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TIL When LSU hired Les Miles his overall head coaching record was 28-21
Posted on 11/4/25 at 8:53 pm
Posted on 11/4/25 at 8:53 pm
The highest AP ranking he ever achieved with Oklahoma State was 14th.
His 4 years in Stillwater produced these results:
4-7
8-5
9-4
7-5
I know it's been 20 years, but I could've sworn his record was much, much better when he succeeded Saban.
His 4 years in Stillwater produced these results:
4-7
8-5
9-4
7-5
I know it's been 20 years, but I could've sworn his record was much, much better when he succeeded Saban.
3
Posted on 11/4/25 at 8:58 pm to TideSaint
After his first three seasons he mostly reverted back to that 8-5/9-4 coach.
In his last 8 seasons he had 3 or more losses 6 times. In his last 8 seasons he had 4 or more losses 3 times. In his last 8 seasons he had 5 losses 2 times.
Les was the right coach to succeed Saban. He didn’t try to remake the program. He just tried to keep the trains running on time. And even after those first three “post Saban” years, he had 11-2 and 13-1 seasons.
Louisiana has the talent to have 10+ win seasons fairly regularly. That is a reasonable expectation.
The fanbase expectation that every season better be a 10+ win season or else is what has gotten them in this predicament.
In his last 8 seasons he had 3 or more losses 6 times. In his last 8 seasons he had 4 or more losses 3 times. In his last 8 seasons he had 5 losses 2 times.
Les was the right coach to succeed Saban. He didn’t try to remake the program. He just tried to keep the trains running on time. And even after those first three “post Saban” years, he had 11-2 and 13-1 seasons.
Louisiana has the talent to have 10+ win seasons fairly regularly. That is a reasonable expectation.
The fanbase expectation that every season better be a 10+ win season or else is what has gotten them in this predicament.
This post was edited on 11/4/25 at 9:06 pm
Posted on 11/4/25 at 9:03 pm to TideSaint
It may also be interesting to understand Oklahoma States record before Les arrived.
If they were historically 3-9, Les may have worked a miracle!
If they were historically 3-9, Les may have worked a miracle!
Posted on 11/4/25 at 9:07 pm to TideSaint
Between 1988 (Barry Sanders)and Miles hiring in 2001 Oklahoma State had been to 1 bowl game and had 1 winning season.
After going 4-7 in year 1 Les had 3 straight winning seasons and 3 straight bowl games. Also went 2-1 against peak Stoops Oklahoma.
But he wasn’t a big time proven commodity (much like Saban when LSU hired him). Every year people trick themselves into thinking big programs routinely hire established elite coaches when they have openings. It just doesn’t generally work that way.
There are very, very few Saban to Bama, Meyer to Ohio State hires.
After going 4-7 in year 1 Les had 3 straight winning seasons and 3 straight bowl games. Also went 2-1 against peak Stoops Oklahoma.
But he wasn’t a big time proven commodity (much like Saban when LSU hired him). Every year people trick themselves into thinking big programs routinely hire established elite coaches when they have openings. It just doesn’t generally work that way.
There are very, very few Saban to Bama, Meyer to Ohio State hires.
This post was edited on 11/4/25 at 9:11 pm
Posted on 11/4/25 at 9:13 pm to SummerOfGeorge
quote:
SummerOfGeorge
How in the hell do you have 20,000 more posts than me?
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