To see a video from Miles’ press conference, click here.
LSU coach Les Miles said the Tigers are eager to square off against Ole Miss in the inaugural Magnolia Bowl on senior day Saturday afternoon. Miles said he wasn’t fully aware of the rivalry between LSU (7-3, 3-3 SEC) and Ole Miss (6-4, 3-3) before he coached at LSU. “I honestly had to get here to know there’s some history,” Miles said. “When I got here I understood it very quickly by the way they played us. We’ve watched the film. They’re a good team, and they play better against us. This will be a great competitive game.”LSU has beaten the Rebels every year since 2002. Ole Miss last won in Tiger Stadium in 2001.Miles said the rivalry between the teams throws an exciting aspect into the game. “There’s nobody on our side of the field who is taking anything for granted,” he said. “Certainly in rivalry games there’s a lot of reasons to want victory and a reason to want to play well. I suspect they want it like we do. The key is how our guys respond.”While LSU has won each of the teams’ last six meetings, the Rebels have given the Tigers their share of competition during that stretch — particularly in games in Tiger Stadium.LSU last hosted Ole Miss in 2006 when the unranked Rebels came to Baton Rouge and forced the No. 9 Tigers into overtime before an eventual 23-20 LSU win.A combined seven points has decided the teams’ last three meetings in Tiger Stadium — including the Tigers’ 27-24 win in 2004 in former coach Nick Saban’s last home game at LSU.LOOKING BACKMiles said the team has had “good focus” this week, and after last week’s game against Troy, the players are not holding anything back.”They’re coming off an unusual experience Saturday, one that a lot of guys stepped up and played really well for a half,” he said. “We’re looking forward to playing like that again.” Miles said the second half against Troy was “exhilarating.””I didn’t find anything exhausting about the back end of that game,” he said. “It was like, ‘Wow, it’s about time.’ I felt like we were just getting started, and that’s the way to do it.”SEE YA LATERLSU will honor 20 seniors on Saturday as they send off one of the winningest classes in school history. The elite group’s accomplishments include an LSU record three-straight seasons of 10 or more wins and a national championship and conference championship in 2007. Defensive end Kirston Pittman, who is in his sixth year of eligibility at LSU, was on the 2003 national championship team as well. Pittman is the only player in the country to have played for two BCS national championship teams.GOING BOWLINGWith only two games left to play, Miles said he is not paying attention to the team’s possible bowl selections.”I don’t know what they are,” he said. “I hope any destination we end up in we have a really good opponent, and we get to play our best football. The game to me is the issue.”Several projections have the Tigers going to the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2.”The Cotton Bowl would be great,” Miles said. “I’ve been there, and it’s beautiful. I’d certainly like to take part in it again.”INJURY REPORTMiles said sophomore quarterback Andrew Hatch is “still iffy” for Saturday along with junior defensive tackle Al Woods.Hatch has not played since injuring his leg in the Tigers’ matchup with Georgia on Oct. 25.—-Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]