you don’t cheer in the press box and b) you behave professionally in press conferences — have come down hard on the admitted Tiger fan. (The fact that Hebert’s offensive lineman son, T-Bob, didn’t play in Monday’s game might have had more to do with Papa’s rant than the his fandom.)

In addition to most media members, LSU has also tsk-tsked Hebert. Sports information director Michael Bonnette said: “Bobby said he was a fan, and we don’t credential fans.”

Sugar Bowl spokesman John Sudsbury apologized to LSU for Hebert’s behavior. “It was very disrespectful. … We don’t want to credential people who go into a press conference and act like a fan.”

One group that’s behind Hebert? His employer, WWL-AM radio in New Orleans. Though even the station that enjoys good ratings for Hebert’s show admitted that he was out of line.

“Bobby’s in no trouble (with the station),” said WWL vice president Chris Claus (we presume no relation to Santa). “The tone of the question Bobby asked was not appropriate. The content of the question was fine, and Bobby knows he made a mistake. Bobby’s incredibly passionate about LSU, and his emotions bubbled up, as they often do.”

Bobby knows he made a mistake? Actually he said on his own show that he’s not a journalist and “so what” if he’d been thrown out of the presser for his behavior. Later in the week on ESPN radio he went through a list of Miles’ previous coaching gaffes. On Sirius radio he suggested Miles had just been lucky this season. Sure doesn’t sound like Hebert “knows he made a mistake” to those of us at MrSEC.com.

It will be interesting to see if Hebert receives his usual media credentials for LSU home games next season.

From our viewpoint, if Hebert says he’s a fan, then he should buy a ticket and sit with the fans. If, instead, he wants to receive the “perks” of being in the media — a cold hot dog, a seat in a sterile press box and then a seat in the postgame interview room — then he needs to act professionally.

Report: LSU Losing Claiborne, Brockers To The NFL

John — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:31:20 +0000

LSU was a young team in 2011 and the Tigers will have a lot of talent returning for their 2012 campaign. But not everyone’s coming back.

Citing sources “close to LSU,” Jim Kleinpeter of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports today that All-American cornerback Morris Claiborne and All-SEC defensive tackle Michael Brockers will be leaving the school early for the riches of the NFL.

Both players are expected to reveal their plans officially this afternoon.

LSU’s Shepard Leaving Baton Rouge

John — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:53:46 +0000

LSU reciever Russell Shepard has apparently decided to leave the school before his senior season. But he didn’t make it clear on his Twitter feed yesterday where he would be going — to another school or to the NFL:

“Thanks for your support Tiger Nation…but I have to do what’s best for my family and myself…Geaux Tigers.”

That sounded like an NFL declaration to us, but some sites have claimed that Shepard was still deciding what to do.

Earlier today he tweeted that he was back in his hometown of Houston:

“Houston I’m back what’s good…..I don’t want to see a football right now lol.”

Russell had just 14 catches for 190 yards and four touchdowns this season. He was suspended by the NCAA for the Tigers’ first three games due to a compliance issue involving his living arrangements.

Whether he’s going to try to get an NFL team to look at his workout numbers or transfer to another school, it seems pretty clear — for now — that Shepard won’t be back in Baton Rouge for the 2012 season.

Miles Goes From Genius To Goof In One Night

John — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:00:20 +0000

Heading into Monday’s BCS title game, most writers across the country had jumped on the Les Miles bandwagon. I can tell you that this one sure did.

The job Miles did this year was fantastic. He negotiated on-field and off-field obstacles from season’s start to season’s end and he made it look rather easy in the process. He pushed just the right buttons with his team as they rolled through the nation’s toughest schedule. He’d gone from the goofy, lucky Mad Hatter to a guy who — dare we say — might be a better overall coach than Nick Saban in the span of three months.

And then on Monday… the clock struck midnight. His team’s offense didn’t look prepared for what Alabama showed them on defense. It appeared as though the Tigers were content to roll out the same gameplan they used in Round One in Round Two. And that wasn’t anywhere near good enough.

For those reasons, Miles’ long list of unexpected accomplishments in 2011 are filed away and far from top of mind as we begin 2012. Instead, the headlines from Louisiana read like this:

Bad night for LSU’s Les Miles

Title-game embarrassment detracts from an impressive season for the LSU football team

LSU football coach Les Miles needs to explain why Tigers were unprepared for title game

We’re not saying the coach’s team didn’t seem befuddled on Monday. They did. His moves on Monday deserve to be questioned.

But it’s far from fair to expect a coach to march 14-0 through a killer schedule, win the toughest league in America, and then beat the other best team in America twice in the same season. It’s called perspective. Disappointment with the Tigers’ finish is to be expected. Anger over their demise — after a season filled with so many positive surprises — well, that’s not just.

Miles did too good a job through the season’s first 13 weeks to be butchered for the failings displayed in Week 14.

Hebert Defends Obnoxious Behavior At BCS Postgame Presser

John — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:57:39 +0000

Former New Orleans Saints quarterback and current radio talking head Bobby Hebert isn’t backing down from his boorish behavior at Les Miles’ postgame presser on Monday. As you’ve surely seen by now, Hebert — the father of Tiger O-lineman T-Bob Hebert — let loose with the kind of rant you’d expect to hear from a parent who’s mad his son doesn’t start in Little League. He wanted to know why Miles didn’t go to Jarret Lee. And why he didn’t throw deep. And why his play selection was… well, you get the point — there was no point. There was more gripe than question in his remarks.

And now he’s defended his actions:

“Come on, I’m not a journalist. I didn’t go to journalism school, and I don’t claim to be a journalist. The credentials that I have is that I played 15 years of pro football, and I know what it is to play quarterback.

I was like an extension of the fans that finally got into a press conference. Maybe I shouldn’t have given my opinion a couple of times. You are supposed to really ask a question and not give opinion, but the hell with it. What are they going to do, kick me out? So what?”

Well, uh, yeah. They should have thrown him out. On his ass.

If his only credentials are the fact that he played pro ball 20 years ago then I wonder who gave him a media credential to get into a working postgame press room in the first place. And if Hebert couldn’t carry himself in the same professional manner as those people who were working in the room, then he should have been shown the door.

Period.

Miles deserved better than to have an angry parent bark at him in front of rolling cameras. For his part, he handled the situation with patience and even attempted to give Hebert a reply to his rambling complaint.

The coach showed class. The ex-quarterback? He showed his ass.

(UPDATE — For what it’s worth, it doesn’t sound like Hebert will be getting any more postgame media credentials for a while.)

Report: LSU’s Chavis Turns Down $1 Million Offer From UT

John — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:53:11 +0000

Apparently LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis believes the old phrase: “You can’t go home again.” According to the Twitter feed of Knoxville radio host Jimmy Hyams, Chavis had the chance to return to his Tennessee roots but he turned it down.

Along with more than a million bucks:

“UT offered LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis the DC job at over $1 million a year. He declined. Chavis coached at UT from 1989-2008.”

Chavis also played at Tennessee.

But it’s well known the man running LSU’s tough-as-nails defense wasn’t thrilled with the way he and his old boss, Phillip Fulmer, were sent packing following their second losing season in four back in ’08. The odds of him leaving a well-stocked, championship caliber program in a talent-rich state for a tougher job with a coach on the hot seat at a place that allowed Lane Kiffin to fire him after a 60-second meeting were mighty, mighty long. Probably too long for Derek Dooley to have even given this one a shot.

But many in the Volunteer fanbase will likely approve of the attempt to bring the man called Chief back to his old home.

And many more in Louisiana will be glad to know that his blood now runs purple and gold, not orange.

As for Tennessee, it’s been rumored that Dooley had also targeted Clemson’s Kevin Steele, but last night’s 70-33 shellacking at the hands of West Virginia might have cooled that talk. The Vols are looking to replace Justin Wilcox who left to become the defensive coordinator at Washington.

LSU Chancellor Praises Miles’ Lack Of Ego

John — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:19:57 +0000

LSU chancellor Michael Martin made an interesting comment regarding football coach Les Miles in The Shreveport Times today. See if any other SEC coach — or at least a coach’s reputation — pops into mind as you read this:

“He never waves that paycheck in my face. His ego is controlled. He doesn’t feel he has to run the whole show. I know of other coaches who are incredibly control-oriented. And I know coaches who have two personalities — the coaching one and the personal one. Les is exactly the same guy no matter if he’s coaching or not. You don’t have to guess with Les.”

