Taking a breather under a towering oak tree, 10-year-old Ben Miles is noticeably antsy to return to his own football field: a parking lot next to Tiger Stadium.His eyes longingly sneak a glance at his playmates, who are throwing deep balls and running routes within the confines of TV trailers and family SUVs. The youngest son of LSU coach Les Miles needs his football fill on this Tulane game day. His fourth grade tackle team didn’t play this morning, and a bye weekend means pent-up energy for the Miles kids. Ben, with a stocky build and often mischievous grin, plays both defensive end and center.”After the NFL, I want to be a coach,” he says. “I have been around football a lot.”While many kids were trick-or-treating Friday night, Ben and 12-year-old brother Manny spent their time with the LSU football team. After a walk through Tiger Stadium with the team, they indulged in the team dinner with “steak, chicken, green beans and rice” on the menu. Next came the evening’s social activity: a trip to the movie theater to see the Guy Ritchie gangster film “RockNRolla.””I didn’t understand any of the plot,” Ben says. “Some people got shot.”He and Manny typically spend Friday night in their father’s room at the team hotel. Their mother Kathy picks up the boys early Saturday morning.Football season sometimes limits father-son time – a thought that causes Ben to pick at the grass while considering the hardships of being a coach’s son.”We don’t get to see our dad as much during the season,” he says. “After the season, he has to go recruiting. He has to fly some place and be there for like three hours and then fly some other place. I just wait for him to come home.”Ben has learned the coaching lifestyle requires tough skin. It’s not unusual for classmates to make suggestions after games like the 52-38 loss to Georgia.”I just say, ‘We didn’t play too good,'” Ben says. “Or I say, ‘Your dad couldn’t do much better.'”THE YOUNG QBThe oldest Miles son, 12-year-old Manny, rotates out as Ben runs to take his place in the game.The lanky quarterback with a freckled face has also endured an off-weekend for his 6th grade tackle team.He, like the entire Miles clan, just returned from watching the team walk down Victory Hill before the game.They pass out high fives to players and wish their father good luck.If they miss the walk, they make their way into the locker room to give best wishes.Manny, who says Keiland Williams, Herman Johnson and Charles Scott are his favorite players, has quickly learned not to dish out pre- or post-game advice to his dad.”If he’s in the game mode, you really don’t want to tell him what to do, because sometimes he’ll get mad,” he says. “After the game, if you say, ‘You know…’ and just frame it as a joke, he won’t get mad.”And Manny doesn’t seem too shy when it comes to making jokes.He considers the perks and downsides of having “Miles” as a last name.”It depends. I mean, if you have an Alabama fan in your class…” he says with a smirk. DADDY’S LITTLE GIRLThe youngest of the Miles children, 5-year-old Macy Grace, has her own gameday routine. Macy stays on the fifth floor of the Athletic Administration building with about a dozen other coaches’ children. The child care service allows the little ones a chance to watch movies and play games while their parents focus on the football.It’s a service the Miles family very much appreciates.”If it’s third-and-one, I know she would say, ‘I have to go to the bathroom,'” Kathy says.Macy’s playmate today is 6-year-old Payton Peveto, daughter of co-defensive coordinator Bradley Dale Peveto. “We’re actually friends,” Payton says. “We’re best friends.”Macy puts her arm around Payton and giggles. “She’s my first friend,” Macy declares.Macy isn’t shy about professing her affection for current and former LSU football players. She fiddles with her ponytail while discussing her all-time favorite LSU player JaMarcus Russell, now with the Oakland Raiders.”JaMarcus kissed me on the cheek sometimes,” she says. “He knows me good. I know him good. He calls me Lil’ Mama.”Les, who calls Macy “Daddy’s little girl,” says his daughter definitely misses the 2007 No. 1 draft pick.”Every so often she just comes out with, ‘I haven’t spoken to JaMarcus lately,'” he says with a laugh.Saying goodbye to LSU players is a difficult for Macy and Payton, who says she “cried a lot” when Jacob Hester graduated.But it helps Macy to find a new favorite. Early Doucet took JaMarcus’ place in her heart, and senior receiver Trindon Holliday now fills the role.”I don’t really like know Trindon, but I know who he is. I know what number he is … number eight,” she says. “I saw him running in the hallway, and I met him. One of the ladies that works in my dad’s office said, ‘This is one of your biggest fans.’ He was just like, ‘All right.'”But Macy knows more about her favorite players than many may think. “Did you know Trindon’s the fastest one on the team?” she asks. “I know that he runs track.”THE ELDEST CHILDKathy makes her way to the family’s suite about an hour before the game. Oldest daughter, 14-year-old Kathryn, has just arrived with a high school classmate. Kathryn, known as “Smacker,” has an early swim meet Sunday morning and will leave the game at halftime.”Our parents put a lot into our sports,” she says. “My mom will skip my dad’s football games to go to my brother’s games. I think that’s really special about our family because she will put us before my dad’s job. It’s a good feeling. I like it.”Life as a Miles kid is simply normal to Smacker, who downplays her last name in lieu of her own identity. She stands with poise beyond her years — her youth conveyed only by neon-colored shiny sneakers. Smacker has emerged as an elite swimmer in Louisiana. She says she’s looking to consistently improve her technique, borrowing a little coach speak from her dad. “I want to be known for me, not who my dad is,” she says. “I think athletics helps that.”FOURTH-AND-1Kathy sits on the front row of the box, with Ben and his friends to her left and former Athletic Director Skip Bertman to her right.Manny crouches with a friend at the end of the row on the steps. He peers through binoculars while eating a cup of Blue Bell vanilla ice cream.”There are certain formations they run certain stuff out of,” he says. “If you pay attention to the game a lot, you can learn. Sometimes I’ll be like, ‘Mom, an option’s coming. When they put [Andrew] Hatch and Trindon [Holliday] in, it’s a speed option.”Wearing a satin purple dress shirt and gold pants, Kathy clutches the rail on a crucial fourth-and-1 for Tulane in the second quarter. LSU leads just 7-3, and the frustration is building.”Ben is pretty laid back, but my mom is like pacing the whole time, unless we’re up by 40,” Manny says.Tulane’s Kevin Moore rushes to try to pick up the first down.Bertman leans over to Manny, puts his arm around him and says, “Look at the hash marks. He’s short by three or four inches.”The officials take the field for the measurement.”Come on… stretch that chain. Yes sir!” Bertman yells while high fiving Manny.WAITING GAMEThe Tigers continued to roll to a 35-10 win against the Green Wave. Now comes the waiting game for the Miles family.Les’ post-game routine includes numerous media responsibilities followed with time talking to recruits. It’s not unusual for the family to wait in the Lawton Room until midnight to greet him.”We wait for my dad no matter how late it is,” Smacker says. “It makes him happy.”She’s the only Miles child missing from tonight’s post-game routine. A full night’s sleep was important for her early swim meet Sunday.Ben and Macy initially take turns running laps around the Lawton Room in a tag game involving quite a few coaches’ children.But as the clock nears midnight, Ben succumbs to the squishy tan sofa as his eyes start to droop. Meanwhile, Macy and Payton are convinced they’re on the fast track to national media attention. They take turns posing as Hannah Montana and talk about High School Musical routines.Finally, Les enters the room. He hands a raspberry Tootsie Roll pop to Ben, pats him on the shoulder and asks, “Did he tell you about his campaign for class president?”As Les yells for Macy to come give him a hug, Ben discusses sign ideas. “Win with Ben,” “Ben’s Your Friend,” and “Go More Miles With Ben” are all viable options.Les calls for each kid and starts to make his way toward the exit. “I think they come to the game to watch dad’s team,” he says. “It’s a staple.”With his trademark white hat still on his head, he puts his hands on Ben and Manny’s shoulders and walks with his family into the crisp night air.”I count on them,” he says. “They’re my team.” —-Contact Amy Brittain at [email protected]