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SEC Head Coach Evaluation: LSU’s Les Miles

By John Richardson

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Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

Let us get the obvious out of the way first.  In 10 seasons, Miles has averaged better than 10 wins a season, lost more than 4 games only twice, recruits at an elite level, and has appeared in 2 National Championship games.  Each of these are obvious pluses.

The biggest knocks on Miles have been his failure to win big consistently and comparing him to his despised (by Tigers) predecessor Nick Saban.

Somebody ring up Ron Zook and ask him how easy it is to replace a legend.  Zook lost more games at The Swamp in 3 seasons than Spurrier lost in 12.  Zook is far from the first coach to fail in replacing a legend, however.  Lane Kiffin /Derek Dooley and Sylvester Croom each quickly failed in their efforts of replacing Phillip Fulmer and Jackie Sherrill, respectively.

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    • All of these coaches left/joined the SEC within a few seasons of each other.  The other legend to leave his school around that time frame was Nick Saban at LSU.  Hate him or love him, winning a National Championship at a school makes a coach a legend.  Miles is the only recent coach to replace a school legend and continue his success, maintaining his program at LSU since 2005.

    Instead of just talking about Saban and Miles from a perception standpoint, let us look at how their résumés at LSU stack up.  We have to use averages for some of these due to the varying lengths of their stays at LSU.

    Wins

    Saban: 9.6 per year,  Miles:  10.3

    Edge:  Miles

    SEC West Championships

    Saban:  2 (unless you count 2002 where they tied for the lead but lost the tie breaker with Arkansas)

    Nov 9, 2013; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban celebrates as he leaves the field following their 38-17 victory over the LSU Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

    Miles:  3

    Edge:  Push

    SEC Championships

    Saban: 2 in 5 years, Miles:  2 in 10 years

    Edge:   Saban

    Bowls

    Saban:  3-2, Miles:  6-4

    Edge:  Push

    BCS Bowls

    Saban:  2-0, Miles 2-1  Edge:

    Saban

    While Saban’s tenure at LSU has a slight advantage over Miles’ due to winning big more often, Miles’ résumé stands up to it admirably.  Les Miles has compiled an elite tenure while coaching the Tigers.  While he may fall just short of Saban, that is the case for the vast majority of coaches in college football.  The Tigers have won consistently and won big occasionally under Miles.

    And before anyone bashes Miles too hard for not winning big more often, remember LSU only has 3 National Championships.  LSU has a proud heritage, but regularly winning National Championships is not a part of it.  Miles has had one of the most successful careers at LSU in their storied history.  If he ever adds a second National Championship he will have as many as all other LSU coaches. . . combined.

    While Miles may not belong on college football’s Mount Rushmore, he is one of the most successful head coaches of the 2000s.  Deal with it.

    So why does Miles catch so much heat?  Could Les Miles seat actually be nearing the temperature of a fresh bowl of crawfish etouffee?  It seems his tenure is as safe as the gator infested bayous of Louisiana. . . but why?

    Next: Miles' Missteps

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