Props to our own Brian Cook, who has stood sentinel over the Les Miles-to-Michigan watch since about mid-September, for digging this up over at MGoBlog. It's a quote from the website of Lafayette, Louisiana newspaper The Daily Advertiser, in which LSU athletic director Skip Bertman addresses the possibility that Les Miles could be offered and accept the head coaching position at Michigan before LSU plays in the BCS championship game (should they make it that far). The Daily Advertiser says:LSU athletic director Skip Bertman said if such a scenario develops, he would want Miles to coach the Tigers in the national championship game before leaving for Michigan.The idea that LSU have their team and coaching staff intact through the championship and Michigan could get their man is a scenario Cook calls "the optimal solution for all parties." Of course, he could be forgetting about the LSU fans who actually want to keep Miles as their coach; they might not see all of this as "optimal."
"If it were to be a national championship and the advantage for LSU to win, it would be my opinion that I'd want the coach (Miles) there to win the game," he said. "But I think that the decision to be made is too premature to even talk about for something like that."
Back to Bertman's quote, is it an off-the-cuff remark being taken out of context? Or is it a message to Michigan that there's a way LSU wants the situation handled, and these are the rules? While Cook seems to be leaning toward the latter, and Ryan Ferguson thinks it's a done deal, I'm taking the former point of view, as I don't believe LSU will let their coach go without a fight.
On the other hand, maybe the fight has already happened behind the scenes, and LSU lost.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
11-21-2007 @ 10:12PM
I BLEED CRIMSON !!!! said...
MILES AND TUBBERVILLE IN THE SAME SEASON ???
DID SABAN SCARE THEM THAT BAD ??????????????????????
Steve
Reply
11-21-2007 @ 10:39PM
rick said...
YEAH, 6-5 BAMA SCARIN EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY UL MONROE
Reply
11-21-2007 @ 11:36PM
George B Vieto said...
Les Miles will coach the Tigers through the bowl game and go to Michigan and get his dream job.
Reply
11-21-2007 @ 11:46PM
Peter Kingan said...
Go Hogs.
Reply
11-22-2007 @ 12:24AM
Tfan said...
Miles will be leaving LSU and heading home. In todays world, coaches can name their price, especially when they go "home". LSU and Miama fans said Saban bailed......but in reality, they all have something that pulls at their heart, we jump in and sometimes it's the wrong choice, we live, we learn.......and this is just life.
Reply
11-22-2007 @ 1:16AM
KGar said...
Huge step down for Miles if he were to go to Michigan. Recruiting at LSU is pretty special right now. Michigan was a great job 20 years ago but times have changed, Rustbelt is DEAD. #1 in unemployment, foreclosures and top 5 in Meth production, but football, yesterdays news.
Reply
11-22-2007 @ 8:00AM
craig said...
We will gladly welcome Les Miles back to Ann Arbor. If he chooses not to, other than Saban there isnt a coach in the land who wouldnt want the job.
Reply
11-22-2007 @ 8:14AM
craig said...
I see there are clowns who cant carry on an intelligent conversation about sports without being idiots...meth production? Obviously a jilted LSU fan, get over it, clown
Reply
11-22-2007 @ 9:24AM
Jim said...
Will a boat load of money keep Les Miles at LSU? I don't think so.... he is Maize and Blue. He will bring his recruiting tactics to Ann Arbor and watch out! Graduation rates will go from mediocre to rock bottom... but UM will win, and thats all that matters to UM fans!
Reply
11-22-2007 @ 9:55AM
Sacalait said...
I am a La. resident and a LSU fan. Who cares if Miles leaves? He is a lucky sideline spectator when the game is on the line. The best head coach is one who can recruit. Saban could, but not really any more. The highschool coaches and other influential people have found out what a lot of people already knew. Saban loves Saban and Miles loves Miles. Snubb Miles and give Crowton the job at LSU
Reply
11-22-2007 @ 1:41PM
Jim said...
LSU fan no matter what you think, SABAN can still and is recruiting very WELL at ALABAMA. He doesn't want the job at Michigan either.It would be a step down from were he is now. He will be able to recruit in Louisiana and all the SEC area. He has already proven that this year. Also to the other person stating about LA-Monroe game. Well The SEC coaches do fear how well he will recruit and train his players from the time they get on campus. He'll instill good work promgrams for them and put a desire to give 100%.. He has proven that at each school he has been at. These players he recruits may not win every game, but they will have the desire to win more than the ones he got from the mess he signed up with. You don't move into your new house before its built, so you don't win games until your team is built either. Some players can't be repaired either, just look at the NFL.. So many good players not caring but about self.. So there you have it. Michigan will get Miles and he may be there 3 years before they wise up and fire him as he isn't getting good recruits like he had at LSU.. You'll find he can't recruit, also he can't coach as people think he can. Carr has left him coaches at Michigan that have a contract that will last longer, so he will have Carr's personal for a while. He want have the hand picked coaches Saban left him with either.
