Thought's varied and diverging. 1/12/10

Chad Jones has declared for the NFL draft

This is surprising to me. I thought if the Dreadlocks of Doom declared for any draft, it would be the MLB. Here's what I thought would happen, Chad plays baseball this year, ignores spring football, gets drafted in the MLB draft and leaves LSU for the majors and a great heaping pile of cash as a left handed, late reliever with nice repertoire of pitches.

But I heard he hasn't retained an agent. That's the smart way to do it. So he might be just feeling out his future right now in the NFL. Because I would be willing to bet a tremendous amount Chad could pull in a signing bonus (to say nothing of a whole contract) in baseball that would make an entire NFL bonus and package look like chump change. Add into that the nice easy career that would be the life in the Majors versus getting banged up all the time for less money in the League?

My opinion? Unless Chad just hates baseball, he'd be crazy not to play baseball.

We still have an open date for the 2011 season

Boise State has thrown down the challenge that they will play anyone anywhere without asking for a return game. LSU needs a season opening opponent and Boise doesn't have a game that day either. But the powers that be at LSU are probably too ignorant and cowardly to make this happen. We'll probably end up with Nichols State and a shiny press release from the LSU Athletic Department about what a great deal it is.

I am still flummoxed

For the life of me, I still can't understand some of the calls I saw this year on offense. From what I have gleaned about the internet and in real life, this falls on Crowton and not Miles. I just don't understand how this guy can go from being so great earlier in his career to such an idiot this past year. Combine that with the foolhardy favoring of seniors and such over young talent and it's a very concerning trait. You've seen the news how Crowton is not going anywhere. Miles and Crowton need LSU to just bust up and burn down some teams this year because by staying hitched to Miles, he may have signed himself up for a Dinardo & Tepper deal that could seal his doom. Obviously, if LSU gets back to 2005-2007 football, all is forgiven.

Two Head Coaches on LSU Sideline: Good Call?

Nebraska's Osborne has given new Head Coach Bo Pelini the green light to coach LSU's defense in the BCS national championship game on January 7, 2008. Les Miles has said repeatedly that this is what he wanted to happen.

Wow. Tough one. Blog wrapup:

GeauxTigers at And the Valley Shook is leaning towards "bad idea."

The Mean Lil' Black and Gold Girls says "Thanks!"

Dandy Don thinks it's great. Shocking, really. (I'm kidding. I read Mr. Don every day. But he the homerest homer in homerdom. Not that that is a bad thing.)

Only 15% of poll respondents at Husker Faithful said Bo should NOT coach the game. And Cornhusker blogger Jon thinks that he SHOULD.

Posters on TigerForums almost unanimously support the move. The only slight concern expressed was a possible egg-laying similar to Mark Richt's let down at Florida State in the BCS championship against Oklahoma on the eve of becoming Georgia's new head coach.

What do I think? I don't like it.

Head coaches at elite-level programs (even those, no ESPECIALLY THOSE, currently getting their asses kicked) are kind of busy. The good news is that Pelini knows Nebraska. The bad news is that Nebraska is not actually located near Louisiana, where Pelini now lives and works. Bo has to change jobs, move his family, hire coaches, recruit, put his kids in school, meet his players, and learn how to be a head coach. That means meeting with the Lincoln (and national) media, boosters, etc. Regardless of how focused Bo thinks he's going to be, he won't be as focused as someone not in his shoes. Paveto, for instance.

But I'm not a coach (except to my daughter's painfully suck-ass soccer team last fall), and I'm certainly not as familiar with Coach Miles' options as he is. So, let me just say STFU to myself.

I wish Bo all the best. But if his defense lays a Richt-sized egg in this game because he's worried about some Cornhusker issue, I will instantly become a Nebraska hater, purely on principle. And I'll be disappointed in Coach Miles.

If it goes well, then I'll be happy and not say another damned word about it.

By the way, 85% of the 20 of you who responded thought Miles would either not be offered the Michigan job, or if offered would take it. I'm in that number as well - I said he'd be gone. Shows how much we know, eh? I, for one, am happily ignorant!

