After coaching the Tigers to a 19-7 triumph over Texas A&M on Saturday night, Miles learned that he’d survived an apparent behind-the-scenes campaign to oust him – at least for now.
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“Miles said he found out he would remain as head coach when “[LSU President F.] King Alexander said, ‘I want you to be our coach'”.
A day many thought would end with Les Miles down and out saw the LSU coach riding high.
The Tigers went 8-5 last season and suffered through a rare three-game losing streak this year, although the team has an 8-3 record and could win a ninth game in an upcoming bowl (plus the season-opener, a near-certain win against McNeese State, was canceled because of poor weather).
“I have no idea”, said Miles, who has won two SEC titles and one national championship since becoming LSU’s coach in 2005.
Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice, highly touted recruits brought in by Miles, both combinded for 275 total yards on offense. Speculation has been running wild for weeks now, but he’s not going anywhere. Miles has lost five consecutive games to rival Alabama, another reason why his success at the school hasn’t been met with resounding approval.
During the “Tiger Walk”, from the team busses to the stadium, Miles was greeted like a hero as he waved to the crowd, at times pausing and turning around as if to soak it all in. ESPN reported Saturday night that the decision to retain Miles was made during the third quarter of the game against A&M.
“The motor seems to be pretty stinking strong”, Miles said of Fournette. “He didn’t give us no hints, he said he was our coach”.
“I just know how bad coach Chavis wanted this”.
FIRST EARLY LEAD SINCE OCTOBER: The Tigers took a 6-0 lead over the Aggies in the first quarter on field goals of 32 and 38 yards by Trent Domingue.
Fournette finished the game owning LSU’s single-season rushing record at 1,741 yards, surpassing the mark of 1,686 yards set by Charles Alexander in 1977.
Texas A&M quarterback Kyle Allen threw Ricky Seals-Jones for a 8-yard TD.
LSU got the ball right back on the A&M 20 when LSU’s Devin Voorhies tackle of Christian Kirk on the kickoff caused a fumble that Donte Jackson recovered.
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“I don’t think it’s as much special teams as it is taking care of the football”. “It’s a joy. It’s nice for them to come say to me, ‘Hey, the job you’ve been doing, you can still do it.’ I like that”. Then that recruiting class that we all want to be here doesn’t come.
