Former LSU head coach Les Miles has initiated legal action against LSU, the NCAA, and the National Football Foundation over the vacating of wins that have jeopardized his eligibility for the College Football Hall of Fame, ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg reports.
Miles, represented by agent George Bass, alleges that the vacating of wins deprived him of rightful property and unfairly hindered his nomination to the Hall of Fame. The lawsuit claims LSU and the NCAA failed to provide adequate due process, aiming to mitigate potentially harsher penalties.
The controversy stems from LSU’s vacation of 37 wins in 2023 due to violations involving impermissible benefits to the father of former offensive lineman Vadal Alexander. Despite the violations occurring after Miles’ tenure concluded in 2016, the wins were stricken from his record.
This adjustment lowered Miles’ career winning percentage from .665 (145-73) to .597 (108-73). To qualify for the College Football Hall of Fame, coaches must maintain a minimum .600 winning percentage across at least 100 games, a threshold Miles met before the vacated wins.
During his tenure at LSU from 2005 to 2016, the 70-year-old Miles led the Tigers to notable achievements, including a national championship in 2007 and two SEC titles. His coaching career also included successful stints at Oklahoma State (2001-2004) and Kansas (2019-2020).
The lawsuit underscores Miles’ contention that LSU initially pledged assistance to address the issue but subsequently reneged, compelling him to pursue legal recourse to restore what he perceives as unjustly lost recognition and rights.
The NCAA imposed a three-year probation on LSU, while the university imposed a self-imposed postseason ban for the 2020-2021 season in response to the infractions. Miles’ legal challenge seeks to overturn the vacated wins and restore his eligibility standing for the College Football Hall of Fame based on his coaching achievements.
