Miles Apart

by: David Purdum
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Respect: What does it take to get a little? Last season, playing in arguably one of the toughest divisions in all of sports – the Big 12 South – the Oklahoma State Cowboys posted W’s in six of their last seven, including a pair of wins large enough to end the careers of two sets of goal posts at Lewis Field in Stillwater, Okla. But despite beating Nebraska for the first time in 41-years; and despite ending Oklahoma’s national championship dreams for a second consecutive year; and despite finishing 8-5 and winning their first bowl game since 1988; and despite having one of the best returning offensive trios in the nation, the ‘Pokes find themselves near the bottom of most preseason top 25 polls – in some, they’re even absent. But while the Cowboys aren’t gaining much national respect, their coach is; and it’s not really a surprise to anyone.

According to former Colorado head coach Bill McCartney, “It was only a matter of time,” before Les Miles broke onto the scene as a big-time college football coach.

After 17 years as a college assistant and three as tight ends coach with the Dallas Cowboys, Miles found his first head coaching opportunity in Stillwater, a place where he had roamed the sidelines as offensive coordinator for three years (1995-97). On Dec. 6, 2000, Miles replaced current Notre Dame linebackers coach Bob Simmons as head coach at Oklahoma State.

“It was a natural progression,” McCartney said of his former offensive line coach at Colorado. “He was going to get an opportunity at the right program. He was a graduate assistant, full-time coach, coordinator ... he touched every base and refined his abilities, no question about it.

“(Les Miles) is a product of Michigan and Bo Schembechler. He really gleaned a lot playing offensive line and coaching for Coach Schembechler.”

Miles was a two-year letterman (1974-75) at Michigan, helping the Wolverines to berths in the Rose and Orange Bowl. After graduating with a degree in economics, he stepped away from the gridiron and ended up working for a transportation firm.

“The business ... everything was doing fine,” Miles said. “But I always felt the toughest thing I ever did was play championship football and get a degree. I wanted to help kids get that chance. I understood then and still understand how much direct impact a coach can have on a young man’s life.”

That kind of character also earned Miles praise from his former boss, Jerry Jones. “Les Miles has everything that you look for in a quality head coach,” the Dallas Cowboys owner once said. “He has experience, outstanding communication skills and an excellent ability to work with people. In addition, I believe his No. 1 asset is his character. He is a first-class person who treats his players and associates with class and integrity.”

In 1980, Miles was back on the friendly sidelines of Ann Arbor, Mich., beginning his coaching career as a graduate assistant under Schembechler. He would serve as Schembechler’s offensive line coach for five years. In those five years, Miles says he learned things that he still utilizes “every day.”

“My experience with Bo Schembechler has been a great reference,” he said. “My practice schedule is based on the basic principles that Coach Schembechler used; when we go play a game, I always look back at the parallels on how he would handle certain situations; how he would attack a certain defense or stop a kind of offense.

“There is only one Bo Schembechler.”

Apparently, there’s only one Les Miles as well. And the supply is not meeting the demand.

Rumored for several of the more prestigious job openings in the off-season, including Alabama, Michigan State and UCLA, Miles passed and decided to remain in Stillwater. “I was contacted by three different schools last season,” he said. “They were all different opportunities and good places to be, but we felt – the staff and I – that there are some great times ahead at OSU.”

The future is definitely bright in Stillwater, and the present isn’t too shabby either.

All-everything senior receiver Rashaun Woods, junior quarterback Josh Fields and 1,100-yard rusher Tatum Bell all return to bolster an offense that was 13th in the nation in scoring last season.

He’s got the knack

Miles coached at Michigan from 1980-81 and from 1987-94, with a five-year stint under McCartney at Colorado sandwiched in between. “Les Miles was such a natural guy for me to bring along,” said McCartney, who was also an assistant with Miles at Michigan. “He understood what we were trying to do here. He is very charismatic, compassionate, bright and highly motivated.”

McCartney’s praise of Miles goes beyond the field and straight onto the recruiting trail. “He’s such a tremendous recruiter. He gets close to kids. He brought a lot of outstanding kids to Colorado,” remembered McCartney.

Miles’ recruiting knack has continued at Oklahoma State, and he says the key is to match a player’s interests to those available on campus.

“Recruiting is all about making a match. Matching an opportunity for a young man to enjoy our campus and have a chance to play early at the right position. Yes, they have to be good players, but they also have to be interested in playing in this region and playing in the Big 12.”

Some extra-large proof of Miles’ recruiting abilities recently arrived on campus in the form of highly touted Duncanville, Texas product, Xavier Lincoln-Kennedy. The 6-foot-3, 330-pound defensive tackle, known as “XLK,” chose the Cowboys over Oklahoma, Nebraska, Texas and Texas A&M.

“Like the rest of you,” said OSU defensive coordinator Bill Clay, “I saw XLK on Fox Sports, and when he signed that letter of intent, I nearly jumped out of my seat. But by far our best recruit was getting Rashaun Woods to come back for his senior season.”

Last December, before the Cowboys were set to play in their first bowl game in five years, Miles got a visit from Woods. “Rashaun came in and said, ‘I just wanted you to know that I’m not going anywhere.’

“Rashaun Woods typifies what a collegiate athlete is supposed to be,” said Miles. “He postponed millions of dollars to come back, to be a part of something special.”

