L.S.U. Wins Big Despite Miles Learning of Mother’s Death

After L.S.U. pulled the upset over Ole Miss Saturday night, it was an emotional scene on the field and in the locker room after the L.S.U. team that rallied behind a coach who received some devastating news the night before the big game.

The death of a parent is news no one wants to receive. For L.S.U. Head Coach, Les Miles, the news of his mother’s passing came the night before what would be the biggest game of his team’s season. For him, it was a déjà vu like experience. Fourteen years earlier, when he was the tight end’s coach with the Dallas Cowboys, he learned of his father’s death days before the Cowboys played on Monday night, but this time, he was the number one guy with more than 100 players in their late teens and early 20s looking to him for guidance when they took to the field against the Rebels.

Miles says, “The concern that I had would be that condolences and an outpouring of emotion and a caring for one another could not be exactly what you want when you go play a very violent, very physical, very competitive game.”

That emotion worked in the Tigers’ favor. L.S.U. rallied late in the 4th quarter with a game winning touchdown drive to crush Ole Miss’ perfect season. L.S.U. Quarterback, Anthony Jennings, says, “Obviously we were very emotional because losing a mom is very drastic and you love her very much, but he didn’t want it to be about him. He wanted us to keep being focused on the game and that’s what we did.”

With fans storming the field around them, players still considered their head coach the most important person in that moment. Miles also says, “I can’t tell you the number of young men that threw their arms around me and said, ‘They love me, coach,’ which is as touching as anything I had happen.”

Miles has now coached critical games twice while dealing with the heartache of losing a parent, walking away a winner both times. Just like in 2000, the team presented him with the game ball, and although still a tough night for Miles, it’s sure to be one he’ll remember. He closes, “Martha Miles, this is a great night, considering. I miss ya’ ma.”

With the victory over Ole Miss, L.S.U. advanced eight spots, from number 24 to number 16.