The Players’ Tribune: Les Is More

The final week of the regular season begins as Les, John and Smacker celebrate new beginnings, sitting down to discuss Les' future as University of Kansas head coach. The trio indulge in the spirit of the holiday sharing the things they are grateful for while Les shares his plans for the future of Kansas football and takes time out to answer fan questions. Later, Les & Smacker share their thoughts on the past week spent in Lawrence as well as the heartwarming reception they received from the the Kansas community. Lastly, the trio bid goodbye to their faithful fans... for now.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Les Is More is back, with Les, Smacker and John here to prepare you for the final few weeks of the regular season. They begin by explaining why this year's Heisman Trophy is almost certainly Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's to lose. The three then give their opinions on what the Crimson Tide must do in order to be considered Bama's greatest team ever. They move on to a recap of LSU's takedown or Arkansas, Notre Dame's domination of Florida State, and Oklahoma's last-second defeat of Oklahoma State in Bedlam. Les and the crew then look forward to the College Football Playoff, debating which team is the most likely to be knocked out of the top four, and Les trying his best to convince Smacker and John that the Fighting Irish won't make the playoff. After that, they move on to making predictions for next week. They first debate whether UCF can continue the nation's longest winning streak when it takes on Cincinnati, and then move on to analyzing Syracuse's visit to South Bend, before finishing by explaining why West Virginia will have no problem with Oklahoma state. Finally, they look at the matchup between Iowa State and Texas — touching on the behind-the-scenes issues plaguing coach Tom Herman's first season in Austin — and discuss why a Cyclones upset this weekend would be far from shocking. As the season winds down, Les Is More continues to heat up! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What could be better than two legendary coaches talking shop about all things college football? This week Les Is More brings you a bonus episode featuring Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards. Known for much more than just his “you play to win the game” rant, Edwards, a coach who has succeeded at every level of the game, drops some serious football knowledge. He and Les touch on topics ranging from how coaching in the NFL compares to college to why bowl games shouldn't be devalued because of the playoff system to how Edwards has been able to get Arizona State on track in just his first year at the helm. Herm also speaks about the developmental system he installed for the younger players on his team and why he chose to run practices in the morning rather than the afternoon. Les also brings up Herm's successful NFL career as a player and the two share a laugh about Herm's role in the creation of the “Victory Formation.” A conversation between two old friends, who also happen to be hall of fame football experts, is the perfect midweek listen to bridge the gap to gameday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well it was quite a disappointing Saturday for LSU fans in Baton Rouge and all around the country, and Les Is More is here to catch you up on everything that happened over the weekend. Smacker, John and Les try to make sense of LSU's flop against Bama and then pause to ponder whether there's anyone who will get in Alabama's way. The crew takes a look at the top four and discusses which teams are most likely to make the playoff. Then it's recap time: John, who was on hand to see Michigan stuff Penn State at home, considers where Michigan might end up if the Wolverines win out. Then the crew examines Georgia's handling of Kentucky, as well as West Virginia's last-second win at Texas. Before looking to next week, Les and John debate Notre Dame's status and why the Irish have looked so impressive. The predictions segment tackles how LSU can bounce back against Arkansas, what Michigan State needs to do to upset Ohio State, and just how much Alabama will beat Mississippi State by. And someone predicts an upset when Clemson travels to Boston College. As the playoff picture continues to take shape and each game means more than the last, Les Is More is here for the entire ride!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's edition of Les Is More is a fired-up episode devoted to everything happening in college football. First up: It's Alabama week in Baton Rouge, and Les, John and Smacker argue passionately about the biggest matchup of the week. The three focus on the key position groups for both teams, as well as on what LSU will have to do to stop the Crimson Tide. They then shift their focus back to the chaos of last Saturday, when 11 teams in the Top 25 went down. They review Mississippi State's defeat of Texas A&M, Texas's blunder against Oklahoma State, and Georgia's cruise-control victory over rival Florida. Predictions are up next, with Les and John looking forward to the important matchup in Ann Arbor between Penn State and Michigan, and the implications that the game has for the Big Ten. Jumping back to the SEC, they also analyze Georgia's visit to Kentucky. Finally, John and Les vehemently disagree about the upcoming game between Notre Dame and Northwestern. Passion, energy and college football have always gone together, and this week's episode has a little bit of everything! