Louisiana’s big media are devoting about as much time and
space to the fate of Louisiana State University’s head football coach, Les
Miles, as they have to the recent gubernatorial election. Reports on the
NOLA.com/Times-Picayune and New Orleans Advocate websites seem as sharply
divided about whether Miles will stay or go or be forced to go as are the commenters
after the Tigers’ game today against Texas A&M.
Here is some perspective from someone who when to LSU in the
early- to mid-1960s.
First, the university has long had a history of the football
tail wagging the university dog. The fate of football has always outweighed the
solid, if not great, academic programs. But what has always been unsaid is that
the football program is really a major in itself — a training program for the
professional football world. I recall stories of football players being given “passes”
on classes to keep eligibility and I saw it first-hand in a biology lab. A star
running back was practically illiterate, but he passed the course — to me a
confirmation of the rumors.
Second, I remember clearly how Charlie McClendon was revered
and reviled. And those who reviled him didn’t like this three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust
running game. Why? In part, because they saw the value of an aerial attack being
an effective addition to the offense. And, in part, because it was mostly a boring.
What little LSU football I’ve watched this season echoes Miles’ embracing the
McClendon version of offense. Further, as good as Leonard Fourette is, once the
defenses of a capable opponent key on him, they shut him down. Without a passing
game, LSU stalls in the trenches. Alabama and Arkansas proved it.
I doubt any of the commenters have inside information and
certainly the conflicting reports from the media make that clear. But consider
this: LSU is a training program for the NFL, which thrives on a balance between
the passing and running game. In short, it is the failure of Miles’ curriculum
for vocational training. Does anyone have any doubt that Exxon/Mobil or Shell
gives vocational feedback to the petroleum/petrochemical engineering programs?
Why would anyone doubt that the athletic department isn’t getting feedback from
NFL people about the training the LSU players are getting in Miles’ program?
I don’t care if Miles stays or goes. I even find the passion
in this debate amusing because it really overlooks what goes on at major
football schools, especially those public universities supported with tax
dollars. Think about this term: Bread and circuses.
