Interview with Les Miles
By Fletcher MackelI had a chance to go one-on-one with Coach Les Miles and delve further into all of the above topics.
Q: IT’S BEEN EIGHT MONTHS SINCE YOU HOISTED THE WATERFORD CRYSTAL TROPHY IN THE SUPERDOME. NOW THAT YOU’VE HAD SIGNIFICANT TIME TO REFLECT ON THE ACCOMPLISHMENT, WHAT DOES THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MEAN TO YOU?
LM: Obviously, it’s been a great time in my life and a great time for this university. I have had time to sit back and reflect; it’s a highlight as I go forward, for me and my family, and something I will always remember and always build on. You know we always talk about winning championships, and this is something that I will never forget. It was a special moment, a moment that did a lot for this program and the people who follow and support this team.
Q: HOW DOES WINNING A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP CHANGE YOU AS A PERSON, AS A COACH? HAS IT CHANGED YOU?
LM: I have not changed. It has not changed me. I think we still focus on our goals and work towards winning. So to answer your question, it has not changed me ... I will build on it and reflect on it but when it comes to how we prepare and what we do, it has not changed me as a coach or as a person.
Q: LET’S QUICKLY TALK ABOUT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE DISMISSAL OF QUARTERBACK RYAN PERRILLOUX?
LM: Nothing. All I can say is that his opportunity has expired with this team. I wish him the best.
Q: IS HIS DISMISSAL FROM THE TEAM ONE OF THE MOST FRUSTRATING DILEMMAS YOU’VE DEALT WITH SINCE BECOMING A HEAD COACH?
LM: He was a talented player who played a significant role last season and in what we did, beating Tennessee in the SEC Championship Game. He was part of the reason we did what we did as a team last season, but once again, his time here expired and it was time to move on.
Q: OUT OF CURIOSITY, WILL YOU MONITOR PERRILLOUX’S PROGRESS AT JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY OR DOES THE CLICHE ‘OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND’ FIT REGARDING RYAN PERRILLOUX?
LM: I wish him the best, but my focus is on this team, our team - that’s where my goals are that’s where my priorities are, and that’s what I’m focused on.
Q: HISTORICALLY, INEXPERIENCED QUARTERBACKS DON’T PRODUCE IN GRAND FASHION IN THE SEC. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE THREE YOUNG QBs WHO’LL PLAY FOR YOU THIS SEASON? DO YOU HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN THEM?
LM: I can tell you they are all ready to compete and make our football team better. Hatch probably has the most confidence right now and is the most comfortable. Lee has tremendous upside and is a great talent, and I haven’t ruled out playing Jordan Jefferson. Having three quarterbacks on scholarship is something we see as an advantage. They will all compete, and I see us using any number of those guys to win games.
Q: WHAT YOUNG PLAYER (TRUE FRESHMAN OR REDSHIRT FRESHMAN) DO YOU THINK WILL MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION THIS SEASON?
LM: We have a lot of talented players who are young who are coming into this program or who have been in this program for a year now, and I think we have several players who are ready to compete and who can help us on the field.
Q: BECAUSE YOU’VE GOT SUCH EXPERIENCE ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE AND SO MANY TALENTED PLAYERS AT THE RUNNING BACK POSITION, EXPERTS SAY YOUR TEAM’S RUSHING ATTACK WILL BE ONE OF THE STRONGEST IN THE COUNTRY. IS THAT ASSESSMENT FAIR OR UNFAIR?
LM: I think we are ready and I think every year we expect to be able to run the football and run it well. It’s something I think we take pride in and something I think we have to do to be successful as a football team. Our line has great leadership with some seniors who are ready and out running back position is deep. I can see anyone of those guys, Murphy, Williams and Scott stepping up and really playing a key role. But to say we’re loaded ... I think we have some great talent in the backfield, and I hope and believe you will see that on game days.
Q: WHICH ONE OF YOUR TALENTED RUNNING BACKS REPLACES JACOB HESTER? IS IT POSSIBLE TO REPLACE WHAT A PLAYER LIKE HESTER MEANT TO THE CLUB, NOT ONLY ON THE FIELD, BUT IN THE LOCKER ROOM?
