Michigan officially reached out to Les Miles - Sam Webb

Good that they reached out, I guess, but I don't see him being an option. And I want Michigan try to get a guy with upside, not a guy with lots of behavior questions.

@Balas_Wolverine: Talk that Michigan has given Jim Harbaugh a "deadline" to accept an offer is highly unlikely. They have gauged Miles' interest. #JimHarbaugh

The only problem with Les as a candidate is Harbaugh.
Harbaugh.

Good

The hiring of Miles, if it were to happen, still leaves one problem, a divided community. There is still a faction, we'll call them "The Lloyd faction" that does not want Miles, no matter what, and have been known in the past to "not pull in the same direction" and even sabotage a coaching staff. We need a united community, pulling together, and fully supporting both the new coach and the program to overcome our adversaries.

Miles would be my second choice, but considering the "lay of the land" it may be better to go with a Stoops, Cutcliff, or even Mora just to keep the politics out of the next football regime.

@SamWebb77: To this point Les Miles has not reciprocated #Michigan's interest.

What the hell...it's been like an hour

I am hearing a Webb has released a lot of information in the last few hours  Deadline givento HARBAUGH(!) to say yes/no by Friday?  Rivals says that's BS, though,

So, for once I should have spacing should this tend to run a little long. 

  I first want to address the "contact" or "reaching out" to others news we've been getting very recently. I don't think I'm saying anything that hasn't already been said but when your clear cut #1 option IS NOT (I repeat, IS NOT) going to quit his team while there is even a 1% chance of a playoff spot (and other reasons), we're going to be waiting a bit. Jim would NOT be here now or a moment before his time at SF came to an end even if he was "sign, sealed & delivered". I do not think he is or ever was likely to accept this job. I still think that. I'd put the odds at less than 50% but that is just going off of how it FEELS to me. Just a feeling.

  So, knowing that even if we do land our #1 guy it won't be announced until later this month/early 2015 makes it insane to just sit on our thumbs waiting for a guy that, IMO, is going to stay in the NFL. In the JH timeline (on our side) I think we cannot go past Christmas without a public and clear cut "Yes" or "No but thank you, Go Blue". We simply cannot wait longer and it's a few hours away from the 10th of December. THIS EXACT TIME is when we SHOULD be vetting other options in the possible (likely) outcome that we do not get Jim.

  If you're going to vet other candidates I think you have to reach out to Miles. Personal feelings aside, he's not anywhere near a bad coach and we could do so much worse. I think the thing we all have to consider with both Jim and Miles (esp Miles) is that this is pretty much their last opportunity to coach at Michigan. Miles is approaching retirement and a solid hire of anyone other than himself would mean that he never got to coach at his alma mater. No matter how I feel about him personally & no matter what Miles says as the coach of another program, all you have to do is look in his LSU office, hear him speak % read his tweets to know how much he loves Michigan.

  Simply sending out a feeler (which the response will likely remain private until he declines or someone else gets it) to Miles is a must and, IMO, in NO WAY means anything about our chances with Jim. Remember, it's now or never for Miles. I can't help but think he wants the job but knows he is not 1a on the list. Cutcliffe, IMO, is a decent coach that is more of a POTUM pleaser on the list than a hardcore "Plan B".

  Finally, I will add that I think the Woodson "vibe" on Jim is much more telling than people think. he may not be Al Davis but it's his blood so he's Al Davis and crazy (look at that prince Valium haircut, ffs - thx Brian for that killer observation). I do think Jim talking to him with such pleasure is telling and DEFINTELY a purposeful slap in the face to SF brass. Going back to CW, he's a future HOF player with ties to Michigan that even kids born after 97 know about. If Davis knows something I'm sure he's at least hinted to CW - the UM alum & lockeroom leader about it. Maybe not a yes or no but a hint. Maybe. I'm just saying that I wouldn't ignore it especially after he states he wished Jim would return to AA BEFORE the letdown.

  TL;DR - Reaching to Miles & others not a sign Jim is off the table but it's not likely anyway, IMO. NOT reaching out to others when it's almost the 10th would be stupid and dangerous.

  http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fkmmkx4WorE/UsjMxnG7USI/AAAAAAAABeo/95-I6L7sfd8/s640/SeasonFinal2.png

This site is like crack now. I know nothing of note is going to happen that soon, but I can't help but pull the app up and refresh every time I grab my phone...
...which is a lot. Mgoblog, I just can't quit you.

This site is like crack now. I know nothing of note is going to happen that soon, but I can't help but pull the app up and refresh every time I grab my phone...
...which is a lot. Mgoblog, I just can't quit you.

So what do we do in the hypothetical situation where Miles says he's ready to come now, and Harbaugh says he's interested but needs until the end of the season to decide?

I'd be inclined to take the sure thing, but holding out for Harbaugh would be awfully tempting. Go big or go home, right?

If not, and Cutcliffe or other middling coach is the next step after Harbaugh, what are we doing?   Les Miles is a quality coach with a high winning pct in the toughestconference in football.  He's the second-best coach in the SEC.

Yes, Miles has gray-shirted a few players and is somewhat goofy, but he's a very good coach and would be a great plan B, if Harbaugh for some crazy reason says no.

the plan B, just in case Harbaugh decides to stay in the NFL!  The committee is finding all possible plan B's who would be interested in our job. I think many coaches have contacted Hacket that is why Hacket said he was surprised at the interest in the Michigan HC job during the banquet. I don't think we give up on Harbaugh until he says NO after the 49ers season. I'm glad the 49ers are not going to make the playoffs, so that this does not get dragged out through mid and late January. If Harbaugh says NO, I'm sure we will get a good plan B option such as Mullen or Miles or even Stoops! I'm glad the search committee is contacting so many candidates. This never happened during the '07 or '10 searches.

I think it's kinda weird that people wouldn't want him here. If it's not Harbaugh. I don't think there is any other option... I can see why age is concerning. And maybe the fact that he has been doing things the SEC way. But you know what? So did Urb... Les's resume speaks for itself. He has missed a bowl once in his career. And that was his first at Oklahoma state. People are enamored with Dantonio have all these double digit win seasons at State. Which is pretty awesome. But try 7 out of 10 in the SEC. Playing in 2 national championships. Winning 1 of them People look at this year as a let down. 8-4 but when you lose your QB, RB and 2 star Wr's and more than plenty of defensive players to the NFL. I could live with a 8-4 season. Put me into the Les Miles camp!

His sources have confirmed UM is not interested in Les Miles as the next head coach.

in one basket 

Put me in the camp of people who would be happy with getting Miles, if the JH thing doesn't happen. He is an excellent backup option. It would be like applying to UofM, but then also having Harvard as your safety school. Sure Harvard is no Michigan, but it's a good plan B.