After weeks of speculation and belief that he would be fired, LSU announced that Les Miles would remain the football coach after the team’s win over Texas A&M on Saturday night.
A look into the decision making process reveals a bizarre series of decisions, most notably LSU administrators not deciding to retain Miles until the third quarter of the game.
A series of tweets from ESPN’s Joe Schad show that LSU didn’t exactly handle this situation well.
Public pressure and sentiment key factors in decision to keep Les Miles according to high ranking source Involved in decision
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) November 29, 2015
Decision to retain Les Miles was made in meeting of LSU decision makers during 3rd quarter of tonight’s game, per source
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) November 29, 2015
LSU decision makers felt media had swayed public and if Les Miles was fired school would have apoeared mean-spirited, per source
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) November 29, 2015
LSU felt thought buyout would have been through private donations, sum would have made it tough to ask state for future funds, per source
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) November 29, 2015
LSU source says feeling is Les Miles is more open to change and less hard-headed since his future was openly questioned
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) November 29, 2015
Told this morning LSU leadership felt decision to keep Les Miles validated when they saw players carry him off the field w fans chanting
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) November 29, 2015
There are a few theories that can be drawn up from this. Did LSU leak all the recent rumors about Miles in an attempt to undermine public support and make firing him easier, only for it to backfire spectacularly? Did LSU back down when it became clear they couldn’t get Jimbo Fisher or a replacement of a similar caliber? Why is such an important decision being made in the third quarter?
Whatever the case, it seems that Miles has come out on top of a power struggle with administrators. Just take a look at these faces as athletic director Joe Alleva announced that Miles was being retained.
Holy Crap look at the body language from #LSU Administrators. They aren't happy that Les beat them. #GeauxTigers pic.twitter.com/tffUpKFDjW
— John M. Phillips (@JohnPhillips) November 29, 2015
Miles’s reaction to his retention, however, was perfect.
Miles said he doesn't hold any hard feelings but "there's a guy or two I'd like to meet in an alley and have a straight talk." #LSU
— James Bewers (@JamesBewers_TDR) November 29, 2015
It seems that many LSU fans probably wouldn’t stop him, either.
