LSU Football: Why Is Les Miles so Under-Appreciated?

Year after year, all Les Miles does is win.

A former offensive lineman under Bo Schembechler at Michigan, Miles has had one losing season in a head coaching career that spans 12 years. That came in his first year at Oklahoma State (2001), when he led the Cowboys to a 4-7 record.

Miles has two games left in what is his fifth season with double-digit victories.

Since replacing Nick Saban at LSU in 2005, Miles has led his teams to SEC West titles three times, including this season, as well as the BCS national championship in 2007.

His overall record as a head coach is 102-38 and LSU has finished in the top-five in the final Associated Press poll three times (not counting what is expected this year) since Miles took over.

Despite his consistent success, Miles remains under appreciated.

Maybe it is his "Mad Hatter" nickname (he never wears the same cap twice). Perhaps it's the unconventional chances he has been known to take. And maybe, it's because he's a bit on the wacky side, chewing on grass while on the sidelines (he actually had some flavoricious sod flown in for today's SEC Championship Game, which is played on artificial turf in Atlanta's Georgia Dome).

Perhaps the goofiness associated with Miles is part of his brilliance.

After all, when you keep your eyes on the antics of the coach, you tend to focus less on the talent wearing purple, gold and white.

And Miles has recruited a ton of talent to Baton Rouge.

Four- and five-star athletes come from all over the country to play for Miles. While in college they not only win more games than just about anybody, they also partake in what is the equivalent of an NFL prep program.

Yes, Les Miles is a great coach. Anyone who believes otherwise can't see the overall picture.

Much like a hat-less man staring in the direction of the sun.