In 2004 at Oklahoma State, Les Miles led the Cowboys to a 7-5 season that included a trip to the Alamo Bowl.
In four seasons in Stillwater, Okla., he compiled a 28-21 record at a school that had only had one winning season since 1989.
But he knows those numbers will not be enough in Baton Rouge.
Miles now enters an atmosphere where seven wins in a season is subpar, where everyone expects a win for every game.
While the expectations are high at LSU, Miles said he is ready to accept the challenge.
“I enjoy those expectations,” Miles said.
After a 9-3 season last year, the Tigers entered the preseason USA Today Coach’s Poll at No. 6. They were also picked to win the Southeastern Conference Western Division at SEC Media Days in July.
“We want to win it all,” Miles said. “But right now, the task at hand is developing our football team and making up a good, solid football team.”
That task at hand was going along smoothly until Hurricane Katrina appeared and resulted in the Tigers postponing their season opener against North Texas and moving the Arizona State game to Tempe, Ariz.
While an event like Hurricane Katrina certainly has taken a toll on many of the Tigers, Miles is confident that the team will be able to concentrate on football.
“Our team has practiced well and is showing the ability to put everything on the back burner for two hours and practice a little football,” Miles said.
The Tigers return 10 starters on offense and seven on defense, as well as their entire kicking game and more than 50 percent of their rushing yards from a season ago.
The defense returns four of its top five leading tacklers.
“I think that any time that you have this many returning starters, you have higher expectations,” said senior offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth. “I think as individuals we have high expectations for our team just because we know the character of guys we have here and what we’re capable of.”
How a team reacts to and handles pressure often defines whether or not it lives up to expectations.
“As long as you believe in what you’re doing and you stay on the path that you believe in, then you’re going to be fine,” defensive coordinator Bo Pelini said. “The problem you have is when you start letting outside pressures and outside influences change you. We’re going to stay focused no matter what.”
Seven starters on offense and six on defense have already met the highest of expectations — a national championship.
“The players on the team that’s returning, they’ve been in big games and big situations, so they know what it takes to get the job done,” senior running back Shyrone Carey said.
“What you do on offense is based on the guys you have, and we have the same guys,” offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher said. “At this point, being they now understand more about what their role is, they’ve gotten much better.
Contact Courtney Mistich at [email protected]