BATON ROGUE, La. -- Les Miles can look back on the decision to move the Arizona State game from Baton Rouge to Tempe, Ariz., in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and say it was the right thing to do.

At the time, he admitted Wednesday, he wasn't so sure.

"I want you to know they took me kicking and screaming to Arizona for an 'away' game,' " Miles said, drawing raucous laughter from a packed house at Boudreaux's where he was the featured speaker at the weekly meeting of the Baton Rouge Rotary Club.

Turning to LSU athletic director Skip Bertman next to him on the dais, Miles faux-pleaded as he may have last week, saying, "Explain this one more time, Skip."

Afterward, Miles said he realized the victory may have been his finest hour in a lifetime spent in football.

"I tell you this. There may not have been any game I've ever played that was as important for a team to win," Miles said.

"Not for the standings. Not for national recognition. Not for being first in the country. But for giving something back. To lighten the load for those people busting their tails to dig out, for people suffering enormous loss.

"For them to say for a couple of hours on Saturday night, 'Hey, how are (the Tigers) doing? What's the score?' I'm proud of our team."

The Tigers' 35-31 victory has been lauded for its drama -- two blocked kicks leading to LSU touchdowns and five fourth-quarter lead changes -- as well as derided for its lack of defense (560 total yards allowed to the Sun Devils).

But it was a win. To Miles, after days of having his players and coaches volunteer to help those evacuated to the LSU campus after the storm, it was the best way to give something to those afflicted by the storm.

"The team had a desire to play that was excellent," said Miles, sporting a gold tie and a Mike the Tiger lapel pin on his dark suit. "They showed they wanted to win the game more than any team I've coached.

"I believe in my heart it was a gift of our players back to our state and to the south. I enjoyed it fully."

Miles said the experience of volunteering, donating clothes to storm victims and reaching out to teammates who for days may not have known the whereabouts of some loved ones -- all of his players' immediate family have been accounted for, Miles said -- will draw his team closer.

"I think with the direction we have now, considering the unusual schedule and what's happened, I think our team is closer," Miles said. "I think there is a more cohesive feel, more of a bond with this team. I think there is a real strong want to on a game-by-game basis to want to give back to this state and to the south.

"I think you will see that in their preparation and their play."

Miles apologized in his opening remarks for waiting until the Tigers' first open-date week to make an appearance before the Rotary Club. Most if not all head coaches in the modern era of LSU football have taken to the podium to speak before a meeting of the Baton Rouge Rotary Club.

He joked about how he learned what an important appointment it was to keep.

"I got a letter from Mr. Wade Smith that informed me that my three (older) kids would no longer be in the (University) Lab School," Miles said jokingly. Smith, who runs University Lab School, is a new Rotary member. "I told my wife it had to be a coincidence."

Because LSU's scheduled opener with North Texas was moved from Sept. 3 to Oct. 29, this will be the No. 3-ranked Tigers' only open date week. Like many in the room, Miles said he will be watching tonight's game between No. 5 Tennessee and No. 6 Florida.

Tennessee visits LSU next Saturday for a 7:45 p.m. game. Florida comes to Tiger Stadium on Oct. 15.

"I'm looking forward to attacking this Tennessee club," Miles said. "They're very talented. They certainly have a team of national caliber. We can't wait to get them in our stadium and wear them out. That's kind of the thought."

For now, there is still some business to settle from the Arizona State game. Miles said LSU sent video of 17 calls his staff considered mistakes made by the SEC officiating crew at the Arizona State game to the conference office.

Among them was a play in the first quarter when Arizona State downed a punt at the LSU 1, though it appeared to Miles that the ball broke the plane of the end zone.

Someone in the audience asked Miles how the call was explained to him.

"At first they started by saying they had been drinking," Miles said jokingly, "so I understood.

"They (the SEC) defended their calls as best they could."

Miles was also asked to defend his defense which gave up 461 yards passing among the 560 total yards.

"The plan was good," Miles said. "We didn't execute. I promise you we want the defense to improve."