Interesting Miles Excerpt from Three and Out
This very interesting excerpt from Three and Out, which comes out on Tuesday, sheds some light on the coaching search in 2007-2008 that resulted in Rodriguez being hired.
Points of the article are:
- Miles stated in a December 2007 conference call with Bill Martin and MSC that he would accept the position only if they waited until January as he would not leave before the LSU bowl game.
- Carr was the one who first reached out to Rodriguez.
- Dave Brandon stated in 2010 that Miles would get the HC job "over his dead body."
Based on the article it sounds as though Miles would have been our next HC after Carr, if not for Carr's interference. For the record, even considering the success of LSU this year I would never have supported Miles getting the job. Call me crazy, but there are many successful college HC's that I have on my personal "do not hire" list, which includes Les Miles.
October 24th, 2011 at 2:21 PM ^
its myopic and unprofessional if he doesn't read it?
October 24th, 2011 at 2:29 PM ^
Ace reported that Bacon had been consigned to the spot in the press box where disliked media members reside. Bacon also said that Carr and Brandon are both letting it be known through back channels that they have contempt for both the book and him. Those are two credible sources that have already told us DB must at least know the contents in the book if he hasn't indeed read an advanced copy.
Brandon, however, is NOT a credible source. He has made a habit of lying to a public that he continually underestimates. He's full of it.
October 24th, 2011 at 2:23 PM ^
What's wrong with "no comment"? It's better than another flatout lie.
Brandon also told us he was trying not to be seen during the coaching search in January when he was flying around the country in a plane with a huge maize-and-blue winged nose.
I've had enough of the intelligence-insulting "savvy" ways of Dave Brandon.
October 24th, 2011 at 2:11 PM ^
And Miles would not be worth the sideshow he would bring to Ann Arbor - regardless of the number of wins he got. I disagree strongly with anyone's contention that Miles' shady form of coaching and weirdo act could be absolved and otherwise justified by the number of games he wins.
I'm completely convinced (without reading Bacon's book or reading the reviews) that Brandon wanted no part of Miles. As to why he wasn't picked over Rodriguez, the story in the book sounds plausible. But we'll never know the truth probably unless Carr opens up and tells all. I doubt he ever will. The fact he turned down requests for an interview by Bacon 11 times speaks volumes.
October 24th, 2011 at 5:28 PM ^
Who is to say he wouldn't tone down his act and be more somber as part of the Michigan family again.
A lot of what he does plays very well in the deep south so he continues to ham it up. I doubt he would do that stuff here.
Also, we don't have grass...
October 24th, 2011 at 6:14 PM ^
He wasn't exactly somber when he was here the first time.
October 24th, 2011 at 2:22 PM ^
dead bodies. It was painful, its over, lets move on.
October 24th, 2011 at 3:00 PM ^
we didn't think was necessary, and cannot fathom how it came about: especially given our high ethical opinion of what Michigan Football stands for. So, the only way we can get closure with dead (and wounded) bodies all around us, is for someone to help us understand why.
October 24th, 2011 at 2:42 PM ^
to Lloyd, he looked like he had bitten in to the rind of his lemon. His look could not have been mistaken for anything but disapproval of the name.
October 24th, 2011 at 2:48 PM ^
I read the book this weekend. It was excellent, I couldn't put it down. How did I get an early copy you ask? I ran into Mr. Bacon at a local Ann Arbor establishment Friday , and made sure the bartender put his gin and tonic on my tab. He seemed like he was in a hurry but made his way over to thank me before he set off. He also personalized a copy of three and out that he handed over to me. A true class act, as we all know. Wonderful person. Incredible book. That's all I've got.
October 24th, 2011 at 2:56 PM ^
Best drink you've ever bought that didn't involve getting laid.
October 24th, 2011 at 2:59 PM ^
Who says it didn't get him laid?
October 24th, 2011 at 3:03 PM ^
did you see that guy that just left? Thatt was John U Bacon, and he gave me a siged copy of his book that hasn't come out yet. Do you want to come back to my place and read it while I rub your back? ....