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Les Is More returns with a jam-packed show that has everything you need to know about the 2018 college football season. Les, Smacker and John begin with a discussion of how Ohio State's upset loss to Purdue affects the outlook for the rest of the Big Ten. After that, John recounts what happened in East Lansing, when the rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State became about much more than just the game itself. In response, Les gives his opinion on how a coach should handle things when his players get out of hand. The trio also talks about LSU's impressive victory in the rain over Mississippi State, Clemson's clear path to the College Football Playoff after the Tigers' demolition of NC State, and how Coach nailed his prediction that Washington State would beat Oregon. Speaking of the Cougars, Les brings the entertaining Mike Leach on the program to talk about how he's changed the culture in Pullman. The two coaches then go in-depth on their philosophies for different aspects of the college game. Later, Les and the crew preview the action ahead in Week 9, when Clemson visits struggling Florida State, Mississippi State hosts Texas A&M and Iowa looks to topple Penn State. Les, Smacker and John also peek ahead to the game of the week in the SEC — the annual showdown in Jacksonville between Florida and Georgia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was a week of upsets in college football. Four teams in the Top 10 went down in defeat, which led to major changes in the Top 25. Les Is More is back to review all the big upsets, as well as to discuss the greatest disappointments from around the country after seven weeks of football action. To begin, Coach takes a closer look at the benches-clearing brawl between Florida and Vanderbilt, and explains how Coach Bo Schembechler would probably have handled such a scenario. Les and John move on to recap a few of last Saturday's games, including LSU's epic takedown of Georgia, West Virginia's hiccup against Iowa state, Washington's near miss in Oregon, and Michigan State's shocking victory in Happy Valley over Penn State. They also dive deep on Michigan's dismantling of Wisconsin, and discuss where Big Blue stands in its quest to reach the College Football Playoff. Next, the duo preview the action in Week 8, giving their predictions for LSU's chances for continued success, and how Washington State will fare when the Cougars host Oregon. Les and John also look forward to the Michigan–Michigan State game, as well as to the ACC battle between Clemson and NC State. Tune in for the podcast that tells you everything you need to know about college football! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There was another shake-up in the Top 25 last week, and Les Is More is here to make sense of it all. To begin, Smacker relishes Texas's wild win over Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown. Les then analyzes LSU's loss to Florida, and talks about paying off his bet on the game with former Gators coach Steve Spurrier. Les, Smacker and John discuss the implications of Auburn losing to Mississippi State, before reviewing the touchdown that John's son, Jared Wangler, scored for Michigan in the Wolverines' beatdown of Maryland. Les also tells a story about how he once received false intel on an opponent before a game, and goes over how coaches should deal with getting “secret” information. A story he tells about his favorite player when he was a kid leads to John telling a story about the time he was supposed to go out in Las Vegas with Joe Namath. The crew then looks forward to Week 6, when LSU will face its biggest test yet, against No. 2 Georgia. Other games include Washington visiting Oregon for a game with huge implications in the Pac-12, and Wisconsin traveling to Ann Arbor, where the Badgers will take on Michigan in the Big House.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Les Is More is back for Week 5 as conference play heats up and the college football season continues to take shape. Les and John look back on Michigan's furious rally to beat Northwestern, Notre Dame's dismantling of Stanford and LSU's victory over Ole Miss — and where the Tigers now stand among the top teams in the country. They also talk in-depth about Penn State's decision to run the ball instead of throwing it on fourth-and-five in their devastating loss to Ohio State. Former Michigan QB Rich Hewlett joins the discussion to debate the Clemson quarterback situation. Next, Les tells the story of the greatest recruiting meal he's ever had, and also discusses why he hasn't yet returned to the sidelines to coach. Finally, the crew looks forward to another exciting weekend, beginning with the Red River Rivalry between Oklahoma and Texas, and including a trio of SEC matchups — undefeated Kentucky vs. Texas A&M, LSU vs. Florida in the Swamp, and Mississippi State vs. Auburn. Get ready for another great Saturday!