Les Miles speaks candidly about reports of his demise at LSU

After several days of rumors that Miles would be fired, LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva addressed the topic for the first time, saying “Les Miles is our football coach and he will continue to be our football coach”.

Miles indicated that he was told after the game by LSU Chancellor King Alexander that he is staying on as coach.

When asked by media how he found out, Miles joked that it was by telegraph.

“Honestly, up to Game 7, I thought he was magnificent, and then there seemed to be a pause”, Miles said. LSU Board of Supervisors member Stanley Jacobs, the vice-chairman of the athletic committee, became the first LSU official to publicly back Miles as Alleva and others have been silent about Miles’ future since stories of his demise were leaked out shortly after the Tigers fell to 7-2 on November 14 with a 31-14 loss to unranked Arkansas. “‘We want you to be our coach.’ I said ‘magnificent, ‘” Miles said. The announcement capped more than a week of speculation that Miles was on the verge of losing his job after his first three-game losing streak in his 11 years at LSU. In the third quarter, Fournette broke the school’s single-season rushing record that was previous held by Texas native Charles Alexander.

#LSU AD Joe Alleva confirms Les Miles will continue to be the head coach at #LSU.

ESPN’s Joe Schad said a couple factors were behind LSU’s decision to keep Miles around.

Since 2011, the Tigers have won 8, 6, 5, 4, 5 SEC games a season.

It all came on an unseasonably warm, emotional night in Tiger Stadium. As a team, we prayed together, trying to find answers, why it happened like that. Fisher, LSU’s offensive coordinator in 2000-06, was expected to be the top candidate to replace Miles. LSU sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris was 7 of 21 for 83 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.

For most the week leading up to the game, reports came out about school boosters willing to buyout Miles’ contract (approximately $15 million).

Kyle Allen passed for 161 yards and one touchdown for the Aggies (8-4, 4-4), but had a pass intercepted by Donte Jackson inside the final 2 minutes, all but sealing LSU’s victory.

“You’ve got to have faith in Les Miles”, mused one fan. Many of them said this week that they have not spoken to the coach since he left the program for A&M after the Music City Bowl last season – a stunning departure.

The pressure will definitely be on Miles next season, as that elite recruiting class will be expected to pay dividends on the field.

“Scary”, he responded. “I know now what it’s like to ride an elephant”.