October 24th, 2011 at 3:31 PM ^
I did not get laid. But it was still the best drink I've ever bought.
October 24th, 2011 at 3:01 PM ^
-
If true, Brandon's "over my dead body" comment is interesting in light of his apparent meeting with Miles during the most recent coach search.
- Do we know any more about that meeting, such as why Brandon met with Miles and whether he offered him the job?
October 24th, 2011 at 3:01 PM ^
Good point.....NTTAWWT
October 24th, 2011 at 3:04 PM ^
didn't particularly care for Rich Rod? But it was Lloyd who first reached out to him? Confusing.
October 24th, 2011 at 3:12 PM ^
This is all great, aside from the reiterated fact, in both coaching search portions of Three and Out, that Les Miles would never be offered the Michigan job.
Hell, I can go on record saying I would never say no to Michigan, but that doesn't mean I'd ever be head coach.
October 24th, 2011 at 3:15 PM ^
It will be interesting to see how Lloyd Carr comes out here. I've always had a lot of respect for him and given him a pass for his later years (if Martin had a succession plan ready in 2006, so much pain would have likely been avoided).
On one hand I can understand a burned out Carr wanting to retire. On the other hand I do feel as if Carr should have picked up Bo's mantel and installed himself in Athletic Department as kind of the spirit of the program. While many fans weren't thrilled with Carr, he commanded vast respect with the football alums and top boosters. He also was definitely a "Michigan Man". Things might have gone better if he'd kept the ancient clans united and focused (the young gen of course was all hot for RR, so that was cool) as opposed to leaving a power vaccum that civil war erupts in.
October 24th, 2011 at 3:58 PM ^
I'm pretty sure he did exactly that but to all of our detriment. He never supported RRod publicly and seemed pissed about anyone being HC unless it was Ron English or Debored.
Lloyd Carr is dead to me for what he did to the program the last 2 years and then during RRod.
October 24th, 2011 at 4:30 PM ^
What he did to the program in 2006? You mean coach them to an 11-2 record? Man, what a bummer of a job that was.
October 24th, 2011 at 5:24 PM ^
Nice cherry picking there....he also didn't recruit worth a damn those last 2 years and then laid a colossal egg in 2007 with a veteran team.
Throw in the horror of 2005 as the perfect bookend and it looks like 2006 is an aberration.
Now consider that he approved Boren goint to OSU, encouraged Mallett to transfer more than once (knowing it was likely his final year as HC) and all the other things that are coming out now - he doesn't look so great to me anymore.
When we needed him most - 2007 - he failed UofM. How can anyone argue that?
October 24th, 2011 at 5:48 PM ^
October 24th, 2011 at 7:53 PM ^
October 24th, 2011 at 10:52 PM ^
Exactly two players in that entire post finished at Michigan and made an NFL roster.
October 24th, 2011 at 11:45 PM ^
October 24th, 2011 at 10:40 PM ^
I'd still like to know why Lloyd left his probably best offensive game plan ever until his last game.
And the other thing this book is proving is how great mgoblog was during the coaching search. This book is just confirming all the great information Brian provided us with during that time.
October 24th, 2011 at 4:47 PM ^
I think that while Miles is completely insane, he's a better coach than RichRod.
But those who hate Miles may have caused the same turmoil and BS if he was hired. Who knows.
October 24th, 2011 at 4:54 PM ^
You're crazy. The only thing that cannot be triaged is losing. You take Les Miles circa December 2007, and what's the worst you can say about him? He, like so many SEC coaches, over-offered, per SEC standards that allowed it? He, according to no source that is willing to go on record, may have had relations with someone's wife on Michigan's staff when he was there? We're still digging out from the 2007 coaching change, and the 2008-09 seasons are worse than anything Les Miles could have done to Michigan.
October 24th, 2011 at 5:19 PM ^
October 24th, 2011 at 7:19 PM ^
October 24th, 2011 at 11:36 PM ^
Have Bacon's book sales passed the Steve Jobs biography on Amazon yet?
October 25th, 2011 at 3:16 AM ^