'Soul Ripped Out': The Fans Who Endured the Final Hours of Les Miles Era at LSU

AUBURN, Ala. — At Auburn, weird things happen with one second on the clock. 

The most notable instance of "The Auburning" came with one second to play in the 2013 Iron Bowl, when Chris Davis took a missed field goal back 109 yards to win the SEC West, propel then-first-year head coach Gus Malzahn to the SEC title and to within 13 seconds of the national championship.

Saturday night, one second ended the Les Miles era at LSU.

On Sunday, LSU athletics director Joe Alleva announced the dismissal of Miles and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron following the Tigers' gut-wrenching loss to Auburn. LSU is installing defensive line coach Ed Orgeron as its interim head coach.

The night before, LSU quarterback Danny Etling connected with receiver D.J. Chark in the corner of the end zone as time expired to give Miles' Tigers an apparent victory over Malzahn's squad, only to have the call reversed on review after officials determined LSU didn't get the snap off in time.

The mass confusion to cap off Auburn's 18-13 win over LSU in the "Buyout Bowl" was appropriate considering what was at stake for both programs. Bleacher Report took the pulse of fans right as the game ended and in its aftermath.

"My soul just got ripped out," said Tyler Bivens, a fan sitting in the LSU corner of the end zone—a mere 20 feet away from where Tigers celebrated what they thought was the game-winning score. "I was hugging everybody around me, my legs were going out from under me. I was so excited. And then to lose it like that. ... I don't know, man. I don't know."

With only live action and one Jumbotron replay from which to judge, some fans seemed unwilling to send a pink slip to Miles' office Sunday morning.

Matthew Guilbeau's mixed reactions were typical. "I think he should retire as LSU's head coach," Guilbeau said, implying he hoped Miles would step down sometime soon rather than be kicked to the curb in a nasty divorce. "I don't think this call has much to do with it...we scored the touchdown."

"I don't think he's fired," Bivens interjected. "Les didn't miss the tackles."

"I know it's the coach's job to get everybody prepared," Guilbeau said, before fading back into his emotions. "But...man...this one just hurts."

Three rows down, other fans fumed.

"He's fired tonight, " said Preston Schaefer—an LSU fan from Atlanta.

"I don't know about tonight, but I don't foresee him being here too much longer," said his brother, Matt. "I don't believe it's just this one game."

"It's the offensive coordinator," Preston said. "It's not Miles, but they're not going to fire Cam Cameron. It's going to be on Miles—especially after last season. Either Miles or Gus Malzahn were fired after tonight."

Well before kickoff, Matt LeMond from Mobile, Alabama, stood at the outdoors bar at Momma Goldberg's Deli in a corner of the Auburn campus. Clad in the purple and gold of LSU amid a sea of Auburn's orange and blue, he noted the fickle nature of LSU's fans, as well as how tenuous Miles' position was.

"The fanbase is jumping off," he said while sipping an Abita Octoberfest. "But one big game and one big win, which could happen today, and they're back on.

"But if we lose this game, that's close to the end of it...the end of an era."

One of LeMond's biggest complaints of the outgoing Miles—and one that's common throughout the LSU fanbase—reared its ugly head again against Auburn.

"Clock management," LeMond emphatically said mid-sip, before the question about specific problems was even finished. "That, and offense. We've recruited well, our defense has always been strong and we have great wide receivers. But I don't know what it is, but we just can't seem to pull a consistent quarterback."

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The quarterback issue has been another source of constant angst in the last few years. Jordan Jefferson, Jarrett Lee, Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris all had their chances under Miles, who ultimately turned to Purdue transfer Etling to replace Harris two games ago. Etling made his first SEC road start Saturday night.

"At LSU, we don't have a quarterback," said Larry King, who was tailgating with Auburn friend Brian Triolo on the lawn of iconic Samford Hall. "We just have the Purdue transfer. I mean, seriously, LSU—and even Auburn—can't get a damn quarterback?"

While Etling performed reasonably well as a game manager Saturday, he didn't help elevate his team. 

And in the end, Miles' old nemesis is what ultimately cost LSU the game—and him his job.

After an illegal shift penalty with one second left, LSU was scrambling to get set, didn't get the final snap off and the game-winning touchdown that never was will go down as the defining play of the Les Miles Era.

"What did I say before the game?" LeMond reiterated again late Saturday, hours after the final whistle. "Les Miles School of Clock Management."

One second.

A 12-year tenure that came to an end on a play that happened—but never really happened. 

Now, a proud program is left looking for offensive answers—and a head coach—after one of the most chaotic endings to a game in recent memory. 

A roller coaster of emotions from fans who've come to recognize that parts of the game had passed by their longtime head coach.

One second that will live in the annals of LSU football history.  

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Statistics courtesy of cfbstats unless otherwise noted. All recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports. Odds provided by Odds Shark.

Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and national college football video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on SiriusXM 83. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.