Dooley recruited 17 of LSU's title game starters

Before Les Miles begins taking too much credit for coaching the LSU Tigers to the BCS championship, he needs to send a thank you card to Alabama coach Nick Saban and Louisiana Tech coach Derek Dooley.

Dooley, currently attending the American Football Coaches Association conference, had a vested interest in seeing the Tigers do well. He was instrumental in signing 17 of the LSU starters, while he was an assistant under Saban at LSU.

"I sat in the homes and visited with at least 13 of the starters," Dooley said recently. "We were coming off a national championship season and that's what we sold the kids on. Those seniors got what they deserved."

Sure ... Miles did the coaching on Monday night. But he's remiss if he doesn't give some credit with it's due.