AUBURN, Ala — Under Les Miles at his height of success, LSU claimed the National Championship in 2007.
Now, after two losses in September in 2016, Miles and LSU are feeling pressure again: to keep, or ditch, the 12-year coach after another season’s championship hopes are doubtful after the Tigers’ 18-13 loss at Auburn
In Miles’ 12 years with the program, Tiger faithful have witnessed two Southeastern Conference championship crowns, an undefeated regular season and 13 first round NFL Draft picks.
Now, they’re reliving flashbacks of LSU’s football season in 2000 with two losses in September, when Nick Saban commanded the sideline inside Tiger Stadium.
LSU’s loss to Auburn marked the worst four game start in Miles’ 12-year tenure at 2-2 in the month and dating back to last season, the Tigers are 2-3 in its last five SEC games.
For Miles and the Tigers, they haven’t been able to close out games.
Through four games, LSU has outscored opponents 57-28 in the first half, as its offense stalled in the fourth quarter.
After Mississippi State nearly came back to defeat LSU last Saturday, scoring 17 unanswered points, Miles figured a lesson was learned by his team on how, and when, to close out football games in the second half.
“We’re fortunate that it finished like it did,” Miles said after escaping Mississippi State’s comeback.
“I think it will be something that we’ll take with us to Auburn.”
Unfortunately for Miles, it wasn’t.
According to ESPN Stats and Info, LSU is the only power five team in the country to not score a point in the fourth quarter this season, including being shutout in the fourth quarter against Auburn.
Both of LSU’s losses this season ended on the Tigers’ final offensive possession. LSU finished with an interception in the red zone with less than a minute left against Wisconsin, and clock management issues against Auburn on its final drive.
In the losses, Penalties have become a common occurrence for LSU in the second half.
In the second half alone, LSU has been penalized 11 times for 118 yards.
Possibly more frustrating for LSU fans is the margin of defeat from both losses are only by a combined seven points — basically a touchdown and an extra point.
“I think we as a team can play better,” Miles said after losing to Auburn.
Miles made a “commitment” to LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva to make improvements to the LSU passing offense.
In both of LSU’s losses this season, junior quarterback Brandon Harris and junior quarterback Danny Etling have combined for a total of 249 passing yards and only two touchdowns.
LSU fans are no strangers to wacky endings under Miles and have been under both ends of the spectrum.
Clock management deficiencies in LSU’s 25-23 loss to Ole Miss in 2008 and the 16-14 win to Tennessee in 2010 by way of a defensive penalty.
But the Tigers 18-13 loss to Auburn seemed to shake LSU fans unlike either of the previous, aforementioned losses.
“I don’t know it that comes close to winning a game and finishing in second,” Miles said.
