It would have been almost impossible for LSU coach Les Miles to completely avoid the topic of Michigan’s coaching vacancy Monday. And after brief comments about Ole Miss and Arkansas in the opening statement of his weekly press luncheon, Miles turned his attention to the subject that has been the top story and front page package for several media outlets in the past few days. “I’m not talking jobs, not looking for jobs, don’t want jobs,” Miles said. “I’ve got a great job. I love this place.” After a few moments discussing the Michigan topic, Miles was almost brought to tears when speaking about his current team, and he said he is focused solely on LSU and Friday’s home finale against Arkansas. “What I’m doing is what you should do,” he said. The speculation of Carr’s departure rose even more after the Wolverines began this season 0-2, with one of those losses coming to Division I-AA Appalachian State. Michigan won eight straight games after its 39-7 loss to Oregon on Sept. 8. The Wolverines closed their season with losses to Wisconsin and the team’s rival Ohio State, Carr’s sixth loss in his past seven games to the Buckeyes. LSU Athletic Director Skip Bertman fielded questions from the media following Miles’ press luncheon. “I think what he told you at the press conference is absolutely, positively true,” Bertman said. “He’s not seeking another job; he’s never heard from Michigan. Neither have I. He really wants to get on with this season and finish it off the way its supposed to be finished.” Bertman said it is too early to predict whether Miles will lead the team in its bowl game, if he does announce his departure to Michigan before the season ends. “I think the decision to be made is too premature to even talk about for something like that,” he said. “On the other hand, if there were to be a national championship and the advantage for LSU to win, it would be my opinion that I’d want the best coach there to win the game.” Bertman and the entire Athletics Department have worried about the possibility of Miles coaching Michigan before he ever coached his first game for the Tigers. In the “Termination by Coach” section of his contract, the agreement states that Miles must pay a $1.25 million buyout to LSU if he leaves to coach Michigan. Michigan is the only school specifically named in that section of the contract. This is the second time in four seasons LSU has endured a “Will he stay or will he go?” controversy with its football coach. Former coach Nick Saban announced Dec. 25, 2004, that he would leave LSU to coach the Miami Dolphins. Saban coached the Tigers final game that season, a 30-25 loss to Iowa in the Capital One Bowl. Senior right tackle Carnell Stewart, who was a redshirt freshman during Saban’s final season at LSU, said players are trying not to let the talk of Miles’ possible departure affect the team’s preparation. “We really don’t know about that situation,” Stewart said. “We heard about it, and everyone was texting and calling each other asking, ‘What do you think?’ But we can’t worry about that. We have a great opportunity against Arkansas.” Miles has been no stranger to distractions during his three-year tenure. In his first season, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast before Miles had the opportunity to coach a game. Because of the storm, the Tigers’ season opener against North Texas was moved to Oct. 29, 2005. Their second game against Arizona State was moved to Tempe, Ariz., and LSU’s third contest of the season against Tennessee was postponed two days to Sept. 26, 2005, making the game against the Volunteers the first Monday night football game in school history. LSU finished that season 11-2, and with Saturday’s win against Ole Miss, Miles became the first coach in LSU history to win 10 games in three consecutive seasons. “It’s one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen in sports,” Bertman said of Miles’ first season. “The pressure that he was under, he was unflappable. I think he would have won all the games without the hurricanes.” But the current pressure Miles is under may be more than Mother Nature dealt two years ago. Bertman said his support of Miles, coupled with support from Chancellor Sean O’Keefe and the Baton Rouge community will eventually persuade Miles to stay with the Tigers. “I think Michigan’s going to move ahead and get someone else,” he said. “[That’s] my gut feeling.”
—Contact Tyler Batiste at [email protected]