LSU Miles Away From Return to Glory

Since the year 2000, LSU has been recognized as a title contender year in and year out.  With consistent top 5 recruiting classes and a fan following second to none, LSU has the opportunity to win any match-up put in front of them. 

However, in the past two seasons, LSU has failed miserably at the end of the season.  Why?  The answer has become apparently clear this year; head coach Les Miles. 

Nick Saban left LSU as a treasure for any coach to follow, so Miles came to Baton Rouge with big shoes to fill and very high expectations. 

In the beginning, he fit the bill. LSU continued its winning ways, and in 2007 won its second BCS National Title in four years. LSU faithful remained excited for the future.

Then came the 2008 season. The season was marred by underachievement and disappointment, with the Tigers finishing 8-5. 

While 8-5 is not the end of the world, LSU fans have come to expect better. LSU has built its football program to a point where BCS bowls are expected every year and national titles are a realistic goal for every season.

2009 didn’t get any better.  An improved record of 9-4 was negated by extremely disappointing losses to Florida, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Penn State.

Losing to Florida and Alabama may not seem like an extremely bad thing, but the fact that the Tigers had a realistic chance to win both games and put themselves into the national championship contention, is.

Both games were lost because of bad officiating, and Les Miles stood by silently both times.  Had this happened to Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Houston Nutt, Lane Kiffin, or Steve Spurrier, it would have made national headlines, because they are all coaches with the testicular fortitude to raise a little hell when necessary. 

With two losses and a national ranking of eighth, the Tigers still had a chance to force themselves into the BCS bowl picture with a win at struggling Ole Miss.  Again, the Tigers had a more than realistic chance to win the game, needing only a field goal with one minute to go. 

Bad clock management, and a terrible coaching decision to run a “clock play” as time expired, cost LSU the game and any chance of BCS bowl eligibility.

The season finished in even worse fashion as LSU lost to Big Ten Penn State in the Capital One Bowl.

LSU started the game at a disadvantage as the rains poured in and made the field a sloppy mess, negating all of the Tiger’s speed advantage.  But field conditions aside, the Tigers had every chance to dominate the game.

Both teams started the game struggling to catch passes because of the weather, but Penn State made adjustments while the Tigers continued to throw the ball to receivers that continued to drop balls. 

LSU wide receiver Terrance Tolliver had five dropped passes.  Given the conditions, one or two dropped balls are understandable, but five is not. It’s just another example of Miles’ inability to adjust his game plan to the conditions of the game.

Penn State made the adjustment, LSU did not, and yet the Tigers still had a chance to win the game at the end.  But yet again, Miles’ lack of fire and poor clock management cost the Tigers the game.

Miles’ time in Baton Rouge is coming to an end.  Tiger fans do not accept mediocrity and losing to a Big Ten school is worse. While his job may be safe for now, next season will be his last opportunity to bring the Tigers back to glory. 

Anything less than a BCS Bowl will be a disappointment.