Re: This Les Miles talk sounds familiar I will go ahead and point out the obvious. When he made those comments he was at a middle of the pack Big-12 school and left for a Top SEC program that was and is and will continue to compete for SEC and National Championships. Now Miles is at the Top SEC program that is currently in a National Title run, and will be in the National Title picture for years to come and is being questioned about leaving for a program that is not even competing for a Big 10 championship, and will not be competive in that weaker conference for several years. But with all that said, I think the chances of Miles leaving are 45%-50% And on a final note, please direct this post to one of the many threads already addressing Miles going to Michigan.
Another factor. We lose at least 7 defensive starters this year, and possibly as many as 9. Miles knows this, and though there is talent behind them, few teams can overcome this in a season. Couple that with the dreaded even year schedule, losing your quarterback, and having a guy with history and a freshman as your replacements, losing two starting olinemen, your top receiver and tailback, and it has a recipe for disaster. Miles knows all of this, and may play a role in his decision.
Couple that with the inevitable loss of Bo Pelini to the Huskers. As for the tampering is tampering discussion. All I'm asking is what is the point where it is OK versus not being OK? What if it were the Cotton Bowl instead of the Alamo Bowl? What if it were another BCS bowl but not the MNC game? What is the waterline point that makes it OK for a school to start poaching another school's coaches while they are still have games to play? David Harrell - Pokes dwh
I agree with that statement in the long term, but in the short term this situation could potentially cost us a SEC championship and a National Title. LSU has to make the best of this situation. It's not like we will be National Title contenders every year. You have to do it and finish the job when the situation arises and this coaching situation can throw a kink in the works. In the long run LSU will be fine with whatever is decided I just don't want the situation to screw us now.
I've seen posts on here lately about LSU needing an "LSU man" for a coach. Quite frankly, I agree with this. Problem is, who IS this "LSU man"? We haven't had an "LSU man" for at least 25+ years. Not Arnsparger, Archer, Hallman, Dinardo, or Saban for sure. After watching Les' presser yesterday, and thinking about it thru the day today...(I have lots of time on my hands at this time of year, OK?)...I am convinced that Les Miles IS that "LSU man"! I haven't seen the kind of emotion and passion from ANY coach of ANY school that I saw from Miles yesterday about LSU. He is really torn up over this issue, IMHO. Problem is, he's a "Michigan man", too. Not much we can do about that. I don't think 3 years ago Les was an "LSU man", but has become one over the 3 years he has been here. Nobody knows which side is pulling harder on his heartstrings, but IMHO...it's good to know that LSU DOES have a hold on him, too. So, where does this leave us? I want this to be an optimistic post, so I'll keep the many answers to this question on the positive side for LSU. First, Les has a :crystal: to think about. I don't think he's willing to let that opportunity pass him by. Secondly, I don't think for a second that Les has $$$ as his sole motivation, BUT...if he should WIN :crystal: , he will automatically receive a payraise to the $3.5-$4 mil neighborhood. I don't think UM WILL match it, especially considering the $1.25 mil buyout they would also have to eat. They don't typically pay coaches like SEC schools do, so that's something to think about. Third, I don't think UM WANTS Les Miles...or anyone LIKE him. UM is more conservative than SabanFan!!:hihi: Do you think they want a coach that calls out other conferences in the off season, or refers to OSU as "an effin' rival"? I don't think so...yet this is why we LOVE HIM! Fourth, family. Les strikes me as one who would not want to do things that would in any way upset his family. Of course we know that his wife is from Michigan, and used to also coach there. That's how they met. But he has a daughter that is one of the top swimmers in the USA...I'm talking Olympic potential, here. Does she wanna stay where she is? She's the state champion in her event. Does she wanna go to a new high school and jeopardize that? Does he want to make her? Finally, the future. At LSU, Miles KNOWS that the future is bright...and the time to strike is when the iron is hot. As storied a program as UM is, right now, it's a rebuilding effort. The seniors that came back to give it one more shot are gone after this season. QB, RB, WR, and others. Key members that will have to be replaced. Right now, LSU is loaded...and especially the offense...for the FUTURE...as in NEAR FUTURE. Singularly, maybe none of these things are enough to make Les stay...but together? We'll just have to wait and see. I just think there's enough reason to be optimistic.:thumb:
Optimism is good. I think Miles knows what he's got here. If Michigan calls, however. He. Is. Gone. My 2 centavos.
Not Stovall?!!? He's from the Monroe area, nearly won the Heisman while playing for LSU, was a an assistant under Cholly Mac, then head coach. If ain't an LSU guy, then Miles ain''t no Michigan man.
Fishhead, that is an excellent analysis. :thumb: In the back of my confused mind I wonder how strong Les's ties to UM really are now that Bo has passed. If Bo still had a role in the UM Athletic Dept. and called Les and said "We want you.", I think Les would be gone. I agree that Les is probably not a lead pipe #1 within the UM administration. I just wish that this whole scenario ended soon one way or the other. Our focus should be on another :crystal: and not wondering who's going to be our head coach in 2008.
