Les Miles: The Only Swagger Worth Questioning Is That of the Mad Hatter

There isn’t a head football coach on this planet, perhaps outside of Mike Leach, that I enjoy more than the magnificent and mysterious Les Miles. Besides the fact that the man is a walking soundbite or GIF, he also has an unorthodox formula that translates into continued success. 

Recruiting phenomenal talents and rolling out a terrifying defense on a yearly basis isn’t some sort of magic trick, but Miles provides regular entertainment that stretches beyond his ability to lead one of the nation’s best programs. He is a magician with a routine you’ve seen for quite a while now, but he saws the woman in half with more flare than most men of magic. He also actually saws the woman in half every so often just to keep you on your toes.

I preface with this because Miles and I aren’t seeing eye to eye once regarding a college football-related matter. I suppose you never truly see eye to eye with a man like Les, but his uniqueness and lack of verbal filter is finally delving down a strange path.

Shortly after National Signing Day, Les Miles had some choice words regarding Gunner Kiel, one of the top quarterback recruits in the country and a “former” verbal commitment at LSU. Miles said Kiel didn’t have the “chest and ability to lead a program” while trying to appeal to a room loaded with Tiger supporters. Kiel, of course, signed with Notre Dame somewhat spontaneously after previously committing to LSU and changed his mind again one last, final time.

You’ve been there before. Ex-girlfriends are never as hot or as nice as they were once they’ve acquired this dreaded “ex” in front. Add a room full of interested ears into the equation, and Miles wasn’t doing anything you haven’t said to your buddy over a 2 a.m. burrito. It doesn’t make it right, however, and he wasn’t done there.

Speaking with Dennis Dodd of CBSsports.com, Miles once again sounded off on Kiel while trying to extinguish a small fire. Although you can see where he was trying to take his second post-Kiel discussion is some aspects, in the end he just sort of moved the coals around a bit.

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“I'm not bitter. I'm glad he stayed there. I really mean it. Here's the truth: If you don't have some swagger to you and you can step into this stadium and be able to know the advantage that you're playing with the Tigers and you're leading the program that has some real weight and clout, then you really need to stay home with your brothers.”

“I don't mean that [negatively]. I'm for him. He gets a chance to come in here and compete and start on a team that is a great team. I really meant what I said. I was talking more about the confidence and swagger. I was not demeaning. If he shows up, it means he has all those things …”

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Where to begin. First, we must recognize that Les Miles is working hard to incorporate “swagger” into his verbal repertoire. That’s a positive. It might be the only positive.

I don’t know the feeling of losing a top-tier recruit somewhat unexpectedly and at the last minute, but I can’t imagine this is something you ever grow immune to as a head coach. I can certainly sympathize with Miles’ frustration on this subject, but that’s where we go our separate ways.

Miles has twice now called out a high schooler for now signing at his school and done so by insulting his “chest” and a perceived lack of swagger. That’s not a good look for a grown man to take, especially when Kiel and his family were simply trying to decide the best possible place for them. This doesn’t justify Kiel’s commitment timeline by any means, which started at Indiana and spiraled out of control in a flash. Kiel’s final landing spot of South Bend was not a surprise in that it was a surprise. Unfortunately, LSU was the last team standing without a chair.

Although the comparisons are vastly different, one of which comes with more zeroes, it was not long ago it was Miles who was looking out for his own best interest. When the Michigan job opened following the firing of Rich Rodriguez, Miles met with Ann Arbor brass in early 2011 to discuss the vacant position. Perhaps he was just leveraging for more money in his current stop, but it seemed like Les had genuine intrigue in the job.

Regardless, his conversations with Michigan didn’t take place because he didn't have the swagger or chest for the SEC, but instead he viewed it as a potential opportunity. It's a moot point as it didn’t work out in the end, but establishing a conclusion on an individual's decision making is a slippery slope. It also comes off incredibly bitter.

Urban Dictionary, an esteemed Internet source for all sorts of important matters, defines “swagger” as: “a person’s style - the way they walk, talk and dress.”

You've got style, Les, and you always will. But don't let your own swagger suffer by continuing to rag on the one that got away. Let it go.