Les Miles Exits Gracefully, and Mike Gundy Talks About Why He Was Fired

The news of Les Miles’ firing on Sunday was equal parts shocking and expected. Shocking because who in the world fires their coach four games into the season after a last-second mishap on the road to a SEC team? Not shocking because that was like the 28th time that very scenario has happened and, well, maybe the powers that be on the Bayou were just tired of it.

Anyway, Miles went on Dan Patrick to talk about what he’s going to do next.

“I don’t golf. I play no tennis. I enjoy shooting the gun. I don’t necessarily like to point it at animals. I play cards — not very well. But what I have done for probably 12-14 hours a day for the last, I don’t know, number of years has [been] coaching football,” he said.

“I’d have a difficult time not being involved in the game and not coaching. … Not coaching, I think there’s always a ‘Plan C’ out there. I have a daughter and a son in college — one at Texas and one at UNC — and I can certainly find those games on the weekend because football is going to be a part [of my life]. I have a young son who is committed currently to a Big Ten conference team, a very quality one [Nebraska]. Like I said, I think I can find something to do. But I enjoy football. I can’t imagine that I won’t be involved in some way.”

Gundy was asked for his thoughts on Miles’ firing. He gave a fair, if not a bit darkly foreshadowing (?), answer.

#OKstate Mike Gundy on the Big 12 coaches teleconference when asked about Les Miles' firing at LSU pic.twitter.com/TWwv6C7GHI

— Kyle Fredrickson (@kylefredrickson) September 26, 2016

It’s pretty crazy to me that Gundy outlasted Miles after they both got their jobs in 2005 although I guess it shouldn’t be. Oklahoma State is an easier place to survive than Baton Rouge. Now Gundy is one of only five Power 5 coaches who have been with their schools for 12 consecutive years or more.

Longest-tenured P5 coaches at same school:

Stoops (18 yrs)
Ferentz (18 yrs)
Patterson (17 yrs)
Gundy (12 yrs)
Whittingham (12 yrs)

— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) September 25, 2016

I will be forever indebted to both of them for taking this photograph.

#OKstate #TBT April 2001: Mike Gundy and Les Miles were truly tucked-in shirt innovators (via @NewsOKPhoto) pic.twitter.com/m4BSpfTGHp

— Kyle Fredrickson (@kylefredrickson) July 14, 2016