LOOKING BACK AT 10 YEARS OF THE HATTERS MADNESS By ROBERT STEWART Tiger Rag Editor THE TEN BEST MOMENTS IN LES MILES’ LSU CAREER Let’s face it — living with Les Miles isn’t always easy, but it’s a hell of a lot of fun. The Mad Hatter,” as he’s been dubbed by ESPN, is full of zany quotes and memorable moments on the football field. Heading into Miles’ 10th season in Baton Rouge, Tiger Rag takes a look back at the 10 best moments from Miles’ career at LSU: 10: TOSS IT BACK: Fake field goals are usually a surprise, but the methodology used in this one was stunning. LSU set up for a field goal in the second quarter of its 2007 contest against South Carolina, but holder Matt Flynn tossed the ball behind his head — yes, behind his head — to a running Colt David, who caught the ball on the fly and sprinted to the end zone for a 21-7 lead against the Gamecocks. Steve Spurrier had gotten used to whipping LSU in Tiger Stadium with Florida, but in his first return trip with the Gamecocks, he got more than he bargained for. 9: LUCKY BOUNCE: Miles used that same field goal trick against Florida in 2010 when facing fourth down at the Florida 36-yard line with 35 second left. One problem: it didn’t go as smoothly as the one in 2007. Punter Derek Helton threw the ball behind his head to kicker Josh Jasper, but the ball hit the ground on the toss. In a moment that only Miles’ luck could provide, the ball bounced right into Jasper’s hands, and he for the first down, setting up Jarrett Lee’s game-winning touchdown pass to Terrence Toliver. The victory was as entertaining as any in Miles’ LSU tenure. 8: CHOMPING GRASS: Is that what we thought we saw? Les Miles eating grass? Yes it was. In 2010’s 24-21 victory against Alabama, Miles was seen on national television reaching down and plucking a blade of Tiger Stadium’s grass, then putting it in his mouth and chewing it. It worked — LSU scored a touchdown on the next play. The grass eating moment, as did a reverse toss on fourth-and-1 to a tight end, further cemented Miles’ legacy as, well, eccentric. 6: IF YOU’RE A GIRL”: Les Miles loves his players. Need proof? Listen to his speech following the Ole Miss game in 2012. After a newspaper report surfaced earlier in the week that insinuated former five-star prospect Russell Shepard was a bust, Miles lit into reporters in his post-game press conference, yelling there is no such thing as a flop that takes the field for our football team!” Miles never mentioned Shepard by name, but it was clear he was talking about his wide receiver. But the best part of the speech about his players? You go find them, you throw your arms around them, and you give them a big kiss on the mouth — if youre a girl.” 5: HAMMERS AND NAILS: This one is memorable because it was so bizarre. LSU had just beaten Florida, 17-6, in 2013, a year after losing to the Gators 14-6 in Gainesville. A reporter asked Miles a question using the hammer and nail” analogy, effectively but not directly saying LSU was the nail in 2012 and the hammer in 2013. Miles didn’t take too kindly to the question, ripping the reporter for insinuating LSU was ever the nail in that close 2012 contest — Im just letting you know I resent that. I resent the fact that suddenly we were ‘nailed.’ You got it? I mean, honest to petes.” 4: LAST-SECOND CATCH: LSU was trailing Auburn at home in 2007, 24-23, but was sitting at Auburn’s 22-yard line with about 30 seconds left in the game. So you’d stop the clock and go for the field goal, right? Wrong. While letting time run out, quarterback Matt Flynn hit Demetrius Byrd in the back corner of the north end zone for a 30-24 lead with one second left on the clock, giving LSU an improbable victory that, quite frankly, easily could’ve been settled with a field goal. 4: BACKING IN: The national title win itself obviously ranks highly in LSU fans’ minds. But just as incredible was the way LSU made it into that title game. LSU had just lost to Arkansas in triple overtime, seemingly ending its national title hopes. But an SEC championship win the next weekend, and top teams Missouri and West Virginia falling victim to upsets by Oklahoma and Pitt, vaulted LSU into the BCS national championship game in a fashion we’ll likely never see again. 3: TITLE TIME: This was the last incredible moment in LSU’s memorable 13-0 romp in 2011 before that day LSU fans don’t want to talk about. But what a moment it was. From Tyrann Mathieu’s punt return to Kenny Hilliard’s three touchdowns, LSU blew out Georgia in 42-10 fashion, continuing a dominant streak and sparking best team of all-time” discussions until that fateful day in New Orleans. 2: FIVE ALIVE: This was the night in 2007 Les Miles became the Mad Hatter.” With eventual Heisman winner Tim Tebow and the defending national champion Florida Gators in town, Miles figured he’d have to take a few risks to win. He didn’t just gamble — he bet the whole house. Miles converted an astonishing five fourth-down attempts, including twice on LSU’s final drive to go ahead for good, 28-24. In a night in which the crowd erupted over the news of No. 1 USC falling, this game will stay in LSU fans’ minds for damn near forever. 1: HAVE A GREAT DAY”: Everybody thought Miles was going to Michigan. Everybody except Miles, that is. Responding to reports that he’d be bolting LSU for his alma mater, a furious Miles stormed out into a press conference before the 2007 SEC Championship Game and vented his frustrations to reporters, telling them emphatically he’d be staying at LSU. To top it all off, he ended the conference in a way only Miles could: I’m busy. Have a great day.” The emphatic quote punctuated a day that saw LSU not only win the SEC title, but slip its way into the national championship game. 10 WORST MOMENTS UNDER LES MILES For as many great memories there have been in the Les Miles era, there have been plenty of bad ones. Clock management issues, players getting in trouble and one game that will never leave the fanbase’s subconscious have left Miles less appreciated than a man with his credentials would normally be. Here’s Tiger Rag’s list of the worst moments that have happened during Miles’ LSU tenure: 10: TOO MANY MEN: LSU won, but by the slimmest of margins and with the greatest of luck. Trailing the Vols 14-10 with about 15 seconds left at Tennessee’s 1-yard line, LSU scrambled to change its personnel, causing Tennessee to do the same. The snap flew past Jordan Jefferson, and Tennessee players stormed the field, assuming the Volunteers had won. But the referees ruled Tennessee had 13 men on the field, giving LSU another shot at a win. Stevan Ridley barely plunged into the end zone for the touchdown on the ensuing play, giving LSU the unlikeliest of victories that showed just how many issues the Tiger offense had that in 2010. 