Well played gambit?

Some have suggested that Les Miles is less than brilliant.
The current scenario involving the UM coaching job, however, suggests a brilliant tactician and master chess player.
Could it be that the Mad Hatter has played his match with a grand design? Knowing that Jim Harbaugh would likely not accept the job, it followed that CLM would be next in line, and the prohibitive favorite for the position.
He is the only guy that knows what he will be doing, so he plays both sides in the discussion superbly, leading UM to believe he is very interested, while keeping LSU in play. The bargaining escalates between the competing parties.
Now Les has known from the beginning that he is not going back to his alma mater. It will take years to rebuild the damaged football program, and LSU is loaded with great prospect for 2011, including a possible run at the National Championship.
The matter of timing on his Gary Crowton move has been a bit of problem, because that cannot be dealt with until his decision is made known.
Never mind, everything in its own time.
So on Tuesday Les meets with Michigan, hears their pitch, and LSU responds with a longer and more lucrative contract. Done deal, just as he anticipated.
The Mad Hatter wins the match, and then, and only then, publicly deals with the OC question.
Well played.