Alleva: Miles is LSU’s coach

Les Miles continues to be LSU’s coach despite weeks of leaks and speculation that he would be fired once the Tigers’ season ended on Saturday.

LSU coach Les Miles drew a rousing round of applause and a scattered standing ovation from fans at Tiger Stadium Saturday night shortly before kickoff against Texas A&M as he walked from the north end zone and past midfield toward to the south end zone. Even though LSU is letting him back they should be ashamed for dragging one of the greatest coaches in SEC History through the mud over the last week. “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”.

In an incredible scene following the win, Tigers players carried Miles off the field as the crowd chanted “Keep Les Miles!”. He 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.

Running back Leonard Fournette had 159 yards on 32 carries and one touchdown run with 2:50 left in the fourth quarter to clinch the Tigers’ win. “He has had games with 200 or 250 yards, so I think we did a good job of containing him”. It’s not enough to win occasionally.

Miles entered with the best winning percentage (.774) of any coach in the past 100 years of LSU football.

Last night, the LSU Tigers defeated the Texas A&M Aggies 19-7 to finish out the regular season at a respectable 8-3.

Under Miles, LSU has lost five straight to Alabama and coach Nick Saban, starting with the Crimson Tide’s lopsided triumph in the 2011-12 national title game.

Yet, some of the very aspects of LSU’s game that have bothered Miles’ critics showed up often during the regular season finale for both teams.

Miles’ postgame interview with the SEC Network was delayed because – as he said on air – he had to fulfill the Tigers’ postgame tradition of singing the school’s alma mater.

There were a handful of pre-snap penalties and the passing game was largely ineffective. Brandon Harris was 7 of 21 for 83 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.

Hindered by a false start and a sack, the Tigers had to settle for a 46-yard field goal try, which Trent Domingue pushed wide right for the kicker’s third miss of the game.

Miles’ week leading up to the game involved rumors about boosters willing to give $15 million to buy him out, rumors so strong Miles reportedly told a group of boosters that Saturday’s game was going to be his last.

The Aggies, who led 7-6 at halftime, scored their lone TD on Allen’s 8-yard, third-down pass over the middle to Ricky Seals-Jones. “He’s one of the reasons why I came to LSU”.