The Most Factual Article I've read--Miles Situation

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LSU AD: 'We'll do pretty much whatever is necessary to keep Les'
November 29, 2007

By Glenn Guilbeau

GANNETT NEWSPAPERS

Game on!

Michigan athletic director Bill Martin asked and received permission from LSU athletic director Skip Bertman via e-mail Wednesday morning to talk to LSU football coach Les Miles next week.

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On Bertman's and LSU chancellor Sean O'Keefe's request, Miles' agent George Bass of Dallas flew to Baton Rouge Wednesday afternoon to discuss enhancements and pay increases to Miles' contract at O'Keefe's office.

"The Michigan athletic director and I are in agreement that they're not going to talk to Les until after the football game Saturday," Bertman said from his home Wednesday night.

LSU plays Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference championship game Saturday in Atlanta before a near-month-long break until whatever bowl game the Tigers reach.

"Then as soon as we get back to Baton Rouge on Sunday or Monday, we plan to sit down with Les," Bertman said.

Bertman did not know when Michigan officials would sit down with Miles early next week and if that would be before or after LSU does. Michigan has had an opening for a head football coach since Lloyd Carr stepped down on Nov. 19.

"I don't know what Michigan's plans are, but I would think Les would talk to us first," Bertman said. "We may talk to him on Sunday. I don't think it's going to be a problem talking to him.

"We'll do pretty much whatever is necessary to keep Les."

Miles makes $1.8 million a year now. LSU was prepared to pay Miles $3.5 million a year had Miles won the BCS national championship game this season. A bonus clause in his contract states he has to become one of the top three college coaches in the country if he wins the title. That would put him at $3.5 million, but Miles likely lost consideration for the BCS title game with a loss to Arkansas last week.

Bertman did not say if LSU was prepared to offer in the $3.5 million range in a new contract, but he did say they were ready to significantly increase Miles' package.

"We met with his agent, but nothing was done," Bertman said. "We basically agreed to meet again next week."

Martin has said in published reports that he may go into the $3 million-a-year range for a new coach.

"I feel like we have to show Les that we want him to stay," Bertman said. "We have to come up with innovative and creative ways within the system that would allow us to max out his contract. I think Les wants to stay."

Bass, a Dallas-based agent who has represented Miles since he left a Dallas Cowboys assistant coaching job to become Oklahoma State's coach in 2001, said the meeting went well with Bertman and O'Keefe.

"We were in preliminary discussions about Les' contract for about 45 minutes," Bass said as he arrived back in Dallas. "It went well, and I'm sure I'll be back next week. Michigan has not contacted me, so I have no idea what they may offer coach. It will be coach's decision. I do know he loves LSU and is very happy where he is."

Bertman said he is confident Miles will stay at LSU, where he has gone 32-6 in three seasons with two SEC West titles.

"Michigan will make an offer, but I don't think it will be as attractive as our offer," Bertman said.

Should Miles go to Michigan, he would have to pay LSU a $1.25 million buyout. His contract stipulates that fee for no new job other than Michigan.

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