JimBob
01-10-2008, 10:23 AM
New scenery gives Miles career boon
By DAVE SITTLER World Sports Columnist
1/9/2008
ON THE MORNING AFTER the greatest night of his professional life, Les Miles took the high road during his joyous road trip home.
A few hours after his Louisiana State football team defeated Ohio State to win the BCS national championship, Miles returned a telephone call while seated inside a raucous Tigers' team bus as it rolled out of New Orleans, up I-10 and across Lake Pontchartrain bound for Baton Rouge.
LSU's impressive 38-24 win Monday night over the Buckeyes in the Superdome silenced a lot of Miles' critics. No longer can some of his peers ask, "What has Les Miles ever won?"
Well, there was that Southeastern Conference championship last month. And now he's reached the pinnacle of his profession on the collegiate level with the dominating win over the Buckeyes.
But no matter what he achieves, Miles apparently will always have detractors at Oklahoma State. The biggest may just be billionaire and mega-OSU fan Boone Pickens.
Miles is now the second coach to win a national title after leaving OSU for a better job. But Jimmy Johnson, who departed OSU for Miami (Fla.) and national glory, never gets ripped by Cowboys' supporters like Miles.
That's too bad. Miles did a lot of good for OSU in the seven seasons he spent with the program, particularly his four years as head coach.
Pickens' outspoken disdain has overshadowed Miles' considerable contributions to OSU and influenced others. But all the negativity hasn't affected Miles' opinion for the place that launched his head coaching career.
"I want Oklahoma State to win every game," Miles said via phone. "It (leaving) just made sense for me."
Miles should have forever earned a special spot in every Cowboy's heart after back-to-back wins over Oklahoma. Knocking the hated Sooners out of the 2001 national championship race with a stunning 16-13 win in Norman would have earned most OSU coaches permanent sainthood.
But most Cowboys seem only to recall the messy ending to the Miles era. He bolted for LSU after, ironically, getting blown out by Ohio State in the Alamo Bowl.
Yes, Miles acknowledged later, he had lied to the media when he said he wasn't talking to LSU. But, as we learned, he was fighting for his professional life against Pickens.
Pickens has repeatedly boasted that he was prepared to buy out Miles' contract if he didn't go to LSU.
"But thank God they offered him the job," Pickens told the Dallas Morning News again last August. "The folks at Oklahoma State wanted to try to keep him, and I said, 'If you do, one of your top donors will no longer be enthusiastic.' "
Miles knew what he was battling long before the LSU job opened. Pickens wanted offensive coordinator and OSU alum Mike Gundy as head coach because he thought Gundy had a stronger allegiance to the school.
One of those "folks" who wanted Miles to stay was athletic director Harry Birdwell. Pickens finally had his Dream Team in place when Gundy replaced Miles, and golf coach Mike Holder became AD after Birdwell was forced out.
"You had to be smart, you had to make sure you didn't become engulfed," Miles said Tuesday, reflecting on the turmoil and the behind-the-scenes maneuvers during his final season at OSU. "That was certainly something that was a backdrop that I was not going to be a party to.
"I was an obstacle to those guys (Pickens' crowd). So I think it worked out well."
It has certainly worked out great for Miles and LSU. He's gone 34-6 in three seasons, including a 3-0 bowl record, and has now given the school its third national championship.
Gundy's showed steady progress while going a combined 18-19 since replacing Miles. He's put together consecutive 7-6 seasons and gone 2-0 in bowls after a 4-7 record his first season.
"I think the gift that Boone Pickens gave is a magnanimous deal, it's unbelievable," Miles said of the millions Pickens has poured into OSU athletics. "Oklahoma State's going to be a great job."
Miles never experienced that kind of financial support during his stay at OSU. Both as head coach and the three years he spent as an assistant, Miles worked under revenue restraints that long held the program back.
And even though he wasn't even OSU's first choice to replace Bob Simmons, getting the job only after Dirk Koetter changed his mind, Miles put tremendous effort into turning the program around.
In addition to those wins over OU, Miles took the Cowboys to bowl games in each of his last three seasons, won a Big 12 coach of the year honor and compiled a 28-21 overall record.
"I'm certainly still very attached (to OSU)," Miles said. "Every time I see that orange pride, I'm all in.
"I have always enjoyed my time at Oklahoma State fully. I can't tell you how much I remember those days and how fond they are for me."
