LSU's Les Miles denies rumor of fight prior to BCS title
- From: ¤~Îñ©üßu§~® <sckfkrt@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:18:05 -0600
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/sec/story/2012-01-17/miles-denis-confrontation-prior-to-bcs-title-game/52623614/1
BATON ROUGE – It was one of the juiciest rumors circulating through
the hearts and minds and computers of LSU fans since the last football
coaching search seven years ago.
LSU coach has dismissed any rumors of a player-coach confrontation
prior to the Tigers' loss to Alabama in the BCS title game on Jan. 8.
According to gossip being emailed and re-emailed since last week in
the dark days after No. 1 LSU's disastrous, 21-0 loss to No. 2 Alabama
in the BCS national championship game, center T-Bob Hebert, wide
receiver Russell Shepard and other players allegedly met with an
offensive coordinator - either Greg Studrawa or Steve Kragthorpe - and
head coach Les Miles a few hours before the BCS title game.
The players - as the story goes - wanted former starting quarterback
Jarrett Lee to play because they were concerned with starting
quarterback Jordan Jefferson's recent play and preparation for the
game. Miles, according to the yarn, got angry and benched Hebert and
Shepard. The original author of the scenario apparently did not
realize that Hebert and Shepard had already been benched. Neither
started or played much late in the season anyway.
Miles further dispelled the "story" on Wednesday at a press conference
which was called to "wrap up" the season and look toward spring
football, according to LSU's sports information office.
"Not at all," Miles said when asked if there was any truth to the
circulated story. "We took the field just like we always have. There's
never been any issue prior to a game. There has never been a
player-coach interaction before or after a game that was negative."
Miles also said - as he has several times since former starting
quarterback Jarrett Lee was sent to the bench after the first Alabama
game on Nov. 5 - that the reason Lee did not play in the BCS title
game had nothing to do with discipline or his academic eligiblity.
"It had nothing to do with a personal slight," Miles said.
Miles said Lee, a fifth-year senior, graduated recently during
intersession. Lee also completed 13 of 18 passes for 176 yards and two
touchdowns in the Casino Del Sol All-Star game Monday night in Tucson,
Ariz.
"I understand he did well, and I think that's great," Miles said.
Miles gave virtually the same explanation for not replacing struggling
starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson with Lee in the BCS title game
as he gave after the BCS title game. Jefferson completed 11 of 17
passes for 53 yards (4.8 yards a completion) with an interception and
three fumbles while rushing 14 times for 15 yards in the BCS title
game after going 5 of 13 for 30 yards against Georgia in the SEC
Championship Game - the worst game by a starting quarterback who
played most of the game in the two-decade history of the SEC
Championship Game.
"I did think about the ability to change quarterbacks," he said. "But
the way the pass rush was going, we needed someone who could move his
feet. If you finish one drive and just score, we're back in the game."
LSU had one first down in the first half behind Jefferson and did not
cross midfield until midway in the fourth quarter. Jefferson led LSU
to zero first downs in the first half against Georgia in the SEC title
game.
Miles attempted to put a positive spin on a season in which LSU was
No. 1 in the nation for most of it and finished 13-1.
"I cannot bemoan this team's season," he said. "And by any measure,
this is a great year. Beyond the last game, there's been a lot of
heartache on our team. I understand that from our fan base and from
our people. I don't bemoan the want to finish well in that game, but
we won 13 straight. Our team will hang a banner for the SEC West and
the SEC championships."
Miles was asked about the perception by some that there is a dark
cloud over the program in light of the lopsided loss to Alabama in the
title game and the loss of recent recruits, particularly Gunner Kiel -
the No. 1 ranked prep quarterback in the nation out of Columbus, Ind.
Kiel had first chosen LSU, but he changed his mind Monday and enrolled
much closer to home at Notre Dame on Tuesday.
"The proof is in what was our past season," he said. "We were 13-0. We
know how to compete and win. The opportunity to come in here and play
for championships and get your degree - that's never changed. We won
the SEC West and the SEC."
Miles did not mention Kiel specifically but addressed losing a recruit
recently.
"There's a guy in the Midwest that's staying close to home. I
understand that very much," he said. "This recruiting class will still
be the style of class that we've had in years past."
Miles also made a promise concerning projected new starting
quarterback Zach Mettenberger as both Lee and Jefferson have seen
their up-and-down college careers come to an end.
"We'll throw the football more," he said. "We'll have a guy who can
scramble, but he'll throw the football for a greater percentage. We'll
improve."
.
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