LSU Football: An Open Letter to Les Miles, Stay True to Yourself

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer) Les Miles may have no harsher critic than me in the media when it comes to some of boneheaded things he has done.

That said, I am also one of the few writers with a strong Alabama lean who praises him for the things he's done right.

Over a month ago, I wrote an article, "LSU Football: It's time for Les Miles Detractors to Finally Give Him Credit." In that article I praised Miles for not selling his soul with a national title on the line and going further with sanctions against the bar brawlers than perhaps most coaches in his position would do.

At least in my own mind, I try and live by the old sports mantra of "callin' 'em as I see 'em," and with that in mind, here's my open letter to Les Miles.

In my opinion, that decision did more good for the team than bad for the record. He created a win/win scenario with that tough decision. He won as a man and coach and so did the team and I write this open letter to him as a reminder of who he is to many of us outside the LSU program.

Dear Les,

While I've not always been in your corner and have been quick to point out your mistakes, I have been just as quick to acknowledge the things you do so well, and heretofore, they have been many.

You are an excellent recruiter, the coaches you've groomed walk lock step with you and you win. But what's been most impressive to me as a writer and sports historian is HOW you win.Like Sinatra, you certainly do it your way.

You're not afraid to make the tricky calls, you almost always show your team that you have faith in them to accomplish what they must and to heck with statistics or percentages.

You're not afraid to make light of yourself and to acknowledge your quirks. Quite frankly, I find that fascinating and refreshing.

You have a way and mannerism that you've walked until now that is a difficult trek for a head coach to make. You have the reputation of a strict disciplinarian, but still have the love and respect of your players. They would walk through fire for you and that is admirable.

Until now, you've made it clear, abundantly clear, that no one is above the rules on your team. Your decision to suspend and then dismiss Ryan Perriloux, arguably the player your team needed the most at that time, set a precedent that has not swayed until perhaps now.

You have been an example of what's right with your school, the SEC and college football for that stance.

Whatever decision you make concerning the players who are first-time offenders in this latest mess have been dealt with appropriately. What you do with the two-time offenders is making the world watch you closely.

Coaches who have "looked the other way" or "handled it internally" and did nothing more have become jokes to us in the media. They have sold a portion of their soul to "Just win, baby" and their reputations will never be the same.

As you consider what punishment to dole out, remember that coaches who sold out were never able to get that genie back in the bottle again.Your team not only rallied when Jordan Jefferson was suspended, but flourished. They believed in you and in one another and they overcame. Do not cheat your players and your legacy by denying them the opportunity to do it once again and show the world that they are a winning team, not just supporting characters for a few stars.

You have won my respect as a coach, and your actions in these kinds of matters as well as the records you've posted have done that and overcome any of my misgivings about previous judgment calls or mistakes you've made.

I am but one man, though emblematic of hundreds of thousands of other fans, media and populace.

Be the man you are at your core, show the world that right is more important than wins and that, when push comes to shove, you go your own way.

The decision you make now affects the rest of your coaching career—not just this one promising season.

Make the right decision.

Larry Burton,

Begrudging fan (for now) and media member