Les Miles is probably coaching his last game at LSU tonight. It's been widely speculated for weeks that Miles would be out as the Tigers head coach and yesterday word leaked that he informed the Tigers Gridiron Club that Saturday's game against Texas A&M would be his last at LSU.
After that news sent college football writers sprinting, it came out that Miles did not intend to imply this would definitely be his last game, he just wanted to say goodbye to the people in the room if it turned out it was. And now today, LSU Board of Supervisors member Stanley Jacobs issued a statement that is essentially the non-confident vote of confidence.Jacobs said that the board of supervisors has not received a recommendation that Miles be ousted—which is a necessary step in the process—and therefore "he is our coach, I wish him well." Now that second part is where things get interesting because not many people get well wishes when their jobs are secure. And, obviously, a recommendation can come at any time; just because it hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. Even though it's been weeks of uncertainty, most likely a recommendation hasn't been made to the board because they are waiting for the season to end to make it.LSU athletic director Joe Alleva has remained silent as various reports speculated about Miles's tenure, following losses to Alabama and Ole Miss, and another board member publicly speculated that Miles may not even survive the season if he won the rest of his games. Making this all the more surreal is that Not Nick Saban has amassed a 110-32 record at LSU, won a National Championship in 2007, appeared in another in 2012, and is due a $15 million buyout should he get canned. LSU boosters aren't even sweating the price tag, either.As the rumors have swirled, so have names for possible replacements, including current Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher. Fisher coached at LSU for seven years under both Saban and Miles before Bobby Bowden scooped him up, so that's enough to connect him to the program. Fisher reportedly met with Florida State president John Thrasher, and told him "he does not have to worry about losing his head coach," which is the only thing he possibly could have said. But, this whole convoluted story does confirm at least two truisms in college football: programs will fire coaches for no reason, or the dumbest reason, and coaches will lie through their teeth about other jobs at every turn."He said, 'We're a second family to him and he's going to miss us, he appreciates his real friends, and then he told us good-bye,'" the source said. "It was very emotional but in control."
Miles reportedly left to a standing ovation.
Another source said Miles told the group he "wouldn't be seeing them at the bowl game," he would "always be a Tiger" and "thanks for a great 11 years."