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Why is Arkansas such a tough opponent for LSU under Les?
Posted on 11/18/15 at 1:23 pm
Posted on 11/18/15 at 1:23 pm
Miles is 6-5 vs. Arkansas as LSU's HC. At first glance, nothing noteworthy about that stat. But when you look at the records during the Miles era ('05-'15) of LSU vs. the rest of the West and compare to to Arkansas vs. the rest of the West, Arkansas has in fact outperformed logical expectations vs. Miles' LSU teams:
2005-2015 vs. the "rest of the West":
LSU 40-13
ARK 25-29
Just looking at these records, Miles should be better than 6-5 vs. Arkansas.
So, Arkansas has given Miles more trouble than their records vs. common Western opponents would indicate. The question is "Why?"
My theory going into this was that LSU always plays Arkansas in mid/late November, and the colder weather seems to favor Arkansas as they are more "used to it". But LSU was 8-3 vs. Arkansas in the previous 11 matchups before Miles arrived, and those were November games. Another theory some may suggest is that LSU plays Arkansas the week after Bama, but that is usually not the case; Arkansas has been 2-3 weeks after the Bama game for most of Miles' career at LSU.
That leaves only one possibility - Miles was 2-0 vs. Arkansas in the days leading up to the fateful 2007 matchup when he mispronounced the school as "Ar-Kansas". Since then he is 4-5 vs. the Hogs.
2005-2015 vs. the "rest of the West":
LSU 40-13
ARK 25-29
Just looking at these records, Miles should be better than 6-5 vs. Arkansas.
So, Arkansas has given Miles more trouble than their records vs. common Western opponents would indicate. The question is "Why?"
My theory going into this was that LSU always plays Arkansas in mid/late November, and the colder weather seems to favor Arkansas as they are more "used to it". But LSU was 8-3 vs. Arkansas in the previous 11 matchups before Miles arrived, and those were November games. Another theory some may suggest is that LSU plays Arkansas the week after Bama, but that is usually not the case; Arkansas has been 2-3 weeks after the Bama game for most of Miles' career at LSU.
That leaves only one possibility - Miles was 2-0 vs. Arkansas in the days leading up to the fateful 2007 matchup when he mispronounced the school as "Ar-Kansas". Since then he is 4-5 vs. the Hogs.
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Posted on 11/18/15 at 1:36 pm to RidiculousHype
Les secretly likes pigs 
Posted on 11/18/15 at 1:40 pm to RidiculousHype
KARMA
Posted on 11/18/15 at 1:40 pm to RidiculousHype
In the old days, Miss St gave us fits. It was the week after Ala. Ark is now the week after Ala. Draw your own conclusions.
Posted on 11/18/15 at 1:42 pm to RidiculousHype
Its very weird. You would think LSU would match up better against the traditional run first, play action pass teams of Bama and Ark. You can go up against that every day in practice.
Posted on 11/18/15 at 1:42 pm to RidiculousHype
He's 4-5 in an era that included the nuclear bombing out of our entire football program.
:rivalry:
:rivalry:
This post was edited on 11/18/15 at 1:43 pm
Posted on 11/18/15 at 1:50 pm to dwr353
quote:
In the old days, Miss St gave us fits. It was the week after Ala. Ark is now the week after Ala. Draw your own conclusions
That was on the case for the last 2 years. Doesn't apply to any of LSU's other shitty performances against Arkansas under Les.
2005 #3 LSU (9-1) beat Arkansas (4-6) 19-17 at home in
2006 #1 LSU lost to Arkansas (7-4) at home 50-48 3 OT
2008 Les lost to a 4-7 Arkansas team.
2009 #17 LSU (8-3) needed OT to beat unranked (7-4) Arkansas at home
2010 #6 LSU (10-1) Loses to #12 Arkansas (9-2) by 8 points giving Arkansas a Sugar Bowl berth so Ryan Mallet could shite the bed and throw a game losing pick to a D Lineman against Ohio State
2012 #8 LSU (9-2) struggles to 20-13 win over Arkansas (4-7) coached by Pappy Johnelle Smith
2013 #15 LSU (8-3) Needs a miracle TD from a terrible freshman QB to beat SEC winless Arkansas (3-8) 31-27 in Tiger stadium
LSU plays like shite against Arkansas almost every year under Les
Posted on 11/18/15 at 1:50 pm to RidiculousHype
It is because Arkansas can stop the run. LSU typically just lines up and pushes people around. If you take that option away they don't have anything else. That is why they struggle with Alabama and Arkansas.
Posted on 11/18/15 at 1:50 pm to RidiculousHype
This has been discussed already. Since Arky's decline, the Golden Boot trophy is the only trophy that they can win since they can't go to a bowl. Therefore, the LSU game is Arky's equivalent to a "bowl game."
Posted on 11/18/15 at 1:59 pm to TheDude321
I guess that's another thing we got you in...another win in a bowl game the last 2 years right?
Posted on 11/18/15 at 2:08 pm to sugatowng
It's all about WHEN we play Arkie
Arkie typically plays better late in season, as well.
