Obviously things have been rough the last four weeks for Les Miles.
After getting thumped in the BCS National Championship game by Alabama you would think he would have gained a little bit of humility. They, for all intents and purposes, did win the Southeastern Conference and their division all while holding the number one spot in the country for most of the season.
That being said his bravado (and grass chomping mojo) ran out when he ran into the crimson wall that was the Alabama defense. Heading into recruiting Les could have been poised to sell prospects of a National Title season on the Bayou in 2013.
Then he stuck his foot in his mouth.
Gunner Kiel (ESPN150 #52 Columbus East High School/Columbus, Indiana) pulled the old wool over the Tigers eyes by saying he would commit then changing his mind at the last minute and bolting for Notre Dame. LSU needed a quarterback and didn’t get the one they wanted. That left Miles slightly ticked off. From the USA Today:
“We needed a quarterback in this class,” Miles said. “There was a gentleman from Indiana that thought about coming to the Bayou State. He did not necessarily have the chest and the ability to lead a program. Just so you know.”
While they did end up with Jeremy Liggins, the 6-foot-3, 270 pound monster out of Mississippi (and by monster I’m talking size wise), the tone doesn’t match up with the rhetoric. Miles came off as petty and childish in his assessment of Kiel. The Jilted lover talk will only go so far as Miles needs to know Its unfair to go after an 18-year old for changing his mind because, well, he’s 18. I understand both sides of the coin and the frustration Miles has for losing out on what he thought was his future starter, but I wouldn’t be surprised if future recruits catch wind of the clip and don’t give him the time of day for fear of being lambasted by him and a fan base over their decision not to enroll at LSU.
I guess the real question is whether Miles’ frustration is from the decision of Kiel or the Tigers less than stellar showing in recruiting this year.
Either way, old less is getting large helpings of humble pie in 2012.
