Which would also imply that if Michigan ever came calling on Miles, it would likely mean he had another double-digit win season, and as a "top program" on the national level, I HARDLY doubt we'd let a head coach with three consecutive double-digit wins walk away--especially to another college program. I say "three straight double-digit wins" because that's really the only way I see Michigan going after Miles....MAYBE they would still be interested in him if he only won 9 games this year, but depending to whom and when we lost those 3 games. Michigan fans are just like we are: ALWAYS wanting perfection. Carr's troubles with the fan base at Michigan stem from multiple below 10-win seasons and especially for going 0-3 vs Ohio State the past few seasons...and if Miles only wins 9 games with a team predicted to be good enought to contend for a National Championship, then Michigan fans won't be as eager to get Miles. Basically, I don't think Miles is going anywhere. He leads LSU to back-to-back BSC bowl games, and I assure you, he would be getting a hefty pay raise from LSU. PLUS, if I'm not mistaken, Miles has a buyout clause in his contract with LSU for ONE team: Michigan. We're likely to be extending his contract with another solid season, and that, plus his buyout, won't be such an attractible thing for the Wolverines.
First of all, I don't think Michigan would offer Miles the job. It would get a lot of attention because Miles is a big name at a big school & former alum, but ultimately I think they'd go another direction. A lot of Michigan fans feel that Miles has burned a lot of bridges there, but then again that could change if Miles wins the NC next year. If Miles did leave next year, then I absolutely do not want Pelini or Crowton as HC. Crowton appears to have problems maintaning a program as a HC, and Pelini has never been a HC. I hope we keep positive ties to both these guys as they are both top notch coordinators who may one day become successful head coaches, but LSU will hire someone along the same criteria they've hired the last 2 - relative success at a mid-teir school.
Les has a $500,000 buyout no matter what team he goes to. Buyouts do not really keep coaches from leaving, they just provide money for LSU to pay off the assistant coaches.
i know some are big les fans but he certainly hasnt raised the bar higher than when satan left. satan won a NC which has created almost every expectation we have today. whether we hate him or not, thats just the reality of the situation. whether les fulfills those expectations is unknown since he hasnt even won the SEC yet. til then, he cant even be mentioned in the same mix until he does so. its all about championships. til les wins one he not only hasnt raised the bar, he will be viewed nationally as someone who couldnt maintain what he was given. the 22 wins and BCS win is nice but thats not what will determine les' legacy. the coaching business is a bitch i tell ya. les is in a win at all costs situation but he knew that when he took over.
It's all about winning. If Les keeps winning, the championships will come. Hell, Tuberville has only one SEC title in ten years at Auburn and he's considered a top coach. Les did make it to the SECCG in his rookie year in the SEC, that's never been done before. He was given a 9-3 team and went 11-2 with it. Indeed it is, all coaches are in the same boat, but Les is winning. I'll wait until he actually starts losing before writing him off.
let me clarify.... imo, it has raised the bar on what will be expected of a hc in their first year or two. in the long term no, i agree that the expectations are still an sec title and a trip to - if not winning - a nc game.
means much of nothing as time goes on. all about championships not simply winning. Les followed a NC coach not auburn or south carolina. ask larry coker the difference. not about writing him off when he's not written in. Im speaking nationally mostly but its also the sentiment among many local fans. its the nature of the beast. not sure thats possible. a NC is expected among many because of satan's ascent to the top of the perch. there's no greater expectations than what les took over.
i agree with you on that point. but i think only the unrealistic expected that in the first year or two. given that miles has done better with "sabans talent" in his first year than saban did in his last, i think that short of a fema-esque meltdown of the program, future head coaches are going to be expected to have the same kind of season right away. i fully expect to hear how les miles did in his first season as a reason to bash a first year hc with 3 (or god forbid, more) losses.
Les is a good solid coach. How long did it take Osborne, Paterno, Bowden to win a nat. championship? A long time. Did that make them less than great coaches? I don't think so, those guys were all quality before winning nat. championships. They sustained their programs at high levels until they broke through. Now the objective is to win championships, and it completes the resume, but it may take a lot of tries in some cases. Their respective universities gave these guys the time, seeing as they were doing very good jobs. Les is doing a very good job. We need to give him some time to get his shots.
