Just like that, LSU fans will have seven more years of the Hat.
Faster than speculation of LSU coach Les Miles’ potential move to Arkansas ramped up, it screeched to a halt. While there was a bit of breath-holding when the Athletic Department pushed Miles’ scheduled news conference back an hour, Tiger faithfuls could exhale before he ever hit the podium.
Earlier in the day, 104.5 ESPN reported that he’d agreed to a contract extension and a pay raise. Just 10 minutes before Miles’ news conference was scheduled to begin, LSU issued a news release with a quote from LSU Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Joe Alleva that said the University would extend its coach’s contract to 2019.
Like nothing ever happened, Miles walked into the team room and stepped up to explain the situation to an extent of his liking.
“Good afternoon,” Miles opened. “The Arkansas issue was a sincere one.”
It wasn’t totally sincere, if Miles’ following comments were to be believed. He denied reports saying he’d received a five-year, $27.5 million offer from the Razorbacks and said there was no contact between him and Arkansas alumnus and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who Miles befriended during a short stint in Dallas.
His respect for Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long, who Miles worked with at Michigan, led him to field the now-unspecified offer, but their “conversations were very preliminary and fell short of any major interest.”
LSU’s deal is still in the negotiation process, but Miles probably wouldn’t have divulged the terms anyway, as he repeatedly shot down questions regarding his inevitable monetary gain.
Miles said he is expecting socks and underwear again for Christmas, even with some extra change in his family’s collective pocket.
“It’s embarrassing for me to talk about money, so I don’t,” Miles said.
Now that he’s a Tiger for the foreseeable future, Miles’ assistant coaches were next in line for job scrutinization. While he said his defensive coordinator, John Chavis, would be a good fit for the Tennessee vacancy, he doesn’t expect any attrition. Miles said no one’s even asked about any members of his staff.
If a team does request an interview?
“[They] can, but it won’t be granted,” Miles said with a smile.
Miles can now look forward to the final game of the season, despite not knowing who his team will face or where it’ll face them.
When asked about the Chick-fil-A Bowl, Miles answered listlessly, “That would be fine.” He seemed more keen to the mention of the Cotton Bowl and because of LSU fans’ track record when traveling to Dallas.
“That’d be a great place to play for us,” Miles said.
Regarding a possible matchup with his alma mater Michigan in the Capitol One Bowl, Miles said, “It’d absolutely be difficult because those helmets are helmets I’ve worn.”
No matter where the Tigers play, they will welcome back senior offensive lineman Josh Williford and freshman linebacker Kwon Alexander.
While they didn’t play for a championship game this season, Alleva said it’s about being in the hunt, which is the reason he’s ponying up for Miles. But that’s not enough for the man that, if he meets the terms of his contract extension, would become the second-longest tenured coach in LSU history and almost assuredly the winningest.
“I’ll be honest with you, I want to win championships here, and do it again,” Miles said. “Then, do it again.”
