The more things change in college football, the more they stay the same.
Since LSU students left campus for their five-week winter holiday, the coaching landscape across the sport has shifted considerably. But with the smoke mostly cleared and schools settling down for the recruiting season’s stretch run, things look remarkably similar to years past.
LSU, for its part, survived a scare from Big Ten power Michigan for the second time in four seasons. After firing then-coach Rich Rodriguez after three seasons, the Wolverines came calling for LSU coach Les Miles — the same move they made during Miles’ 2007 national championship season.
Despite his alma mater reportedly offering him the head position, Miles instead renewed his contract with the Tigers to 2017.
“I am an LSU Tiger, and I look forward to being an LSU Tiger for quite some time,” Miles said when he announced his return.
Many students are glad to see the “Mad Hatter” return to Death Valley’s sideline after an 11-2 season that included last-gasp thrillers against North Carolina and Tennessee, as well as wins against rivals Alabama and Florida.
“I never bought into the whole hating Les Miles thing,” said Tom Caughlin, construction management senior. “He’s made mistakes, but everybody makes mistakes. … I’m glad he stayed.”
Others weren’t so optimistic about Miles’ return, citing now-famous gaffes in clock management against Tennessee in 2010 and against Ole Miss in 2009.
“I don’t think he’s that great of a coach. I think he’s lucky — about the luckiest coach I’ve ever seen,” said Patrick Hagood, sports management sophomore. “But if he’s going to be here until 2017, I guess we have to get used to it.”
But LSU’s staff won’t be without any turnover. Two days after Miles announced he would stay in Baton Rouge, LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton opted to leave and fill the same position at Maryland under coach Randy Edsall, who three weeks ago led Connecticut to its first BCS game.
Crowton’s departure may placate some of Miles’ critics. One of the biggest sources of frustration in recent seasons has been the Tigers’ offense, which finished No. 86 in the country this year, mostly because of a passing attack that finished 107th nationally.
“I’m glad that Gary Crowton is gone to Maryland,” said Eric Murdock, history freshman. “The offense will be better with a different offensive coordinator. … I’m not happy at all with the offense last year.”
Michigan decided on San Diego State coach Brady Hoke after being rebuffed by both Miles and new San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh.
“When Miles stayed at LSU, I wouldn’t call it an uproar, but they were disappointed they didn’t get their ‘Michigan Man,'” said Angelique Chengelis, Michigan’s beat writer for the Detroit Free Press.
Chengelis said Hoke was initially met with “lukewarm” reaction by Wolverines fans, but he has since won over the faithful.
“Not that people have forgotten Harbaugh and Les Miles, but they’ve moved on, and they like what they’re seeing,” she said.
Ann Arbor, Mich., isn’t the only college town experiencing some changes.
Just after the regular season ended, Florida announced the resignation of coach Urban Meyer for the second-straight season. Meyer cited health reasons for stepping down after a 7-5 regular season that saw the Gators finish No. 82 in total
offense — No. 88 in passing offense.
“I’m not sure if Meyer was a huge fan favorite toward the end,” said Gainesville Sun correspondent Edward Aschoff.
Florida hired Meyer from Utah at the age of 41, where he built an undefeated team thanks to his dynamic spread option offense and his talents as a recruiter.
The Gators hired defensive guru Will Muschamp after wildly successful stints as the defensive coordinator at LSU, Auburn and Texas. The Longhorns finished No. 6 in total defense in 2010, despite finishing 5-7.
“The Will Muschamp hire was pretty sexy for [fans],” Aschoff said. “Everybody has seen the videos where he has the blood on his face, and things like that got everybody excited.”
To handle the offensive side of things, Muschamp brought in Charlie Weis.
Weis joins the Gators after a failed head-coaching stint at Notre Dame and a one-year tenure as offensive coordinator with the Kansas City Chiefs, who he helped reach the playoffs.
“Succeeding in the NFL will make you popular,” Aschoff said.
Weis plans to bring a more pro-style attack to Gainesville, rather than the spread option that delivered the Gators two national titles under Meyer.
“Florida fans were excited by the spread, but I think it’s ultimate failure last season made them pretty happy to see a more pro-style offense,” Aschoff said.
 
____
Contact David Helman at [email protected]