If Miles had kicked the field goal in the first quarter instead of going for it on 4th down LSU would have been within 2 points at the end with a shot at a winning field goal at the end. Never leave points on the table
Nope nope nope. On the 1, you go for it on 4th down that early, EVERY TIME. Les made the right call (maybe not the right play call though .. WTF?)
If you noticed on the failed 3rd down run, the camera was shown on Les Miles and he had this snicker on his face and overall look of cockiness as if he was saying "wow, they were able to stop that play? Well I'll show them and go for it on 4th down and make it." Miles thought the LSU O-line was going to dominate in the running game tonight.
Yes, you go for it and expect to make it. That is LSU football. That goal line stand set the tone for the game.
And had we scored a TD, then we win the game. Cudda/Shudda/Wudda at it's finest. Hard to believe considering how we got dominated.
A very common mistake, but you can't say, "if this thing happened in the 1Q, then we could've won." It assumes that every other part of the game after that point plays out precisely the same way.