Dear Les Miles,
Today was the first day I walked into Football Ops in over a decade where you weren’t here as the head coach. It was a little weird, but the staff you had in place is going to do a great job here. We are LSU! You know I love Twitter, but there was no way I could write in 140 characters what you and your family have meant to me for the past 12 seasons.
You gave me a job when I was 19 years old to work in the football office. It was a dream come true for me. I watched your entire family grow up from Macy as a baby, to shuffling Smacker to swim practice, tutoring Manny in 6th grade math and watching Ben grow up. LSU is family, and the Miles are family to me too. This is something that will never change.
When there was an opportunity for me to come back to LSU and work full-time, you once again made my dreams come true. I was able to work for a university that I am extremely passionate about and with a staff that is second to none. You allowed me to interview you hundreds of times (and only said ‘no’ once, which we talked about later…and then you never did again). You helped me create a career in media and a career in sports working for a team that means the world to me and for people that mean the world to me. The opportunities you gave me from summer internships in college to my time in television to being on your staff are ones I will never take for granted. I am where I am today in part because you believed it me.
As an interviewer, you allowed me to grow by asking you pre-game and post-game questions for five years, and we always had fun doing it. One of my favorite interview moments being in 2011 after LSU beat Alabama 9-6 when I asked you if I could talk to you about getting run over coming out of the tunnel. You said, “Of course.” It’s hard to believe that our interview last Thursday was the last one I had with you. We had a good run with those!
While you were totally my boss, you were also very much my friend. Someone I could talk to, bounce ideas off of and it never felt like I had to sensor myself around you. You were one of the most famous coaches in the whole game of college football, but to us, you were just Coach Miles.
Most LSU fans will remember you for your awkward way of clapping, tall white hat or eating grass. I will remember all of that too – it’s hard to forget! But, I will remember most when you talked to me about getting married when Shea and I got engaged, and when you gave me training advice for my races (still the best piece of racing advice I ever got was from you – ‘Turn the watch off and have fun.”) and when I was constantly laughing with you (and maybe sometimes at you!).
Over 12 seasons there are countless memories I have with you and your family. I will never forget the 2007 game versus Florida where you became the Mad Hatter – to this day, my favorite college football game of all time. I will never forget our National Championship and being in New Orleans working for the team as a student. I will never forget that time I rescued a dog who was living under your balcony and named him ‘Lester’.
And, I will never forget saying goodbye to you.
I will miss your jokes (or your sometimes jokes that were trying to be jokes), your press conferences, your Les-isms (that everyone in this office still finds each other saying without even noticing it), your family (everyone, but mostly Macy braiding my hair) and, most of all, the quirkiness that made you Les Miles.
Thank you for all that you did for LSU, the state of Louisiana and myself. Just so you know – you made an impact here on many people, especially this one, that will always be noticed and never be forgotten.
God Bless and Geaux Tigers!
Em
You conveyed your feelings SO WELL! I appreciate your point of view more
Than you know! Thanks!!! God Bless you & Coach. Miles!
Thanks for reading Cecile! I thought it might be hard to put into words, but once I started writing it was pretty easy considering how much he and his family meant to me. Geaux Tigers!
Thanks Emily,
This was heartfelt and touching. God bless to the Miles family.
Emily … really a great story. Never let go of your heart felt relationship with the Miles family, especially Coach Miles. He has greater things ahead, and so do you! And tell Coach if he wants to learn golf I’d be glad to give him and his wife free golf lessons … it would be a god send to spend some time with him … and his wife. I use to teach at LSU Golf Course for Leisure Classes, and now teach at Santa Maria Golf Course.
von
Thanks for reading, Clarence!! It was hard to put it all into words, and I appreciate your kind words!
Emily … I think in honor of Coach Miles … we need to promote the wearing of a WHITE HAT like the one he wears/wore to all the games … for all of the FUTURE ALABAMA GAMES! It would signify he love and dedication for LSU that he and his family has for the university … in line with the statement that Nick Saban made re Coach Miles stature and integrity as a chief competitor to Alabama … and the love they both have for the series and respect for each other as legendary coaches! What say you ????
Cher, That is probably the best dedication blog that will ever be written. Kudos to you Emily. You taut Coach for a lot of your success, but in reality it is you that has driven hard to be where you are. No doubt by reading this, you have and should have a bond to Les like no one else. I am certain by your relationship that this really isn’t goodbye to Les, but for you, a new opportunity to spend time with a great coach at possibly another school. I have followed you and your stories for many years and appreciate your ability to share a bit of Coach that we meager fans don’t get to see. Keep up the good work and Geaux Tigers!!!
tout! LOL
Dreaux, thank so much for the kind words! I really do appreciate it. Coach Miles gave me a chance that over the years has made me more confident in the work I produce and the jobs that I do. Thank you for following along! And, if there is ever anything you would like to see behind the scenes wise or on LSUsports.net, just let me know! Geaux Tigers!!
Great, emotional and heartfelt letter, Emily! You are so lucky to have had such wonderful memories with such a great man. The Baton Rouge community will undoubtably miss him.
Kim Morgan (Adam’s mom)
Awww, thanks Ms. Kim!! I appreciate you reading this. I know how big of LSU fans you all are. You are right that I am lucky to have such great memories with him, and we will have more great memories with the Tigers to come!
Beautiful, just beautiful … both you and your article [a real world tribute and farewell to Les Miles, the Man & Coach]. Your words were heartfelt and touched GOOD emotions. Both You and Les Miles are GREAT!
Thank you Eddie for the kind words and for reading! I really do appreciate it 🙂 Geaux Tigers!!
Thanks for posting your thoughts Emily. I really enjoyed reading from your perspective. Les is a great man and Christian! He will be missed in the community.
Thanks for reading, Cory! I appreciate the kind words.
Emily! This was so amazing. Such an incredible way to see how close the LSU football team really is. I’ve always loved hearing your stories and this is by far the best one yet!
Thanks, sister-in-law!! You have definitely heard a ton of stories 🙂
Classy and eloquently said!
Anyone with an ounce of football sense AND a heart and appreciation ,
Those people see what you were blessed to live!
He should be remembered as one of our greats!!
Thanks Coach Miles!
Randy
Class ’87 & Devoted Fan
Emily
It’s nice to see a young person give credit to someone else. It’s also nice to hear that you listened and learned from a man who is a totally classy person. He once stopped on his way out of a restaurant to graciously give me an autograph for my grandson.
Geaux Tigers
Emily, your comments are all right on. Having twin daughters that were managers for Van Chancellor and Nikki Caldwell, they had some dealings with the football offices. Whenever they came across Les, he would always engage them in conversation about how they were doing. While they were somewhat intimidated by his position, he made them feel right at home. To hear them tell it, all of the football staff were always gracious and helpful. Les will sorely be missed by a lot of people. While my hat of choice is a LSU baseball logo hat, it has been white for some time and will continue to be so.
Forever LSU
Emily, this is so great. You’re so lucky to have had such a special relationship with Coach. I still love that man, and his kindness will never be forgotten. Even years after covering him at LSU, he still recognized and remembered me during a recruiting trip in Monroe when I was working for the News-Star, and it was great to get to talk to him in person again. All these years later, I hope he knows just how many people still think of him fondly and wish him the best. He had my full support as head coach of the Tigers, and I can’t wait to see him win again, even if it means he’s with another team.
Thanks for reading, Krysten! He is definitely a character in my life to remember forever, and you’re right, I am very lucky I had the relationship I did with him. And, like you said, I can’t wait to see him win again somewhere else – I’ll always be a fan!