It's very simple: "My policy is to not discuss any job related issues during the season" Wash, rinse, repeat
Now that I think about it some more, some coaches should handle it differently. Like Weis and Franchione should say, "Hahaha, can you y'all explain why they haven't fired me yet?" Or Tuberville could say, "Damn right I might go to A&M. For all I know, the jerks that pay me now are trying to get Petrino to leave ATL." Or Mike Price, "Yes, I'm definitely available." Or finally, Hal Mumme, "Does Pop Warner have a jobs website yet?"
Well Wee just called me and said that the Les Miles rumors have moved past the LSU forums and into national spotlight. I told him that I think Miles is an honest man and one with intergrity, and that I would understand him leaving us for HIS dream job. I think if that is the case and in anyother case, the coach in question should go to the school and hammer out the details in private (hard to do but it can be done) and in those details in the contract it says, "No mention, nor any actions of this matter SHALL take place until AFTER my current team has finished their season. If ANY of the forementioned takes place this contract is voided" In our case I would hope that Miles would go to UM and say IF you want me this is the way we do it. Carr does not retire nor will he be fired until after LSU is done playing!
How would we feel if Carr Resigns on Monday and on Tuesday Miles holds a press conference and says: I have had life changing experiences here at LSU, My Family Loves Baton Rouge, The SEC is the best conference for college football and there is no place like Tiger Stadium on a Saturday Night. But, I have to follow my heart back to Michigan after our season here at LSU is over on January 8th. LSU will have my full attention until then, to include continued recruiting and winning the NC for LSU, our fans and our players. I will do everything in my power to help the university and players with transition to the new staff. How would we feel. He was honest. Ended speculation early. Minimized the distraction and gave us plenty of time to court a new head coach and get him started recruiting prior to the season being over. The players would know he is being honest and he would be coaching his final game along with the seniors playing their last game. Just a thought.
Personally, I think the sole focus should be on the task at hand. If you're not capable of putting aside the pursuit of another school or job while still maintaining your best at your current place of employment then perhaps you shouldn't be the object of pursuit in the first place. Thus I think it is best simply to not comment on it. Maintain your only focus is the football team and opportunity at hand, and that whatever happens down the line will have to do so once you have completed the ultimate goal you've been building toward for three years or however long you have been at your current job. It's simple, honest, and it should be the truth. Just my two cents.
Any coach should just say "no comment" until the season is over. Then he should either take another job and announce it or he should stay and announce it. No lying (Nick in 2004, Nick in 2007). No waffling (Nick in 2004, Nick in 2007). And no expecting to coach another game after you've resigned. (Nick in 2004). If Miles leaves at the end of the regular season, then he needs to say nothing at all until he resigns and then just walk away to his new school and let LSU find an interim coach, probably Crowton, to finish the bowl season.
I haven't seen a suggestion yet that would stop the media from repeatedly bringing the question up. There are some that seem good if you take them on face value, but they wouldn't stand for a minute with the media types you see today. Hell, you can have one reporter ask a question and then 10 minutes later the very same question is asked by another.