Hmmm. An “incredibly control-oriented” coach. Might that be a reference to the guy Miles will face in the BCS Championship Game on January 9th?

Missouri Gets A Nice SEC Welcome From LSU

John — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:21:36 +0000

Just a quick thumbs-up to officials at LSU who are helping to promote interest in Shreveport’s AdvoCare Independence Bowl this year. The game will feature North Carolina taking on the SEC’s newest member, Missouri. For that reason, LSU has placed ads in Northwest Louisiana — photo at left, click the headline to enlarge — encouraging Louisiana residents to support their new neighbor.

“From the LSU Tigers to the Missouri Tigers, good luck in the 2011 AdvoCare Independence Bowl.

Shreveport, come out and support the newest member of the Southeastern Conference!

Welcome to the SEC.”

Welcome to the SEC, indeed. Bet Missouri didn’t get much of that type brotherly love from the University of Texas.

Now, it wouldn’t surprise us if Mike Slive and the SEC office encouraged LSU to make the gesture, but either way, it’s a fine one. From the school and the league. Kudos.

Everyone will accuse you of cheating and insult the hell out of you at SEC “family functions,” Missouri. Know that. But when it comes to dealing with outsiders, you’ll find that the SEC sticks together a whole lot better than other leagues. Especially the league you’re leaving.

LSU Gets Praise From ESPN, Marquette

John — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:40:14 +0000

Fresh off their upset victory over Marquette on Monday, LSU is getting some love on a national level. ESPN’s Andy Katz writes today that “LSU is not a fluke.”

Marquette assistant Tony Benford said of the Tigers: “They are a very good defensive team and they have four quality big guys and if their guards are making shots they can beat a lot of teams. They are very physical and they do a great job on the offensive glass.”

Indeed, Trent Johnson’s team might have bigger teeth than initially believed (to borrow a line we used yesterday). But the Tigers also have losses to Coastal Carolina, Northwestern and South Alabama on their resume. Their five-game winning streak includes — in addition to the win over 10th-ranked Marquette — a one-point win over Houston (RPI #207) and victories over Rutgers (RPI #270), Boise State (RPI #129), and Cal-Irvine (RPI #262).

Could the Tigers jell and reach NCAA bubble status? Yes. Especially playing an old SEC West schedule and not having to tangle with Kentucky, Florida and Vanderbilt twice each. But we think it’s still a bit early to start printing dance cards.

Credit Johnson, however, with getting his team off the deck after a 3-3 start. With North Texas, Grambling State and Virginia up next, it’s possible the Tigers could enter SEC play with an 11-3 or 10-4 record. That would be a major improvement over the past two seasons’ work.

LSU Upsets #10 Marquette

John — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:08:45 +0000

Don’t look now, but the LSU Tigers might have bigger teeth than anyone imagined.

Last night, Trent Johnson’s team won its fifth-straight game, upsetting #10 Marquette 67-59 in Baton Rouge. “Obviously, there is a level of excitement in that locker room,” the coach said afterward. “We beat a pretty good basketball team… I don’t want to get into the last couple of years. But will it give them confidence? It should. This team is growing.”

No wonder Johnson doesn’t want to talk about the last couple of years. Those back-to-back seasons of 11-20 and 11-21 have landed the coach on a very hot seat in his fourth year on the Bayou. This win was LSU first over a ranked foe since a win over Butler in the NCAA Tournament in 2009. The Tigers hadn’t beaten a ranked team at home since John Brady’s tenure back in 2007.

Johnson and his players credited a rowdy crowd afterward.

“This game shows us that the work we’ve put in and our dedication and commitment that we have to each other and on our defense pays off,” forward Storm Warren said.

LSU has now won five games in a row to improve to 8-4 on the season. But the Tigers are still a long way from becoming NCAA tourney contenders. “I don’t want to take away from the guys’ excitement and enjoyment, but it’s one win,” Johnson said.

One win that Johnson desperately needed.

With Some Fans Upset, Lee’s Playing Time Might Be The Only Thing Miles Mismanaged In 2011

John — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:36:02 +0000

Jarrett Lee was there when LSU needed him.

When starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson was arrested for his role in a bar brawl just before the Tigers’ season-opening game with Oregon, Lee stepped in and — to the surprise of Bayou Bengal fans everywhere — played pretty darn well, passing for one touchdown and rushing for two others.

Against Oregon, Northwestern State, Mississippi State, West Virginia, Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee and Auburn, Lee completed 98 of 155 passes (63.2%) for 1250 yards and 14 touchdowns against only 3 interceptions.

But then came the Game of the Century against Alabama. Lee threw just seven passes and two of those were picked off. That was pretty much it for Mr. Lee, who lost his role as the Tigers’ starting quarterback to Jefferson at that point.

Against Western Kentucky, Lee threw just four passes. Against Ole miss, he threw only one. He did not throw a pass against Arkansas. Against Georgia, in a 42-10 blowout in the SEC Championship Game, Lee was sent in for the game’s final snap. Nothing more.

According to Glenn Guilbeau of The Shreveport Times, Les Miles’ treatment of Lee hasn’t sat well with some Tiger fans:

“But in the heady days following the Tigers’ 42-10 victory over Georgia in the SEC Championship Game last week, fans did not hesitate to voice their anger with the way former starting quarterback Jarrett Lee was treated in that SEC title game and with the way Lee has barely played at all since the Alabama game on Nov. 5.

The call-in radio shows in Baton Rouge on Monday and Tuesday featured a significant number of calls from fans upset or angry about the treatment of Lee, whose only action against Georgia was to take a knee on the final play of the game even though LSU was comfortably ahead by 28-10 with 3:45 to play in the third quarter.”

Remarkably, when asked why Lee — who boasts the SEC’s top passer rating — hasn’t been used in recent weeks, Miles replied: “I have used him as best I can in the last couple of games. And again, and I say this very honestly, we plan on using him. We plan on playing him. It just has to be the right time.”

Lee has not complained about his disappearance. Tiger fans have done that for him.

Some believe Lee might have gotten into some bit of trouble that’s led Miles to sit him. Oddsmaker / rumor-monger Danny Sheridan even tweeted that Lee would be academically ineligible for the BCS title game — a charge LSU has denied.

But even if Lee had let his schoolwork slip or gotten into a bit of trouble, it would be unlike Miles to stick him on the bench as a result. Jefferson’s decision to go out past curfew and somehow get involved in a bar fight on the eve of the season would seem to be a pretty big issue, but Miles has welcomed him back and given him what used to be Lee’s playing time.

Tyrann Mathieu, Spencer Ware and Tharold Simon tested positive for smoking synthetic marijuana, yet all three missed one game and then returned to the lineup. So any suggestion that Lee “must’ve done something” to earn his demotion doesn’t add up.

Miles has done a spectacular job of managing his team in 2011. And Lee did an awfully good job — save two interceptions against Alabama — of managing the Tigers’ offense when he was needed. For that reason, it seems fair to say that Lee’s playing time might be the only thing that Miles has mismanaged this season.

Miles Wins Coach Of The Year Honor, Re-Writes Legacy

John — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:08:33 +0000

ESPN.com is reporting that Les Miles has won The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award and will receive it on their air tomorrow night. It kinda makes sense then that they’d know who won the thing.

Miles is also up for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award o rhis work this season.

But Miles has done more in 2011 than just put himself in line for some major awards. He has re-written his legacy.

On October 2nd of 2010, Miles — known as the Mad Hatter for his wild gambles and often-questionable clock management — was squarely between the talk radio crosshairs of many a Tiger fan. Unbeaten LSU had almost dropped a home game to struggling Tennessee thanks to botched game management on the part of the Tigers. Luckily for Miles, Tennessee out-flubbed him and had 13 men on the field for the game’s next-to-last play which allowed LSU an extra play to score the winning touchdown in a 16-14 mess of a game.

In the week that followed, every Miles’ gaffe was remembered and dissected from Baton Rouge to ESPN to national talk radio shows. But the Mad Hatter — watch him cringe every time CBS’ Tracy Wolfson calls him that to his face — rebounded to lead LSU to an 11-2 finish and a Cotton Bowl win over Texas A&M. Fine work.

This season, however, has been Miles’ best work. His team has been dominant from the start of the season to the end. He has knocked off ranked foes Oregon, West Virginia, Georgia and Alabama away from Tiger Stadium.

