LSU's Les Miles and Zach Lee: A Troubling Trend in Tigerland

Aug. 16 came and went—a pretty boring day in the world of sports. Even in Southern Louisiana, what really happened? Saints training camp, high school football previews, Zephyrs games, and among other things, a top-ranked quarterback who had enrolled in summer courses and began fall practices with LSU’s fall camp decided to take up the offer of the Los Angeles Dodgers and play professional baseball for over $5 million in guaranteed money. Sure beats flipping burgers after high school. Again, so what?

In the short term, this means LSU’s football team has exactly two scholarship quarterbacks entering the 2010 season: junior incumbent Jordon Jefferson and redshirt junior Jarrett Lee. Freshman Zach Lee’s (no relation) 11th-hour departure from Baton Rouge leaves preferred walk on and Baton Rouge native Barrett Bailey, a freshman as the third-string quarterback. Also, the six-time NCAA champion baseball team is without a pitcher in the spring. Still, what’s the big deal with one freshman or another playing mop-up duty against McNeese State, Louisiana-Monroe?

Here’s the big deal. For whatever reason, the LSU coaching staff has seemingly failed to think of and strategize for a “Plan B” in the event that a highly-touted recruit and projected first-round MLB prospect would have the audacity to accept a multi-million dollar contact for baseball. I’m not on the staff, I don’t know every detail, but this apparent mismanagement could be seen from miles (no pun intended) away.

To further complicate matters, LSU failed to renew the scholarship of 2009 recruit Chris Garrett, who ultimately transferred to FCS Northwestern State. Sure, reports indicated that Garrett was not progressing as scheduled and lacked a strong work ethic. Who knows the truth, but it is apparent that the Miles-lead coaching staff hung its (big white) hat on Zach Lee remaining a Tiger.

Clearly these things happen, and Zach Lee is just one player, but the bigger question is what is going on with recruiting and planning? LSU has consistently hauled in a top 10 class over the last eight years, but the quarterback has been a sticky issues over the last two years. Looking back, LSU dismissed five-star and Gatorade National High School Player of the Year Ryan Perrilloux in May 2008, when it was his team to inherit. This forced the Tigers to lean on Harvard transfer Andrew Hatch and then freshman Jarrett Lee. Lee eventually took over as starter; he showed much promise but was plagued with costly interceptions.

Following an injury against Ole Miss, true freshman Jordan Jefferson took over the starting job and played well on short notice against Arkansas and a Chick-fil-A Bowl blowout win over Georgia Tech. Jefferson took over as starter in 2009 but was held on a tight leash, almost overcompensating for Lee’s interception-prone 2008 season.

So here we are again, except the future seems to be repeating the past.  In 2012 LSU will be relying on either non-scholarship Bailey, an untested freshman or sophomore, or a JUCO transfer at quarterback. Okay, but this apparent misjudgment of the Lee situation continues to raise eyebrows in Tigerland. Is this an isolated incident that happens when dealing with 18-year-olds, or is it just more evidence of an increasingly compounding problem of leadership and foresight? 

Les Miles’ shortcomings are highly documented, especially gameday lapses in 2009 against Ole Miss and Penn State, but he has always had recruiting to fall back on. But, the Zach Lee situation was a train wreck waiting to happen; not a good sign, or vindication of leadership headed into a crucial season.

Make no mistake about it, this is a big year for Les Miles; a chance at redemption. While he should not have to apologize much three years removed from a championship, the team’s lackluster and seemingly confused demeanor over the last two years have left much to be desired. 2010 is a year with a lot of question marks and one that Miles can claim solely as his own. Some of the criticisms may not be fair, but they exist and the apparent failure to maintain and recruit for football’s most important position does not instill confidence in a disappointed and frustrated fan base. LSU fans hope the future holds a Plan B after Zach Lee. If one exists, now would be a good time to explain.