LSU coach Les Miles has discussed recent social unrest with team
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In the opening of his SEC Media Days press conference, Les Miles speaks about the social unrest taking place across the country and hopes his players have a platform to make an impact on society. (1:30)
HOOVER, Ala. — LSU coach Les Miles began his opening remarks at SEC media days by talking about the Alton Sterling shooting and the social unrest taking place across the country.
“If you watch the representation of our country on live TV, you realize that change is necessary,” Miles said. “And it comes through all of us, everybody in the room, certainly me.”
Miles said he’s held several meetings with his team — meeting with the leadership of the team, the team as a whole, and even breaking the team up into position groups to discuss the issues going on around them. He wants them to have a platform where they can affect change, and his hope is to put them in position to allow them to “have the greatest possible impact.”
“Commissioner [Greg] Sankey did it really well on Monday when he said sport has a way to unite people, and I agree with him,” Miles said. “And I hope that the Tigers do their best and that that happens in Baton Rouge, because Baton Rouge is home.”
LSU star running back Leonard Fournette also spoke about everything that has taken place. Fournette made headlines last week when he tweeted a photo of himself wearing an Alton Sterling T-shirt.
“I have a voice in the city where I’m from, especially in Louisiana,” Fournette said Thursday. “My whole meaning toward that was we’re just praying that a change is coming. That’s not just in Baton Rouge. That’s everywhere in the world.
“It’s always good to send a message. That’s not just with that incident. Any good thing you can do to help the world become a better place, I would love to do that.”