Editorial: Les Miles, Integrity, and Doing the Right Thing

We’re about midway through the college football season, and it’s one that has not only been entertaining, but one that has offered up a number of surprises. In the post-BCS world of college football, one thing that we do know is that the SEC West is still the strongest, most dominant division in all of college football. The SEC West, however, is a subject for another column. I’m sure Les Miles and the LSU coaching staff will tell you that the SEC West is not for the faint of heart.

LSU is in the midst of what has to be described as a rebuilding year. The roster is loaded with freshmen and sophomores, and it was hoped that these younger players could step right in and take up where last season’s team left off. Unfortunately, the attrition to the NFL has had more of an impact than many of us thought, including the coaching staff, and thus we are looking at essentially a diamond in the rough; a lot of talented players that right now lack the big game, SEC grinder experience. Players leaving for the NFL and replacing them with younger players isn’t the only reason for a down year – other issues such as coaching, the scheme, and execution play roles as well.

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This has led to a great deal of criticizing, condemning, and complaining (recalling what people shouldn’t do; learned in a Dale Carnegie course I took many years ago) from a large portion of the LSU fan base. Some of the whining and complaining has targeted the players, although much of it has targeted Miles and the coaching staff. I will mention here in full disclosure that I do not know Les Miles or any of the LSU coaches. While I believe they should be held accountable for the team’s performance, good or bad, I also believe there is a large degree of unfair criticism, especially when it deteriorates into nothing more than name-calling and being negative for the sake of being negative. Suffice it to say there is a great deal of anti-Miles chatter among the fan base.

I’ve considered writing this editorial related to LSU and coaching for the past several weeks, starting with the loss to Mississippi State on September 2oth. This is around the time that the anti-Les Miles sentiment began to surface to a relatively large extent. This sentiment would continue to grow, even with LSU’s win the following week against a totally outmanned New Mexico State team, due in no small part to the Tigers’ quarterback play. It then really hit a crescendo after the blowout loss to Auburn. The most recent result, a road victory at Florida, has quelled some of the criticism, but it is still there.

Criticism from the LSU fan base is nothing new; in fact, it is the rare scenario where any team receives little to no criticism. The Internet in all its glory via blogs, message boards, and the like has made it quite easy for folks to spew venom from behind their keyboards, with relative anonymity. Suffice it to say, very little of what one can find via these forums can be considered constructive. In fact, a large portion of what one will find is downright mean and nasty, and as mentioned, serves no constructive purpose. I can understand the need to vent after a tough loss, but what I’ve observed what is more than just mere venting. Up until recently, I was a regular on one of the LSU message boards, but not anymore, due to all of the negativity, and “sky is falling” mentality.

Aug 30, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles leads the team onto the field before a game against the Wisconsin Badgers at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

All that said, I want to focus on the positive regarding Les Miles and LSU football. Many of you may already be aware of the Florida fan who posted a letter to Miles and LSU football on his Facebook page following the game at Florida. This was first reported on nola.com, and much attention has now been devoted to the story. Late in the game, during the Rickey Jefferson interception that set up the game-winning field goal for LSU, Florida wide receiver Latroy Pittman went down with what was initially believed to be a serious injury. Serious to the point where he was carted off the field on a stretcher.

From all appearances, it looked as though LSU players and coaches expressed more concern for the young man’s well-being than his own teammates and coaches. A photograph posted on Twitter by Shea Dixon of Geaux247 would appear to support this. LSU players had their helmets off and knelt down in respect of Pittman; some LSU players were seen walking near the cart and talking to Pittman. Florida players did not do so. The letter posted by the Florida fan praised Les Miles and LSU, while at the same, provided harsh criticism of his own team’s coaches and players.

What am I getting at here? Well, first of all, sports – in this case football – should go beyond the winning at all costs mentality. It seems in our world today, sportsmanship has been left behind. Sure, coaches can be and should be criticized for how their teams fare. Big-time college coaches earn a ton of money, and should be held accountable. The modern sports culture above all seems to reward winning at all costs, and the human element is all but forgotten. And that’s the second part of this, the human element; integrity, and doing the right thing. It would appear to me that Les Miles has not forgotten this,and he has done a fantastic job in imparting this on his team.

Sep 6, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles celebrates with his team following a win over the Sam Houston State Bearkats at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated Sam Houston 56-0. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

I’ll remind LSU fans (and sports fans in general) of the role LSU played in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Les Miles was just starting his first season as LSU’s coach, and things were turned upside-down when that disaster of a storm struck. The football season was delayed, games were rescheduled, and the football team found itself right smack in the middle of assisting storm victims, as the LSU campus became a triage area of sorts. Les Miles and LSU football played a large role here, and I certainly don’t want to downplay the role the LSU community played as a whole, as it was a total community effort.

Back to football, it is well-documented that Les Miles truly cares for his players. It is certainly the case that the feeling is mutual, and reciprocated. There are a number of stories of how former Miles’ players stay in contact with him, and come back to campus to visit. Looking at it from this perspective, it is clear to me that Miles does his best to recruit men of character and integrity, in addition to men who have the ability to play big-time college football. I think we saw this in full force on Saturday night when Pittman went down injured. Fortunately, according to reports, he will be fine.

In closing, a couple of things. Number one, it takes more than mere luck to win 100 games over the almost ten-year period Miles has coached LSU. Yes, sometimes luck has a part, but think about what it takes to sustain that level of play year-after-year, especially in a conference as strong as the SEC. Number two; think of the all of individuals involved in making a football team work. The coaches, the players, folks behind the scenes, etc., and the challenges it must take to bring it all together. Plus, to be able to do so with class and integrity. Not every football program can make this claim.

I’m as disappointed as any other LSU fan when the Tigers lose; however, let’s keep things in perspective. Let’s think about how we want the university represented. LSU plays many games on national television. I can’t think of any other coach that I would want representing LSU other than Les Miles. Let’s do our best to support our team.

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