Les Miles was a popular topic of conversation on Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference, and Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze was not shy about how much respect he had for the former LSU coach.

“When I heard the news, my stomach was sick,” Freeze said. “Les has been so genuinely kind to me and my family. I understand the money involved… but with him, you get what you see.”

Miles was fired following a 2-2 start and entered this season on the hot seat after a couple of down seasons with the Tigers. Filling in as LSU’s interim coach is Ed Orgeron, who was the head coach at Ole Miss from 2005-07 and hired Freeze as an assistant for the Rebels.

“I’m indebted to him for giving him a chance,” Freeze said of Orgeron. “I would not be where I am today with him. He gave me an on-the-field job after only 1 year and trusted me to be a coach for him… If we all had the work ethic of him, we would all be better off. He will have that team ready to go.”