Miles officially contacted; dipshit athletic department sure to mess it up

From the Freep:

Louisiana State coach Les Miles appears to be a Michigan coaching candidate again.

Miles had a phone conversation Friday morning with Michigan athletic director Bill Martin and school president Mary Sue Coleman, according to several people with knowledge of the call.

So, I guess this is good for the pro-Miles folks because, obviously, there has been more contact. Les seems to want the job still based on his radio comments the past few days.

HOWEVER (and this is a big deal), I'm still not convinced that Michigan wants Les as the coach. As this search drags on, it's more and more apparent that Les is the ONLY top-tier coach that is interested in the position. There is a laundry list of good coaches that might be available, but EVERY SINGLE ONE has already said they're not interested in the Michigan job. (Seriously, when's the last time a search like this went on where EVERY coach asked said he isn't interested: Schiano, Ferentz, Cam Cameron, Payton, to name a few; and those who might be interested aren't on the list, like Kelly, Tedford, Peterson).

So, knowing that Les is the only top-candidate left, and also knowing that he would make about 90% of alumni and former players happy, you'd think that, if they REALLY wanted Les, they'd make him an offer he'd have no choice but to accept - remember how much cash Alabama threw at Saban last year? Don't get me wrong, $2.5M/year (reported offer out to Les) is a decent offer, and Les would probably take it since he says money isn't a factor. But at a University that's about to spent upwards of a quarter-billion dollars on a stadium renovation, it's hard to believe that the department couldn't come up with an extra $1m per year to entice the ONLY coach who makes sense for this job, if Miles were truly the guy they wanted for it.

Conclusion: Miles isn't necessarily their guy still. I'm not sure what type of symbol from the heavens they are looking for on this one - it's pretty obvious to everyone else. But until they make up their mind that they WANT Les - and really, what choice do they have at this point? - this thing will continue to drag on and/or it WILL END BADLY.

LSU AD is kind of a dick

Exhibit A and B

"There's a bias as to why would a guy would stay at LSU when he could go to Michigan," Bertman said Monday. "I'm here to tell you it's a better job. It's more money. It's the only school in the state. It's a wonderful place. His wife loves it here, he loves it here.

Also:

"If Bo Schembechler were here today, I don't think he could have gotten Les," Bertman said.

And:

No disrespect intended, Bertman said, but "if the guy from Rutgers turned it down, why can't Les?"

A couple notes for Bertman: First of all, YOU'RE THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, maybe you should choose your words a little more carefully. Say what you want about Bill Martin - hell, I started a website calling for him to be fired - but at least the guy is classier than to rip another school in the press.

And second, until Michigan names a new coach, or until a football is kicked off in late August/September, the Les Miles to Michigan thing won't be over. So on that possibility, you might want to just keep your mouth shut.

Tuesday Morning Press

Freep:
Miles is back in the picture

Who else might be interested?

Braylon's dad supports Miles; so do most other alumni

Wilbon in favor of Cam Cameron; Cameron not interested

Detroit News:
LSU AD says its over with Les to Michigan

M Live:
LSU AD says same thing he said to Detroit News

Carty on WTKA audio - some more on Schiano

Les back in the mix

As I've thought all along, things with Les might not be done yet. It appears that Mary Sue Coleman has stepped in and began a dialogue with Miles or

Mgoblog:

The set of things that seem most likely to be true at this time:

• Miles has an offer for $2.5 million a year.
• He's got a few days to consider it.
• The main hangups appear to be assistant pay and the role of Carr in his program.
• Martin has been at least partially usurped.

This is a good thing, but probably nowhere near bankable yet. The longer we go without a coach, the more it would seem to favor Miles taking the job. But with the National Championship game still a month away, this thing will probably twist and turn a bit more before anything definitive plays out.

Petersen Profiles

Two differing viewpoints

Pro Petersen: Leaders and Best

Not-so Pro Petersen: Mgoblog

Not that any of this matters. I'm not sure that two years as Boise HC will get you considered by Bill Martin and the gang.

Rumor with 0% substance

Based apparently on absolutely no source or insider information, Footballscoop.com is reporting that Brian Kelly will be named head coach soon.

This site probably has more credibility than Footballscoop.com - that link is posted more or less only for entertainment value.

More MSM coverage

Freep:
Recruiting
What's next
Payton says no

M Live:
Les vs. Lloyd
Carty: on Bill Martin(from Saturday)

Just how embarassing is this search?

Very, according to CBS Sportsline.

Michigan? It's gone. The Michigan we knew and feared has been replaced by a smarmy, screwed-up bunch of elitists who think Michigan is still great because, well, we're Michigan. No, you're not. You're not even Arkansas.

Leavitt (USF) as Michigan's Dark Horse

This is somewhat of a logical choice which means I'm sure the athletic department isn't even considering it. But The Realests have some interesting evidence in favor of Jim Leavitt from South Florida as a candidate for the Michigan job.

What Schiano and Kelly have done is great, but neither can touch Leavitt in terms of accomplishments at their schools. This program began in 1997, the same year Michigan last won the national title. Not jumped to Division I. Started from scratch. And just three years ago, USF went 4-7 as a member of Conference USA. Fast forward to 2007 and they're already a top 25 program. To build a powerhouse in Tampa, Florida of all places with the likes of Florida State, Florida and Miami all poaching your recruits, you have to be an incredible coach.

They make some other good points. Head over there and check it out.

Les Miles Wants to be Coach at Michigan

Brian over at mgoblog has posted the audio of the Les Miles interview on Dan Patrick earlier. Check it out.

I'm only halfway through the interview, but it is SO clear to me that Les wants to be the coach of the Wolverines. First of all, he's choosing his words very carefully, and he continues to leave the door open. He is even planting the seeds of why he would leave LSU - he played at Michigan, he met his wife there, had his son there, etc. There are parts of the interview that play out almost as if Miles had been offered and accepted the job already. This is crazy.

This is a clear signal that this is 100% on Martin and Michigan. Miles is a Michigan Man looking to come home, but the administration STILL won't let it happen. (Hence, the name of this website.)

We'll continue to see how this plays out, but I wouldn't be surprised if the soap opera gets even more dramatic as the weeks drag on...

Miles practically BEGGING for the job!!

If you're in the "We want Les Miles" camp, this will make your stomach turn:

Miles:
I had met my wife at Michigan; I had my first child there. I was raised as a coach there. Do you just turn around and tell those people, “Leave me alone” -- before they even ask to speak to you?

The guy is already making excuses for bailing on LSU even BEFORE he has done it. He wants to be Michigan's next coach and it shows. Further support that Martin and the anti-Miles faction are the reason that he isn't going to be the next Michigan coach, and not the "greed" or money that has been so often referenced.

Friday afternoon update

Mlive: Schiano turns down Michigan

Mlive: Agent: Michigan has not contacted Payton

Freep: Rutgers' Schiano withdraws from U-M coach search

Freep: Brian Kelly is out

Also, check out the latest on mgoblog for some good analysis