Miles provided Woods with every bit of information regarding his star’s draft status in the NFL. “I felt it was my duty to keep him informed about his place in the NFL. But, ultimately, I think his decision will pay great dividends.”

Although Woods would have an NFL-like performance (9 receptions, 169 yards and a touchdown) during the Pokes’ 33-23 Houston Bowl victory over Southern Mississippi, the 6-foot-2 receiver from Oklahoma City kept his word, as well as his reputation for having great timing by announcing his intentions to return to OSU for his senior season at halftime of the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State basketball at fabled Gallagher-Iba Arena. One of the many darts Woods and the Cowboys have been tossing at the mighty Sooners for the last couple of years.

Some Big Red Respect

Rumors have been floating around the state of Oklahoma ever since the Cowboys vanquished Oklahoma’s national title hopes for a second-consecutive year. The rumor goes something like this: What Bob Stoops is to Mac Brown, Les Miles is to him.

“I don’t know about that,” said Miles, “We respect Oklahoma. Year in and year out, our southern brother is ranked among the best in the nation. I do know we really enjoy playing Oklahoma.” And why wouldn’t he?

In 2000, the Cowboys were all that stood in the way of the Sooners and a return trip to the Big 12 Championship game and a possible berth in the BCS Championship Fiesta Bowl.

But with a 16-13 win in Norman, not only did the Cowboys end the Sooners’ repeat hopes, but they also gave Bob Stoops a good look at the future of Oklahoma State football, as Fields, then a freshman, completed 19-of-38 passes for 231 yards and tossed a game-winning touchdown to Woods with 16 seconds remaining.

Some called the upset a fluke. “Wait until next year,” Sooner fans screamed. They were screaming something else as the Cowboys took the Sooners to the “Woods-shed” again, beating Oklahoma 38-28 last November. Woods caught 12 passes for a school record 223 yards and three touchdowns, while Fields completed 18-of-27 passes for 357 yards and four touchdowns.

With an earlier win over Nebraska, Miles and the 2002 Cowboys became the first team in school history to beat the ‘Huskers and Sooners in the same season. Miles is also the only coach in the nation to beat Stoops twice.

“We played our best opponent; we played our best football,” said Miles after his second win over Oklahoma.

Stoops agreed. “There are no excuses,” he said. “They did an excellent job all around – their coaches and players – and just beat us.”

Which is tougher?

Opening your third year as head coach with an Aug. 30 game in Lincoln, Neb., can be a daunting task. But there is something else that worries Miles a little more than the early date with the Cornhuskers.

Miles, 49, and his wife Kathy recently had their fourth child. Macy Grace Miles was born on July 11, joining siblings Kathyrn, Leslie Matthew, and Benjamin.

“I know what to suspect playing Nebraska,” said the proud new papa, “but I don’t know with four kids.

“My in-laws just left, and my wife looked at me and said, ‘Here it is, me and four kids.’ There is something to be said about that.

“I don’t have a lot of hobbies. I’m not real good at golf ... for me, there is football, coaching and family.”

Oh, how the times have changed

Fifteen year ago, the Oklahoma State Cowboys featured a prolific offense led by wide receiver Hart Lee Dykes, quarterback Mike Gundy and some short running back named Barry Sanders. That Cowboy team set record after record on their way to a 10-2 season, capped off by a 62-14 trouncing of Wyoming in the Holiday Bowl. Dykes holds the school marks for career receptions and receiving yards. Despite 248 yards rushing, Gundy holds the career total offense record with 7,749 yards, more than 2,000 yards better than the next Cowboy. And Sanders ... well, he holds 34 individual NCAA records.

Fifteen years later, things are different at OSU. Or are they?

Presently, quarterback Josh Fields, running back Tatum Bell and wide receiver Rashaun Woods are provoking memories of that potent ‘88 offense. And guess who’s calling the shots on offense – none other than Mike Gundy.

“There are some obvious comparisons (between the two trios),” said Cowboy front man Les Miles. “Mike’s done a great job designing within the offense and getting our best players the ball.”

Bell rushed for more than 1,100 yards despite missing two games to injury. He averaged 99.64 yards on the ground. Fields tied a school record, tossing four touchdowns against the vaunted Oklahoma secondary. Three of those scores went to Woods, who was a first-team All-Big 12 selection and ranked fourth in the nation in receptions per game (8.23) and third in receiving yards per game (130.38).

Needless to say, Gundy, entering his third year as offensive coordinator and assistant head coach at OSU, is a fixture on ‘hot coaches’ lists and was mentioned as a candidate for the Tulsa head coaching position. “Mike was always a football guy,” said Miles, who negotiated his assistants some hefty guaranteed contracts during the off-season. “He’s studied the game and has a real perspective on the trends of football. He’s also seasoned his play-calling skills.”

Gundy’s first stint as Cowboy offensive coordinator came in 1994 in Pat Jones’ final year as head coach. He stayed on as quarterbacks coach under Bob Simmons tenure as head Cowboy, before taking over at Baylor as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator during the 1996 season. It was off to Maryland, where he took over as receivers coach for the Terrapins for three season. He would be promoted to quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator in 2000, before returning to Stillwater when Miles took over in 2001.

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