By
John
Harris
CFN's John Harris also co-hosts with
Sean “The Cablinasian” Pendergast daily on the Sean and John Show 2-6 PM
CST on 1560 The Game, Houston, TX (www.1560thegame.com).
This is his interview with the Illinois head coach Ron Zook
Sean
and John:
We are joined here by the coach of the National Championship BCS title
game winners the LSU Tigers, in town for the Paul Bear Bryant Coach of
the Year Awards, we are joined by Les Miles. You’re feeling good coach
aren’t you?
Coach
Miles:
I am enjoying the day.
Sean
and John:
Sean and I came to one of our first events in Houston; the Touchdown
Club Event in Houston and you spoke for a good half hour. At that point,
you think about all the things you went through this season and now you
are here back in Houston…your smile is a little wider this time.
Coach
Miles:
This team has achieved a lot since that point. We played 14 games, the
only team to play 14 games. To be the ones last standing and the ones to
really start the college football season off, a lot was accomplished in
the meantime.
Sean
and John:
Coach, talk about Louisiana, it is a different place. I know my in-laws
are from there and I know how big LSU football is there. We talked to
Coach Osborne of Nebraska football before and what Nebraska football
means to Nebraska. Talk about LSU football and especially after what
Louisiana has gone through the past couple of years, what LSU means to
the state. You coming in the time of Katrina, how crazy has it been the
past three years and what does football mean there?
Coach
Miles:
I can tell you that certainly we have been a successful football program
and its one that has its tradition of success. We have won our share of
Conference titles and we are the only school that has won two BCS
titles. That is parallel and equal to the people that support the
football program’s passion. The passion that supports the LSU football
program is second to none. They show up Thursday night for a Saturday
night game and you have to be escorted out of town on Sunday. It is a
place where your efforts, the things that you do with difficulty, are
enjoyed by a loyal throng of people.
Sean
and John:
That is the only way to do it. They do it right. You have got to be
passionate about the game. I don’t think there is any question about
that. The season has had a little bit of everything.
When you look back at this season, what is the one thing you will
pin-point as memorable. I will go back to the Demetrius Byrd catch
against Auburn, the game winner. What one memory will you have this
season, whether it be a game moment or a fourth down call you made this
season or an off-the field moment, what one thing will stand out for you
this year?
Coach
Miles:
Well you know when you play 14 games, there a lot of those moments.
Certainly the success that this team has had in championships has been
phenomenal but there are a number of them so you cannot just pick one.
What I can say about this team is it may be the most competitive
football team I will be around. No matter what the situation, whether
down by 10 points 3 separate times in one game, how many times we have
been behind in a game, how many times the guys said it just isn’t far
enough. Coach we are not that far behind, we can win this one and that
is how they performed. If I had one thought this season is that these
are the most competitive men I have ever been around.
Sean
and John:
Talk about this group of seniors, not a group that you actually
recruited, but it is a group that provided the leadership that you are
talking about and how special this team is. Talk about how this group is
going to stand out, talk about this group of seniors and what is going
to stand out in your mind
Coach
Miles:
Matt Flynn is certainly one guy that probably represents several stories
in that senior group. He waited his turn, got log jammed behind a very
talented quarterback JaMarcus Russell and really said that is okay, I
will make the most out of my one year. He really got the most out of his
one year, more than guys get out of a whole career. He won the title,
the SEC title and the National Championship. I have got to give it to
him; he made that one year count.
Sean
and John:
Coach, how do you fight the fat-cat disease, in other words, how do you
fight the complacency of “hey we’re champs, we’re on easy street.” How
do you fight that?
Coach
Miles:
We have been living the National Championship for the past three years,
since we got there and it is how we perform and how we prepare and what
we have done. We won 11 games and finished fifth and won the West; we
have won 11 games and finished third and beat Notre Dame in the Sugar
Bowl and the next year we won 12 games and finished first. This program
is not going to change. We are counting on our guys to go to class, the
guys to get in the weight room and we count on the new leadership of our
football team to step up and let’s compare. Let’s see how good they are.
I think the next team looks forward to meeting that challenge.
Sean
and John:
As you have gone recruiting, the season opened back up and you and
coaches have gone to go talk to kids, what has been the reception? How
has it changed your recruiting, maybe not for this coming class, but how
will effect the class of 09’?
Coach
Miles:
I think the television exposure we received this year, we opened the
season on a Thursday night against Mississippi State on national
television the only game being played and finished the season on the 7th,
again the only game being played. We probably set a record for the most
nationally televised football games for one college team. I think our
recruiting class certainly understands what LSU football is all about.
Maybe there will be less to go over when they come in as the head coach
because they have seen it, they understand.
Sean
and John:
Yes, if they can work a remote they’ve seen it. They know the story. The
only team we have seen on television a little bit more is Notre Dame.
Coach I was at the same luncheon John was talking about and I remember
you talking about our little parochial school up North for the Sugar
Bowl so I am familiar with the Sugar Bowl beat down (note: Sean is a
Notre Dame grad. Insert joke here)
But we are about to wrap up for a break, we need to wrap up the show. We
appreciate you stopping by and talking with us for a few minutes.
Congratulations on a great season.
Coach
Miles:
My pleasure, it is always good to be in Houston.
Sean
and John:
There’s a lot of good karma, Coach, coming from 1560 The Game, we have
been around for less than a year, we broadcast Tiger games on air and
you win a National Championship.
Coach Miles:
Can’t beat it.