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Miles’ Candidacy Brought Back Into Public Eye
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8 CommentsSo much for being secretive about the coaching search from now on.
Les Miles, despite signing a contract extension and despite saying he would be back with LSU next year, is still a serious candidate for the Michigan coaching job. Most have known that since Greg Schiano decided to not take the job last Friday. Even so, it was not really publicly known that he was again a candidate, or at least it was not established that way by any newspapers.
Since this coaching search got so messy back on the day of the SEC title game due to reports that Miles was going to be the new Michigan coach, regardless of whether or not they were true, it really put the kibosh on any chance of a deal with U-M working out. With Miles supposedly on the top of the list for the Michigan job, it was presumed that this information was sensitive due to what happened already. I said yesterday that it was only a matter of time until something leaked out, and only a day later that is now true as Mark Snyder of the Free Press reports that Michigan has contacted Miles.
Louisiana State coach Les Miles appears to be a Michigan coaching candidate again.Miles had a phone conversation Friday morning with Michigan athletic director Bill Martin and school president Mary Sue Coleman, according to several people with knowledge of the call.
While the call between the two sides did not identify Miles as the leading candidate for the coaching vacancy, it did give them a chance to interact formally for the first time and to discuss a number of issues previously handled through intermediaries.
I have absolutely no idea how this will change the nature of the search now that this information is public. LSU could go to Miles and tell him for good to make up his mind, and at the same time Michigan could do the same. Personally, the only thing I can guess with confidence from this story is that waiting for a few more weeks is not going to happen. I mentioned before that some thought Miles and Michigan would try to keep things quiet until after the BCS title game if a deal was agreed to, but as I pointed out, there was no way that information like that could be kept under wraps. As we have found out, that was true considering the fact that news of the two parties just talking got leaked out.
If Miles hasn’t gotten an offer yet, Michigan better make a decision quickly on whether or not he will eventually. At the same time, if Miles has gotten an offer, a decision needs to be made in the next few days before things once again get out of hand. If I’m Michigan, I go to Miles and ask him point blank: Will you be taking the job? Should Miles reply with the response that he’s still not sure, then ask what is keeping him from making a decision. As long as his requests are within reason and you feel that strongly about hiring him, then cater to what he wants to get this done.
Waiting before this article was a good thing as both sides had time to get something worked out. Now, though, waiting is not good as the questions will only continue to be asked in Miles’ direction. A distraction will quickly happen, and although we are still weeks away from the BCS title game, this thing could get ugly.
Stay tuned as I have a feeling the news won’t stop coming in. Now that it is known to everyone that Miles has been in contact with Michigan, all bets are off. LSU will have to react, Michigan will have to react, and most importantly, Miles will have to react. If a deal is going to be worked out to make Miles Michigan’s next head coach, then it needs to get done soon.
It would seem to me, that if Michigan did extend an offer to Miles, the ball is ultimately in Miles’ court to respond. What LSU could do is give Miles an ultimatum and say, commit now or you will never coach our team in the Championship Game. However, then it would be up to Miles to respond.
However, would you want to trust your national title hopes on your coordinators and not the man who got you there? Maybe, maybe not but I don’t think I would unless he actually quit before the big game.
And I agree with what Sue Coleman said, that you can’t speak with or about recruiting UNTIL you make the announcement (of who your coach will be).
My concern would be that Martin, Carr and maybe Coleman will not give Miles what he needs in order to agree to come, which would be foolish because why would you extend an offer if you’re not serious about it.
What I believe is possibly going on is this: The law suit of former WTKA radio show host Dave Shand is starting to take up most of Bill Martin’s time and they are approaching a January 2008 court date. This is taking his time away from the coaching search. Therefore, with all of the heat that Martin and Coleman is receiving about Miles, Coleman simply took over and said “Let’s get Miles.”
That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Lloyd is so leaking this information out!!!
Lloyd is so leaking this information out!!!
Lloyd is so leaking this information out!!!
Lloyd is so leaking this information out!!!
Les Miles will get owned by Jim Tressel!!
How will it feel to pay $2.5 million a year plus the $1.25 million buyout for a coach to go 0-2 against THE OHIO STATE in the next 11 months? (tOSU will cream Miles’ underachieving LSU team in the national title game and embarrass UM next fall.)
Anon 1:30,
Miles will be 0-3 against Tressel in 11 months. Miles’ oklahoma state team got crushed in the Alamo Bowl by THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY. Different coach, same result!!!
GO BUCKEYES!!!!!!!!!!
Walmart Wolverines:
It’s not too late to jump on THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY’S BANDWAGON!!!!!
Sorry, I think that Ohio St. bandwagon is reserved solely for truck drivers with 5th grade educations.
ST,
Good point. Wal-Mart Wolverines are not intelligent enough to become bandwagon Buckeye fans, who have the intelligence equivalent to a 5th grader.