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Is LSU the program the fans believe it is?
Posted on 11/27/15 at 7:28 am
Posted on 11/27/15 at 7:28 am
During Les Miles first 3 season he went 34-6 an 85% winning percentage with 1 BCSCG, 1 SEC title, 1 SEC West title and 1 SEC West co-title. The other SEC West teams had the following the records:
Alabama: 23-15 60% *on the field
Arkansas: 22-16 57% 1 SEC West title
Auburn: 29-9 76% 1 SEC West co-title
Mississippi: 10-25 28%
Mississippi State: 14-22 38%
Texas A&M: 21-16 56% *Big12 member – listed to show early winning percentage
Les Miles’ beginning his tenure at 85% winning percentage is impressive. However, the one thing that should be considered is while LSU was dominating the West, their opponents were of considerably weaker. Auburn appeared to be the only challenger that posed a threat to Les and LSU in the West. So, a little more perspective needs to be considered regarding Miles early domination. The SEC East was considered to be the power division during Les’ start. Schools like Florida, Georgia and to some degree Tennessee in 2007 had high winning percentages as listed below.
Florida: 31-6 83% 1 BCSCG, 1 SEC title
Georgia : 30-9 77% 1 SEC 1 SEC East title Kentucky: 19-18 51%
South Carolina: 21-16 56%
Tennessee: 24-14 63%
Vanderbilt: 14-21 40%
Missouri: 27-12 69% *Big12 member – listed to show early winning percentage
As shown above the East was bit stronger than West. This advantage may offer a bit of perspective about the LSU winning percentage early in Les’ tenure. However, after 2009 seasons the power between the division shifted, the West became the dominate division and fueled with new coaches at every SEC schools things began to change, slightly.
Many LSU fans will agree that the tDecline, as it’s become affectionately called, began at the end of the 2011 season. The following shows the combined records of the SEC West teams since the 2012 season.
LSU: 35-14 71%
Alabama: 46-6 88% 1 BCSCG, 2 SEC Arkansas: 20-28 41%
Auburn: 29-23 55% 1 SEC title
Mississippi: 32-18 64%
Mississippi State: 33-17 66%
Texas A&M: 36-14 72%
The SEC East had now become the weaker division where West teams could feast on lesser opponents and help their winning percentage. LSU was no exception, during the 2012 – 2015 period LSU posted a 6-2 (75%) versus the East with losses coming against Georgia in 2013 and Florida in 2012. In contrast, LSU’s early winning percentage versus the East was 2-4 (33%). However, the below par record was done during LSU’s period of domination. The following shows the records for the East teams since tDecline began (2012).
Florida: 32-16 66% 1 SEC East title
Georgia : 38-13 75% 1 SEC East title
Kentucky: 14-33 29%
Missouri: 33-16 67% 2 SEC East titles
South Carolina: 32-18 64%
Tennessee: 24-24 50%
Vanderbilt: 25-24 51%
As noted above the East has seen a slight decline in their perceived power from the earlier period listed above.
Based on the above charts one can see that while the SEC West was in down, LSU was able to pad their winning percentage against weaker opponents. Thus giving a false sense of real dominance. However, when the other West schools made changes LSU’s faux dominance declined and they moved to the upper-middle of the pack. Even the head-to-head games versus the East shows that LSU was not the dominate force they thought they were. The early period of Les’ tenure showed a sub-par performance versus a formidable opponents. This same decline was shown once the West teams began recruiting better and changing their game plan.
This type of performance, has never been indicative of a Les Miles coached team. First time head coach Les Miles took over a struggling program at Oklahoma State in 2001, a program that had 1 winning season in the past 13 years and after the first season, accomplished back-to-back-to-back winning seasons. A feat that hadn’t been accomplished since the 1980’s in Stillwater.
Based on the above information, Les Miles is a winner and knows how to win. Can Les be replaced and LSU return to their new found glory days of a decade ago? Perhaps - but to achieve and maintain a winning percentage of 85% in a conference that many perceive to be the strongest in the country would be a task that would challenge the greatest coaches of the day. The odds of LSU returning to those times are very low, perhaps even, impossible to achieve. Most likely, LSU will experience a lull while a new coaching staff molds and reshapes the current team in its new image. Firing Les may work out in the long run, but more than likely the long run and especially the immediate future will see LSU win even fewer games than the fan base demands.
Is LSU the program the fans think it is? That answer, like any regarding perception is relative to the perspective of the individual being asked. To the LSU fan that began watching in 2001, LSU is the program they think it is - to the rest of us LSU is awakening from a dream they may never return to again.
