Late Late Night Open Thread

Submitted by M-Wolverine on
Seems to be slowing down from the 3+ posts a minute pace we were at, so this should be good till morning, for you late night and west coasters. I'm going to bed. See you in the morning for coach press conference introduction info (I mean, come on, ever since that post game interview after the Cotton Bowl where Miles wouldn't say he was coming back to LSU, just that he didn't want to come back to the Cotton, does anyone believe he's not coming at this point??)

SFBlue

January 11th, 2011 at 1:54 AM ^

I watched this really cheesy (but I hate to admit, watchable) teen movie about rugby the other day (Play Strong, or something), and this one dude went the whole season without bathing.  And THEY WON NATIONALS.  WOOOt!

In reply to by M-Wolverine

SFBlue

January 11th, 2011 at 1:50 AM ^

All we have so far is Schad-level speculation re key aspects of the offered deal (rough salary package, negotiaton of buyout).  Nothing about staff, or other second-order rumors that suggest folks are thinking beyond the deal and to the Miles Era proper. 

M-Wolverine

January 11th, 2011 at 2:02 AM ^

But where the planes and Brandon have been, and what's coming out of Les's mouth. He hasn't been playing coy...he sounds like a guy who doesn't want to be caught saying he's not going to leave when he is.

lincboe

January 11th, 2011 at 2:11 AM ^

If you remember back in 2007, the Rich Rod announcement came a bit out of left field. I think these things are never as easy slam dunks as they may seem. I also don't understand why it would take four full days (since Les Miles' Cotton Bowl) to contact and announce Les as our head coach if he was the only serious candidate. 

DB could be trying to pull an overnight miracle with Patterson/Gruden before making the final decision on Miles.

Don

January 11th, 2011 at 7:34 AM ^

Patterson has proven he's a great coach, but I don't think there's any way in hell he's coming here. If it's not Miles, it'll be Hoke. It wouldn't surprise me at all if Miles turns us down, either. What would really make it interesting would be if Miles did that, and then Hoke takes the job at Stanford. The abuse heaped on DB's head would be amazing to behold.

SFBlue

January 11th, 2011 at 1:57 AM ^

Buzz is that Miles is interested, LSU is willing to cooperate by waiving/reducing buyout (AD really likes Miles, and knew he was conflicted last time around but stuck with his team), Miles met with Michigan today, and the ball is in M's court.  If I had to guess, I would say this is 75% done, but I still maintain it was likely M is/was talking to other, none-Hoke options. 

psychomatt

January 11th, 2011 at 2:03 AM ^

Joe Schad's tweet was misleading, but subsequent reports cleared up the confusion. LSU has not agreed to waive the $1.25 MM buyout if LM leaves, it has agreed to eliminate it entirely if he stays. They have also offered him an extension (unclear whether they have offered an increase in compensation).

psychomatt

January 11th, 2011 at 2:26 AM ^

I agree. My understanding is the money is not the thing keeping Miles at LSU. LSU is not offering much more money but they are offering a couple years more on the term of the agreement. And they are also offering to eliminate the buyout if Miles later bolts for UM. Considering UM is unlikely to be looking for another coach for at least 3-5 years, the offer to eliminate the buyout is not much of a concession. But that is what I have heard. And Joe Schad got it all screwed up the way he reported it, making it seem like they were waiving the buyout if LM leaves now. They have not agreed to do that.

skwasha

January 11th, 2011 at 2:31 AM ^

I believe the scuttlebutt was also that they would increase their buyout if they should let him go before the end of the contract. Right now their max liability to him is $18.75M if let go without cause.

psychomatt

January 11th, 2011 at 2:58 AM ^

He has a very favorable termination provision that requires them to pay him out for all remaining years on his contract unless he is terminated for cause. So, by extending the term of the contract by a couple of additional years, LSU is effectively increasing how much they owe him if they terminate him early.

UMAmaizinBlue

January 11th, 2011 at 2:05 AM ^

About that whole cooperation with the buyout thing. It was stated in the other late night thread that "sources close to LSU, yadayadayada" confirmed a late night meeting between Miles and LSU in an attempt to keep him in Baton Rouge. The whole "cooperation" is not cooperation at all according to those same sources, but actually the reworking of a new contract in which Les will be compensated slightly more than his old contract with a buyout clause removed, and the length extended, in the hopes that it will keep The Hat at LSU.

 

Then again, nobody actually knows shit, so I say wait until a press conference is called by Dave Brandon. Yay...this sucks.

goblueinMO

January 11th, 2011 at 1:51 AM ^

Just heard Jason Smith joke about the forthcoming press conference for Mighigan and Les Miles on ESPN's All-Night.  Said "they were waiting until after the NC game to make the announcement."

Dan Man

January 11th, 2011 at 1:53 AM ^

I want the coach who is going to work the hardest.  I want the coach who would kill himself trying to turn the program back around.  Between Hoke and Miles, I think Hoke is that guy.  I know the majority of you hate Hoke, and -granted- he is the least proven from the pool.  But more than Miles or Patterson, I think Hoke will bring the most fire to this program.  I know there are many downsides to Hoke as well, but I think he would overcome them.