His victory in Game of the Century I in Tuscaloosa might’ve put the kibosh once and for all on the talk that Miles simply inherited a good program from Nick Saban. Sure he landed a plum gig, but seven years later LSU’s program is as strong or stronger than it was when Saban departed for the NFL. That’s say quite a bit.

This season he had to keep his team focused through a litany of off-field issues that would have derailed many a team: player arrests, player suspensions, NCAA probation, NCAA questions, a new offensive coordinator diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and staff responsibilities juggled just prior to the season. In addition, he coaxed the max out of two senior quarterbacks — both of whom have done fine work this season — who most Tiger fans didn’t want to see on the field in the first place.

But perhaps most important is not what Miles has done, but what he hasn’t done. Have you seen any Mad Hatter moments this year? Any bizarre gambles that did or didn’t pay off? Any clock management bungles?

Miles may still speak like a guy who’s trying to utilize his “Learn a Word a Day” calendar, but in terms of on-the-field stuff — the stuff that built Miles’ reputation into that of a goofball with a great recruiting base — the coach has been squeaky clean this year. He’s not been a dice-roller, he’s just been a winner. Right down to that conservative chess match win over Saban in early November.

Folks will still call him the Mad Hatter, but Miles was anything but mad this past season. In fact, he was great.

This year’s work has changed the way folks look at LSU’s coach. Talk to a Tiger fan today and he’ll tell you he never questioned the man who eats grass on the sidelines. Yeah. Right.

And that in itself should tell you what kind of job Miles did in 2011.

LSU’s Coaches Could Get $1.15M In Bonuses

John — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:05:05 +0000

When you receive your Christmas bonus this year — and let’s hope it’s not a membership in The Jelly of the Month Club… even though it is the gift that keeps on giving the whole year — try not to think about the LSU coaching staff. Doing so will make your own bonus seem, well, microscopic.

According to The New Orleans Times-Picayune, the 10-man coaching staff in Baton Rouge — including strength coach Tommy Moffitt — will earn a combined $1.15 million in bonuses if they can bring home a BCS championship.

Obvious statement: College coaches put up with a nasty bit of stress in their lives but the cash certainly makes up for a heckuva lot of it.

LSU Not Happy With Oddsmaker Sheridan Or Talk About Player Grades

John — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:11:47 +0000

When quarterback Jarrett Lee lost his starting job to Jordan Jefferson on November 12th against Western Kentucky, rumors of academic issues popped up on The Bayou. Les Miles said academics had nothing to do with Jefferson passing Lee on the depth chart.

In the weeks since then, more rumors have begun to circulate regarding multiple LSU players and their academic eligibility for the BCS Championship Game, should the Tigers make that game as expected.

Yesterday, both Miles and LSU AD Joe Alleva addressed the rumors. Here’s Miles’ comment first:

“Academic issues are certainly very private in my mind. Our guys go through a series of midterms, finals and papers. The overview is something that each guy has and certainly I have of the team. That is not something I am going to share. The reality is that this time of year everybody responds and comes back. If you have a ‘C’ or a ‘B,’ it is time to pick it up. There is no difference with our football team.”

Okay, well that’s pretty much double-talk. Alleva’s statement was a bit more straight-forward… and harsh:

“Despite media and messageboard speculation, no LSU student-athletes have been declared ineligible for postseason competition. The current semester is not complete and finals are still ahead. So it is grossly unfair to our student-athletes, and it is both premature and irresponsible to speculate on the final grades and postseason eligibility of our student-athletes.”

So what made Alleva decide to speak out about rumors? USA Today oddsmaker Danny Sheridan tweeted the following yesterday:

“Rumors out of Baton Rouge: Quarterback Jarrett Lee will be ineligible for BCS national championship game due to grades.

If true, LSU fans need not worry as Jordan Jefferson is the man and Zach Mettenberger is a capable backup.”

No word on whether or not Sheridan heard these rumors from Auburn’s bag man.

LSU’s Miles Shows Class By Taking Knee Vs UM

John — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:55:40 +0000

In case you missed the following on Saturday night, it’s worth a look. Because there aren’t going to be too many times when you see a team take a knee… with five minutes still remaining in the game.

With a first-and-goal at the one and leading 52-3 with five to play, Les Miles had his team kneel down on four consecutive plays, rather than run the score up further on Houston Nutt and the Rebels.

But by trying to show mercy, Miles only opened himself up for criticism. Some — including the color analyst during ESPN’s broadcast — found Miles’ decision insulting to Ole Miss.

Of course, if Miles and the Tigers had stuck in another one on the Rebs, they would have been criticized for running up the score.

Miles said after the game that “victory was assured, there was no reason to take snaps at that point.”

Nutt — who looked a bit bewildered when it happened — credited Miles for trying to be a good sport. “That’s the first time that happened to me. Les is just trying to be nice right there. I appreciate it but either way it doesn’t make you feel good. … He’s a good man. He understands.”

Those who’ve criticized Miles do not understand. He was in a lose-lose situation. Anyone trying to make a mountain out of this mole hill is simply looking for column content.

Miles tried to show class. A tip of the hat — pun intended — to him for that. And if Rebel players were somehow disrespected by a team taking a knee, well, best to not let the other team get up by 49 points with five minutes to play.

A Good Night (Mostly) For SEC Hoops Teams

John — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:46:23 +0000

The SEC went 3-1 in basketball action last night — or was that 3-2? — and looked pretty good in doing so. Here’s a quick wrap:

Florida 91, North Florida 55

The 7th-ranked Gators bounced back from a loss at Ohio State with a romp over tiny North Florida last night. Kenny Boynton scored 20 and Erving Walker added 17.

Billy Donovan’s team had the Ospreys on the ropes from the outset. UF held a double-digit lead just eight minutes into the game and never looked back.

“I think that says a lot about our focus,” Boynton said. “We got in (Wednesday) morning (from Columbus). Coach preached to us that we’ve got to have a great deal of focus coming into today’s game. We wanted to come out and not have any excuses.”

One issue that bears watching — Florida has hit just 29 of 50 free throw attempts in its last two contests.

Alabama 62, Maryland 42

The Crimson Tide entered the Puerto Rico Tip-Off tourney looking to help their RPI for March. Last year, Alabama was kicked across the Caribbean and it cost them come tournament time.

Mission accomplished last night. Bama’s defense smothered Maryland as the Terrapins shot just 26% from the floor. Maryland hit on only two of 12 3-point tries.

Alabama also won going away despite early foul trouble for JaMychal Green. “We are a better team with JaMychal on the floor, but Tony (Mitchell) gave us a great performance throughout the game,” Anthony Grant said after the game.

Mitchell finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Mississippi State 69, Texas A&M 60

Rick Stansbury’s Bulldogs gave Texas A&M a dose of Southern hospitality at the 2K Sports Classic in New York last night. Following the nine-point upset loss (in which the lead was once 22), the 19th-ranked Aggies might think that SEC basketball will be as tough as SEC football.

MSU came out red hot and dropped 10 of their first 13 shots to run out to a 31-9 lead. The Dogs wound up hitting five 3-point buckets on the night, too.

“That was a little bit of fool’s gold, making five 3s like that,” Rick Stansbury said. “Texas A&M is a good basketball team and I knew we weren’t going to maintain that kind of shooting. But I did like our defense, we were pushing them out and we controlled the flow at both ends.”

Dee Bost poured in 20 for State. A&M was without all-Big 12 forward Khris Middleton who is injured.

Northwestern 88, LSU 82

The Tigers’ trip to the Palmetto State is turning into a nightmare. Earlier this week, LSU lost at Coastal Carolina. Last night, Northwestern topped Trent Johnson’s team in the Charleston Classic.

At least the Tigers showed some fight. Down 76-67 with five minutes to play, LSU battled back to cut the lead to 83-82 with 47 seconds remaining. They then gave up a 3-point shot that ended their run and allowed Northwestern to collect the victory.

Freshman Johnny O’Bryant III — one of the top signees in the country last year — led LSU with 21 points and eight rebounds.

It’s a long way to March, but Trent Johnson isn’t doing much to save his job just yet.

LSU’s Mathieu Should Expect A Half-Game Suspension

John — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:21:58 +0000

The Honey Badger may have to spend some more time off the field this week. We expect the SEC offices will come down with a half-game suspension on LSU’s talented cornerback Tyrann Mathieu for the unnecessary clothesline that he delivered to Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick during a punt return on Saturday night.