Alabama: 23-15 60% *on the field
Arkansas: 22-16 57% 1 SEC West title
Auburn: 29-9 76% 1 SEC West co-title
Mississippi: 10-25 28%
Mississippi State: 14-22 38%
Texas A&M: 21-16 56% *Big12 member – listed to show early winning percentage
Les Miles’ beginning his tenure at 85% winning percentage is impressive. However, the one thing that should be considered is while LSU was dominating the West, their opponents were of considerably weaker. Auburn appeared to be the only challenger that posed a threat to Les and LSU in the West. So, a little more perspective needs to be considered regarding Miles early domination. The SEC East was considered to be the power division during Les’ start. Schools like Florida, Georgia and to some degree Tennessee in 2007 had high winning percentages as listed below.
Florida: 31-6 83% 1 BCSCG, 1 SEC title
Georgia : 30-9 77% 1 SEC 1 SEC East title Kentucky: 19-18 51%
South Carolina: 21-16 56%
Tennessee: 24-14 63%
Vanderbilt: 14-21 40%
Missouri: 27-12 69% *Big12 member – listed to show early winning percentage
As shown above the East was bit stronger than West. This advantage may offer a bit of perspective about the LSU winning percentage early in Les’ tenure. However, after 2009 seasons the power between the division shifted, the West became the dominate division and fueled with new coaches at every SEC schools things began to change, slightly.
Many LSU fans will agree that the tDecline, as it’s become affectionately called, began at the end of the 2011 season. The following shows the combined records of the SEC West teams since the 2012 season.
LSU: 35-14 71%
Alabama: 46-6 88% 1 BCSCG, 2 SEC Arkansas: 20-28 41%
Auburn: 29-23 55% 1 SEC title
Mississippi: 32-18 64%
Mississippi State: 33-17 66%
Texas A&M: 36-14 72%
The SEC East had now become the weaker division where West teams could feast on lesser opponents and help their winning percentage. LSU was no exception, during the 2012 – 2015 period LSU posted a 6-2 (75%) versus the East with losses coming against Georgia in 2013 and Florida in 2012. In contrast, LSU’s early winning percentage versus the East was 2-4 (33%). However, the below par record was done during LSU’s period of domination. The following shows the records for the East teams since tDecline began (2012).
Florida: 32-16 66% 1 SEC East title
Georgia : 38-13 75% 1 SEC East title
Kentucky: 14-33 29%
Missouri: 33-16 67% 2 SEC East titles
South Carolina: 32-18 64%
Tennessee: 24-24 50%
Vanderbilt: 25-24 51%
As noted above the East has seen a slight decline in their perceived power from the earlier period listed above.
Based on the above charts one can see that while the SEC West was in down, LSU was able to pad their winning percentage against weaker opponents. Thus giving a false sense of real dominance. However, when the other West schools made changes LSU’s faux dominance declined and they moved to the upper-middle of the pack. Even the head-to-head games versus the East shows that LSU was not the dominate force they thought they were. The early period of Les’ tenure showed a sub-par performance versus a formidable opponents. This same decline was shown once the West teams began recruiting better and changing their game plan.
This type of performance, has never been indicative of a Les Miles coached team. First time head coach Les Miles took over a struggling program at Oklahoma State in 2001, a program that had 1 winning season in the past 13 years and after the first season, accomplished back-to-back-to-back winning seasons. A feat that hadn’t been accomplished since the 1980’s in Stillwater.
Based on the above information, Les Miles is a winner and knows how to win. Can Les be replaced and LSU return to their new found glory days of a decade ago? Perhaps - but to achieve and maintain a winning percentage of 85% in a conference that many perceive to be the strongest in the country would be a task that would challenge the greatest coaches of the day. The odds of LSU returning to those times are very low, perhaps even, impossible to achieve. Most likely, LSU will experience a lull while a new coaching staff molds and reshapes the current team in its new image. Firing Les may work out in the long run, but more than likely the long run and especially the immediate future will see LSU win even fewer games than the fan base demands.
Is LSU the program the fans think it is? That answer, like any regarding perception is relative to the perspective of the individual being asked. To the LSU fan that began watching in 2001, LSU is the program they think it is - to the rest of us LSU is awakening from a dream they may never return to again.
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Posted on 11/27/15 at 7:30 am to stat19
Posted on 11/27/15 at 7:31 am to stat19
Can you please provide a tl, dr version?
I can't read all of that
I can't read all of that
Posted on 11/27/15 at 7:31 am to stat19
TL DR.
