Why You Better Believe Les Miles Is on the Hot Seat Next Season, COY or Not

Who would have thought that Les Miles would have went from Coach of the Year, to possibly sitting on one of the hottest seats heading into next year?

What Miles has done this season has been nothing short of remarkable. He had to deal with distraction after distraction. His starting quarterback was involved in a bar fight a week before the season started and was suspended indefinitely. One of his star wide receivers was suspended for a short period of time. Some of his main weapons on both sides of the ball were suspended for drug use and ended up missing the game against Auburn.

Then there was an injury to one of the top lineman in the SEC when Josh Dworaczyk went down. Miles had to find a way around that, considering Dworaczyk was probably the most valuable offensive lineman at left guard. 

Then you add on the fact that he was able to win the SEC by beating eight ranked teams this year. Only three of those took place in Tiger Stadium, making it easily the most difficult schedule in the country. Miles was able to jump every hurdle and dominate the entire season.

That was until they reached the BCS National Championship Game and were embarrassed by the Alabama Crimson Tide. It would have been one thing to lose. That would have been a lot easier to accept. But LSU didn't score at all. They only crossed the 50-yard line once and didn't even reach 100 total yards on offense.

What makes everything worse is the fact that quarterback Jordan Jefferson was lost out there on the field. He looked like he wasn't prepared at all for the big game and everything that came with it. He caved under pressure and was just forcing everything. LSU had another senior quarterback on the roster in Jarrett Lee that has won big games before.

Did Miles put him in when Jefferson was stinking it up? Nope.

"Nope, sure haven't. I haven't talked to any coaches or anything." Lee said. "I don't know it at all. I'm not really sure what happened, but I just tried to stay prepared for whenever my opportunity came. Obviously, it didn't. I don't know what the deal is, but this was a special team.''

Who's to say that Lee would have played better. But anything would have been better than the 53 passing yards and one interception Jefferson provided in a complete game's work.

Miles has often been criticized for his poor decision making and risky calls. This may have been the worst decision of them all, as a national championship was up for grabs.

LSU will have an extremely talented team heading into next year once again and you have to wonder just how long Miles will be around if these boneheaded decisions keep up.

Coach of the Year or not, Miles may be feeling the heat after a season that looked too good to be true, came to an abrupt halt and a disappointing finish.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]