LSU’s class of 2011 finished out of the top five in multiple recruiting publications and out of the top 10 in another Wednesday, but Coach Les Miles believes it has what it takes to make LSU finish No. 1 in the real poll at the end of an upcoming season. “I don’t really care if it’s in the top 10,” Miles said during a signing day press conference. “It fits what we need. We think this class on top of last year’s class will make us capable to compete for conference honors and then national honors as well.” The next BCS national championship game is in the Superdome in New Orleans on Jan. 9, 2012. “I believe that this class really met some needs that we needed to fill in very quickly,” Miles said after signing 19 players to national letters of intent. The class is 22 at the moment, counting three early signees in December who already are enrolled. – Monroe News-Star

LSU football Coach Les Miles said Wednesday he’s not interested in coaching openings where his name has come up and doesn’t plan to make any changes on his offensive coaching staff. Miles’ name has been linked to the opening at Colorado, though never seriously, and Michigan – Miles’ alma mater – might have an opening if it decides to fire current coach Rich Rodriguez. Miles was an assistant coach at both schools and was seriously courted by Michigan in 2007 before Rodriguez got the job. “I’m not expecting to hear from any other school,” Miles said. “I enjoy where I’m at. I have given reason to enjoy how my family is progressing, enjoy the team I’m fortunate to coach and the school I’m fortunate to represent. I very much enjoy where I’m at.” — New Orleans Times-Picayune

LSU is getting better, and so is Les Miles. He is 61-16 in six seasons at LSU with two more win chances available. He has produced double-digit victories in a season four times out of six. “I’m really proud of this senior class,” Miles said after closing the home season on senior day with a 7-0 mark – his second perfect home record. “This senior class has played a significant role in what is a series of great seasons here at LSU. If you look across college football, that 10 victories is a very significant milestone in any season. Now, they get to play for 11.” — Town Talk

LSU coach Les Miles is shameless for suggesting that a team from the Southeastern Conference should play for the national championship no matter what. What a pandering, politicking, condescending, elitist SEC snob he is. Seriously, did you see what Miles said earlier this week? “I only know this about this conference,” Miles said of the SEC. “The highest ranked team to come out of this conference should well have an opportunity to play in the national championship game.” Translation: Who cares if Boise State and TCU are undefeated? They are the used gum stuck to the bottom of the SEC’s cleats. — Orlando Sentinel

LSU Tigers’ Coach Les Miles said again the passing game looked good in practice the last two weeks as No. 12 LSU prepares to meet No. 5 Alabama in a crucial game Saturday in Tiger Stadium. “Our passing game looks like we’re throwing the football better in practice on a regular basis,” Miles said at his Wednesday press briefing. “The need is to translate that to the game. I’m pretty confident we’ll be able to throw and catch it. I felt that way before. I suspect it will come to fruition Saturday.” Miles said there would be no changes to the two-man quarterback rotation. Jordan Jefferson will start and Jarrett Lee will come in after Jefferson’s second series. — New Orleans Times Picayune

Despite the record and a No. 10 ranking, LSU coach Les Miles has still received a heavy dose of national criticism because of questionable play calling and poor game management issues. It also doesn’t help Miles is once again pitted against former LSU and current Alabama coach Nick Saban, who has had Miles’ number since leaving the Miami Dolphins to join the Crimson Tide. Saban is 2-1 against LSU as the Alabama coach, and LSU needed a late rally to beat Alabama in Saban’s first game against the Tigers. — Daily Reveille

The LSU football team may be in the midst of an open week, but it was open season on coach Les Miles and his bottomed-out passing game Tuesday night after practice. One reporter set up a question to Miles about the nation’s 113th-ranked passing offense out of 120 upper division schools in this way: “Jordan Jefferson’s been in the program for almost three years now. Jarrett Lee’s been in it for four, and yet you’ve got the worst passing attack in the SEC. It continues that way every week. Every week, you answer the question the same way, that, ‘We’ve got to get better throwing the ball.’ What are you all not doing? Or what is the problem?”
MILES: “We’re throwing it, I can tell you that.”
Reporter: “I Know That, But “¦”
MILES: “We’re throwing it. I don’t know. It’s “» we’re working at it. And the players and the coaches are taking the time. And we’re throwing. We’re throwing balls. I guess for me, I just expect at some point in time that this thing is going to take off. I just think it’s OK. That’s what we would well have expected.”
REPORTER: “Do you think the coaching has been good enough after four years with one, three with the other?”
MILES: “I don’t know. You know, that’s a tough question. The only thing I can tell you is that they’ve been coached and coached and coached, and drilled. The passing attack has not changed so significantly that it’s not comfortable for all. I, uh, yeah, I think they’ve been coached.” — Monroe News-Star

