“A lot of folks are wondering if
LSU couldn't have done better. But, really, who was LSU going to get? They were
determined to get a head coach. Les Miles parlayed two victories over
Oklahoma
into a nice promotion.”
- Dennis Dodd, CBS
Sportsline
“It's my opinion that LSU, like so
many other schools before it rushed to fill the position for fear of a bigger
P.R. hit if they waited longer to hire their man. That man likely would have
been the same Les Miles they announced (last) Monday. Les Miles has been one of
the nation's most underrated head coaches the past four years. He is a good hire
at this point. And LSU might see sustained success with his
leadership.”
- Tim Brando, CBS
Sports
“Les Miles might not be a name that
blows you away. But think about how the OK State fans (and Louisville and Arkansas fans, for that matter) must feel
about LSU being able to come in and steal their coach. LSU showed its status
with this hire. And Miles should be able to keep the Tigers ‘up and
running.’”
- Mike Triplett, Times
Picayune
“Interesting choice, but it's
almost like LSU is hoping for lightning to strike twice. Miles got OSU from A to
B, but he lost his two bowl games and didn't beat anyone this year other than
UCLA. However, Saban was seen as a coach who couldn't get a team over the hump
coming from Michigan State and obviously that worked out. For
Miles there's no honeymoon. With LSU's talent and expectations, he has to win
right now.”
- Pete Fiutak,
Collegefootballnews.com
"Miles comes with a resume that is
hard to find any holes in.
Hopefully everyone will allow him to do things his way, because that is
what made him the success he is. He
shouldn't be asked to do things the way Nick Saban did them. There are more ways than one to win
football games. LSU got a high
character, outstanding football coach."
- Charles Hanagriff, LSU Sports Network/Guaranty
Broadcasting Corp.
“I believe LSU hired the best
candidate available, considering the list of coaches available. I just hope
Tiger fans give Miles a chance.”
- Jeff
Palermo, Louisiana Network
"I've heard nothing but good things
about him from having interviewed numerous coaches and players who have had to
face him and his Oklahoma
State team in recent years, among them
being Jack Bicknell and the Louisiana Tech University staff. I know ex-Tech
quarterback Luke McCown exuded praise about the preparation of coach Miles and
his staff after the Bulldogs faced Oklahoma State in both 2001 and 2002. I think he'll
be an excellent fit for the Tigers' program."
- O.K. “Buddy” Davis,
Ruston Daily
Leader
“He is stepping into a tremendous
amount of pressure. The
expectations are insane, and the fact that a large number of athletes will be
returning next season will only add to that. Throw in the constant comparisons to
Nick Saban, and life will be tough without early success in Tiger town. Just off the bat, he seems to be a lot
more outwardly emotional than Nick Saban.
That could be an exciting rally point for him with fans. He seems to be a bit more blue-collar
type coach as well, that should help with high school recruiting. Ultimately success on and off the field,
recruiting and a clean program, will determine if he stays for long and earns
the devotion of Tiger fans.”
- Michael Cauble, WBRZ - Baton Rouge
"Is Les more? Or did LSU settle for
Les? Truth is, LSU seems to have settled for Les, but he may have the potential
to become more than many think. He could end up being almost as good as Nick
Saban but minus the yearly talk of a departure to the NFL, which would be nice.
Miles is not a great choice, but he's a good one considering what was available
out there. He's miles ahead of the other coaches LSU interviewed. Until Miles,
LSU's "search" was more of a dredging. I heard of Houston Nutt and R.C. Slocum
early, but I thought they were such bad choices that I didn't think LSU would
even look their way so I didn't even investigate. Jimbo Fisher would have been a
better hire than Petrino as well and should have been interviewed by LSU. That
was a mistake and LSU may pay for it down the road.”
- Glenn Guilbeau,
Gannett News Service
“Never heard of him until the day
he was hired. That's about it.”
- Bob Ryan, Boston
Globe/ESPN
“Les Miles was a good hire. LSU
followed a winning formula. Hire a coach from a big conference who is playing
second fiddle in his own state. Don't expect him to be Nick Saban. Don't expect
him to stay forever. If he wins big he's headed to the NFL. Perhaps to
Dallas.”
- Ed Daniels, WGNO –
New
Orleans
You have to trust Skip Bertman and
you have to figure he got one of the best coaches available. But only time will
tell and one thing's for sure ... there will be a drop off from the Saban era.
Let's just hope that "Drop Off" is as minimal as possible. LSU is now one of
college football's elite programs ... let's hope it stays their under Les
Miles.
- Kaare Johnson, WWL
Radio
“LSU did a through job finding a
solid candidate for the job. He might not be the sexy name fans were looking
for, but neither was Saban.”
- Jim Kleinpeter,
Times-Picayune
The leash of wiggle room will be
much tighter, following Saban's two SEC titles and a national crown. Is Miles,
the next Saban? Miles from it. Honeymoons for shotgun weddings don't last long
and this has D-I-V-O-R-C-E all over it if you ask me.
- Chuck Corder, Pensacola News Journal
“Frankly, I thought LSU would get a
coach who had more success on the college level. Perhaps Skip Bertman is looking
at it from the angle that Nick Saban coached at the second school in Michigan and had success, so perhaps Miles can do the same
after having coached at the second state school in Oklahoma. Miles should
succeed right away with what he inherits. The question will be over the next 4-6
years. The most impressive thing about his resume to me is he's 2-2 against
Oklahoma and is very close to being 3-1 against one of the nation's elite
programs over the past 5 years.”
- Jimmy Hyams, WNOX-Knoxville
“Les Miles was a better hire for
LSU than Bobby Petrino would have been anyway. Miles has accomplished more at
OSU with less talent, not to mention he's beaten Bob Stoops and Oklahoma on more than one
occasion. Miles has a stable of talent to work with and I don't expect much of a
drop off. Nick Saban came in as kind of an unknown and look what he accomplished
in just five years."
- Larry Holder, Galveston County Daily News
Miles is being handed the keys to a
Ferrari, not Al Bundy’s Dodge. People will expect him to cruise this
high-powered machine to at least 8 – 10 wins. Unfortunately for Miles…there will
be at least one moment this year when LSU fans will question the way he’s
handling the wheel….”That’s not the way Saban would’ve done it”, they’ll say.
The knee-jerk reaction from most
people will be “LSU could’ve done better.” But when you consider the timing of
this whole thing, the candidates who were actually available, and the criteria
Skip and company were looking for….I don’t think they could’ve done much better.
He seems like a genuine man, with high morals, and a respect for fundamentals,
toughness, and the way the game should be played. He also seems personable and
approachable…something we were all hoping for in the new guy.
- Jacques Doucet, WAFB-Baton
Rouge