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last weekend was full of upsets and close games, making this a great week to listen to Les Is More. Join Les and John as they analyze a shaky Top 25, discussing Old Dominion's shocking upset of Virginia Tech, Oklahoma's scare against Army and Kentucky's upset of Mississippi State — a victory that kept the Wildcats undefeated. Les's son, Ben, substitutes for Smacker this week, and the Texas A&M fullback recounts his experiences from games this season against both Clemson and Alabama. Les and John are also joined by former Michigan guard and Super Bowl champion Kurt Becker, who offers his opinion on the importance of football and why the game will survive the critics who want to shut it down. Lastly, Les and John make their picks for the massive Big Ten matchup between Ohio State and Penn State. They'll also predict what's going to happen when Stanford travels to South Bend to play Notre Dame. And can BYU take down another ranked opponent on the road when the Cougars travel to Washington? And what will happen when LSU plays host to Ole Miss? Find out all the answers in Episode 4! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was a wild Week 3 in college football — Saturday was full of tight games and big upsets, and Les Is More is back to talk about them all. Join Les, Smacker and John as they rehash Coach's formidable powers of prognostication. He went 4 for 4 for the weekend, correctly predicting big wins by LSU and Texas. The gang also tries to explain why favored Wisconsin lost at home to BYU. Next on the docket is the Jalen Hurts situation at Alabama, and whether Les would play the junior quarterback or sit him. Coach then shares a story about the time a ref apologized to him for a missed call, and then gives his take on some of the bad calls from the last two weeks. Finally, the four look forward to another exciting weekend schedule, which includes Stanford at Oregon, TCU at Texas, and Arizona St. at Washington. With a record of 7–1 as a forecaster so far this season, Les is the college football guru. So make sure to tune in to hear what he has to say! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week finds Les, Smacker and John in great sprits as the first week of the NFL season kicks off. The group discusses players they are looking forward to watching and Les shares his thoughts on being chosen to enter into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. The conversation heats up as the topic of wether or not the NCAA should pay college players is debated. This week's game recaps include Clemson at Texas A&M, Georgia at South Carolina, Penn State at Penn, Nebraska at Colorado and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

College Football is back and so is your opportunity to join Les, Smacker and John for Season 2 of Les is More. This week the trio recaps the most exciting games from opening weekend including Notre Dame vs. Michigan, Alabama vs. Louisville, Texas vs. Maryland and Penn State vs. Appalachian State. The group also shares their predictions for week 2 while Les keeps it interesante as he recounts stories from his latest summer pursuits as a actor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Sunday and we just finished recording our first episode -- BEFORE the LSU Tigers face off against the Miami Hurricanes to cap off the first week of this college football season. As as you might have guessed, there is NO way that we are going to let this week go by without sharing a few thoughts on that game. Episode one is coming soon but in the meantime, Smacker and Les get right to the point. Enjoy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

College Football has returned bringing with it a new season of Les is More! Les, Smacker and John are back this season to recap the biggest games, share stories and engage fans in a style all their own.