Mathieu was flagged 15 yards for the penalty. Kirkpatrick was knocked out of the game.

In recent weeks the SEC has handed out half-game suspensions — as well as one full-game suspension — for dirty shots at knees and helmet-first blows to defenseless receivers. We fully anticipate Mathieu will be given similar discipline for:

1) Blindsiding an opponent with a clothesline shot from his right arm

2) Doing so in the SEC’s showcase came which was witnessed by millions upon millions of people

You can be sure Mike Slive wasn’t thrilled that the league’s classic matchup was marred by such a dumb, dirty play.

Mathieu — who was suspended two weeks ago for reportedly failing a drug test after smoking synthetic marijuana – did apologize to Kirkpatrick via Twitter yesterday:

“S/O to Dre didn’t mean to do what I did but it’s a technique that we practice, you were just tall as hell and fast you kno what! Goodluck”

He also tweeted the following just before the apology:

“You can call me what you wanna call me!! I play in between the whistle and I’m sorry if I’m a little more intense than other players! #1

I get trash talked. Spitted on, cursed at.. So not I hope you understand why I play BIG BOY FOOTBALL”

Last week we wrote that Arkansas’ Marquel Wade deserved a full-game suspension for his helmet-to-helmet cheap shot on Vanderbilt punt returner Jonathan Krause. The response from a few Hog fans was not surprising — “you’re picking on Arkansas,” “his hit wasn’t dirty,” “you’re wrong to think he’ll be suspended.”

We expect to get a few of those emails from LSU fans, too. But Mathieu’s hit was dirty. And when everyone but a player’s own fanbase thinks a hit is dirty, that should cause all of those people in that fanbase to wonder if they’re just being biased in favor of their guy.

That said, we believe that by Wednesday Mathieu will receive his sentence and he’ll be left on the bench for the first half of the Tigers’ next game with Western Kentucky. (And he may get a full-game suspension depending on how angry Slive was over the negative PR factor.)

Slive and the SEC office have set a precedent with blindside, dangerous shots to defenseless players. If they don’t penalize Mathieu, there will be a lot of questions coming from other corners of the conference.

LSU’s Miles Talks New Tiger Garb

John — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:16:47 +0000

When it comes to the Nike Pro Combat uniforms LSU will wear tomorrow against Auburn, Les Miles doesn’t sound too enthused. Enjoy a Miles-ism on this Friday morning:

“I can tell you that our uniform will represent LSU and look very much like a uniform an LSU football team will wear. Some of the uniforms are a wonderfully artistic reflection that someone else had. I think our guys will enjoy the uniform, and that it is the right uniform for an LSU team to wear.”

Glad to hear that this LSU uniform will look like a uniform an LSU team will wear.

3 LSU Players Suspended Due To Synthetic Marijuana

John — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:54:06 +0000

Ever heard of synthetic marijuana? How about K2? Or Spice?

You can bet Les Miles has. That substance is reportedly the reason his team will face Auburn shorthanded on Saturday, possibly derailing next Saturday’s dream matchup of unbeatens with Alabama.

While LSU’s coach refused to even confirm the suspensions of Tyrann Mathieu, Spencer Ware and Tharold Simon last evening, Jim Kleinpeter of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that sources said all three sophomores tested positive for synthetic marijuana.

According to a 2010 ABC News report, synthetic marijuana “is a mixture of common herbs sprayed with synthetic chemicals that mimic the effects of marijuana.” In many areas, the substance is legal because it is marked as being “not for human consumption.” Synthetic marijuana is illegal in Louisiana.

Survey results released earlier this month suggest that synthetic weed is “popular among consumers because they are seldom detectable on standard workplace drug screens.”

Apparently LSU doesn’t use the standard, run of the mill, workplace drug screening program. Much to the surprise of Mathieu, Ware and Simon.

For those who enjoy their Miles-isms, here’s a sampling of what he said yesterday when asked if his players had been suspended:

“No, cannot confirm that… I certainly understand the interest surrounding what seems to be news. The problem with that news is it’s internal discipline and internal function of a team. I’m not inclined to be forthcoming in information. I am not reactionary to needs of media and things external to this building. When there’s information that I can share, I will…

So, that being said, there’s a process that I go through, and it’s not going to be short-cutted for the need to communicate.”

When might that information become available? “It’s something I review fully and I’m going to do it as I’ve always done it.”

Were there failed drug tests involving any of his players? “I think you’re way left of center. Wherever you got those reports, I haven’t confirmed them, I’m not going to confirm them, and it’s not information I’m going to respond to.”

Is Miles disappointed yet another off-field issue has popped up? “I think the issues of society today (are) heaped full of temptation and distraction. Frankly, it doesn’t surprise me in any way what’s presented to our team.”

Can his team handle this distraction? “This football team might well understand what a distraction is. I don’t know that I’ve seen a change in their get along. I think they understand what they need to do.”

After saying that all of his players practiced yesterday and that his depth chart “hasn’t changed,” Miles said: “I expect that my team will take the field ably manned and ready to play at all positions. If we miss guys we’ll promote from behind. I don’t think speculation serves our team at this point.”

At this point, there are questions about who is suspended, for what reasons and for how long. Sources have told multiple media outlets that three players have been suspended for the Auburn game for testing positive for synthetic marijuana. But Miles confirmed none of that and suggested that the drug talk was “way left of center.” But that’s probably because coaches typically choose not to discuss drug issues due to HIPAA rules protecting the privacy of players.

According to an AOL Fanhouse investigation last December, LSU’s drug policy is in the lower end of the SEC pack in terms of stiffness.

A first failed drug test brings no action. A second strike calls for a suspension of 15% of the school’s games. A third strike results in a one-year suspension.

However, Miles could have suspended the players after a failed test on his own. If not, then it appears these players have tested positive before. That means they’ll likely miss the Alabama game as well, depending on how that 15% rule is interpreted. Fifteen percent of a 12-game season would equal two games. Fifteen percent of LSU’s remaining six regular season games would result in just a one-game benching.

(This is yet another reason we believe the SEC needs a universal drug policy for all member institutions.)

We’ll allow John DeShazier of The New Orleans Times-Picayune to sum this one up:

“Opponents haven’t been an issue for LSU this season. The Tigers themselves, though, have been another foe altogether.”

LSU Student Paper Reports LSU’s Ware, Mathieu Suspended For Auburn Game

John — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 18:47:32 +0000

LSU has reached the top spot in the BCS rankings despite becoming Team Turmoil for the 2011 season.

* An offensive coordinator diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease

* A bar brawl before the season

* Two players — including the starting quarterback — arrested due to the brawl

* NCAA probation handed down

* More NCAA questions asked about street-agent Willie Lyles

And now — if LSU’s student newspaper has got the story right – two key starters suspended for failing drug tests.

The Daily Reveille reported this afternoon that bruising tailback Spencer Ware and star cornerback Tyrann Mathieu will be suspended for Saturday’s game with Auburn “after reportedly failing a drug test” according to a source.

LSU officials neither confirmed nor denied the report.

According to the paper, “The suspensions could turn into multiple-game suspensions as well.”

Stay tuned…

Miles Talks Up His 2-QB System (With Good Reason)

John — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:09:57 +0000

Quick. Who’s got the top-rated passing offense in the Southeastern Conference?

If you said LSU, you’re right… and you’re probably still shocked that you said LSU. Coming into the season, Jordan Jefferson was an unpopular starter and Jarrett Lee was an unpopular backup best known for throwing seven pick-6 interceptions as a freshman. Zach Mettenberger was the people’s choice to quarterback the Tigers.

Good thing Les Miles didn’t listen to the people. When Jefferson ran into legal troubles, Miles didn’t hesitate to name Lee his starter. And then senior has responded by throwing just one interception in 132 attempts.

When the charges against Jefferson were lessened, Miles immediately reinstated him to the team and got him back onto the field. We at MrSEC.com wondered if the return of Jefferson might negatively impact the psyche and confidence of Lee. So far, it hasn’t.

And Miles is a happy man as a result:

“We enjoy our quarterback situation. We’re fortunate to have two veteran quarterbacks who have both played as starters… A diversity of attack with our quarterbacks is what we want…

It’s going to give defensive coordinators issues.”

