• His Away Grass
• The Porch Owl
• Macy's Card
• Cowboys Game Ball
His Away GrassThe Porch OwlMacy's CardCowboys Game Ball

While considering which office items he wanted to discuss, suddenly Miles had a moment of clarity. He fetched a small jewelry box out of a briefcase near his desk and opened it.

"Guess what this is," he said, revealing several dozen blades of brown grass in the small box. "This is my on-the-road grass. It's Tiger Stadium grass."

One of Miles' many quirks that made him a college football cult hero is his habit of putting a few blades of grass in his mouth during the game, as famously first caught on camera during a 2010 win over Alabama.

"I'd been doing it for years," Miles said. "At Oklahoma State. For years and for years."

This office visit took place during the offseason, so the grass in the box was dead. But when the Tigers are preparing to play at a domed stadium or at a venue with artificial turf, Miles said he entrusts sports information director Michael Bonnette with refilling his grass supply. He keeps the little box in his pocket during games in case he needs to get a quick fix of lush Tiger Stadium Green.

"It's used to cut a dry taste in your mouth. I get it in there occasionally," Miles said. "If I'm in a home field, I obviously don't bring it. If I'm on an artificial turf, obviously I need to bring it. Sometimes if I'm away and it's a grass turf, it doesn't make any difference to me. But I've enjoyed it."