Rabalais: Speculation on Miles heating up
Notes on a two-point conversion chart while trying to sort out SEC East tiebreakers …
… You just have to figure this Les Miles-Michigan thing isn’t going to go away unless Lloyd Carr does return for the 2008 season or until Big Blue finds someone else to be Carr’s successor.
An Internet blog, citing the famous “unnamed sources,” said Carr will announce his retirement Monday.
After that, pick your speculation superhighway. One, favored by Michigan beat writer Angelique Chengelis of The Detroit News, says Miles would be Michigan’s top candidate. Another view, shared with us by Jim Carty of the Ann Arbor News, says Miles is hardly a lock.
Asked Tuesday if he wants to be back at Michigan next year, Carr laughed and said: “The only thing on my mind is this game.” Considering Saturday’s game is Ohio State and once again is for the Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl berth, that’s sound. But it doesn’t sound like a denial.
Miles, speaking on ESPN’s Mike Tirico radio show Tuesday, also did his best Trindon Holliday end run around the issue.
“Well,” he said, “I’ve got to be real honest with you. I’m doing what Bo (Schembechler, the late Michigan coach) would do. He says, ‘Hey, you worry about the job you’ve got. Don’t worry about anything else. Coach the guys and the team that you are responsible for.’ ”
That’s sensible, except when you think that’s what Miles was doing right up to the end of the 2004 Alamo Bowl before he left Oklahoma State for LSU.
“I’m not paying attention to what-ifs,” Miles said, before letting maize and blue color his words. “Coach Carr’s a great coach, and he should stay as long as he’s able, and I’ll root for that team, not only this Saturday, but every Saturday that I’m alive. I give little or no thought to any other opportunity.”
A cynical reader of the space between the lines would say Miles gives little or no thought of any other opportunity but the Michigan job. I sincerely doubt he would ever leave LSU for any other gig — not in college nor the NFL. The Michigan job is the 800-pound gorilla sitting in the living room of LSU’s football future.
… For any national media types reading this, hopefully we can clear up a few things about Miles and LSU.
… He has a $1.25 million buyout to leave LSU for Michigan, not a clause in his contract that says he can leave for Michigan for free. And, yes, LSU would make him pay.
… The clock ran down to :01 after Matt Flynn threw the touchdown pass to Demetrius Byrd against Auburn, but two seconds after Byrd’s butt hit the turf.
… The fake field goal flip from Matt Flynn to Colt David took place near the end of the first half against South Carolina, not with the game on the line.
… If Miles sounded confused when interviewed by ESPN’s Holly Rowe at the end of the Auburn game, it’s because she asked him about calling a timeout late, which LSU didn’t.
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