It already has. Readers of this site know that we’re not fond of two-quarterback systems unless the two players in question are totally different types of players. Jefferson and Lee are. Wisely, Steve Kragthorpe and Greg Studrawa have the quarterbacks running two different types of offense. Jefferson handles the run-heavy, option-style attack. Lee takes care of the pro-style system which features more passing.

Defensive coordinators studying LSU don’t just have to prepare for two quarterbacks. They have to prepare for two offenses.

Those offenses are proving to be awfully hard to stop, too.

Miles Feels For Spurrier In Garcia Situation

John — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:21:47 +0000

Steve Spurrier had to give fifth-year quarterback Stephen Garcia his walking papers this week when the player failed a substance test at South Carolina. Les Miles has walked in Spurrier’s shoes and he doesn’t envy him:

“It’s a difficult decision. It’s not one that I look forward to in any way. You’re hammering wishes and goals and dreams. You’re hammering futures. And it’s a miserable even whether it’s a quarterback or anybody in your program.”

Most famously, Miles had to dismiss hotshot quarterback prospect Ryan Perrilloux after a number of issues in 2008.

Miles Explains QB Rotation At LSU

John — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:39:32 +0000

During the SEC teleconference yesterday, Les Miles was asked about his quarterback rotation of Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson, how he decides who plays when, and whether or not he is concerned the Jefferson’s return might have a negative impact on Lee moving forward:

“There’s the view of Jarrett Lee’s our starter, and there are bit and pieces of game plans that Jordan Jefferson is best for. Depending on an opponent, depending on the situation, we may dial his number. But both guys are doing a great job. They’re both competing. They both want the opportunity to play all the snaps, and it’s just what you want from a first- and second-team guy…

I think you’re trying to make a discerning decision about playing your best players, I think you always worry (about messing up a good thing). And it’s one where frankly the team takes precedence over anything else. If you feel like the best call is to run whichever guy it is out on the field for the snaps, that’s the call you’re making as a coach that says this is my best opportunity at victory.”

In six games, Lee has completed 71 of 118 passes (60.2%) for 947 yards with 8 touchdowns and just 1 interception.

Jefferson has been used mainly as a runner (8 carries, 36 yards, 1 TD) since returning two action two weeks ago. He has completed 3 of 4 passes or 61 yards and a touchdown through the air.

LSU Chancellor: No Rush For SEC To Become Super-Conference

John — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:13:09 +0000

LSU chancellor has told The Baton Rouge Advocate that there is no rush inside the SEC to reach “super-conference” status because every decision made on that front so far has been “reactive” and not based on a master vision.

“In some ways the SEC is in the driver’s seat, but we’re not necessarily comfortable, because we’re not sure where we’re driving.”

That statement sums up what we have been hearing — and reporting — from numerous sources across the conference.

Texas A&M forced the issue this summer by knocking on the SEC’s door. The SEC saw good value in A&M and grabbed the Aggies. That created a need for a 14th school regardless of what league officials say on the record. But because no major conference has come close to reaching 16 teams to date, the SEC has no desire to become the guinea pig in that experiment. If forced, yes… by choice, no. So 14 is the goal, no more.

So who’s might be the next school into the SEC?

“I don’t see Texas following Texas A&M. I don’t see Oklahoma going anywhere without Oklahoma State.”

Martin — asked specifically about Missouri — said that he could “safely say” that MU would be — as Jordan Blum of The Advocate puts it — “a good fit as a land-grant university near a large media market that would add prestige as an Association of American Universities member.

Teammate: LSU’s Wing To Get It Good Over Violation Of Bad Rule

John — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:00:17 +0000

By now you’ve seen the fake-punt touchdown by LSU punter Brad Wing (great photo at left provided by Tim Eddington to The Shreveport Times). The one that was called back due to Wing’s taunt of Florida defenders as he scurried past them and into the end zone on Saturday.

Some say the call was a bad one because the taunt wasn’t too far over the top. Others — like myself — say turning to taunt an opponent is bad enough to draw a flag.

That, of course, is the problem with the rule. It’s yet another judgement call that coaches on the rules committee have dropped on the heads of officials across the country. If you think you don’t like the rule that allows points to come off the board for taunts and celebrations, just ask an official for his take on having to make such a subjective call.

But with the penalty called in this weekend’s game, the aftermath is now set for the man who did the taunting. Yesterday, LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery said Les Miles would have something in store for his punter at practice today:

“The play was amazing, but it’s one of those things that cannot be tolerated at a top program. You’re not going to celebrate (like that). It wouldn’t happen at Alabama. It (shouldn’t) happen at LSU. So he’s going to be punished for it.

Brad Wing will be punished come Monday. He will have some running. It will be bad. Les Miles is not happy.”

Miles didn’t sound too angry about the situation today, though he made it clear a rule’s a rule:

“As the coach, if the rule’s in place I’m going to coach it. If you look at it from one perspective, how would you feel if that was your son playing against an opponent (and he gets taunted)? I don’t know if what Brad Wing does was taunting and not enjoyment (though).”

Which is why the rule never should been changed to allow points to be taken off the board. A 15-yard penalty on the ensuing kickoff is bad enough for such a subjective call, but to lose points, too?

Imagine this scenario:

There are five second left in a game. Time for one last deep pass. The trailing team’s quarterback launches a Hail Mary that reaches the 10-yard line. The ball bounces around and a receiver snares it. In his joy, he high-steps into the end zone for the win.

And then…

The play is called back because the receiver’s high-stepping could be viewed as taunting.

I feel sorry for the guys in the black and white shirts who’ve been saddled with this clunker of a rule change.

Miles Slightly Downplays NFL Talk

John — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:15:30 +0000

Last week, CBSSports.com’s Mike Freeman wrote that Les Miles is becoming a hot name among NFL franchises considering future coaching candidates.

Yesterday, Miles didn’t have much to say about the topic yesterday:

“Any time someone says nice things about you, that is very kind, and you recognize that. You are so focused on the things that you are doing currently that you give little focus to a number of articles. … Again, it certainly is a compliment. I am happy where I am at.”

Miles’ boss — athletic director Joe Alleva — told The New Orleans Times-Picayune that he believes Miles is happy in Baton Rouge. “We love him here and we’ll have to let the season play out and see what happens. But no, I’m not worried about (Miles leaving for the NFL).”

As we wrote last week, we would be very surprised to see a rah-rah coach like Miles walk away from the collegiate game.

Report: UF’s Brantley To Miss LSU Game

John — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:28:06 +0000

According to a report by ESPN’s Joe Schad — the same man who reported last Saturday morning that Jordan Jefferson wouldn’t play for LSU over the weekend (and he did) — Florida’s John Brantley will sit versus the Tigers this weekend.

“Florida quarterback John Brantley is not expected to play against No. 1 LSU on Saturday after suffering a high ankle sprain against Alabama last week, a person close to the QB confirmed Sunday night.”

When Alabama’s defense was finished with Brantley, it looked as though the senior signal-caller had suffered a knee injury and the worst was feared. If you believe Schad and his source, it seems as though that more serious injury has been averted.

Jefferson, Johns Cleared Of Felonies; Reinstated To LSU Team

John — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:53:09 +0000

A grand jury in Baton Rouge yesterday lessened the felony second-degree battery charge against LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson to one of misdemeanor simple battery. The battery charge against back-up linebacker Josh Johns was dropped altogether.

The result? By late last night both players had been reinstated to the Tiger football team.

First, good for Jefferson and Johns. There have been conflicting accounts of what happened during that August bar fight and if the two young men are innocent — or at least not guilty of what they were initially charged with — good for them.

But.

As we wrote last week in anticipation of this scenario, this could be bad news for Jarrett Lee and the LSU team.

Miles has already said that Jefferson will return and will “absolutely” contribute to the team. “I can’t imagine he’d be ready to play this Saturday (against Kentucky), but I wouldn’t rule it out,” Miles said.

So how much will Jefferson play? Miles offered this:

“Right now Jarrett Lee is our starting quarterback. What we would want to do is add a skill set. There would be an opportunity just like a year ago when Lee played in (10 games). There would be that opportunity for Jordan Jefferson…

I think there is an opportunity to increase our productivity on offense which would be for Jarrett Lee to continue doing what he has done and Jordan Jefferson to come into the game and do what he can do most significantly.”

That means bringing a run threat to the Tiger quarterback position, of course. And that makes sense. It’s also certainly fair for Jefferson (and Johns) to return as most players charged with a misdemeanor following a bar fight would not have missed four games to begin with.

