Nick Saban criticizes LSU for firing Les Miles
By John Buhler
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban didn’t think his former employer of LSU went about firing former head coach Les Miles the right way.
After losing to the Auburn Tigers on Saturday night, 18-13, LSU decided it was time to part ways with Les Miles and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. Miles and Cameron were canned on Sunday and LSU announced that Ed Orgeron would be the Tigers’ interim head coach for the rest of 2016.
One SEC coach didn’t think that LSU went about firing Miles the right way. That coach was none other than former LSU head coach and the main man behind LSU’s SEC West rival Alabama Crimson Tide, Nick Saban. He sounded off on Miles’ midseason firing on Wednesday.
Saban on Miles getting fired midseason: "I think maybe a little better way to manage or handle the situation is probably a better way."
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) September 28, 2016
Saban has a unique perspective on the LSU coaching situation, as he used to be the head coach of the Tigers football program. He spent five seasons in Baton Rouge from 2000 to 2004 before leaving for the NFL’s Miami Dolphins job in 2005. Saban returned to the SEC in 2007 after failing in the NFL.
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He is largely viewed as the best head coach in college football and the best recruiter the sport has ever seen. Though he and Miles would battle on the gridiron annually from 2007 to 2015, they had a great deal of respect for each other and their teams.
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One could easily argue that LSU’s two best coaches in school history are Saban and Miles. They both won National Championships during their tenures. LSU can still land a top-tier coach, but the optics of firing Miles mid-season isn’t particularly great. If LSU wanted to fire Miles this badly, why didn’t they do it after last season?