Miles, Tigers ready to start practice

• By SCOTT RABALAIS
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Feb 28, 2008 - Page: 1C

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Les Miles met with the media Wednesday, a BCS championship game pin on his lapel and a satisfied smile on his face.

“We had a pretty good year,” the LSU coach said with national title-caliber understatement.

Less than two months after capturing the BCS national championship, the Tigers are on the verge of hitting the practice fields again.

Spring practice begins Friday, and Miles’ mission is to help his Tigers build on their dizzying success.

“The key is to redefine ourselves,” said Miles, entering his fourth spring at LSU.

“It’s a different team. To pretend it’s not is a mistake. Our good fortune is that we have members on that team who have experience playing in tight quarters and tight games.”

One of those experienced players won’t be with the Tigers for spring practice — at least at the start.

Miles suspended junior quarterback Ryan Perrilloux on Feb. 18 for violating unspecified team roles.

Perrilloux, who has been suspended three times in the last year, was listed on the spring roster that LSU distributed to the media Wednesday.

Miles didn’t rule out the possibility of Perrilloux returning to the team, even before LSU’s Spring Game on April 5.

“He could rejoin the team,” Miles said. “I don’t know which dates — mid-spring, after spring. That’s not the issue. The issue is to make sure he’s doing the right things, going to class and doing well in the classroom.”

Until Perrilloux returns, Miles said the quarterback duties will primarily be divided between junior Andrew Hatch — a transfer from Harvard — and redshirt Jarrett Lee. Another redshirt freshman, walk-on T.C. McCartney (grandson of former Colorado coach Bill McCartney) will be the third-string signal caller.

Miles said he is hopeful Hatch and Lee can show marked improvement during the spring.