But let’s look at Lee’s numbers during this career:

Year	Comp	Att	Yds	Comp %	Yds/Att	TDs	Ints
2008	143	269	1873	53.2	6.96	13	16
2009	16	40	197	40.0	4.93	2	1
2010	54	89	573	60.7	6.44	2	1
2011	56	87	624	64.4	7.17	6	1

Now it’s fully possible that Lee has simply improved over time due to natural maturation and playing experience. It’s also possible that this offseason’s changes in the offensive coaching staff have benefited him.

But it’s also possible that Lee is a more confident player when he’s not splitting time with someone else.

The addition of Jefferson into the Tiger offense may added an arrow to the quiver and already powerful team. Or it might cause Lee to start looking over his shoulder. One way or the other, there’s now a question as to how this will affect LSU moving forward.

And as well as LSU had been moving in its first month, does anyone really want question thrown into the mix now?

Report: NFL Teams Hot For Miles; But We Don’t See Him Leaving LSU

John — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:17:13 +0000

Les Miles to the NFL?

Mike Freeman of CBSSports.com reports today that “it has become clear Miles has vaulted near the top of some lists as the next hottest NFL coaching candidate.”

This isn’t the first time such talk has bubbled up. Jerry Jones has been rumored to have an interest in Miles — which would get him out of Arkansas’ division in the SEC, by the way. And Miles does have some NFL experience serving as a Cowboys assistant for two seasons.

“He’s the most intriguing coaching prospect I’ve seen in a long time,” one exec told Freeman. “I think he has a great deal of talent and can deal with the modern athlete.”

Perhaps. But it’s probably safer to say that Miles “has a great deal of talent” to work with in the state of Louisiana and that he “can deal with the modern athlete” at the collegiate level.

Why NFL teams continue to rush after college coaches remains a mystery. For every Jimmy Johnson, there are a dozen Dennis Ericksons, Steve Spurriers, Nick Sabans and Pete Carrolls… guys who can’t match their college successes in the pro game.

At LSU, Miles’ team rallies around their coach. The Mad Hatter? Eating grass? Occasionally speaking in gibberish? The Tigers have got his back.

You think that would be the case with multi-millionaire adults?

Freeman: “I think it’s only a matter of time before Miles is gone to the pros.”

MrSEC.com: We think Miles is perfectly suited for the college game, has one of the nation’s true plum jobs where recruits can be harvested by the bushel, and he enjoys the rah-rah camaraderie of college kids.

If Miles exits for the NFL while still on top of the college game, we’ll eat his hat.

Miles Loves The “Want” Of His Defense

John — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 18:01:48 +0000

Through three games, LSU defense looks as good, fast, mean, smart and powerful as any defensive unit in college football. Heck, even the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs might trade D’s straight up with Les Miles if they could.

Miles, no surprise, loves what he’s seen from John Chavis’ latest group:

“I am the LSU coach, and I love every one of those teams (his current squad is being compared to). I can tell you that this defense is one of the fastest teams that I’ve had. There are more big-time plays made on this defense than I’ve been around for a while. If the defense continues to play with that intensity, it has the opportunity to be a special defense…

You can coach it and insist on it, but there comes a natural intensity that this defense seems to bring. There are some guys that take the field that just can’t wait for the next play. That is a wonderful piece for a defense. Just line the offense up so that we can get one more play in. That kind of want is pretty special.”

How special can LSU’s defense be? Well, it’s way too soon to be making serious comparisons, but if the Tigers play as well in their last nine games as they have in their first three, they might deserve mention alongside the 1992 Alabama defense — which for my money is the best SEC defense of the past quarter-century.

Miles Wouldn’t Mind Playing In Front Of Beer-Fueled Tiger Fans

John — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:02:11 +0000

Saturday night, Les Miles will take his unbeaten LSU Tigers into Morgantown, West Virginia for a battle with the Mountaineers. WVU fans have a reputation for being as loud and rowdy as Tiger fans down on The Bayou. This week — since their application for SEC membership was placed on the bottom of the Mike Slive’s pile — they might provide even more volume than usual.

And speaking of volume, for the first time, WVU is selling beer at home games this season. So by volume, a lot of suds will likely be consumed by the time kickoff rolls around. Verdict: It could be a very hostile night for LSU at the end of West Virginia’s country roads.

Miles was asked what might happen if LSU were to follow WVU’s lead and start selling beer at Tiger Stadium:

“If they serve beer in Tiger Stadium, I fear that the upper decks might not hold it. I certainly want to be politically correct and not be against serving beer in Tiger Stadium. Certainly the athletic director and the chancellor would have to make that decision. But I promis you, we would enjoy playing in front of a Tiger Stadium that occasionally had a beer.”

And that might not be outside the realm of possibility. In July it was announced that LSU would be partnering with a Baton Rouge brewery to produce an LSU-branded blonde ale.

Our thoughts? The V-Roys and Bluto sum ‘em up…

DNA Inconclusive In LSU Bar Fight Case; If Jefferson Returns, Miles Will Have A Big Decision To Make

John — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:00:10 +0000

There’s some good news for LSU football players Jordan Jefferson and Josh Johns today — tests for DNA evidence in their bar fight case have been deemed inconclusive. A grand jury is scheduled to begin hearing evidence in the case tomorrow.

Jefferson and Johns were arrested last month on charges of second-degree battery following a bar fight in Baton Rouge that left four people hospitalized. The pair’s shoes were DNA tested to determine whether or not Jefferson or Johns kicked one of the victims while he was on the ground.

“This case will not be determined by DNA alone,” Hiller Moore, the DA for East Baton Rouge Parish, said. “It will depend, like most other cases, on witness testimony and their credibility.”

No doubt. But the state tested those shoes in the hopes of proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that one of the two players was the kicker/stomper in the brawl. And they could not do it.

“The absence of (Andrew) Lowery’s DNA on Jordan’s show supports our postition that Jordan will be cleared,” said attorney Lance Unglesby. “He should not have been arrested.”

Both players were suspended indefinitely by LSU coach Les Miles after their arrests. The Tigers have raced out to a 3-0 start with Jarrett Lee filling in as the team’s starting quarterback.

If/when Jefferson is released, Miles will have a big decision to make. Will Jefferson come back and get a shot at his old job? Or has Lee earned the starter’s gig permanently?

If he’s released, it certainly seems that Jefferson should step right back in as LSU’s quarterback. Just as some believe a player shouldn’t lose his job due to injury, one probably shouldn’t lose his job due to a wrongful arrest, either.

But there’s also the “right and wrong” of a football team. In a world of Wally Pipp’s and Tom Brady’s, it might be right for Jefferson to get a piece of his job back, but it seems more right for the team that Miles not upset the apple cart.

LSU is rolling along quite smoothly at the moment. Fair or not, Miles should stick with Lee until he gives him a reason or two to call Jefferson in from the bench. If charges against Jefferson are indeed dropped.

Of course, just having Jefferson on the bench looking over Lee’s shoulder might be enough to negatively impact how the Tiger starter plays.

Game Projection For Thursday 9/15/11

John — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:38:54 +0000

There’s one SEC game on the Thursday night schedule and it figures to be a dandy. LSU will enter Scott Field owning an 11-game win streak against Mississippi State. In fact, LSU has won 18 of its last 19 against MSU. But in their last trip to Starkville, the Tigers needed a last-minute goal line stop to secure a victory over Dan Mullen’s first Bulldog squad, 30-26. This one should a barnburner, too.

LSU at Mississippi State
8:00pm ET on ESPN

Why It Matters: An MSU win would put the Bulldogs right back into the thick of the SEC West race and put a dent in LSU’s BCS title hopes. An LSU win would further help solidify Jarrett Lee as a bankable starter and it would throw some more cold water on Mullen’s rebuilding project.

What Vegas Says: LSU by 3.5

What We Say: Starkville will be a madhouse. Knowing that LSU is one of the SEC’s most vocal anti-cowbell schools, Dog fans will be sure to do a whole lotta ringing tonight. LSU’s Lee-led offense put 40 points on Oregon two weeks ago, but that was with the benefit of four Duck turnovers. If MSU doesn’t wet the bed early — as it did against Auburn last week — and it can get off to a hot start, Lee might have a hard time leading the Tigers back in a hostile environment. But remember… while MSU was battling to the final second with Auburn last week, LSU was resting its starters against pushover Northwestern State. LSU is more likely to have leg strength late than MSU.