Just like LSU had no business losing to Arkansas. Arkie had no business losing to Toledo and A&M.
Arkie typically plays better late in season, as well.
Just like LSU had no business losing to Arkansas. Arkie had no business losing to Toledo and A&M.
Posted on 11/18/15 at 2:10 pm to sugatowng
Once we lost to the hogs in 2007 and still won the national title, the players and the rest of the world noticied the Arkansas game really doesnt matter in a good year or a bad year. This years will pass and everyone will realize it didn't really matter either.
Posted on 11/18/15 at 2:12 pm to TheDude321
I would be tempted to agree with you but our bowl record is pretty abysmal so there's no advantage for us there.
About a week ago I read an article that concluded with historically there was no letdown for LSU or Alabama the week following their game.
About a week ago I read an article that concluded with historically there was no letdown for LSU or Alabama the week following their game.
Posted on 11/18/15 at 2:14 pm to lsusteve1
quote:
Just like LSU had no business losing to Arkansas
Lol. You guys only do one thing well and Arkansas has the horses to stop that. That is why LSU got it handed to them. Keep looking for excuses though.
Posted on 11/18/15 at 2:59 pm to Ham Solo
A contributing factor may be the "Alabama-LSU Hangover."
The Bama-LSU game takes a lot out of both teams. Bama may play well enough to beat MSU, but we've had some ugly games the week after LSU. Maybe it works both ways?
The Bama-LSU game takes a lot out of both teams. Bama may play well enough to beat MSU, but we've had some ugly games the week after LSU. Maybe it works both ways?
Posted on 11/18/15 at 3:00 pm to RidiculousHype
Honest answer, it is mostly shitty coaching.
In game coaching has not been great, but it goes further than that, which I know most LSU fans are painfully aware.
I also think mentally lazy coaches and fans allow Scout, Rivals, 24/7 and the like to set their expectations of the players they sign, the team they field, and the results they expect. Rather than coming to the realization that most of the player ratings for these kids are coming from people who would be making tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars more per year if they could actually spot talent, or signs that a kid will be a bust, over and above any other person in the stands, they let these people set their expectations.
So when you combine suspect player evaluations with mediocre at best coaching, and the high expectations of star struck fans that can plainly see on paper that you should never lose, you get the melt.
Throw in a dash of dismissal, arrogance, and disrespect to a nearby opponent with some pride, who has a handful of players who wanted nothing more that to receive an offer from their home college who was too star-struck or lazy to realize that they were more than good enough to play for them, and you have a perfect recipe for getting your arse kicked on the reg.
tl/dr: LOLSU Sucks.
In game coaching has not been great, but it goes further than that, which I know most LSU fans are painfully aware.
I also think mentally lazy coaches and fans allow Scout, Rivals, 24/7 and the like to set their expectations of the players they sign, the team they field, and the results they expect. Rather than coming to the realization that most of the player ratings for these kids are coming from people who would be making tens, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars more per year if they could actually spot talent, or signs that a kid will be a bust, over and above any other person in the stands, they let these people set their expectations.
So when you combine suspect player evaluations with mediocre at best coaching, and the high expectations of star struck fans that can plainly see on paper that you should never lose, you get the melt.
Throw in a dash of dismissal, arrogance, and disrespect to a nearby opponent with some pride, who has a handful of players who wanted nothing more that to receive an offer from their home college who was too star-struck or lazy to realize that they were more than good enough to play for them, and you have a perfect recipe for getting your arse kicked on the reg.
tl/dr: LOLSU Sucks.
This post was edited on 11/18/15 at 3:08 pm
Posted on 11/18/15 at 3:06 pm to RidiculousHype
It's not just Miles. The great Saban was a disappointing 3–2 against Arkansas, and that was against Houston Nutt. He's now an undefeated 9–0 against us after going to Alabama.
Posted on 11/18/15 at 3:10 pm to Ham Solo
quote:Arkansas's D has always featured a pretty solid D-line that can contain the running game and the weaknesses are pretty much everywhere else on D. Miles is a great guy to have around your program. A good recruiter but a football mastermind he is not. LSU wins because they have a ridiculous amount of talent their. They have every right to want a coaching change. It also doesn't help that Arkansas has always been a much better team towards the end of the year and the game has always been played in November. And as LSU fans have pointed out, they genuinely don't consider Arkansas a rival and don't care about the "Battle for the Boot". This perceived attitude that LSU is too good to be Arkansas's rival pisses the Hogs off, particularly the 10-15 guys from LA regularly on our roster that "weren't good enough for LSU". We play LSU like we have something to prove every year. We take the game personally, whether LSU does or doesn't.
It is because Arkansas can stop the run. LSU typically just lines up and pushes people around. If you take that option away they don't have anything else. That is why they struggle with Alabama and Arkansas.
This post was edited on 11/18/15 at 3:12 pm
Posted on 11/18/15 at 3:12 pm to RidiculousHype
LSU has been on a downward trend since 1/9/12. The sooner you face this reality, the easier your life will be 
Posted on 11/18/15 at 3:30 pm to RidiculousHype
Because he's a choke artist. So he goes conservative with no hat tricks or grass food.
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