Ron Zook used to be the coach at the University of Florida.
After three excellent recruiting classes but five-loss seasons and no wins against the state of Mississippi, Zook was let go.
He wound up in Illinois, and after two tough years, his recruiting and sugar packet diet paid off, as Illinois went 9-4 this year, including a win over Ohio State and a trip to the Rose Bowl.
Zook is hailed as a hero in the state of Illinois.
Les Miles should have followed Zook’s lead to Big 10 Land. While Miles has certainly had much more overall success than Zook, the two men were linked together ever since Miles showed up at LSU. Whether it was their oddball press conferences, strange play calling, or the knack to end up on the losing end of games their teams were “supposed” to win, neither was or has been embraced by fickle SEC fans, even as their schools found some success.
Not long before he earned his national championship two days ago, Miles considered heading to Michigan, where he played and coached.
As we have seen with so many coaches, the desire to coach at one’s alma mater is strong—for some, it’s the ultimate job: Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech, Phil Fulmer at Tennessee, Steve Spurrier at Florida, and, we thought, Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia, until Miles gave the Michigan job a pass.
Sometimes the urge is so great that it takes ditching another successful program to land at one’s former stomping grounds. Roy Williams left perennial powerhouse Kansas for UNC. After only one year, Bob Huggins left Kansas State—a program that took a gamble on him—for his beloved West Virginia. Dave Wannstedt left the NFL to take over his former team at Pitt, and although “Wannstache” has garnered more attention for his facial hair rather than wins, he engineered the seismic upset of West Virginia that got LSU a ticket to the Superdome. 
Along those lines, even by Les Miles’ own admittance, he is still bleeding Blue and Maize.
Does the following quotation sound like the head coach of an SEC powerhouse?
"I love Michigan. I will always be a Michigan man...I'm going to root and pull for the Blue, and they will eventually win that (Ohio State) game." I’m sure the folks in Baton Rouge were thrilled to hear that.
Pretend you are Les Miles: Your LSU team is losing 20 seniors, your defensive coordinator bailed for the Big 12, you have run out of Nick Saban’s recruits, and your talented quarterback for next season has been suspended more times than Ricky Williams.
And you just took a look at next year’s schedule, highlighted by away games against Auburn, Florida, South Carolina, and Arkansas. You also face Georgia and Alabama, among others.
Most of those teams—now, suddenly, loaded with veterans—will be seeking revenge after close losses. The others will look to take advantage of your young and revamped team. Yikes.
Compare that to Michigan’s away games against Notre Dame, Penn State, Purdue, Minnesota, and Ohio State. Their schedule is not a total pushover, however, as the Wolverines also battle Wisconsin and Illinois in the Big House.
To top it all off, Miles just won “that game” against Ohio State—in the BCS National Championship no less. Not a bad way to begin a campaign in Ann Arbor—1-0 before you even show up.
I think it’s admirable that Les Miles is staying at LSU. But while Miles tries to regroup, find coaches and players to replace the ones who are leaving, the SEC will continue to get stronger—and I’m not convinced Miles knows how to keep up.
I know what you are thinking: Les Miles just won a national championship with his “damn strong team.” The guy knows what he is doing.
Perhaps. But do you remember Larry Coker?
Like Miles, Coker took over a loaded team and led it to a national championship—but Coker did it in his first season at Miami.
That was in 2001, when the Hurricanes went undefeated. The following year, Coker led the Canes back to the title game, but this time they lost in double overtime to Ohio State. In his third year, the team went 11-2, and the grumblings began.
Then came back to back 9-3 seasons, and eventually a final season that ended in turmoil, and Coker was led out the door. Refresh my memory: Where is Coker coaching these days?
I think Les Miles is a good coach, and there is no doubt in my mind that LSU will be a dangerous team next year. But don’t forget that Miles has the dubious distinction of being the only head coach of a two-loss BCS championship winner.
Miles scraped his way through this season while relying on veteran senior leaders and some of the gutsiest play-calling ever—and they still lost two times. With all that leadership gone, can Miles afford to do the same with an unproven team?
The Tigers’ offense has plenty of playmakers ready to fill in next year, and they will certainly put up points. Defensively, however, the Tigers may need help. Not to leave out Glenn Dorsey or Ali Highsmith—or the rest of the front seven—but how exactly do you replace your entire secondary?
Ask Urban Meyer, whose young defensive backs were lit up by nearly every team they played.In fact, the man known as “The Hat” will now forever be linked with Florida’s head man, who also led a senior-laden team of players he did not recruit to the national title game.
But here’s the difference: Meyer has been able to rest his hat on recruiting coups Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin, two bona fide stars of both the SEC Championship and BCS National Championship games—as freshmen.
