Miles to Michigan?
LSU’s triple-overtime loss to Arkansas means Michigan can go after its man a month earlier than if the Bayou Bengals had made the national championship game. Les Miles’ dream job is Michigan, and no one can blame him for bolting LSU for his alma mater. Miles couldn’t very well dance with Michigan during a national-championship race, but with LSU playing for lesser status goals — the SEC title, a Sugar Bowl berth — Miles might go ahead and take the Michigan job early.
The question is, what becomes of Bo Pelini, the LSU defensive coordinator who was Bob Stoops’ co-defensive coordinator in 2004 and long-time family friend from Youngstown? Pelini was a very popular d-coordinator at Nebraska in 2003 and is one of the popular picks to take over for Bill Callahan, who surely coached his last game Friday, a 65-51 loss at Colorado. Pelini might be a candidate to take over at LSU, too.
LSU is a better job than Nebraska these days, though Lincoln is a better place to live. The football culture of Nebraska is demanding but more civil. LSU has a better talent pool, but the Big 12 North is an easier landmine than the SEC West. If Pelini gets his choice, he ought to take Nebraska.
LSU’s loss also is one more reason for OU to kick itself for losing at Texas Tech. The only downside to making the national title game was a possible matchup with LSU in New Orleans. That was a miserable experience for anyone from Oklahoma — fans, players, coaches — independent of the game, because of LSU’s abrasive fans. But now, LSU will not be in New Orleans for the title game. If OU had won out, the Sooners would be playing Ohio State or West Virginia for the national championship.
Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel.
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Comments
I have said all along that Miles was more lucky than good. Berry has defended him, (I can not figure out why). Miles pulled some stupid tricks In Stillwater and at LSU and got away with some of them. His rabbits foot finally got lost. Most of the time he looked like he did not know what play he had called. I never liked Michigan, so good luck to them. I hope he does play OU in a bowl game, I don’t know which team I would root against more, it would be quite a dilema. I guess it would be LSU!
Lots of coach openings around the Country, I wish Notre Dame had one of them, this guy has got to go.
My sources in Ann Arbor (I was there a few weeks ago) tell me that Mrs. Miles has already made a purchase in town (A rumor circulating in the Michigan Athletic Deptment). Michigan does not hire anyone that is not a Michigan man. Miles met his wife there when they both coached together. I believe their first child was born there. Word is they love it in Ann Arbor…and so do I. But it is not a second, vacation home type town….so stay tuned.
The other thing you have to ask yourself is this: If Les doesn’t take this job at Michigan now, will it ever come up again in his career? If it is his dream job…..(and it is), then do you let your dream go by and stay where you are? This is the business of coaching and the easy answer is NO! I believe his buyout is like 1.2 mil. Heck, a Mich booster will pay that for him.
Expect Miles at Michigan and Tommy Tuberville at A & M.
I also am giving you the lead-pipe lock of the Sooners getting back on track and winning today and the Big 12 title. Problem with all of that….Ohio State backing into the BCS Title game.
Who isn’t tired of those guys? They will sit 50 plus days and get run again in the title. The Big Ten won’t play a title. You will never see it. Why? Because of two reasons: 1. It would diminish OSU-Mich and 2. For the scenario that is playing out right now. If you don’t play, you won’t lose. In this system, you only gain.
Which brings me to a playoff. That won’t happen either. Ever! Why?
Well, because of fan base and money…or actually the reverse. You can’t turn around week to week and expect your fans to travel. Teams….schools cannot coordinate a move in a weeks time that is not scheduled in advance. Think about it……you win a game on the east coast and have to turn around and travel to Oregon or SC….or vice versa. You would lose your fan base and the stadiums would not be as full. Thus, loss of revenue. Play at a neutral site and it would be worse.
This system that we are in…causes the most interest, the most debate, which creates attention. That is a great thing. Every game counts and its a season long tournament. Plus, there is too much money involved in the current system to change it (which is really the reason why it won’t). So……play a “plus one”when necessary. Otherwise, just leave it. This is way better than the NFL.
GO Sooners!
how could I forget
Turner Gill already has his bags packed and is shuffling off FROM Buffalo……to Lincoln! Hurry Turner, before another lake effect snow storm keeps you from catching your plane.
I would go with Pelini because defense wins championships……but they won’t be calling for my opinion.
Look for Dr. Tom to go with one of his own favorite sons. Heck, maybe he will call his own number and return to coaching himself. Since apparently, HE is the only one that can fix it there.
Its going to be another great day!
Later!
schools/conferences involved in the BCS should have to play a conference championship. The Big Ten and Pac Ten and everyone else that applies should be told……your conference has to earn your way in with a title game. No title game….no consideration.
that is one area where equity can exist
I am crank that plodding, boring, run between the tackles… Ohio State will back in when OU takes care of business. I dislike them almost as much as Texas.
Go Sooners!
Mrs. Les Miles is already getting Ann Arbor new home listings emailed to her in Baton Rouge.
In the meantime, she’s packing boxes as fast as Tramel can make Swooner “ifs and buts” excuses.
If Lester loses one more game, Tiger fans will be more than happy to help him pack. I’m sure there are a few rails being readied as we speak.
Hopefully, Les can still get that dream matchup with Bob Stoops…….in a non-BCS game.
How fun that would be — to see Les Miles finally get a chance to play Stoops on even ground.
Stoops has had the luxury of better players in the past. Not so now.
With a balance of talent, Miles would destroy Stoops like so many other coaches with equal or better talent.
Heck, they don’t even have to have better talent.
Miles had a pretty darn good one against Stoops at OSU will a much thinner bunch of players.
Since we’re dreaming of nice Christmas candy and nuts, Berry, let’s dream that this matchup will happen before Les tearfully announces to Tiger fans that he is taking his dream job in Michigan.
Nebraska is desperate to remove the “Blackskirts” moniker and pull the “Blackshirts” out of their protective, dry cleaning plastic.
After 4 years of Callahan’s offensive genius…and it was offensive…Nebraska will be looking for defense first, because defense win’s championships.
Nebraska fans would love to return to games with 14-3 and 7-0 results as long as they’re on the left side.
Pelini is a viable candidate, but is he ready? Is Nebraska ready to take another chance on an untested headcoach?
Is interim AD Tom Osborne ready to put his stamp on an unproven Pelini?
I’m thinking more of a Rich Rodriguez type coach for the Huskers.
Will LSU want Pelini? Or will LSU attempt to forgive and forget to get Nick Saban back.
Nick’s not really happy with the ‘Bama players and fans right now. He said some pretty crazy stuff that seems to expose the reasons many coaches turned down the “Bama job in the first place — dilusional, irrational ‘Bama fans.
Would Nick come back to LSU? I’d say so. Why not come full circle after all he’s been through.
Plus, he still has some of his own players left at LSU and the cupboard is loaded.
I would think Tiger fans would give Saban the same kind of second chance most men would give Pamela Anderson.
Somethings are worth overlooking.