With last week’s victory at Florida, Les Miles’ overall LSU record is 57-15. Among those who were LSU’s head coach for at least five seasons, Miles’ winning percentage of .792 is the best. Nick Saban, who coached the Tigers to the 2003 national title, had a .750 success rate in 2000-04.  When guys like Bob Stoops and Boise State’s Chris Petersen successfully gamble, they are hailed as dynamic coaches. When Miles converts on a gamble – as he did on last week’s fake-field-goal flip play at Florida – he’s “lucky.” He’s Loopy Les. The Mad Hatter. — Tulsa World

LSU football coach Les Miles left open the possibility for duty changes among his offensive coaches on the Southeastern Conference teleconference on Wednesday. Miles was asked if there had been any adjustments with his offensive staff such as play calling responsibility and if offensive coordinator Gary Crowton will still be in the pressbox, considering the chaos at the end of the Tennessee game on Saturday. “We’ve talked about some of the things that were done in that game, and at this point in time we’re still considering a couple adjustments,” Miles said. “Nothing official at this time.” – Monroe News Star

LSU coach Les Miles continued his campaign against LSU fans booing the LSU football team when asked if he could relate to fans’ displeasure with the No. 115 pass offense in the nation out of 120 upper division schools and the No. 102 total offense. “I relate. I certainly have the same want and desire for dominant play in all phases,” Miles said. “I want every position on our team to be a great contributor. I certainly understand being passionate. I just come short of that thought (booing). The rationale I understand completely. I guess I have a scotoma.” A scotoma is an area of diminished vision. Miles explained that the thought of booing never entered his mind when he was going to games as a kid in Elyria, Ohio, near Cleveland and as a young adult and later in life. LSU fans booed quarterback Jordan Jefferson, Miles and offensive coordinator during the Tigers’ 20-14 victory over No. 21 West Virginia on Saturday. Daily Advertiser

Louisiana state legislators have the opportunity to purchase season tickets. Most of them are prime seating, thanks to a longstanding tradition offered by LSU. Once the football season starts, so does the real big game — Ticket Swap. The Legislature and state employees are tied into a general Internet service. Any time anyone wants to buy or sell something — most often LSU football or baseball ticket — it shows up as a “Post Office” posting. There was a flurry of postings this past week as LSU prepared to take on West Virginia. – Daily World

LSU coach Les Miles has usually not liked to use a two-quarterback system by choice in his head coaching career, but he continued to use a two-tongued system in discussing his quarterbacks on Wednesday. “I like the opportunity to stay with the guy that I bring to the field for that length of time to get him comfortable and get him on track, and get this offense rolling,” Miles said in reference to starter Jordan Jefferson on the Southeastern Conference teleconference Wednesday morning. But then Miles continued to support No. 2 quarterback Jarrett Lee, whom Miles has repeatedly said had a very good spring and summer but only has attempted one pass this season. Miles seemed to hint Lee might play Saturday when the Tigers (2-0, 1-0 SEC) host Mississippi State (1-1, 0-1 SEC) at 6 p.m. — Monroe News Star

Drake Nevis, who is starting regularly for the first time in his career, has been a leader of LSU’s defense. He has more tackles than any other lineman with nine, including a team-high 3.5 sacks for 26 yards in losses. Nevis’ push inside has been credited with LSU’s 10 sacks on the season, which leads the nation. –Shreveport Times

If Les Miles avoids the pressure of the powers at be at and around LSU and remains at LSU for the 2011 season, it will be because Jordan Jefferson avoided the pressure behind a troubled offensive line. “I didn’t really seek that role,” Miles said when asked about his shaky job security that has included two straight off-seasons in which his contract was not rolled over. This decreased his buyout by his year’s salary of $3.85 million each time. After this season, he will have four years left on his contract, which would mean it will still cost as much as $15 million to fire him. “My view, very honestly, has been a view of how to coach and prepare my team for victory,” he said. “I’m very fortunate to have a good contract. I don’t think that’s the issue. I think the issue is preparing my football team.” — Daily Advertiser