LM: Jacob really knew what it was to be a senior, and he knew he could and would have a special year and that it could help us out greatly. What Jacob did last year was great for this program and we applaud him for that. He did everything we asked him to do and it showed and he delivered. He was a senior and a leader and I think we have several guys who can step up and fill his shoes - several linemen and several seniors - but in the backfield, and I think Williams, Scott and Murphy can help us win games and make up the backfield we deserve.
Q: YOUR DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, BO PELLINI, LEFT LSU AND ACCEPTED THE HEAD COACHING POSITION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA. HOW DOES HIS DEPARTURE CHANGE WHAT YOUR TEAM DOES DEFENSIVELY?
LM: We have two guys (co-defensive coordinators Doug Mallory & Bradley Dale Peveto) here, who are very capable, to step up and make our defense one of the best in the conference. Losing Bo, we do lose the experience he brought and we wish him the best and we wish him well. But we feel we have some very talented players on defense and the schemes we will use will utilize those players in role they can succeed in. We are very confident about our defense. I think Tyson Jackson can step up and really be a leader and a player who plays a key role on this team.
Q: PLEASE TALK ABOUT PART OF THE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE THIS SEASON - ROAD GAMES AGAINST AUBURN, FLORIDA, SOUTH CAROLINA & ARKANSAS AND MUCH-ANTICIPATED HOME GAMES AGAINST GEORGIA AND ALABAMA. THE SEC IS DIFFICULT EACH SEASON, BUT IS THIS THE TOUGHEST CONFERENCE SCHEDULE YOU’VE HAD SINCE ARRIVING IN BATON ROGUE?
LM: Well, it goes without saying that we play one of the toughest schedules when it comes to a conference in the country. I’d put it up against anyone. Our non-conference schedule is good and we play some very good opponents. Those SEC games - what else can you see? - we prepare and we are ready week in and week out because it doesn’t let up each week. We face the possibility of playing some of the best teams, the best college football in the land. So yes, we like our schedule. We know it’s challenging, but I think this team is ready for that challenge week in and week out.
Q: NICK SABAN RETURNS TO TIGER STADIUM FOR THE FIRST TIME ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH. HOW DO YOU THINK HE’LL BE RECEIVED IN BATON ROUGE?
LM: Last year, that game at Alabama was a key to us clinching the SEC West. It’s a game that will be important this year. They are a good team and a team that we played well against last year. Like everyone in the SEC, they will be competitive and I think our fans will be up for the game.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH NICK SABAN LIKE?
LM: There’s no vendetta or any bad blood. We have a mutual respect; this is a game we are looking to win and a game I’m sure he will be looking to win. But that’s it. It doesn’t go any further ... this is not personal, and it’s not something that I make personal.
Q: THE MEDIA SPECULATION REGARDING THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HEAD COACHING VACANCY LAST YEAR SEEMED TO BE A HUGE DISTRACTION TO BOTH YOU AND YOUR TEAM. DO YOU EXPECT DISTRACTIONS LIKE THAT IN THE FUTURE? SINCE YOU’VE WON A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND BECAUSE YOU’VE COACHED IN THE NFL, DO YOU EXPECT YOUR NAME TO BE LINKED TO PROFESSIONAL JOBS IN THE FUTURE? DO YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST IN ONE DAY RETURNING TO THE NFL TO COACH?
LM: No, it surfaced last year, but we did everything we could to not make that a distraction. We did not let it affect our team and our goals. I’ve said this before: I’m where I want to be, my family loves this part of the country, living in south Louisiana and this community, and I do not foresee any reason why I would find another job or position as attractive as what I have here. We have worked hard to make this program successful and a program that our fans can be proud of [and that] our players can be proud of. As for coaching in the NFL, that’s not something I see in the future right now. I’m here and I love where I am, my family loves where they are, and I see myself here for a long time to come.
Q: HOW DID YOU SPEND YOUR SUMMER VACATION?
LM: I spent it chasing my kids around, chasing them around the ball fields in the leagues they play in during the summer. That’s been a lot this summer and we love it. I also spent five or six days down in Destin, Florida. Great trip, great place ... but to tell you the truth, I’m not that much of a summer vacation guy. I really am ready to get back to football and ready for the season to start.
Q: WHY THE WHITE HAT ON GAME DAY?
LM: I’m just a baseball guy on football days. It’s something that has become a tradition and I don’t think it would be the same if I didn’t wear it. I think it’s something I’ve done for a long time and now people expect it, so the white baseball cap on game days is here to stay.