Filed under: Auburn, Florida, LSU, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, South Carolina, SEC

Les Miles is the most overpaid coach in the history of college athletics. But he might be underpaid as an entertainer, the “Situation of the Sideline,” the “Cajun Lindsay Lohan.” Just as America can’t seem to look away from other celebrity train wrecks, so college football fans can’t look away from the man whose hat is the third tallest structure in the state of Louisiana. Even when Miles seems to have games well in hand, he doesn’t. Such was the case Saturday against a depleted North Carolina squad.

Holding a 30-10 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining, against a team of backups, Miles went all Les Miles on us. That means his decision-making suddenly went askew. Two touchdowns from North Carolina sliced the LSU lead to 30-24 and the Tar Heels recovered the onside kick. UNC managed to force a turnover and took possession with 1:29 remaining.

At this point, North Carolina had two timeouts left.

This is where the entire LSU coaching staff bears the brunt of criticism. If LSU is willing to overpay Miles $4 million a year, why can’t it pay someone, anyone $80,000 a year to be the voice of Les Miles reason? That person would listen on the headset and say something like, “Instead of running offensive plays, let’s just take three knees, coach. They only have two timeouts left. No need to get risky here. Let’s take the win and get out of town. Drop a quarterback back twice, take knees, and you’re sitting at 1:20 left after they burn both of their timeouts. Take another knee, drop back until a defender gets close, knee it, and we’re sitting at around 40 seconds left when we punt. Drill the ball through the end zone and North Carolina has to go 80 yards in 32 seconds with no timeouts left.”

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