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Les Miles has finally been done in by one of the frantic finishes that came to define the Mad Hatters tenure at LSU.LSU fired Miles and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron on Sunday, and promoted defensive line coach Ed Orgeron to interim head coach.The moves came less than 24 hours after Miles briefly watched his players wildly celebrate what they thought was a game-winning touchdown pass at Auburn, only to walk off the field with a stunning, 18-13 upset loss after officials determined on video replay that time had expired before the ball was snapped.It wasnt the first time chaos reigned in the closing seconds of an LSU game with Miles at the helm, leading to intense scrutiny of the quirky coachs clock management. But it will go down as the last after 11-plus seasons that were highlighted by a 2007 national title. It will also be the last time Miles can be blamed for untimely bouts of stagnation by an offense that seems to have too much talent to be stifled as it has for significant stretches.Coach Miles has done a tremendous job here and hes been a great ambassador for our University, which makes this even more difficult, LSU athletic director Joe Alleva said in a written statement. However, its apparent in evaluating the program through the first month of the season that a change has to be made.We have an obligation to our student-athletes to put them in the best position to have success on the football field each week. We have great confidence that coach Orgeron will do just that.Miles firing came hours after LSU (2-2, 1-1 Southeastern Conference), which was ranked 18th last week, dropped out of the Top 25 in the latest AP Poll released Sunday.The 62-year-old coach did not speak publicly about his dismissal, which came more than three seasons before his contract was due to expire at the end of 2019. Miles is paid about $4.3 million annually and although it is unclear whether hell get all of what he would have been owed in his buyout.Several LSU players said Miles was given an opportunity to say goodbye to the team on Sunday evening as the formal transition to Orgerons interim regime took place.He told us to keep fighting, safety Jamal Adams said. Coach Miles gave it his all every day. He is so passionate about LSU. Coach Miles definitely cares about you as a human being. I hurt for coach.Junior running back Leonard Fournette, a Heisman Trophy candidate who is expected to turn pro after this season, said he was very shocked by the decision and hated the way the teams unexpected early season stumbles precipitated Miles firing.Coach Miles loves us. We had some great memories with him, Fournette said. He is one hell of a coach. Of course, you feel some guilt after him getting fired. At the same time, I understand this is a business.Receiver Travin Dural said Miles almost broke down, while delivering a touching speech, and added, You could tell he loved the team.Miles, who replaced Nick Saban in 2005, went 114-34 at LSU, the second-most victories in school history behind Charles McClendons 137 victories from 1962 to 1979.Cameron, an old friend of Miles from when they were both assistants at Michigan in the 1980s, joined LSU in 2013. His offense was effective when his quarterback was Zach Mettenberger, a tall, strong-armed, pro-style pocket passer. Production was far less consistent -- and the passing game was often anemic -- during the past two seasons.The 2011 Tigers were one victory away from going down as LSUs best squad in more than a century of football. But after winning its first 13 games, LSU lost in the national title game to Alabama in what has grown to a five-game losing streak against the Crimson Tide.Since the start of the 2013, LSU has gone 15-11 against SEC opponents. LSUs recent struggles nearly led to Miles firing last season, when the latest loss to Alabama began the first three-game skid of Miles tenure at LSU and the Tigers once again faded from contention. But after the Tigers rallied to close the regular season with a home win over Texas A&M, Alleva announced that Miles would return.With a slew of starters returning on both offense and defense, this season was widely seen as a referendum on Miles long-term future. LSU was ranked No. 5 in the preseason, but opened with a close loss to Wisconsin at Lambeau Field.Miles tried to give the offense a lift during LSUs second game against Jacksonville State, when he replaced season-opening starting quarterback Brandon Harris with Danny Etling. Etling led LSU to victories in that game and against Mississippi State, but managed only 118 yards passing in the loss at Auburn.Orgeron, known by players as Coach O, is a Louisiana native and renowned recruiter. He was a head coach once before in the SEC with Mississippi, but never had a winning record there and was fired after three seasons. He fared better as interim head coach at Southern California in 2013, going 6-2 in place of Lane Kiffin, whod been fired that season.Coach O brings new energy. He is pumped up. I am excited to play for coach O, center Ethan Pocic said. Its not easy. College football is a business. The best thing I can do is do whatever coach O asks us. 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The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday.PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns appear close to hiring Jeff Hornacek as their head coach. A person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Sunday that the Suns are in contract negotiations with Hornacek, although no deal has been finalized. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no public announcement had been made. The comments came after azcentralsports, which includes the Arizona Republic, reported Sunday that Hornacek reached agreement on a three-year contract. If all goes as anticipated, Hornacek would be introduced at a news conference Tuesday. Hornacek, assistant coach for the Utah Jazz, played six seasons for the Suns and was part of the trade that sent Charles Barkley to the Suns from Philadelphia. Hornacek went on to have his best pro seasons as a sharpshooting guard alongside John Stockton in the Utah backcourt. He replaces interim coach Lindsey Hunter, who took over the team when Alvin Gentry and the club agreed to part ways in mid-January. Hunter was strongly backed by general manager Lance Blanks, who was fired at the end of the season and replaced by ex-Boston Celtics assistant general manager Ryan McDonough. The survivor in the revamped cast is Lon Babby, who got a two-year contract extension as president of basketball operations. The 50-year-old Hornacek faces a daunting taask rebuilding a once-successful franchise that compiled the worst record in the Western Conference and second-worst in franchise history at 27-55 last season.dddddddddddd. Only the franchises inaugural season was worse. The first chance to improve the roster will come when the Suns make the fifth pick in next months draft. They also have the 30th selection. Attempts will be made to improve through free agency but the team is saddled with contracts with some players who will be hard to move. Hornacek also interviewed for the Charlotte job but Phoenix had an inside track because of his past ties to the organization and because he still has a home in the area. Hornacek played 14 seasons in the NBA after being drafted late in the second by Phoenix. He eventually became part of a high-scoring backcourt with point guard Kevin Johnson, but he was sent away in the blockbuster Barkley deal. Hornacek spent less than two seasons with the 76ers before being traded to Utah, where he played alongside John Stockton for six-plus seasons, helping the team twice reach the NBA Finals. Hornacek averaged 14.5 points per game, topped by a career-best 20.1 points in 1992, his final season with Phoenix. He retired from the game in 2000 and after working with the Jazz in various roles became a full-time assistant coach in 2011. ' ' '