LSU coach Les Miles has had better weeks.
Sports Illustrated began releasing its five-part series on the Oklahoma State football program earlier this week, with part one involving the money aspect of Miles’ time as head coach of the Cowboys.
Wednesday morning, SI released the second installment of the story, which related to academic misconduct at OSU during Miles’ tenure.
Miles addressed the issue at his Wednesday evening press conference, where he maintained he ran the OSU program correctly.
“I have a very strong feeling that this thing was done right,” Miles said. “I wasn’t there at every place all the time. That being said, the things we did, we did right.”
Miles spoke with his current squad about the reports, telling his players they have been treated equally.
Miles didn’t want the issue to become a distraction for his players with Kent State looming.
“I said, ‘Frankly, I’ve treated you the same,’” Miles said. “I think they understand the distraction, and I think they’re ready to get going.”
The article claimed former players had school work completed for them, and were regularly provided answers before exams. Though Miles apparently preached an “academics first” policy, the piece quotes several players who felt differently.
“You heard his words, but you saw what [Miles] was doing,” Doug Bond, a Cowboys offensive lineman for three seasons under Miles, told SI. “The thought process was that you’re going to school just so you can play football.”
SI’s article said several players were discouraged from declaring for certain majors by the program, ensuring that football players would remain eligible.
Miles also addressed part two of SI’s series during Wednesday morning’s Southeastern Conference teleconference.
“I can tell you that people that were commenting on the state of the program weren’t there long enough to figure it out,” Miles said. “They heard me tell them attend class, do the right things and heard me routinely.”
Miles said he wanted to withhold further comment to get his team ready for its weekend matchup against Kent State.
At his evening press conference, he said he never expected the story to garner this much attention when SI first contacted him.
“I had no idea that this would be anything like this,” Miles said.