Dear Pitt and Oklahoma,

YOU FRICKIN' ROCK!

Your newest fan,

Jeff

P.S. Thankin' You!

________________________

Can you people believe this crap? What a season! Regardless of what happens when the BCS rankings come out tomorrow afternoon, this has been the most incredible, strange, unpredictable, heart-stopping, mood-altering football season EVER.

I'm going to say it. I Told You So! I knew the drama could get better/worse. And it all fell in line. Let's look at what happened - JUST TODAY!!!

First, ESPN said Les Miles was going to Michigan.
Next, Les Miles calls a press conference and says, Bullshit. I'm staying at LSU.
Then, LSU plays clown-ball on offense and keeps the Vols in the game, 7-6 at halftime.
Then, LSU's defense slowly falls apart, and the offense struggles mightily to reverse a 14-13 Vol lead.
Then, LSU scores on an interception and converts the 2 pts.
THEN........they let the Vols roar back inside the Red Zone.
THEN, Darry Beckwith intercepts a pass and the Tigers win.
THEN.....West Virginia loses to Pitt (White injured, in civies, then back in uniform, driving at the end of the game, fails to convert on 4th down).
THEN...................Oklahoma reminds Mizzou that they might be good, but Oklahoma is better.
SO NOW................after being ranked #1 twice this year, LSU has a shot at playing for the BCS championship afterall.

Had I predicted all that might happen, most of you would've laughed at me. Wait, I did at least mention it....

What a day. What a frickin' day.

Press Conference at 12:50 CST - Miles Staying

I'm thinking the sine wave is dampening and this is something we can probably believe.

Herbie and GameDay must feel silly - hope they apologize.

Or....Maybe Not....

Check this out - conflicting stories on the same page. D.R.A.M.A.

Miles is a Goner! So says ESPN (TV).

Flynn is hurt, so Perrilloux gets to start. Miles and Pelini are giving a farewell performance today.

Can this season get any more dramatic? Well, sure it can:

West Virginia could lay an egg today againt Pittsburgh.

Oklahoma could crush Mizzou.

Ryan Perrilloux could throw for 300 yards and run for another 150 yards, and the Tigers could beat the Vols by 20 or more.

Then LSU could clobber Ohio State in the BCS bowl - just to give Miles a little "welcome home present."

That would be a perfect ending to this ridiculously dramatic season.

Michigan officially talking to Miles after Saturday's game.

POLL RESULTS: Will Miles Be Heading for Michigan?

45 Responses. 20% thought Miles would not be offered the job. 28% thought Miles would turn down the job. And 51% thought Miles would be offered and would accept the job.

Now that LSU has lost to R-Kansas, let's see if the results change at all...

Carr Retiring From Michigan

"December is an important month for recruiting, so ideally, the next coach would be identified quickly. In the case of Miles, a former Michigan player and assistant coach, it's not certain the timing would work if Miles takes LSU to the national championship game."

What will he do? What WILL he do?

HT: lsutiga on TigerForums.

Coach Les Miles: Commando? Pretty funny stuff. Money quote:

After four days of martial law and nearly eight years under former
President Pervez Musharraf, the Republic of Pakistan was restored to order by
LSU (8-1, 5-1 SEC West) head coach Les Miles, who parachuted into the Muslim
country in a daring pre-dawn raid.

...

“Simply remarkable. I haven’t seen such audacity since the Auburn game. Or
maybe the Florida game,” said CNN chief international correspondent Christiane
Amanpour.

“I believe Tennyson once wrote that the truly heroic, despite their
frailties, were meant ‘to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.’ He might
well have added that a huge pair of balls is also a necessary component to a
mighty constitution,” she added.

"We will prepare to play without these guys."

Miles was talking about the Bama game, but I wonder if it wouldn't be best to make that sentiment permanent.

True, the details aren't completely clear. But then, they'll never be completely clear. That's what lawyers are paid to do. My point is that the details just don't matter, because the larger issue is more important than the incident itself.

RP and Odom weren't lured into refusing to leave an establishment that was, in accordance with the law, closing. They weren't lured into hanging out with Xavier Carter.