Reply
11-22-2007 @ 1:49PM
TIM KISTNER said...
I THINK THE MICHIGAN COACH SHOWED NO CLASS IN ANNOUNCING HIS RETIREMENT PRIOR TO THE END OF THE SEASON. HE KNOWS THE RUMORS ABOUT LES MILES AND IT A CRYING SHAME HE PUTS THE LSU PLAYERS, FANS AND COACHES IN A WAIT AND SEE MODE. TOTALLY CLASSLESS. I'M GLAD HE LEAVES WITH HIS TAIL AND HEAD BETWEEN HIS LEGS AFTER NOT BEING ABLE TO HANDLE OHIO STATE. IF MILES GOES TO THAT KIND OF PROGRAM , HE DESERVES WHAT HE GETS. I CANT IMAGINE HIM LEAVING THE FOOD , PEOPLE AND THE PLAYERS HE HAS RECRUITED FOR A PROGRAM THAT IS SET ON ONE THING---BEAT OHIO STATE.BUT IF HE LEAVES ---LSU WILL CONTINUE TO THRIVE WITH A NEW COACH --SOUTHERN PRIDE---AND THE BEST FANS IN AMERICA---NO PLACE LIKE TIGER STADIUM BEFORE AND AFTER GAME
Reply
11-22-2007 @ 1:56PM
Jim said...
To TIM I agree with you 100%. I live in Michigan and I agree the SEC teams go after the SEC title, but to be able to go to the NATIONAL TITLE. That is their focus win it all. They could care less about the silly Rose Bowl.. That Bowl is over rated and isn't what it used to be..
Reply
11-22-2007 @ 3:50PM
stangfloss said...
he should take the job
Reply
11-22-2007 @ 10:59PM
Steve said...
just fire millen
Reply
11-23-2007 @ 5:21AM
nunya said...
I'm a Michigan fan, and I'm not salivating. I don't know whether I want Miles here or not, but I *am* glad a new day is coming (and I'm referring to both the coach and the arrogant seniors who talk trash to the media/about other teams, then turn around and lose games by bs-ing on the field). I also agree the comments are probably being taken out of context. However, as the Big Ten Network sports analysis team joked about, you're talking about a guy who called "Arkansas" Ar-KAN-Sis. Hmmm. Hasn't exactly adjusted to the SEC if he *still* can't figure out how to pronounce some of those teams' names! As far as his move being a step up or step down, whatever--that's another SEC vs Big Ten hater thing. Two things are true regardless: Les Miles is a Michigan man, so he could very well not care whether or not his coming to Michigan will be seen as a step up or down, especially if he feels he can bring the Michigan program back the respect it deserves (which he probably could); and no matter how lackluster Michigan seems to be in recent years, they still have a history to carry them and keep them more highly regarded than pretty much any SEC team, even if those some of those teams are doing better than Michigan right now.
Reply
11-23-2007 @ 7:48AM
matt young said...
The fact remains, Miles would be leaving the SEC and coming to a conference in which on any givin Saturday you can be beaten by another Big Ten team. He will not come in and dominate like he's doing in the conference he's in now.Not to mention he has to contend with Mr. Tressel and the mighty Buckeyes!If he does'nt do any better than Carr against Ohio State, he'll be gone quicker than a Louisanna Tick stealing Blood! Go Buckeyes!!!!!!!!!
Reply
11-23-2007 @ 8:09AM
The old man. said...
Football is cyclical. The Big Ten will one day out play the SEC. (Actually bowl record for Big Ten v. SEC at the end of 2005 = 22-22) Michigan is easily one of the top 3 places to coach in the country. If Les Miles gets an offer, he is bolting. Curly Hallman doesn't happen at Michigan, at least not in the las 40 years.
From Wikipedia:
MICHIGAN
National titles (11)
Conference titles (42)
Heisman winners (3)
All-Americans (76)
All-time record 868–286–36 (.745 Highest in Div 1A)
Postseason bowl record 18–20
The most winning seasons (109)
The most undefeated seasons in Division 1-A (25)
The longest current streak of non-losing seasons (40 seasons; 1968-present)
The longest current streak of bowl game appearances (33 seasons; 1975-present)
LSU
All-Time Record: 691-377-47 (.641)
Bowl Record: 18-18-1
National Championships (2) 1958, 2003
Conference Championships (12)
Heisman winners (1)
All Americans (43)
Reply
11-23-2007 @ 9:13AM
Ronald Campbell said...
Recruiting for Michigan is a no brainer - they get the cream of the crop year after year. It's the development of players and coaching that Michigan desires, wins, wins, wins.
Reply
11-23-2007 @ 10:59AM
darryl said...
LSU WIN WIN YEAR AFTER YEAR NO MATER WHO THE COACH IS. THE TALENT POOL IS TO GOOD
Reply