Monday, October 11, 2010

LSU AD Joe Alleva Needs Les Miles and the Media To Talk in Private

I think in this moment of good feelings it is important to do it now!! I tell you I am convinced if ESPN Game day comes to Baton Rouge for the Bama game Les Miles is not showing up!!

Now I know Les Miles has given some ammunition to his critics ,but on the whole the media has taken this too far. Les Miles gets called on time mgt yet hardly a word is said how Mack Brown last year nearly lost a chance to go to the national championship because of the same thing.

They make fun of Les and communication problems but Derek Dooley in his third consecutive game seems not to be able to get the correct number of players on the field and hardly nothing is heard. Well he is a Dooley , coached under Saban , etc so he gets a pass.

Even the LES is lucky things gets kinda of old as At The Valley Shook points out here in this great post. LSU-related things in the media: What's been mentioned, what hasn't been mentioned.

That above link points out not only is Les not getting credit for a lot but on the flip side this Miles obsession and story line is robbing the TEAM and players of a lot of spotlight. Which is one reason why I think we are not ranked a little higher in the polls perhaps.

In other words , I am sure Miles is looking across the coaching landscape each week and wondering why he am getting blamed for every time a player does not execute on every play and others are not. Miles almost BLEW the FLORIDA GAME we hear!!

No- a special teams breakdown on one play, a muffed catch by Peterson, and a inadvertent face mask by one of the best player on the team caused the game to be close. In other words things that happen often under the best of Coaches. That's life. It was not Miles that got lucky it was URBAN that came very close to being very embarrassed on national TV for the second week in a row.

It is apparent MILES is very poed. I don't blame him. He has brought some of it own himself but not all of it by any means. No doubt he is wondering while programs are getting sanctioned left and right and some Coaches appear to be parole officers why is he getting the grief.

Now this all might be very entertaining for now ,but it is not good for LSU or Les Miles for the future. Miles has got to be given an opportunity ( and perhaps ordered) to talk to the leading media guys in private off the record conversations and vent.

It is apparent that Miles is developing a more bunker like mentality. Today Tim Brando, who has actually pointed out Miles positives and defended him to some extent , is saying the SID office is not returning his calls. Who else now is on the Miles DON'T return Call list? Maybe it is me but it appears Miles has a select few of the national media he talks too. The rest have been exiled perhaps. It just does not seem I hear him on a lot of outlets that I see other Coaches on.

Now this bunker mentality has had some short term benefits. I think it played a key factor in the Florida game where his intensely loyal team rallied behind him. If Miles asked them to storm the DMZ they would at this point. In fact one gets a sense they have bonded into one and are going The hell with all of you (that includes you too LSU fans) who needs you!! Look what we are about to do!!

Now that has benefits and heck maybe can play to our benefit in such games as Auburn and Bama. But the rate of return quickly seems to drop quickly after that. Not only will it hurt recruiting which would be a shame, but further it is exhausting. I know you can't rely on that all the way to the crucial game in Little Rock.

The press knowing they are feeding a insecure fan base , which I believe is partly focusing their non football frustrations we are suffering down here on Les and team, is sort of helping to create a vicious cycle.

Again I know Miles has some responsibility in this but one can see a meme here being pushed that is getting out of hand.

It is like this. Recall how some guys get a rep for being the nerd in High School and could never shake it. You go to College and bam fresh start!!! All that high School kidding becomes meaningless. You are liked, the girls like you, you are a hit. Miles needs a chance to be allowed to shake this rep . Maybe it can be now.

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