Rodriguez to Michigan- It's almost official

Sven, it's a yoke, by golly!

 

All parties (Miles, his agent, and Michigan spokesmen) have publicly stated that there was no contact before the SEC championship game. You are just guessing.

Nonsense, more guessing and ignoring public statements. LSU didn't even write Les a new contract, they just extended it. He gets the same raises that he was promised in his existing contract. LSU just wanted Les to get their offer first, expecting Michigan to offer him after the game.

Not exactly. Les was not desperate, he knew he had a fine job at LSU and he was not given a take it or leave it option. Miles agent did his job by attempting to inform Michigan about LSU's extension of Miles contract and ask about the seriousness of Michigan's interest in his client. I think Les wanted to get an offer from Michigan out of pride and respect, but wasn't going to mess up a good thing at LSU over it.

Meanwhile ESPN overreached and announced that Miles was definitely going to Michigan on the morning of the SEC championship game which was a huge distraction to his team, still in contention for the National Championship game. So he decided that nostalia for his alma mater was not worth ruining his team's chances for conference and national titles. This is what Les stated publicly and anything else is guessing and speculating.

It is by no means certain that Miles would have accepted it, being extremely successful at LSU and under no pressure at all. He had already promised his recruits and certain officials at LSU that he was not going anywhere, but publicly he wanted that offer from Michigan for a contract bargaining chip and for his ego--ie, that Nick Saban isn't the only highly desired coach out there.

But Martin screwed up by not making an immediate and unconditional offer to Miles if he wanted him. Les sure as hell wasn't going to be interviewed and sit on a short list waiting for Michigan's decision, when he had championship games going on.