Les Miles fired according to Sunday reports
- Thread starter BamaNation
- Start date
Yeah that's why I said Calling Jimbo Fisher because of the fiasco last year. IMO Jimbo is a one trick pony when he had Winston. Bottom line is I feel LSU has made a big mistake firing Miles. I've said on here many times the The Hat would have had a pretty stellar resume if it weren't for a guy named Nick Saban. Oh well, who's the next coach that's going to be fired for losing to Gus this year?
I have the strangest feeling that LSU is about to wander in the wilderness for awhile.
If any school knows how that can happen, it's Bama after Coach Bryant retired. Until Coach Saban, the six or seven years under Coach Stallings was the only real stability we had from 1982 until 2007.
Contrary to popular belief it's going to be harder than they think to find a coach who wants to follow Saban and Miles in Bayou country in my opinion.
Another example of what can happen if you fire a football coach who has had success would probably be Phil Fulmer. He goes 29-21 his last four seasons at Tennessee. We can all agree that's not great. So, they fire a very successful coach. Then they go 22-27 under their next two coaches, to find their way back with a coach who is now 25-17 and if things go well can restore the program to the heights of the Fulmer era.
Now, think about that. They fire the 29-21 guy, endure losing seasons, then may be the new guy can turn out to be as good as Fulmer... The problem is all the SEC programs want winning records in the SEC but they on average are only going to be at .500.
Now, think about that. They fire the 29-21 guy, endure losing seasons, then may be the new guy can turn out to be as good as Fulmer... The problem is all the SEC programs want winning records in the SEC but they on average are only going to be at .500.
I think both of those would be punts if not out right turnovers. A big part of this is the fact that Les recruited quite well at LSU. Even a marginally better coach might struggle more if he can't keep LSU near the top in recruiting.
Just click on the video it will take you too youtube hear the reg version she does sound well what ever
I doubt they get the top tier coach they want. I've already said that. I think they'll have to settle for Fedora or someone similar. I also expect for there to be a fall off from where they've been the past 15 years or so.
There's also this: If I were a coach, would I really want to go to LSU after how they've treated Miles? Unless the money was just out of sight (compared to current salary) I would have to say maybe not.
There's also this: If I were a coach, would I really want to go to LSU after how they've treated Miles? Unless the money was just out of sight (compared to current salary) I would have to say maybe not.
What is a program to do though? I was reading an article on ESPN by Ivan Maisel about other examples, besides Fulmer/Tennessee. Texas has struggled worse since Mack Brown than they did during his final seasons. Nebraska and Solich. Michigan after Loyd Carr (until now). But what were these programs to do? They had obviously reached the downhill slide of their careers, and their competitors were rapidly passing them by.
I guess my take away would be you better be sure of the replacement. The grass is certainly not always greener.
I would love to see Chip at LSU. He's a one trick pony and everyone has figured him out. After watching him 3 years with the Eagles, you can see he thinks way to highly of himself.
I already mentioned Mack Brown as well. I think you addressed that with you final statement. I think they might be better off waiting to pull the trigger until they feel like they have a sure thing. For example, if a school has Chip Kelly or Jimbo lined up, I understand the move a lot more than I understand firing a proven coach and just hoping you improve.
I would like to say that I think the notion of a downhill slide in a career could be misguided. The problem is now these programs are not patient enough to give a coach a chance to pull out of an apparent slide. Sometimes sanity prevails though, Bobby Bowden wins 10 games in 3 out of 4 seasons, then he goes 30-15. Now that's not terrible, but is isn't far off what we've seen lately from Les either, is it (29-13)? The difference, FSU didn't fire Bobby and his best years were yet to come (he was 55 at this point in time by the way). What about Bear Bryant? Over a four year stretch he went 28-15! Once again, the best things were yet to come.
So, it is easy to argue that it's clear a coach is sliding after 3 or 4 rough years, but the best coaches of all time did the same thing and the ironic thing is they still had their best years ahead of them. Some of these ADs would have fired Bryant or Bowden, perhaps even put them into an earlier retirement. How idiotic would that have been? What's to say Fulmer, Miles or Mack wouldn't have managed the same thing? It's all speculation but we know in two of those cases the results have been teams getting worse and not better.
I think the answer to your question is pretty simple really. If you have a coach who has already shown he can take you to the elite level, you actually have very little to lose to stick with him an extra year or two, especially if you don't have another proven guy lined up. If that 4 year slide becomes a 6 year slide, ok get rid of him. But to me the risk/reward is not in favor of the team that's in a hurry to get rid of one of their all time best coaches.
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I agree with you on this statement. With the addition of the CFP, coaches can build a program in any conference not named the SEC and content for a consistent playoff spot. Its bigger than football, its about having a program that wins consistently, and then after that ... you have to win the big one from time to time as well. Take Dabo for example ... he can have a winning record for the next 4 years and if he fails to take his team to the playoffs at least two of the next four years, there will be people to call for his job.
Shoot ... Coach Saban was almost in that scenario as well. 2015 was a pivotal season for him. With the success of several school with the spread offense (namely the school in west Georgia), folks were starting to wonder if the game was passing Saban by. But Saban like another great Bama coach did one thing that many coaches find it challenging to do ... he made necessary changes to the program to ensure its success. It will eventually come to an end but seeing what Saban has been able to do just makes me appreciate his focus even more.
But back on topic, they will have a have a hard time bringing in a coach in the SEC West that will be as competitive as the ones who are already here. And quite frankly, the Barn is going to be in the same boat.
Consider Coach Saban's last four seasons at Michigan State...
6-6
7-5
6-6
10-2
His run at Michigan State and Fedora's at North Carolina are actually quite similar. Not that Fedora would likely be in the their tier of choices.
If anything Coach Saban has taught us is that what LSU needs is someone that realizes that "total control' is critical for success. You need a "stand up" guy, who can plan for any scenario. He needs to have a "minor" in Psychology.....as well as a knack for not only attracting the "blue chips" but also for finding the 3* guys that can evolve in to "difference makers". He needs to be able to adjust to the ever changing world of College Football....and sometimes make 'risky' hires -- and he cannot ever let the media take control of a press conference.....
Nevermind.....there aren't any guys out there like that.....at least not any "other" guys....
Nevermind.....there aren't any guys out there like that.....at least not any "other" guys....
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