Prediction: MSU 24, LSU 23

Can Bulldogs end Tigers’ jinx?

Dogs hope to take bite out of LSU, Miles

MSU no longer happy with being competitive

Bring it On: LSU’s stingy run defense ready to face Bulldogs power attack

No. 3 LSU’s keys to victory against No. 25 Mississippi State

Short week, Miss. St. test LSU tonight

LSU’s Jefferson Wants His Shoes Back

John — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:44:24 +0000

Two weeks ago, Baton Rouge police searched the apartment of LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson. They left with bag upon bag of evidence. Soon after, Jefferson was charged with second-degree battery in relation to an off-campus bar fight.

Now Jefferson wants his stuff back.

The lawyer for the suspended Tiger quarterback filed a motion in court yesterday seeking the return of the property police seized from Jefferson’s apartment. Reportedly, 49 pairs of shoes were among the items nabbed.

Jefferson’s attorney says that property should be returned if it’s not being used as evidence. Not only is the lawyer right, but any man who already owns 49 pairs of shoes shouldn’t be forced to go out and buy a 50th.

Is This LSU’s New Nike Pro Combat Uni?

John — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:06:56 +0000

LSU is scheduled to wear a new Nike Pro Combat uniform against Auburn later this season. Making the rounds on the internet is this photo of an LSU all-white-with-old-gold uni seen at a Nike store in Las Vegas.

If this is LSU’s 2011 Pro Combat uni, it looks a heckuva lot better than the red pajamas Georgia wore last Saturday.

LSU’s Shepard Hit With 3-Game Suspension

John — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 14:36:14 +0000

LSU receiver and playmaker Russell Shepard will serve a three-week suspension before returning to action when the Tigers visit West Virginia on September 24th.

The Tigers got past Oregon — and put 40 points on the board in the process — without their big-play threat. He will now sit out LSU’s games with Northwestern State and Mississippi State.

Shepard was suspended for discussing an ongoing NCAA investigation with a teammate. Most likely, after speaking with NCAA investigators about street agent Willie Lyles, Shepard was told not to detail what questions might be asked of others.

LSU’s Miles Wants DE Montgomery To Chill Out A Bit

John — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 18:53:17 +0000

Following Saturday night’s 40-27 win over Oregon, LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery shared his thoughts on his conference’s dominance:

“I would like to speak on behalf of all SEC teams. I just think we run the NCAA, period.”

Well now his coach has opened up about Montgomery. And Les mIles would prefer his bid defender cool the talking a bit:

“Sam got a little juiced on the Gatorade that day. He doesn’t need to be saying anything about the SEC just yet.”

LSU Lands SI Cover

John — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:44:55 +0000

Fresh off a 40-27 win over Oregon on Saturday, the LSU Tigers will be featured on the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated.

“It’s Go Time” is the headline and that gives us another reason to link to this.

Normally, we would say beware of the SI cover jinx. But if Les Miles Tigers’ can overcome all the off-field drama of the past month and still whip Oregon, they got no need to worry about a jinx. What’s one more headache?

Report: Texas Lawmakers About To Get Involved In SEC Expansion

John — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 04:00:14 +0000

According to Orangebloods.com — the Rivals site covering the University of Texas — lawmakers in the Long Star State are on the verge of involving themselves in Expansionpalooza 2011. If they do, that could potentially be bad news for the SEC.

Until late last week, Texas politicians had given Texas A&M a free-pass to exit and head east to the Southeastern Conference. But now legislators are worried that Texas and Texas Tech could bolt from the Big 12 and race west to the Pac-12. Some/many/most politicos in Texas don’t want to see that happen. So…

According to Orangebloods:

“Sources said the reason lawmakers are hot is that they received assurances from the Big 12, including (UT president Bill) Powers, that the Big 12 would survive without Texas A&M.

And because of those assurances, lawmakers did not take an aggressive stand against Texas A&M withdrawing from the Big 12. But that may be changing.

Sources said members of the Legislature are or will be reaching out to Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin to tell him the Aggies may no longer have the blessing of lawmakers to leave the Big 12, especially if it looks like the Big 12 will collapse.”

In addition the site claims that Big 12 sources have said there is “an increasing likelihood of litigation” against the SEC.

Good luck to the Big 12 on that front.

The Big Ten began the expansion craze last summer. The Pac-10 then began flirting with Texas and others in an effort to swipe four- to six-teams from the Big 12, which would have extinguished the conference in one push. The Pac-1o was conducting an all-out raid last summer. By comparison, the SEC simply answered a phone call this July.

When the smoke cleared in 2010, Nebraska had left for the Big Ten and Colorado had departed for the Pac-12 (as it’s now called).

Unless the judge overseeing such a silly case attended Baylor, the Big 12 would have a hard time convincing any sane person that it was actually the third school out the door that destabilized the league. Especially when Oklahoma president David Boren has been making comments like this to the press:

“The Big 12 is not the same Big 12. I was extremely disappointed when Nebraska departed. Disappointed when Colorado departed.”

Missouri football coach Gary Pinkel also stated last week:

“Obviously we have some issues in our league… When Nebraska leaves one year, Colorado leaves and then also now Texas A&M. So it’s three real good football teams (that) are leaving.”

Do a Google search and you’ll find countless other Big 12 figures who’ve been publicly stating the obvious — that Nebraska and Colorado exited and hurt the league a full year before A&M started looking for an escape hatch.

But while a tortious interference case would likely be hard to prove, that doesn’t mean such a lawsuit still couldn’t gum up the works for Mike Slive and the Aggies. The mere threat of a lawsuit could cause SEC presidents to slow down out of fear that the person hearing such a case really would be a Baylor grad… angry that his Bears are in danger of being left for dead in this round of realignment. (Nevermind the fact that the Bears left TCU, SMU, Houston and Rice for dead when Baylor jumped to the Big 12 without remorse in the mid-90s.)

Back in 2003, several Big East schools filed suit against the ACC for a raid that netted the Southern league Boston College, Miami and Virginia Tech. In 2005, the ACC settled that suit for a grand total of $5 million. Pocket change.

But television contracts have jumped to another level since 2005 and the Big 12 — whoever’s left of the Big 12 — would likely ask for a cool billion of SEC cash. Well, even if there were just a 1% chance of losing that kind of cash, the SEC would need to do some serious risk/reward analyses. Perhaps the league would decide to stand pat and not offer A&M a landing spot. If that were to happen, would the Big 12 then be forced to re-admit a suddenly homeless Texas A&M? Now that would be a happy, long-lasting marriage, to be sure.

Bottom line? This thing isn’t over, folks. In some ways, it may just be getting started.

Oh, boy. Great. ’Cause who wants to talk about football?

UPDATE — Pete Thamel of The New York Times reports that Judith Zaffirini — the chairwoman of the Senate Higher Education Committee in Texas — claims the state senate has no intention of getting involved in conference expansion and realignment.

All The Latest On Team Turmoil (LSU)

John — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:12:22 +0000

If anyone ever writes a book about how not to go into a big season-opening football game, the list of issues currently facing LSU will surely serve as inspiration. Check this out:

* Les Miles says he’s not going to reinstate quarterback Jordan Jefferson until his legal issues play out. “My issues are kind of cut in stone. It’s fundamental to me.”

* Okay, but now it’s been learned that back on June 26, LSU punter Brad Wing was arrested for simple battery. Wing hasn’t been charged yet but the district attorney’s office is still interviewing witnesses.

So…

* John DeShazier of The New Orleans Times-Picayune believes Miles should explain why Jefferson and Josh Johns can’t play while their issues drag through the courts… but Wing can. (I’d say the whole “being charged” thing would have an impact.)

* Meanwhile, the attorney for a victim in Jefferson’s case claims that his client was kicked so hard during last month’s brawl outside a Baton Rouge bar that he was left with “several shoe-imprint bruises on his body.” (Which explains why police removed 49 pairs of shoes from Jefferson’s apartment.)

* Yet the attorney for Jefferson has released a video that he claims proves that his client “was never involved in any fights that night.”

* Dick Weiss of The New York Daily News even chimes in on the dark cloud hanging over LSU.

Attorneys Speaking Out In LSU Bar Brawl Case

John — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:55:52 +0000

With a day in court probably months away, the attorneys involved in the case of the Baton Rouge bar brawl are taking their arguments into the court of public opinion.