9: MATHIEU GONE: This moment is lower on the list because Miles did the right thing in this situation in booting Tyrann Mathieu from his team. It seemed to teach a lesson to the 2011 Heisman Trophy finalist, who is now thriving in the NFL. Regardless, Mathieu’s dismissal following reports of multiple failed drug tests was still a difficult moment for LSU fans to swallow, who were left wondering what if” in a 2012 season that saw the Tigers come relatively close to playing in Atlanta. 8: PICK SIX: It was a high-scoring affair, but it was lopsided. Two weeks after a humiliating 51-21 loss to Florida in 2008, LSU hosted No. 9 Georgia at home. The Bulldogs ran all over the Tigers, 52-38, thanks to three interceptions from freshman quarterback Jarrett Lee — two of which were returned for touchdowns, including one on LSU’s first play from scrimmage. Lee also threw three touchdown passes in the game, but the pick-sixes proved impossible to overcome in a season full of them. 7: GATOR CHOMPED: The most lopsided loss in Miles’ LSU career, the Tigers went into Gainesville in 2008 with high expectations backed by a No. 4 ranking. But LSU got walloped by Florida 51-21, including a 20-0 deficit by the second quarter. LSU cut it to 20-14 in the third quarter, but the Gators ripped off 31 unanswered points, leaving LSU fans wondering what the hell happened. It was LSU’s first loss on the season, but it certainly wouldn’t be the last in the Tigers’ 8-5 season to forget. 6: BYE BYE LEAD: Granted, LSU started behind the eight-ball in 2005, Miles’ first season in Baton Rouge. Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans and the Louisiana coast right before the season, forcing the state and LSU to scramble all of its plans. LSU had to move its home opener against Arizona State to Tempe, and the Tigers won that game in thrilling fashion. Against Tennessee in 2005, the Tigers stormed to a 21-0 halftime lead … and then promptly blew that lead, losing 30-27 in overtime. It was an awful start to the Les Miles era at LSU. 5: NO TIME LEFT: This loss was as dumbfounding as any in the Les Miles era. No. 10 LSU went to Oxford for a battle with unraked Ole Miss in 2009, and the Rebels gave the Tigers a dogfight. LSU pulled within 25-23 after scoring a touchdown with 1:17 to play, and the Tigers recovered the ensuing onside kick. The Tigers drove to Ole Miss’ 32-yard line on a 26-yard catch by Brandon LaFell — and that’s when it fell apart. Jefferson threw an incomplete pass and was sacked for nine yards, and Stevan Ridley lost 7 yards on a swing pass. Miraculously, Jefferson then hurled a 43-yard bomb to Terrance Toliver to Ole Miss’ 5-yard line with one second left. But with no timeouts available, Jefferson had to spike the ball to stop the clock. But his spike was too late, and the clock ran out on the Tigers’ chances at a win, leaving LSU fans infuriated in the process. 4: PIG SOOIE: The national title was right within LSU’s hands. The No. 1 Tigers had already wrapped up the SEC West in 2007 and were hosting lowly Arkansas, who at 3-4 in SEC play seemed to be but a stepping stone to glory. But the Razorbacks, behind 385 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, stunned the Tigers 50-48 in triple overtime, which ended after Matt Flynn threw an interception in the third extra period. The loss seemingly dashing LSU’s national title hopes, but some incredibly good fortunate vaulted the Tigers back into the BCS championship game. 3: PERRILLOUX DISMISSED: The 2007 SEC title game MVP had issues staying out of trouble during his LSU career. First was his alleged use of a fake ID to get into a casino, then his alleged role in a bar fight outside the Varsity. After a reported failed drug test, Miles finally had enough, booting the former blue-chip high school recruit from his squad. While Miles made the right call in dismissing the troubled player, LSU’s quarterback play suffered in 2008, and for a few seasons after that. 2: BAR FIGHT: LSU’s 2011 season felt like it was going to implode before it even began. Facing ridiculously high expectations in the preseason, starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson and several other players were involved in a raucous fight outside an LSU area bar in August. Two weeks later, Jefferson and LSU linebacker Josh Johns were arrested on second-degree battery charges, and both were suspended from the team. Both were reinstated after four games once their charges were reduced by a grand jury. Though the players ultimately acted on their own, and had a curfew that night anyway, the ensuing legal fracas left an ugly stain on Miles’ tenure at LSU. 1: EMBARRASSMENT: As incredible as that 2011 season was, this loss will haunt LSU fans for years to come. After defeating the Crimson Tide 9-6 in overtime in Tuscaloosa, the Tigers faced Nick Saban’s squad again in the BCS national title game. The result was a disaster, as the Tide stomped the Tigers 21-0 — in New Orleans, no less — while suffocating LSU’s offense to the tune of never crossing the 50-yard line.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 15:01:15 +0000
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