ATLANTA – He may always be a “Michigan Man” at heart, but LSU football coach and Michigan alumnus Les Miles said Saturday he will remain an LSU Tiger. Chancellor Sean O’Keefe confirmed Miles and the University have agreed to a contract amendment to be introduced Thursday at the LSU Board of Supervisors meeting. The specific terms of the contract have not been revealed. Miles called the press conference just two hours prior to the Southeastern Conference Championship game to quell rumors he would leave to take the Michigan coaching job. The press conference lasted just more than a minute, and Miles did not even bother to take his seat. “I am the head coach at LSU,” Miles said standing, dressed in a purple tie. “I will be the head coach at LSU. I have no intentions of talking to anybody else. I’ve got a championship game to play, and I’m excited about the opportunity of my damn, strong football team to play.” ESPN commentator Kirk Herbstreit said Saturday morning that Miles would depart for Michigan and likely select Georgia Tech’s Jon Tenuta as his defensive coordinator. Miles said this false report prompted him to call the press conference and address the team. O’Keefe said he knew the ESPN report was “dead wrong.” “I never had any doubts that he would stay,” O’Keefe said. After Saturday’s 21-14 win against Tennessee, Miles further explained the decision about his future. “For me to be an issue, for a coach to be an issue on a day like today, it’s not forgivable,” he said. “That’s why I had to take the podium and tell the truth.” Miles also discussed the emotions he experienced when walking away from the Michigan position many considered his dream job. “I certainly love Michigan,” he said. “But I’m not going there. It saddens me at times. I can’t be at two places. I’ve got a great place. I’m at home.” If Miles had become the Wolverines’ next coach, he would have owed LSU $1.25 million because of a specific clause in his contract only related to the Michigan spot. Miles said neither he nor his agent spoke with any Michigan representatives, which left many fans puzzled as to why so many reports indicated Miles would depart Baton Rouge. Stanley Jacobs, an LSU Board of Supervisors member who is also a member of the athletic committee, dispelled the suggestion that Miles may have had a change of heart and suddenly decided to stay. Rather, Jacobs said Miles’ allegiance to LSU was clear earlier in the week when LSU Athletic Director Skip Bertman told O’Keefe and Board chairman Jerry Shea that Miles planned to stay. “All I know is that it was communicated to me that he was going to stay,” Jacobs said. “The reason he had the media release today was to put away the rumors since ESPN said he was leaving.”
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