Rex Ryan: The new Les Miles
Jets coach Rex Ryan did something Wednesday that mirrored Les Miles. And nobody seems worked up about it.
Ryan, in his first year with the Jets, taped a message that was then mass-telephoned to Jets season-ticket holders, seeking a loud crowd for Sunday, when New England plays at the Jets. Here’s the interesting part: “I’ve already admitted that, hey, the Patriots have a better head coach and they’ve got a better quarterback than us. But we’re going to see who’s got a better team.”
Now go back to 2003, when Miles coached Oklahoma State. Miles never admitted that OU had a better coach or quarterback (Jason White over Josh Fields). But he did issue the infamous statement that drew the ire not just of Sooner fans, but Bob Stoops himself, before the 2003 Bedlam game. “Next Saturday, two teams are going to play. One is maybe the best team in college football and the other one is a darn good football team. We’re going to play to figure out which one is which.”
Miles couldn’t have angered Sooner Nation had he called their colors burnt red. Couldn’t have angered Stoops more had Miles said Carol Stoops wears combat boots.
I never saw what was the big deal. All Miles said was, let’s go play and find out who’s what. He was building up his team, and there’s nothing wrong with that. He wasn’t disparaging the Sooners, who though many thought were the best team in America, turns out weren’t. OU won that game 52-9 and everyone in crimson took it as validation that Miles spoke out of school and got his just reward.
But what he said did not breach any code of conduct or standards of respect. Miles basically said Rex Ryan said this week. Let’s play and find out.
The NFL is a little different than college in that huge fan bases don’t get all riled up over what someone might say. Don’t spend 300 days a year looking for a sleight from any corner in the country. College fan bases do exactly that, and when someone says something the least bit provocative, like what Miles said, it’s considered an insult.
Even when it’s not.
-------------Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel. Visit Berry's website here.
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Is still think the ’03 Sooners were probably the best team in the country that year.
Caught a few bad breaks, an injured QB, and having to play a road game for the national title.