Another Miles Classic

Ok. I'll admit it. I'm spoiled.

Since the year 2000, when Nick Saban began the revitalization of the LSU football program, I have become accustomed to a certain football lifestyle. A winning lifestyle.

Not just winning, but WINNING!!

Four SEC and two BCS championships and numerous top ten finishes will do that to you.

So when debacles such as the Ole Miss game occur, it shakes one to his football core.

Coming off an impressive win against an SEC talent rich team, gaining momentum and everything still in play for LSU, they go to Oxford to play a team on the mend. After spanking the Big 12's Texas, who's coach is on a standing eight count, Ole Miss has suffered three consecutive SEC defeats. Missing five defensive starters including three on the d-line plus their homerun hitting runningback, Ole Miss was down to their last out. The only thing head coach Hugh Freez had going for him was the fact that one of their most hated rival was coming to town. So motivation would not be an issue. LSU has long forgotten that this was once an intense rivalry between two border states with rich football traditions. Over the years, as Ole Miss began to flaunder, this game lost it's importance to LSU.

Not to Ole Miss.

Banking that a Les Miles' LSU would read about all those Ole Miss starters missing and will do what they always do, play down to their opponent and coupled with the natural letdown from the Florida win, Freez new Miles' boys were thinking, "Ole Miss, Furman then a bye, three weeks to prep for Bama".

In a great example of scouting a team, Freez new the usually reliable LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis was going nuts trying to get a handle on his own unit and the book on offensive coordinator Cam Cameron was that he just can't stop himself from throwing the long ball.  Freez's staff came up with a gameplan of patience on defense and creating confusion on offense.

Just like the turkey that walks right toward the caller, Miles and his staff walk right into Freez's trap.

After a couple of three and outs and getting a feel for what Chavis was doing, Freez's offense went to work. Compiling over 500 total yards, converting an agonizing 11 of 18 third downs, all seemed to be 3rd and long, Ole Miss wore down the unit which, unlike their counterparts, started the game with all hands on deck. But the unkindest cut of all was that someone named Jalen Walton, a little used 5'8" 168lb RB, who, I'm certain, no one associated with the LSU football program ever heard of, gashed Chavis' once proud defense for 106 yards rushing and an astounding 5.6 avg per carry.

Freez's plan for LSU's high powered offense worked even better. With a unit as undermanned as King Leonidas against the Persians, Freez used Cameron's impatience against him.  In a game very revealing as to why he was canned in Baltimore, Cameron couldn't resist going for kill shots on three first half occasions when body blows were all that was needed. Freez's defense was ready. He had his safety in position and waiting for the opportunity Cameron would present him. The result was three influential interceptions. Score changing, momentum swinging and inspiration providing pics that sucked more life out of LSU and injected more into Ole Miss with each one.

Watching the game, one had the sense that by the 4th quarter, as Ole Miss' valiant defensive effort would wear down, LSU would pull away. The Ole Miss defense did wear down, but by then, the damage of mishandling the first half was done. For someone who demands discipline from his quarterback, Cameron displayed very little.

Freez doesn't deserve all the credit, however.

Les Miles' mind blowing knack for giving lessor talented teams hope continues to amaze. His gametime decisions and clock management gaffes baffle even his most loyal apologists. And his incoherent explanations embolden his detractors. He preaches respecting every opponent by giving your best effort yet rarely displays it on gameday.

Some would suggest the players must shoulder the responsibility for the Ole Miss loss. To that I would respond that in college football, you play as you are coached.

Into his ninth season, we all have a true reading of how Miles' teams are coached.