Is Michigan still Les Miles' "Dream Job"?

this was posted on this site in 07 !

not sure if it makes me feel more that Les will stay or go

:tigereye:cliff






The news that Les Miles is remaining with LSU is shocking to everybody, even some of his closest friends.

I was on the phone with one of Miles' boys Saturday morning and he was telling me some of the names Miles was bringing to Michigan. He sounded excited as ESPN reported this to be a done deal. The details were exciting and it sounded like Michigan was breaking the mode of Bo Schembechler and Lloyd Carr and doing something that would make this an elite program again.

We hung up and he called me back 15 minutes later and said there has been a major snag. LSU had sweetened the offer and he said that Miles had second thoughts. Money was the major factor but there was something else Miles got a bad vibe about.

He knew he was coming to enemy territory. He feared that he would never be embraced by Carr and that he'd be fighting that the entire time he was here. Miles wanted to retain some of the Michigan assistants because he respects their ability. However, he feared that he could not. They were loyal to Carr and he feared divisions within the program before he even got started.

Michigan was offering good money. It did not match the $3 million he will get at LSU but the Wolverines were willing to go as high as $2.4 million to lure him.

When you heard this was a done deal, trust me it was. But a man is allowed to rethink things and change his mind. Even Miles' closest friends were paving the way for him get relearn the community.

In fact a private meeting between me and Miles was being set up after he got to town. That is how close this thing was.

Now Michigan must start from scratch. Let's see how Blue recovers from this shocker.

I can be reached at [email protected] or 313-222-1494.


I knew when Lloyd said he wasnt going anywhere that nothing was going to change.

 

:geaux: Key point. I don't think Les lies to a player like ZM about coaching him for his career at LSU and then shafts him by going to Michigan. Les isn't that type, IMO. When CLM gives his word, he keeps it. Period. Also agree with the above points made on the family. The kids have grown up here and Baton Rouge is "home" to them. That also means a lot to a man like CLM. I don't think he's leaving LSU. :LSU231:

 

:geaux: And Carr is still involved at Michigan and will be a player when a coaching change is made. It was made clear in several articles back in '07 that Carr was not a fan of Miles at all and I doubt he's changed his mind since then. If CLM made the move he would still have that opposition to face once he got there.

And unless he started beating OSU's butt immediately things would't get any better. Not sayin' it won't happen, but I don't see it. Miles has his hater's here, but that's nothing compared to what he'd face if the string of losses to OSU continued for a couple of years or so after he got there. And it would because the talent RichRod has recruited up there isn't at the level Les has here at LSU and is all wrong for the type of offense he runs. And maybe Les doesn't like shoveling snow now either. :hihi: :LSU231:

 

Perhaps, I'm wrong but it sounds like some people are setting CLM up to be a liar if he bolts for Michigan. I have never heard him say he will not take the UM job if offered. This "I am not interested in jobs where my name is mentioned" is just coach speak. It's meaningless and it won't make him a liar.


Do we know for a fact that CLM told Mett that he will remain at LSU for the duration of Mett's eligibility or did he maybe say, "To be honest, I would listen to any offer from UM but that isn't likely to happen; otherwise I will be at LSU. But you need to commit to a program and LSU is a great program. No matter who the coach is, you won't find a better football program or academic facility."

I'm just saying, I've never heard anything from Miles that could be construed as him lying if he takes over at Michigan.

 

I think his decision to leave or not would be a family decision. While comparing the military and football is apples and oranges, frequent moves are a part of both professions. The higher in rank I've gone, the more input I have on assignments. None of my kids have lived in La., or at least weren't old enough to remember, but they know La. is home. (I know Les is from Ohio, but his roots are in Michigan).

Frequent moves are tough on the kids more than anything else, especially when they get older. But they get used to it. They may not like it, but when deciding where we go next, it is a family decision. It's always about opportunity, not necessarily location. There are lots of great places to be stationed that on the outside may seem like a great place, but short on opportunities. I've been stationed in some great places; outstanding location, facilities and lots of things for the family. But I'm always drawn back to my roots in La. and I know that's where I want to be, no matter how great I've had it in other places. The tug to come home will always be strong.

 

I agree

The tug to go home and build Mign will be very strong. I think if Migh makes a offer Les will go with the blessings of his family knowing his heart is in Migh!




LSU will move on and I will pull for Les if he decides to go home.




I am NOT on edge about this. It will be what it is going to be.


Geaux Tigers

 

If miles leaves he leaves. Lsu will still have one of the best recruiting hotspots in the country and a historic stadium along with all the extras that help attract and develop top notch players. I don't think it will be as easy to replace miles as some think. Tenn has a historic stadium and all the extras also and they didn't attract a mega coach. Florida has been on top of the football world for years and I don't think they hit the home run either.There are many historic powerhouse schools like notre dame and Miami that have not been able to attract the coach they needed to remain relevent. You can say " but were LSU " all you want but it will be damn hard to replace a coach with the ability to win in the sec like we have with miles. Miles may be a lot of crazy things but one things for sure he has proven that he can compete with the best of them here in the sec. It will be damn hard to replace him if he decides to leave. There are very few coaches that have what it takes to win in the sec. There will be a lot of pretenders that will promise the world and you can't be sure who's for real. We know miles is a winner and it will be a big loss to lsu football to see him go

 

I hope your right. Really I hope miles stays but if he does go I pray we steal a good one. Michigan thought they were stealing a good one with rich rod and he wasn't what was advertised.

 

nice +1

many in BR believe they could coach LSU with all that talent every year!