From Facebook-An Open Letter to Les Miles

I feel the SEC Rant would appreciate this more than the Tigertards.

My feelings are exactly represented by this letter.

By Anita Martin Elisar

An Open Letter to Coach Les Miles

As a New Orleans native and an LSU alum – I have been a diehard LSU fan my entire life. I still have the LSU flag that my father placed in my bassinette at the hospital just after my birth in the mid-sixties. I attended my first LSU game in Tiger Stadium as a 7th grader and I still have the “Geaux to H*ll Ole Miss” button that I purchased for 50 cents. (I am very well known for wearing it every Friday and Saturday of football season since 1977 – no matter who we play!)

I have been very fortunate to find my husband of almost 25 years who is a former Nicholls football player yet he is just as big of an LSU fan as myself. His mother saved his first LSU onesie and most of the LSU shirts that he wore as a child. He loved those shirts so much and she felt inclined to preserve them.

I am sharing these details because I wanted you to know that we are 100% an L.S.U. family. We bought season tickets as soon as we could. We have had an “L.S.U.” room in every home or apartment that we have ever occupied across the United States. We have spent thousands on our travels to home and away games.

We have sat in Tiger Stadium start to finish for every game we have ever attended – no matter the time or the weather or the score! We have had many seasons where we never missed a game – home or away. We will always remember the Blue Grass Miracle Game in Lexington. We have attended every SEC Championship that you have coached and we most certainly would have never missed either of your National Championship games.

We are such big fans that our friends and family always make sure that we get to attend any game (sometimes even if they have to give up their tickets!)

You see, we are the fans that wake up on Sundays and wear our purple and gold no matter the outcome of the Saturday game. I am sharing all of this because I want you to understand that we are fans that have a “right” to speak on .LS.U. football matters.

I know that your critics have become very outspoken regarding your record and performance for the last few years. As I write this, I do not know what your future is at L.S.U. I know that some of the comments and opinions are justified. After all, you are a paid employee and performance is an important part of your job. It is for any employee.
Coach Miles, I do, however, feel inclined to write what I am not hearing or reading.

I want you to know that this L.S.U. family respects and admires you for the man that you have been from the day that you walked onto our campus. You have always been professional and kind. You have always respected our traditions and our fanaticism. You took the time to develop relationships with fans like SID because it is what comes natural for you.

Additionally, you have always been willing to laugh with us as we discussed your hat, your appetite for grass, your unique style of clapping, your lovable quirkiness and your occasional pronunciation of “R-Kansas.”

You have taken personal responsibility for losses. You have NOT taken personal credit for victories. You have remained respectful when you could have been outraged by pitiful refereeing. You have been tactful when discussing “off the field” player controversies. You have always kept the players’ futures in mind. And they love you for it.

You have stood strong for something that so many coaches, administrators and fans have lost sight of as college football became a “business.”

The game of college football is centered around the young men on the team.

You have always crusaded for the focus to be on the TEAM. You have treated them like they were your sons. You have worked hard to teach them a strong work ethic. You have instilled in them the importance of being good human beings. You have paved the path for them to be good teachers, mentors, athletes, leaders, husbands and fathers.
You have always viewed your position as Coach as an opportunity to mold men.

This L.S.U. family applauds you.

This L.S.U. family also thanks your wife and children for putting up with us. I know there have been bad moments but I hope you all know the love and respect that the L.S.U. fans have for the sacrifices you have made as a family.

In closing, I also want to thank you for what you DIDN’T do.
Many fans, administrators and reporters may not realize or acknowledge what we have grown so accustom to with you as our Coach.

We were never at risk of seeing you berate a player on the sideline. We were never at risk of watching you physically assault a player. We were never at risk of seeing you drunk at a press conference. We were never at risk of learning that you had flirted or made a pass at anyone other than your wife. We were never at risk of hearing that you cheated or condoned cheating in any manner.
We were never at risk of you being anything less than the gentleman that you are.

Thank you for bringing the Les Miles imprint to Louisiana State University.