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The wait for the College Football Playoff is finally over, and the folks at Les Is More have produced a special edition of the show just in time for the Jan. 1 semifinals! Coach is once again joined by his daughter, Smacker, and close friend and former Michigan quarterback, John Wangler. But this time, the three regulars welcome the rest of the Miles family to the podcast for a holiday party! With holiday cheer out of the way, Les, Smacker and John get down to business and take a look at the Rose Bowl and Baker Mayfield's Oklahoma Sooners. The trio discuss what the OU offense will have to do to overcome a very talented Georgia D. They then move on to the Sugar Bowl, where Alabama will be looking to avenge its loss to Dabo Swinney and Clemson in last year's national title game. Lastly, the whole crew takes a shot at Christmas carols while showing everybody what a Miles family Christmas is really like. Get ready for football, family and a lot of laughs as Les Is More prepares you for what should be a fantastic slate of games on New Year's Day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bowl Season is upon us, and Les Is More is back to tell you everything you need to know! Coach is once again joined by his daughter, Smacker, and close friend and former Michigan quarterback, John Wangler. Les begins the show by confessing his love for the Camping World Bowl (7:02) before previewing the game's explosive matchup between Oklahoma State and Virginia Tech (7:43). Up next, Coach announces his lock of the week, which comes from the Michigan State–Washington State Holiday Bowl on Dec. 28 (9:46). The crew then breaks down the matchups in two battles between the Big 10 and the Pac-12 — No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 8 USC in the Cotton Bowl (19:37), and ninth-ranked Penn State vs. 12th-ranked Washington in the Fiesta Bowl (23:07). Next up is the Orange Bowl, with Miami and its turnover chain taking on 12–1 Wisconsin. Finally, Les and his partners look ahead to the first games of 2018 and try to answer one of New Year's Day's biggest questions: Can UCF continue its undefeated run against powerhouse Auburn (35:52)?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Les Is More is back and ready for one of the most exciting CFB championship weekends in a long time. Coach is again joined by his daughter, Smacker, and close friend and former Michigan quarterback, John Wangler. Les answers a flurry of fan questions, including the Internet classic about whether it's better to to fight 100 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck (11:09). He and his cohosts then look back at Auburn's impressive victory over Alabama in the Iron Bowl, and how the defeat will affect the Crimson Tide's playoff chances (2:08). The trio also review Michigan's loss to rival Ohio State — the Wolverines' fourth straight in the series (19:14) — and discuss the outlook for the Buckeyes heading into their matchup against unbeaten Wisconsin in the Big 10 title game (33:51). Les and John also recap Miami's loss to Pitt (24:32), and talk about how the upset could actually help the Hurricanes in the ACC Championship Game against No. 1 Clemson (31:08). And finally, Coach and the crew analyze the overall playoff picture and make a case for expanding the postseason (36:53).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Thanksgiving week for the Les Is More podcast. This week Coach Miles is once again joined by his daughter, Smacker, and close friend and former Michigan quarterback, John Wangler. The crew touches on a number of things, including what they are most thankful for in regards to football (1:37). Nobody on the show is happy with the Heisman voting process. But not to worry. Coach Miles has a solution! (26:20). Of course, Baker Mayfield is again a topic of discussion, and this time the crew wonders just what he was thinking (21:29). They also collectively wince before discussing just how big the Wolverines' matchup on Saturday against rival Ohio State has now become (31:44). The predictions segment focuses on Rivalry Week, and the crew look forward to the Iron Bowl (40:26) and LSU vs. Texas A&M on Thanksgiving day (38:22), as well as the classic Clemson–South Carolina tilt (37:09). Les Is More is ready to be there for your holiday drive, and to make sure you'll be to ready to talk more than turkey at the Thanksgiving dinner table! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Les Is More is back with more insight into the 2017 college football season! This week, Coach Miles is once again joined by close friend and former Michigan quarterback, John Wangler, as well as his oldest son, Manny Miles, a backup quarterback at North Carolina. The trio take a look at Auburn's upset victory last Saturday over No. 1–ranked Georgia (2:00), as well as Miami's dismantling of Notre Dame (18:00). In the pod's weekly Baker Mayfield conversation, Manny, a current D-I QB, offers his two cents on the Oklahoma star (29:00). Coach then recounts a story from daughter Smacker's childhood, about the time she won a state high school swimming championship (25:51). Later, he and his co hosts look forward to several games this weekend, including Michigan's big matchup with undefeated Wisconsin (41:10). They also discuss how Tennessee will fare against LSU now that the Volunteers have parted ways with coach Butch Jones (51:05).