How does Miles save face?

keyboard snafu. The point: If UM goes in a different direction, how does Miles explain why he didn't emphatically deny interest in the UM job like Bob Stoops did?

oh..can't save face, he either gets the job or will suffer from that criticism

b/c Michigan hasn't offered him yet, or Michigan wants him to win the SECCG to offset his Michigan buy-out in his contract

I'm one of the biggest Miles supporters on the board..you don't think he will be criticized by LSU fans for not denying interest in the job, should he not get it?

It's clear he wants the UM job, but isn't sure he'll get it OR he's sure he'll get it and doesn't want to pull a Nicky move. Either way - he won't win fans here from either outcome.

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I think people are being a little unrealistic in expecting Miles to have no interest in the Michigan Job.

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I think that he certainly does have interest in that job, and that he and his family would jump on the first train out of Red Stick to get there. Would he have a little sadness at leaving this school and these players, sure. But it wouldn't be something that would keep him from going home. I cool with that. What I am not so cool with is the fact that this distraction cost this team their shot at the NCG. I think that with all his heart, Les Miles didn't want that, and that, as an honest decent man he said all he could (short of lying outright) to try and keep it from happening. Maybe he really thought this team was "special" enough to make it to the prize with all these doubts about him flying around. But that didn't happen. The media hounds were not put down, and I will not be convinced that it didn't affect the chemistry of this team on Friday. Have I been a Les fan the past 2 years? Yes. Do I think he wanted to go out with a NC win with this team? Yes. do I think you can hold together the magic it takes to be the NC team with your head coach straddling a "career moving" fence? NO! He had to list his personal priorities 1 and 2 ( between the National Championship and the "dream job" )when Monday came and that job "up there" was actually open. The job came in 1 and then the NC would be a nice capper. Do we all really WANT our first 2 desires in life? Sure. Can you really expect to negotiate the waters it would have taken to get those 2. No way it happens.

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keyboard snafu. The point: If UM goes in a different direction, how does Miles explain why he didn't emphatically deny interest in the UM job like Bob Stoops did?

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It is impossible to take a definitive read on Miles' position. Instinctively, all of us know that he is flattered and interested in returning home. However, all of us realistically understand that he has a good situation at LSU.

Two most likely scenarios:

1.) He really wants to withdraw his name from consideration, but is afraid that doing so will hurt him in his renegotiation with LSU and/or a public, emphatic denial of interest/withdrawal from consideration by a Michigan man and Bo disciple could be very insulting and hurtful to Michigan, and something Miles emphatically desires to avoid.

2.) He wants the job, and certainly wants to be interviewed and considered, but understands that he really can't do anything about it publicly, or officially until, at the very least, after the SEC-CG, which we cinched several weeks ago.

No other likely scenario can be dreamed up to explain his remarks last Monday.

What is most telling is, at the very least, he has handled this in the most classy way possible, short of "I'm flattered, I'm humbled, and under different circumstances, I would jump at the chance to be involved in the decision Michigan has to make, but I can't right now with this much on the line." I was holding out hope that he made that a pre-game pep talk for the team, but done publicly and for public consumption.

But I admire his sincerity and class, particularly compared with the lying sack-o-something we had before, who interviewed EVERY year after the first year and denied it up until he quit, and beyond.

THe question was what was LSU going to do on that day if he cut that avenue off to show their loyalty? That is a question that should be asked.

It is fine to say Les Should have sacrificed for the team. But if he lost would LSU have bit the bullet and despite fan uproar give him a extension and a raise etc etc.

It is fine to talk about Les being loyal to them and such. But at the end of the day he goes home to his wife and Children which is his first priority to care for.

If Les had did that and lost and GOd Forbid lost the SEC where would he be? Where would his family be? Would LSU had rewarded that Loyalty?

I am all for loyalty. BUt it seems that Les is being asked to show all of it while people with knives are swimming around him like sharks.

At the end of the night he has to look his children in the eye and in this age where Saban is king and packs 92,000 in for a SPring Game and months later is being circuled by his own pack of sharks I understand why Les is doing what is he doing

Miles has done it right and you can't blame the guy one bit for any of it.

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It is fine to say Les Should have sacrificed for the team. But if he lost still would LSU have bit the bullet and despite fan uproar give him a extension and a raise etc etc.

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THe question was what was LSU going to do on that day if he cut that avenue off to show their loyalty? That is a question that should be asked.

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I agree with you Bayou! Really I do. Why do you think Skip was all over the place saying that he was "confident" that Les was staying. He (Skip)has won the prize. He's coached a bunch of kids in years that went all the way and years that fell short. I have to believe that Les had every reason to tell Skip and The Chanc. that he needed security for his family and future to "stand down" to the Michigan pressure. And I think that Skip KNEW that this season and the potential championship ending on the line and he was doing everything he could from his side of this to give Les an out( every reason to stay), and the security ($$$$)he may have wanted, all the while trying to give the team the "foundation" and "security" that is instrumental to finishing a championship year. I just think that in truth, Les searched his heart and the Michigan job had to come first. I am a Les Miles SUPORRTER!! I love having him here, and I CAN understand the draw he and his family must feel to go home! And if he goes, I will STILL wish for his success! But that doesn't mean that I can't feel like the "wavering" last Monday did cost this team something special....

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Miles has done it right and you can't blame the guy one bit for any of it.

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He has done it right, as long as his first priority is going home to Michigan. and I am not saying that it shouldn't be! He is a man with a family and a long life to live, and he is CERTAINLY allowed to do that. I think he is a great guy. I honestly wish him the best where ever he coaches, it's just that I WISH his heart had been different.