Generally speaking the thing I look for in people in consistency. And while that may be a boring attribute, I find it consoling. You know when they’ll appreciate something and on the other hand, expect them to be angry when it’s rightfully deserved. It’s the inconsistency of people that drives me nuts. Although that may keep you on your toes from time to time because you’re not sure of how they will react, it can be unnerving when people change from day to day.
And that’s how I feel about LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva. His inconsistency is hard to take. When he, they, or whomever decided to keep Les Miles the LSU football coach for 2016 this is what Alleva said following the Tigers 19-7 win over Texas A & M in November 2015. “I made it very clear that my policy is to wait ’til the end of the season, and obviously it’s the end of the regular season.” That policy lasted all of a month for the 2016 season as Alleva let Miles go in September after the Tigers fell one second short of a miracle comeback against Auburn.
I truly believe if Miles had continued as the Tigers Head Coach this past season, the results would’ve been the same as they were with Ed Orgeron at the helm. One BIG exception. No chance Miles would’ve been back had they lost to a severely depleted Florida Gators team, at home, not being able to punch it in from just outside the goal line. What does Alleva do? Hires as Ed Orgeron as the Tigers new head coach.
Moving on to LSU basketball, where admittedly LSU men’s hoops ranks behind, football, baseball, gymnastics, softball, golf, tailgating, the spring game, National Signing Day, etc….maybe it’s not imperative to make a change. But the team is mired in a gut-wrenching 11-game losing streak including losses to such powerhouses as Mississippi State, Wake Forest and Vanderbilt. Perhaps in this case Alleva is being consistent with his ‘wait till the end of the season’ mantra. The difference being Miles did much more for Tigers football than Johnny Jones has done for basketball.
With only three weeks remaining in LSU’s regular season and the inevitable loss in the SEC Tournament, perhaps making change for change sakes isn’t worth it. I’m just looking for a little consistency. Is that too much to ask?