After a 9-4 record this season, Meyer's Gators are gearing up for another title run in 2009. Meanwhile, Miles must rely on the enigmatic Ryan Perrilloux. Perrilloux performed well in situational duty, but was on a tight leash as a starter in the SEC Championship game. Against Ohio State, Perrilloux didn’t even attempt a pass, only coming in for a handful of plays the entire game. He ran just one time for four yards.
Is it likely Perrilloux can guide his team through an SEC schedule? Claim a national title? Win a Heisman?
Hell, can the kid even stay out of trouble?Maybe, but I’m not putting money on it anytime soon.
Call me crazy, but in this what-have-you-done-for-me-lately sports world, I won’t be surprised if a few years from now Miles is once again linked with Ron Zook—this time, with an SEC pink slip.
Comments (24) Add a comment »
from 4 months ago
Hey, there's nothing dubious (except in your small mind) about being a two loss National Championship Team. Your opinion amounts to as little as mine. Geaux Tigers. BTW had OSU won I'd just congratulated them. Geaux Tigers. Geaux Les Miles, Go to hell Nick Saban you nappy headed ho.
PS Bourbon street wasn't overrated.
from 4 months ago
Some damn fine points in this piece. Maybe I'll raise my two boys to believe that, if you don't like the situation you're in - quit! Yeah, the entire thing might go right in the crapper but, with the amount of talent that comes out of Louisiana I would think somebody would take the job when Les spits the bit! I can't see using LSU as a stepping stone to another job. They put 93,000 in the seats for every game and will probably close the end zones in sometime soon. That should put about 110,000 in Death Valley and they'll sell that out, too. Doesn't really matter who coaches these kids. Somebody recruitted them before Saban and he won with them. Saban recruitted them for Miles and he won with them. Somebody else will come along and win with them, too. Maybe it's time we stop overrating these formerly glorious programs and start realizing them for what they are - programs in need of some serious rebuilding to do.
from 4 months ago
Warren, I do not think Pollock was suggesting that Miles should quit, but go before the fans quit on him. The same guys trumpeting Geaux Tigers, Geaux Les Miles (see the comment prior to yours) can very easily be saying Go to hell Les Miles if he does not win. (Saban's great sin was taking an opportunity in the pros to see if he could hack it.) Joe would probably be the first to start a "Fire Les Miles" web site if he lost two in a row. Pollock points out the "what have you done lately for me" mentality that pervades among college football fans. If you want to teach those two kids something of merit you may try teaching them that winning is not everything. But that draws little interest. It is all about the winning and the money. Do not blame the coaches, the table has been set by the fans.
from 4 months ago
I'm only mad at Saban (that nappy headed ho) because we have to play his team on a regular basis. I'm not to happy about playing Tebow for the next two years. You take me a little too seriously. I'm good with the BCS thing as is and wouldn't have a problem with changes. We'll be good for awhile and then who knows, we won't be for awhile. I'd never honestly disparage a coach. Coaches are great people. They generally love working with young people and they are almost always a positive influence on young people. Why would I sincerely dispagare any of them (except that nappy headed ho, Nick Saban) My rant is almost over. The only thing we need at LSU is a louder band. I couldn't pic up the first notes of "Hold That Tiger"
Geaux Everyone.
Have fun.
Les Bon Temp Roulleze
from 4 months ago
To LSU fans --- your title is B(C)S without the C for most of the rest of the country. If this was voted on by most fans, or even handed to the Vegas prognosticators, LSU wouldn't have a chance in hell of being voted national titlist ahead of SC or Georgia.
So enjoy your little glass trophy, keep inflating your brains thinking that Les Miles is much of a coach,
and here's hoping that the next big hurricane finishes off your backwards state.
Geaux to hell
from 4 months ago
The dialogue on this web site is normally pretty elevated discourse about sports. Every now and then, ususally by an anonymous contributor, we get trash and comments like wishing another big hurricane on a state devastated by Kartrina. Why don't you stick to the facts and forget your cowardly, unregistered commentary that amounts to little but name calling and really powerful stats to support your points such as, "If this was voted on by most fans. . ." I guess you called most of them, right?
Geaux to another web site.
from 4 months ago
Here's hoping YOU get put in the situation that "backwards state" was put in with Katrina, and see how you like it. Maybe then you'll quit posting cowardly anonymous comments wishing harm on people who have done nothing to you. I'm not even from there but it doesn't matter, that comment was uncalled for.
Signed,
Tony from Minnesota
from 4 months ago
anyone who writes and can't sign his name should have his post removed- so strike anonymous comments- the reason fans don't get a vote is most of them really know nothing about football and the rules--we are mostly armchair QB's with great hindsight. As to SC- if you can't beat a 41 point underdog you don't get to go to the dance- AP /Coaches everyone agreed. Georgia- I have great admiration for Coach R-but if you can't win enough to get in the conf championship- you just have to wait another year.
