Les Miles

SI: Are you over losing to Alabama in the BCS title game?

LM: All losses hurt. I'm still hurt over losing to Kentucky in '07.

SI: So what's the takeaway from how you wound up?

LM: We were 13--1 last season. We won the SEC West, which at one time had the top-three-ranked teams in the polls in the country. Now we're looking forward to playing in the national title game again this season. We fully expect to be there.

SI: WHAT HAVE BEEN THE KEYS TO BUILDING YOUR PROGRAM INTO A POWER?

LM: EXPECTATIONS. HOW WE PREPARE. EVERY COACH AND PLAYER HERE EXPECTS TO PLAY FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS. OUR PROGRAM IS ABOUT VICTORY.

SI: What is it that most fans do not understand about your job?

LM: The incredibly long hours. We get in early, we stay late. The hours it takes to have a memorized game plan and memorized play-by-play are incredible.

SI: To what do you credit the SEC West's phenomenal success the past six years?

LM: We're in a spot that lets us recruit at a high level. Players like to play against the best teams, so our division has become very attractive to the top high school players.