It's early, gump. Go brush your tooth.
It's early, gump. Go brush your tooth.
Posted on 11/27/15 at 7:32 am to stat19
Why you worried about it then? LSU is certain to be a bottom dweller now so go about your business
Posted on 11/27/15 at 7:33 am to stat19
quote:
Is LSU the program their fans believe it is?
FIFY, and no it isn't. They had a historic run for their program but they aren't among the blue bloods of college football like they think they are.
Posted on 11/27/15 at 7:35 am to VABuckeye
quote:
blue bloods of college football
Interested in a Big Ten perspective (for comedic purposes) on this. Name them.
Posted on 11/27/15 at 7:39 am to nc14
Michigan and OSU from the B10. Nebraska is gone
Posted on 11/27/15 at 7:39 am to stat19
So glad I gave you 3 downvotes in one sitting.
Posted on 11/27/15 at 7:40 am to stat19
Bama is awesome, LSU sucks. We get it. You didn't have to type all that.
Posted on 11/27/15 at 7:41 am to nc14
Blue bloods of football
Bama. LSU. Ole miss. Miss st. Vandy. Missouri. Texas am. Florida. Arkansas. South Carolina. Tennessee. Auburn. Georgia. Kentucky
Bama. LSU. Ole miss. Miss st. Vandy. Missouri. Texas am. Florida. Arkansas. South Carolina. Tennessee. Auburn. Georgia. Kentucky
Posted on 11/27/15 at 7:52 am to VABuckeye
quote:
they aren't among the blue bloods of college football like they think they are
I don't think any sane LSU fans think we are "blue bloods". A top 10-15 program historically? Yes. Why that matters idk. Just recently we've learned that being a " blue blood" doesn't really mean shite when it comes to coaching hires. Hello Nebraska and Texas. shite, even Bama lucked into Saban, they were turned down by numerous coaches.
It's about money and resources, and LSU can compete with anyone on that scale today whether you like it or not.
Posted on 11/27/15 at 8:02 am to stat19
Damn guy get a fricking life. The fact that you spent time typeing that shite out just shows everyone how much of a dipshit you are. 
Posted on 11/27/15 at 8:25 am to stat19
I like the effort on this one. LSU took three decades off from football. It took the best coach in modern day football to turn them around, and they haven't been able to maintain the high level of success. LSU fans feel they can plug and chug a new coach in, but it doesn't work that way. Since the early 90s, I have seen AU, UA, FSU, Neb, UT, USC, etc try and replace successful coaches, only to endure long streches of losing. LSU fans feel they are immune to this. We'll see if Miles is fired.
This post was edited on 11/27/15 at 8:26 am
Posted on 11/27/15 at 8:28 am to stat19
Holy shite.
Posted on 11/27/15 at 8:31 am to stat19
I think losing embarassingly two years in a row to a poor Arkansas team, losing three games in a row by double digit scores for the first time since 1966, and a clearly measurable decline in SEC record is much more concerning than how he did in his first three years.
In your eyes, all LSU fans have the unreasonable expectation of championships every year.
In my mind, everybody on this board believes LSU's rightful place and standing in the SEC is how they were under Archer and Hallman.
Both viewpoints are unrealistic.
In your eyes, all LSU fans have the unreasonable expectation of championships every year.
In my mind, everybody on this board believes LSU's rightful place and standing in the SEC is how they were under Archer and Hallman.
Both viewpoints are unrealistic.
Posted on 11/27/15 at 8:32 am to AUCE05
quote:
LSU took three decades off from football. It took the best coach in modern day football to turn them around, and they haven't been able to maintain the high level of success.
Posted on 11/27/15 at 8:33 am to wadewilson
38-17
Posted on 11/27/15 at 8:37 am to wadewilson
quote:
I think losing embarassingly two years in a row to a poor Arkansas team, losing three games in a row by double digit scores for the first time since 1966, and a clearly measurable decline in SEC record is much more concerning than how he did in his first three years
Everyone saw tDecline coming. LSU was experiencing success well above it's potential. LSU isn't a blue blood and everyone knew it was unsustainable. tDecline isn't Les's fault. It's just the nature of LSU not being a blue blood even though swamp kittens think it is.
Posted on 11/27/15 at 8:39 am to TeLeFaWx
Swamp kittens?
Right or wrong, I judge someone as having below average intelligence if they use this as an insult.
Kinda like 'butthurt'.
Right or wrong, I judge someone as having below average intelligence if they use this as an insult.
Kinda like 'butthurt'.
This post was edited on 11/27/15 at 8:40 am
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