RP has proven, over and over and over again, that he believes his own personal choices are more important to him than the success of his team. For me, that's a done deal.

I'm not concerned that RP and Odom haven't been charged, or that RP might actually file charges himself. I'm upset that two pregnant girls were possibly manhandled. I'm equally upset that two young prospective fathers thought so little of these girls or their progeny as to put them in that situation in the first place. But more than any of this, I'm concerned that LSU football may choose to elevate hope for the next two seasons and the future earning potential of ONE PLAYER over the risk that all the impressionable young athletes out there (and THEY ARE WATCHING) will mistakenly take lack of significant punitive action for silent consent.

This isn't about race. It's not about legalities. It's not about perceptions, even. Instead, I think it's possible that this is a defining moment in what should be the beginning of an elite SEC dynasty at LSU. Will LSU build a dynasty like Miami (violent, undisciplined, meteoric rise and fall) or rather something Miles can be proud of in ten years.

A one game wrist-slap isn't going to fix this. RP believes he's as good as he says he is. He believes he's going to play on Sunday and make millions. He probably believes that makes him untouchable.

The LSU athletic department should show him that success comes from hard work and sacrifice, both on the practice field and inside his personal life. Help RP succeed by teaching him how screwed up he is right now.

Odom should go. RP should sit the rest of the season out, including post season play. He shouldn't even travel. He needs the equivalent of boot camp or, even worse, corrective custody. Honestly, I think he'll decide to go to some other school that will prioritize his talent over his character.

Yes - the details aren't out yet. Doesn't matter. I've seen all I need to see. If RP plays another down this season, regardless of Flynn's health, then Coach Miles has caved. And that will be too bad - for him, for LSU, and in the end for Ryan Perrilloux.

Here's a quote that instills little confidence.

Ryan is doing all the things he needs to do to show he has a commitment to this team. As long as he goes to class and is doing all the things he needs to do, he'll have no problem with me.

I'm diggin' RP's performance, but the tone of this quote - the lack of confidence and the sort of distant reference - makes me wonder just how solid RP really is. You can almost smell the worry there. What would make me feel more comfortable? Something like:

Ryan has turned this thing around. He's committed to the team and to his own growth. He's our future leader and he's getting a chance to preview that for us right now.

That would make me feel better - something like that.

Miles to the media:

I would encourage you to see it my way.

Censor much?

Coaches are learning a lesson that the insurgents and terrorists have known for a long time. You can feed the media, but you can't control it. He's fighting a losing battle - time to embrace the beast, Coach.

Very fully? Might be time to get a publicist to strap Miles to a desk and teach the man to speak. Anyone else notice his lack of - um - eloquence?

Hey, I don't need a PhD coach, but c'mon....

Interesting article from Guilbeau about Coach Miles' "brain surgery" and his ties in Michigan - also his ties to DiNardo (RIP).

Coach Miles on Perrilloux:

"We expect him to play in every game. Getting Ryan on the field benefits
us as we go forward."

Every game? Really? Good for the future, but let's not add another committee to the offense - one is enough.

SI's Mendel on Miles and Michigan:

Obviously, the first name on everybody's list is LSU's Les Miles. He's a "Michigan Man" through and through (a former player for Bo Schembechler), and he would walk from Baton Rouge to Ann Arbor the second he got that call.

Hmmm...I don't know about you guys, but I'm getting a little tired of this three and out crap. I hope Les stays awhile. Why not win two or three national championships, then name your price? I'd be good with that.

Miles on inflated and premature BCS expectations:

What we should do is pursue being a quality football team as good as we can
be for next week's game versus a very talented opponent. Those people that are
waiting for the national championship game, don't come! Stay home because you
just never can tell when that comes. That's down the road. We're just trying to
beat Virginia Tech.

I get his point, but I think he should act a little more like he's comfortable being at #2 with high expectations and the whole world watching. Telling folks to stay home because they're getting a little ahead of themselves by talking of national championships? C'mon coach - enjoy it. It won't last forever.

DANDY DON wraps up Coach Miles' Tues radio show. For those hung up on uniforms, it's white jersey's for MSU, purple for Tulane.