REBELS UNDERESTIMATED LSU football coach Les Miles warned his team all week about Ole Miss but hinted Sunday that his team may not have taken too keenly to his message. “The key is that this opponent coming in, no matter what we said, was not taken to be as dangerous as they were,” he said. Miles said he was proud of his team’s ability to perform in the clutch, specifically in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Tigers escaped with a 23-20 victory Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. “You come into your stadium, and you play seven games where you play extremely well and dominate your opponent,” he said. “I think we played less than a passionate game until it became very evident that we were going to have to play well to win, and then we did.” Before the game both Auburn University and the University of Arkansas won their afternoon contests, eliminating the Tigers’ chances of reaching the Southeastern Conference championship game. Miles maintained Sunday that his team’s play against the Rebels was not because it was disheartened by Auburn and Arkansas’ victories earlier in the day. “To think that they’re watching the scores and playing less than based on the fact that they’re out of it – that is not the key,” Miles said. Miles also denied Sunday that his team was looking ahead to Friday’s showdown in Little Rock, Ark., against the Razorbacks. “[Ole Miss] played very emotionally,” he said. “They came and played an inspired game, without question. We played ready to play but not inspired and not as keyed as we had come to play most of the regular season.” After reviewing the game film against Ole Miss, Miles identified two aspects of his team’s play as not particularly sharp. “The thing that frustrates me most is that there was some runs that busted against our defense that we had guys that were unblocked that should understand how to make that play right there at the point of attack,” he said. The Rebels’ efficiency on special teams also disturbed Miles. “Our return game, the ability to cover kicks and stop people from returning kick-offs and punts against us, is frustrating because that has not been us all year,” Miles said. “It’s been one of the best things of our team.” RANKINGS LSU remained No. 9 in the Associated Press poll but moved up one spot to No. 8 in USA Today. The Tigers also moved into the top-10 in the Bowl Championship Series standings by inching up one spot to No. 10. SAYING GOODBYE Miles will depart Baton Rouge on Monday to attend services in Ann Arbor, Mich., honoring the death of former University of Michigan coach Bo Schembechler. Miles both played and coached under Schembechler at Michigan. Miles is scheduled to return sometime Monday afternoon for the Tigers’ practice.
SHORT WEEK LSU’s 1:30 p.m. kickoff Friday against the Razorbacks will cause the Tigers to alter their practice schedule this week. The coaching staff held a team meeting Sunday to address the victory against Ole Miss. The team normally uses Monday to correct mistakes from the previous game. Miles said the team will hold an “expanded Monday practice” to accommodate Friday’s kickoff.
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