January 13, 2005
TO:Fans, Friends, and Supporters of LSU Athletics
FROM:Skip Bertman, LSU Director of Athletics
It has been over a month since I last wrote to you, and a lot has happened since that time. Of course the most significant development was the departure of Nick Saban to the Miami Dolphins and the hiring of Les Miles as the new head coach of the LSU Tigers.
My last Cyber-side Chat documented the great success of LSU football over the last five years, and it turned out to be a fitting tribute to the accomplishments of Coach Saban. He produced great memories for all of us, and we wish him and his family great success and happiness in this next stage in their lives.
As a loyal follower of LSU Football, you know this job is not just for anyone. It takes the right fit, the right characteristics to manage a program of this magnitude.
Les Miles fit our criteria. He comes to LSU with head coaching experience from a BCS conference, and a winning record with proven consistency. He will run a clean program and he has a strong commitment to academics. And, finally, he has that desirable blend of college and NFL coaching experience.
It was paramount to select a coach quickly so he could hit the recruiting trail, so that we could maintain our string of top-notch recruiting classes. Coach Miles is a tireless recruiter and excellent evaluator of talent. He is also a disciplinarian whose record with academics is impeccable and his handling of all phases of his program shows that he is an excellence-seeker.
In the state of Oklahoma, he went head to head with one of the premier football programs in the country and produced a consistent winner of his own. In the last 16 years, OklahomaState has had only four winning seasons. Three of those came under Les Miles in the last three years.
With Coach Miles now afforded the valuable tools that make this University’s athletics program great -- the facilities, the unparalleled fan support and, of course, being the flagship school in the state -- I feel certain that he can continue the success we have had at LSU.
I hope you will take time to study his past, to appreciate his accomplishments to date, and listen to him in the coming months as he lays out his plans for maintaining our success at LSU. I think you’ll quickly come to the same conclusion as our search committee, that he is the right fit for LSU Football.
ROBYN DESORMEAUX
We were sad to learn that one of our own athletes, soccer player Robyn DesOrmeaux, has been diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare form of malignant cancer. Robyn completed her senior season last fall and will turn 23 years old next Monday.
A native of Carencro, Robyn is currently undergoing chemotherapy at M.D.AndersonHospital in Houston, and will later need surgery to remove the cancerous tumor.
Cancer is a terrible disease, but it is especially sad when it strikes someone as young and vibrant as Robyn. She is using her mental toughness, her strong competitive spirit and her tenaciousness in her effort to win this difficult battle.
To help offset the extraordinary expense associated with her treatment, we have established a donation fund at all Louisiana Bank One locations. Tiger fans who want to make a financial donation can make their checks payable to the Robyn DesOrmeaux Donation Trust and visit any Bank One to make a donation.
You can also help by sending Robyn an encouraging message at her website. Visit www2.caringbridge.org/la/robyn to send her a note and to learn about her progress. Thank you for your concern and your prayers for this young Tiger.
SPORTS, SPORTS, SPORTS
Several LSU sports are in full swing, so I hope you will come out to campus and support your Tigers. This year’s Lady Tiger basketball team is a special group and has the potential to reach tremendous heights. Thanks to everyone who participated in the Pack the PMAC game as over 10,000 fans cheered LSU onto victory over Georgia.
The men’s basketball team toughened its schedule this year and has now entered the first games of the SEC season. I hope you will be patient as this young team comes together and fights a strong league schedule. After a convincing win over South Carolina last night, we’re hoping for a big crowd Saturday when OhioState makes its first visit to the MaravichCenter. Your support will only help this team gel as the season progresses.
The gymnastics team barely missed making the Super Six last year, gymnastics’ version of the Final Four, and will open its home schedule Friday against Florida. The indoor track and field teams, under new head coach Dennis Shaver, will host the Purple and Gold Invitational Saturday and, as always, will feature some of the world’s greatest athletes.
The always competitive men’s and women’s tennis teams will open their home schedules later this month, and I’m pleased with the progress being made by our swimming program under first year head coach Adam Schmitt. I’m confident he will take our swim teams back to national prominence.
We welcome your comments, so write to us at . Although we cannot promise a response to every e-mail we receive, please be assured that every letter will be read. Thank you for your continued support of Tiger Athletics.