Les Miles Shares Christmas Thoughts As LSU Prepares For Bowl

LSU Coach Les Miles is sending his Christmas Wishes to Louisianians. Coach Miles says his father always asked for the same things every Christmas: socks, a tie and underwear. LSU plays in the Cotton Bowl on January 7th so Christmas is more relaxed for him this year. Miles says there's never been a Christmas where he didn't see his kids. Miles says he thinks he would make a terrible Santa Claus even though he thinks he's got the weight for it.

Meanwhile, running back Stevan Ridley is dealing with a one-time academic violation that may make him ineligible for the Cotton Bowl.

Miles has declined to go into detail about the violation, but says the school is appealing to the NCAA to have Ridley ruled eligible to suit up for the Jan. 7 bowl game against Texas A&M in Cowboys Stadium. Miles says that Ridley is the captain of the team, has been in no off-the-field issues in any way and calls the violation "a one time nothing". There’s been speculation that Ridley was planning on entering the NFL draft but Miles says he expects the Natchez Mississippi native to return for his senior season.

Ridley has been LSU’s leading rusher this season, gaining 1,044 yards on 225 carries and scoring 14 touchdowns.