Sign me
Lee
Not afraid to leave my name
from 4 months ago
This was a difficult year for college football and the BCS. Someone has to play in the title game. That's in the rules, I believe. If not LSU and Ohio State, then who? The BCS goes by their formula and believe it or not, Ohio State was No.1 and LSU was No. 2. End result: They got to play in the game based on this ridiculous system.
The rest of these arguments are as subjective as the BCS itself.
As for Miles, I like him. He rolls the dice and is fun to watch. He made the right move by staying. Michigan is a football factory, too but the pressure to win there right now is too great.
from 4 months ago
They need to take all the conference champions, plus a few top BCS poll wildcard teams and have a playoff, so we don't have to watch Les Miles act like an idiot at his press conference because his two loss team beat a team with an easy schedule. Wow, it was pretty much given to him & Saban's players. "LES MILES will have "LESS WINS" next season.
from 4 months ago
Naw Darryl. He'll win a bunch. Look who's comming back to play. They'll (or should I say We'll) have more offensive power than we did this year. Fear the hat and Nick Saban is a nappy headed ho.
Joe for Texas
from 4 months ago
Hey, If those inbreds in Georgia would just win more games they could go instead of LSU. Geaux Bleaux Yourself
from 4 months ago
Even as an LSU fan, you can't argue with those points. The time was right for Les Miles to jump ship.
For those reasons I'm glad he isn't on his way to Michigan. The only reason I would have wanted to see him coaching the Maize and Blue would be for his press conferences.
Other than that, enjoy LSU. We don't really want you.
from 4 months ago
Yeah, now that I compare the two Rodriguez is clearly just what you suckers need. Geaux tigers
from 4 months ago
the guy makes some good points; the schedule next year, the first year of all miles's players, and the comparison to larry coker. those are difficult things to ignore. can perilloux stay out of trouble? if he can, LSU can win another title in the next couple of years. i don't see them repeating, however. the sec will be too strong. they will have talent and they will be dangerous, so who knows.
from 4 months ago
I actually believe he made the correct choice by deciding to stay there.
They better find a defensive coordinator that is Bo Pelini's caliber, which will be trouble, if not impossible to do.
from 4 months ago
Let's be honest, you were going to write that article anyway. If Miles had jumped ship to Michigan, you might have waited a few years, but you'd still criticize the guy for not switching schools when the iron's hot. What's wrong with a little loyalty? I guess it's just too myopic in 2008.
from 4 months ago
Let's be honest, you were going to write that article anyway. If Miles had jumped ship to Michigan, you might have waited a few years, but you'd still criticize the guy for not switching schools when the iron's hot. What's wrong with a little loyalty? I guess it's just too myopic in 2008.
from 4 months ago
Michigan sucks. Why would anyone want to coach them???
from 4 months ago
He may not be kicking himself too much right now as Pryor now seems to be interested in LSU and is falling further away from Michigan as RR continues to recruit other QBs, such as Star Jackson.
from 4 months ago
ok first of all Pryor has Michigan as his top school right now and he isnt even thinking of LSU, he hasnt visited them or even mentioned one thing about LSU, shoot he isn't even mentioning an SEC school except for florida and thats because they run the spread. And you think that him recruiting other Qbs has something to do with his decision, HELLO he's the number one recruit in the nation, he doesnt care about that he knows he's better than all of them. Also, do you think that Rich is supposed to go after just one guy, well what happens when Pryor doesnt come to michigan and he's screwed without a spread offense type qb. I wish people who dont know football would just stick to their day jobs and stop posting these ridiculous comments. And Ike if Michigan sucks why are they the all time leader in victorys in all of college football. Oh and why have they went to i dont know like 15+ straight bowl games.
from 3 months ago
many sources have pryor AND darrell scott visiting LSU on Jan. 25th..miles has, for the most part, pulled in a good recruiting class and deandre brown will most likely sign also, and we already have the no. 1 cornerback in the nation and he may just be our best recruiter because he is reportedly close friends with terelle pryor...Gary Crowton was known from running the spread offense at oregon and i would say pryors finalists would be michigan and LSU, from what everyone's been saying
from 2 months ago
So much with the pryor analogy but Russell Shepard will make fans forget about that guy in about a year
from about 1 month ago
The poster who wished another 26ft. of water in my house has no idea. I'd like to take a dull axe and............
Ideally the sight will quit allowing discourse withour itsa author.
Miles couldn't cash in on the N.C. in the 2008 recruiting class; but he's taking off like fire for 2009. Michigan has too many obstacles to overcome.
Good choice Les.
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