According to The New Orleans Times-Picayune, Michael Beinvenu — the attorney for the four injured victims in the fight — claims that there was no “fight” at all.

“They didn’t throw a punch; they didn’t do anything to provoke it. It was an attack by 10-15 people who have yet to be identified but who need to be identified for justice to be served in the case.

These other two individuals, (Josh) Johns and (Jordan) Jefferson, had something to do with the Andrew Lowery part of it. Take it for what it’s worth.”

Lowery is the Marine who witnesses say was kicked in the head and face.

Ah, but Lewis Unglesby — the attorney for Jefferson — has questioned the Baton Rouge Police Department’s handling of the case and he has said that Jefferson is simply a victim of his own celebrity.

“It should have been nothing. If you’re going to charge people, you give a whole bunch of misdemeanor summons and you figure it out later. That’s what they would have done if his name was Jordan Jones. This is all about his status.

The whole thing is ridiculous. I can’t say it loud enough, hard enough, mean enough, straight enough. There are fistfights at college bars every week. Dozens. I know every lawyer in Baton Rouge and no one has ever represented anybody who got into a fight in a bar charged with second degree battery.”

Uh, well, that could be because most run-of-the-mill college bar fights don’t leave people with broken bones, fractured teeth, fractured vertebrae and concussions.

Jefferson and Johns are innocent until proven guilty. They deserve a good defense. And the “aw, it was just a little ol’ bar fight” defense doesn’t qualify.

Miles Likes The Idea Of A&M In The SEC

John — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:20:44 +0000

In the coming days — if things come off as everyone expects — you’ll have a hard time finding someone in the SEC who won’t be talking up Texas A&M. No wonder then that a man who stands to benefit from an Aggie annexation is already sharing happy thoughts.

Of the SEC schools who’ll begin recruiting the Lone Star State a little harder, LSU and Arkansas have the most to gain as they’re the closest schools to the state. Les Miles talked about what A&M might mean for SEC recruiting earlier today:

“It’s certainly an interesting view of our conference. It gives us a Texas draw. We would think the Texas student-athletes would have an opportunity to see themselves attending SEC schools and this would give us an opportunity to be a little bit more serious about those guys participating in football in Texas. It’s a very quality football team that probably give some advantages to our conference.”

Sounds like someone’s told Miles that A&M’s move to the SEC is a done deal.

LSU Loses Key O-Lineman Dworaczyk

John — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:57:47 +0000

Two months ago, LSU was widely considered to be a national championship contender. Today, things are going from bad to worse to even worse on The Bayou.

In addition to NCAA issues, bar brawls, and multiple suspensions for multiple reasons, LSU has now lost senior left guard Josh Dworaczyk to a knee injury. He will not play against Oregon on Saturday and, according to The Shreveport Times, he could miss “most of the season.”

Les Miles says Dworaczyk will be operated on “in the next 10 days to two weeks or so.”

For LSU fans, it now seems that if it weren’t for bad luck, they’d have no luck at all.

(And, yes, we’ve been waiting to use that clip for three years now.)

Jefferson’s Lawyer Will Ask Miles To Reinstate LSU’s QB; Doing So Would Give The Tigers An Even Bigger Black Eye

John — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:08:51 +0000

The lawyer for recently arrested LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson plans to ask Les Miles today to consider reinstating his senior signal-caller. Jefferson was put on indefinite suspension by Miles last weekend, soon after being arrested — along with teammate Josh Johns — for his involvement in a bar fight a week earlier.

“It is more than unjust to destroy this young man’s career if it’s all about a bunch of nothing, which is what I think.” That’s the take of Lewis Unglesby. Jefferson changed counsel from Nathan Fisher to Unglesby last Friday. Make of that what you will.

Unfortunately for Unglesby, the Baton Rouge Police Department and the district attorney see the situation as being a bit more than “a bunch of nothing.” Jefferson is charged with second degree battery which is a felony. Multiple witnesses have identified him as kicking one of his fellow combatants in the head during the brawl.

“I have no criticism, nor knowledge base, to say what Les Miles is doing is wrong, but I want to make sure he is fully informed that there’s a whole other side to this, and that Jordan is not only presumed innocent, but I’m saying that he is.”

Oh, well. If Jefferson’s defense attorney says he’s innocent then he must be innocent.

In reality, there’s no way LSU officials can allow Miles to reinstate Jefferson even if the coach so desires. The school has already been placed on probation by the NCAA, been questioned in another case about street agent Willie Lyles, lost receiver Russell Shepard to an NCAA rule violation, and dealt with the fallout from the bar brawl all in the past two months. That’s enough bad pub for two years, much less two months.

To reinstate Jefferson — days before a nationally televised showdown with #3 Oregon — would send a very bad message: “At LSU, we don’t care what goes on off the field so long as you can wing that football on it.”

Is that being unfair to Jefferson? Not if you consider the fact that the team’s senior quarterback and team leader broke curfew, went to a bar at two in the morning, and somehow managed to get involved in a fight just two weeks before his team’s season opener. That should be reason enough for him to miss this weekend’s game.

Even if he’s innocent of the alleged head-kickin’.

“Jordan doesn’t deserve any special treatment from the legal system because he’s LSU’s quarterback,” his lawyer said. “But he also doesn’t deserve any bad treatment because he’s LSU’s quarterback, and I think that’s what’s happened.”

Maybe. But Jefferson also doesn’t deserve special treatment from the school he represents. There aren’t many schools that would start a quarterback who’s facing a felony charge of second degree battery. LSU can’t afford to be one of the exceptions.

Or else the school will emerge with a bigger black eye than any of the folks doing the fighting outside of Shady’s Bar two weeks ago.

SIDENOTE — Reports say that Andrew Lowery — the Marine victim to believed to have been kicked in the head — “suffered a facial fracture, a concussion, fractured teeth and facial and body bruises” in the bar fight. Another victim reporedly “sustained three fractured vertebrae in his lower back, a concussion, fractured teeth and severe cuts and bruises on the face.”

Things Could Play Out In A Number Of Ways For LSU’s Jefferson; A Redshirt Is A Possibility

John — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:25:36 +0000

After a week of questions, a couple of big ones was answered last Friday — LSU starting senior quarterback Jordan Jefferson was arrested and charged with second degree battery. That’s a felony charge for his involvement in a Baton Rouge bar fight two weeks ago.

Soon after Jefferson’s arrests, Miles suspended his quarterback and fellow-arrestee, linebacker Josh Johns.

But many more questions remain unanswered. Jefferson’s case can still play out in a number of ways, including:

* Miles could decide to “un-suspend” his QB before his case goes to trial. The coach, however, says that won’t happen “unless we had further information.” Still, he hasn’t ruled it out as a possibility.

* The case could come to some form of quick, unexpected resolution — new evidence clears Jefferson, charges are dropped on some technicality, or Jefferson reaches a very-good-for-him type of plea agreement. All in short time. Unlikely, but possible.

* The whole matter could be taken out of Miles’ hands if the university suspends or expels Jefferson for violating code of conduct clauses in the LSU student handbook. The school doesn’t have to wait for a court decision to rule in such matters. It’s unlikely Jefferson would get the boot — pun intended, considering what he’s accused of — but as with the other possibilities, this can’t be ruled out.

Glenn Guilbeau of The Shreveport Times lays out one other option for Miles and Jefferson today. And it’s likely not what Tiger fans were wanting to hear — the senior still has a redshirt year available.

“Yeah, I’ve not crossed that bridge just yet, but that’s a very, very interesting piece,” Miles said. (Listen closely and you can hear the groans of thousands of fans already fed up with Jefferson emanating from The Bayou.)

In the minds of many Tiger fans, the Zach Mettenberger era can not begin quickly enough. So the idea of Jefferson — a player who Miles clearly likes — returning for another year in 2012 might be the least popular possibility on the board.

Arrest Warrants Issued For LSU’s Jefferson, Johns

John — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:31:31 +0000

Baton Rouge police have issued arrest warrants for LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson and defensive lineman Josh Johns in relation to a bar fight last Friday. Both will be charged with a felony count of second degree battery.

Jefferson and Johns have been asked to turn themselves in.

Stay tuned…

Update: Both have been suspended indefinitely from the football team.

Police have a 2:30 press conference. Bail set at $5,000. The two players post bond and are released.