Hopefully, someday, more OSU fans will understand that the feeling should be mutual.
By DAVE SITTLER World Sports Columnist
1/9/2008
ON THE MORNING AFTER the greatest night of his professional life, Les Miles took the high road during his joyous road trip home.
A few hours after his Louisiana State football team defeated Ohio State to win the BCS national championship, Miles returned a telephone call while seated inside a raucous Tigers' team bus as it rolled out of New Orleans, up I-10 and across Lake Pontchartrain bound for Baton Rouge.
LSU's impressive 38-24 win Monday night over the Buckeyes in the Superdome silenced a lot of Miles' critics. No longer can some of his peers ask, "What has Les Miles ever won?"
Well, there was that Southeastern Conference championship last month. And now he's reached the pinnacle of his profession on the collegiate level with the dominating win over the Buckeyes.
But no matter what he achieves, Miles apparently will always have detractors at Oklahoma State. The biggest may just be billionaire and mega-OSU fan Boone Pickens.
Miles is now the second coach to win a national title after leaving OSU for a better job. But Jimmy Johnson, who departed OSU for Miami (Fla.) and national glory, never gets ripped by Cowboys' supporters like Miles.
That's too bad. Miles did a lot of good for OSU in the seven seasons he spent with the program, particularly his four years as head coach.
Pickens' outspoken disdain has overshadowed Miles' considerable contributions to OSU and influenced others. But all the negativity hasn't affected Miles' opinion for the place that launched his head coaching career.
"I want Oklahoma State to win every game," Miles said via phone. "It (leaving) just made sense for me."
Miles should have forever earned a special spot in every Cowboy's heart after back-to-back wins over Oklahoma. Knocking the hated Sooners out of the 2001 national championship race with a stunning 16-13 win in Norman would have earned most OSU coaches permanent sainthood.
But most Cowboys seem only to recall the messy ending to the Miles era. He bolted for LSU after, ironically, getting blown out by Ohio State in the Alamo Bowl.
Yes, Miles acknowledged later, he had lied to the media when he said he wasn't talking to LSU. But, as we learned, he was fighting for his professional life against Pickens.
Pickens has repeatedly boasted that he was prepared to buy out Miles' contract if he didn't go to LSU.
"But thank God they offered him the job," Pickens told the Dallas Morning News again last August. "The folks at Oklahoma State wanted to try to keep him, and I said, 'If you do, one of your top donors will no longer be enthusiastic.' "
Miles knew what he was battling long before the LSU job opened. Pickens wanted offensive coordinator and OSU alum Mike Gundy as head coach because he thought Gundy had a stronger allegiance to the school.
One of those "folks" who wanted Miles to stay was athletic director Harry Birdwell. Pickens finally had his Dream Team in place when Gundy replaced Miles, and golf coach Mike Holder became AD after Birdwell was forced out.
"You had to be smart, you had to make sure you didn't become engulfed," Miles said Tuesday, reflecting on the turmoil and the behind-the-scenes maneuvers during his final season at OSU. "That was certainly something that was a backdrop that I was not going to be a party to.
"I was an obstacle to those guys (Pickens' crowd). So I think it worked out well."
It has certainly worked out great for Miles and LSU. He's gone 34-6 in three seasons, including a 3-0 bowl record, and has now given the school its third national championship.
Gundy's showed steady progress while going a combined 18-19 since replacing Miles. He's put together consecutive 7-6 seasons and gone 2-0 in bowls after a 4-7 record his first season.
"I think the gift that Boone Pickens gave is a magnanimous deal, it's unbelievable," Miles said of the millions Pickens has poured into OSU athletics. "Oklahoma State's going to be a great job."
Miles never experienced that kind of financial support during his stay at OSU. Both as head coach and the three years he spent as an assistant, Miles worked under revenue restraints that long held the program back.
And even though he wasn't even OSU's first choice to replace Bob Simmons, getting the job only after Dirk Koetter changed his mind, Miles put tremendous effort into turning the program around.
In addition to those wins over OU, Miles took the Cowboys to bowl games in each of his last three seasons, won a Big 12 coach of the year honor and compiled a 28-21 overall record.
"I'm certainly still very attached (to OSU)," Miles said. "Every time I see that orange pride, I'm all in.
"I have always enjoyed my time at Oklahoma State fully. I can't tell you how much I remember those days and how fond they are for me."
Hopefully, someday, more OSU fans will understand that the feeling should be mutual.