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Coach Miles is joined once again by his daughter Smacker and close friend and former Michigan quarterback, John Wangler. Les takes a shot at answering questions from fans — including one about whether he ever considered coaching at Ohio State early in his career (20:10). He and his cohosts then look back at last Saturday's insane Bedlam shootout between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State (30:03), and touch on the surprising defeats of the Buckeyes (10:02) and Penn State (12:05), and what the losses mean for each team in the race for this season's College Football Playoff. Les also takes a moment to remember his father, and tells a great story about how his dad got him to stand up to a neighborhood bully (2:52). Finally the gang makes their predictions for this weekend's slate of big-time matchups, including Georgia vs. Auburn and Notre Dame vs. Miami (46:18).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Episode 5 of Les Is More, Coach Miles is once again joined by his daughter Smacker, and close friend and former Michigan quarterback, John Wangler. They look back at the crazy game between Penn State and Ohio State last Saturday, and discuss how impressed they were with Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (2:24). Les then recalls the story of how he met his wife, Kathy Miles, while they were both at Michigan (14:28). Next, former Michigan and NFL offensive lineman Jon Jansen joins the show to discuss the state of the Wolverines (21:50). Finally, the gang takes a look at the upcoming weekend, one of the biggest of the season (44:55), which includes the Bedlam matchup between Oklahoma St. and Oklahoma (48:40). They also discuss LSU's rivalry game against Alabama (50:24).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Episode 4 of Les Is More, Coach Miles is once again joined by his daughter Smacker, and close friend and former Michigan quarterback, John Wangler — who has a few thoughts on Big Blue's loss to Penn State last Saturday(1:50). The three discuss last weekend's other big games, including Notre Dame's annihilation of USC (21:14), as well as which current one-loss teams have the best shot at the College Football Playoff (25:40). Les then takes a call from LSU alum and NFL lineman Tyson Jackson (32:07). The topics they touch on include Coach's unusual recruiting methods, and what the Tigers went through during Hurricane Katrina. Finally, Les looks toward next Saturday's big matchups, with he, John and Smacker making their predictions for Penn State at Ohio State (48:45) and much more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the third installment of Les is More, Coach Miles goes long on the 2007 national championship–winning Tigers. Joined by podcast-regulars Smacker Miles and John Wangler, Les discusses his memorable return to Tiger Stadium last weekend (3:00), and also breaks down LSU's upset victory over No. 10 Auburn (9:10). He then answers some questions from listeners (14:00), including one about LSU's disappointing loss in the 2012 national title game (15:54). Coach's special guest this week is Jacob Hester (21:58), the captain of the 2007 Tigers, who reminisces about memorable moments from that season, and who also discusses the only time Coach Miles ever questioned his judgment. Finally, Les wrap things up with John and Smacker, reviewing the week that was in college football (50:55), as well as offering up a few predictions for this Saturday (58:39).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Coach is recording at the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys, in Frisco, Texas. He is joined once again by former Michigan quarterback John Wangler and daughter Smacker Miles, a longtime college-sports aficionado. The three cover a wide range of topics, including the remarks that Cam Newton made last week to a female reporter [1:50], Baker Mayfield getting a taste of his own medicine [11:48], and LSU's bounce-back victory over Florida in the Swamp [38:33]. Les also catches up with SEC commissioner Greg Sankey in a discussion that delves into recruiting bylaws and much more [16:26]. Finally, Coach answers a few listener questions (good work on those, by the way), and tells several personal stories from his life and career, before finishing things off with predictions for this weekend's games [41:37]. You'll, uh, want to stick around for those. Trust us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the debut episode of Les Is More, Coach Miles is joined by his oldest daughter, Smacker Miles, as well as former Michigan great and longtime friend John Wangler, to discuss Baker Mayfield's antics (2:23), LSU's surprising home loss to Troy (14:46) and which teams are best suited this season to challenge Alabama and Clemson at the top of the rankings (33:23). The coach also answers a couple of questions from fans, including one about his experience when he was let go by LSU last season(8:26). And finally he reconnects with current Oklahoma State head coach and former colleague, Mike Gundy, who talks about everything from the spread offense to hunting rattlesnakes (20:10).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Les is More" launches soon!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.