CC: Reading into Les Miles' comments about UM last night on ESPN
I can't find a video clip on ESPN's web site, probably because it was a very short interview clip, but Les Miles was "live" on SportsCenter last night. This may have gotten mentioned in one of the threads but I thought it was worthy of an OP.
It was odd that he was even on since LSU is only going to the Music City Bowl, but they got his take on bowl preparation and his thoughts on the playoff selection committee. Then, he was asked about Michigan and the interviewer didn't really pry much — just let him fire off a canned response and let him go.
Again, wish I had video and maybe someone else on the board can fill in the blanks, but it went something like...
"I think they're doing a great job and I like the process they have going right now. It's a wonderful place, and they deserve a great coach." The "Wonderful place" term was used in his press conference in 2007 that also featured "this damn fine football team" and "have a great day."
So reading into that, "I like their process" could mean a number of things.
- He's been privvy to the way it's been going, or he's at least been paying attention.
- He likes who they're going after.
- He likes the reported offer amount, knowing that he may be next in line(?)
The whole thing seemed like his handlers asked ESPN if he could go on the air and they obliged, and he laid out some statements that set him up to seem still interested and a logical second choice, without coming anywhere near saying as much. We've seen Miles make warm-hearted comments about Michigan before, but it was a bit surreal hearing them right now, in the eye of the hurricane of this coaching search with so much secretive speculation blowing about him as well.
THEN AGAIN, taking the maize colored glasses off this could just be an affirmation of what he told reporters off the record the other day, and he's just wanting to make sure public perception is that he's staying put. However I did not hear "I am not interested" in that segment.
Anyone else catch that last night? Again, hoping to find video...
December 19th, 2014 at 8:55 AM ^
I makes me think that it's no longer happening but has happened.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:04 AM ^
THIS!
We can only hope.
December 19th, 2014 at 8:56 AM ^
But... OP has seriously got the case of paranoia. Anytime a UM-connected sports person goes on air does not make it related to the CC. Nothing to see here, folks.
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December 19th, 2014 at 9:00 AM ^
Les Miles is much more than just any UM-connected sports person. His name is in the center of the vortex of this CC and he MENTIONED THE COACHING CHANGE in this segment, which was the crux of the OP. So there WAS somthing to see and I hope a video clip of it turns up sometime because I found it compelling. Call it paranoid if you want.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:13 AM ^
I appreciate this thread and find it more pertinent than a majority of the CC threads that have been posted.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:07 AM ^
Is he saying "I like the process?"
We need a body language expert, too.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:36 AM ^
He was not wearing his white LSU hat.
December 19th, 2014 at 8:58 AM ^
Miles has been known to give great sound bites when interviewed. He's good entertainment. Heck, Sirus College Football Radio interviewed him live in August and created their intro to their 7am segment from Mile's ad-lib'ing in the interview.
I wouldn't spend too much time on connecting dots from last night's interview on ESPN.
December 19th, 2014 at 8:59 AM ^
December 19th, 2014 at 9:26 AM ^
and I hope we're both right. I would love to see Miles come home to Michigan.
December 19th, 2014 at 10:10 AM ^
and I am happy about it
December 19th, 2014 at 12:58 PM ^
I think so as well, but if Harbaugh turns down the offer, Miles is not getting $8mill per.
December 19th, 2014 at 8:59 AM ^
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December 19th, 2014 at 9:00 AM ^
Very astute observation. I believe he is still interested, so he is speaking in code.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:01 AM ^
like i said before miles will be michigans next coach
December 19th, 2014 at 9:02 AM ^
Had forgotten how entertaining he is. Great quotes, very articulate, and of course that dash of crazy thrown in for seasoning. I could live with Les as Plan B, though if the team was losing listening to him probably would lose a lot of the entertainment value! By the end, I wanted to throw a brick through the radio/TV/Computer whenever I heard Brady Hoke speaking. And I loved listening to him at first...
December 19th, 2014 at 9:26 AM ^
doesn't lose.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:02 AM ^
December 19th, 2014 at 9:13 AM ^
...in a long time.
No bullshit.
Whether that's...
"Hey Les, we think you're a fine football coach, we're going to be open and honest with you. Right now, we're shooting for Jim Harbaugh and he's our top target. It doesn't reflect one way or another on you, we just feel that is what is best for our program.
That said, if things don't work out, we'd be honored to have you as the next football coach and the offer will be on your table. We think we have two excellent candidates and this time, the committee simply chose Jim as the one to offer first."
OR....
"Hey Les, we think you're a fine football coach, we're going to be open and honest with you. Right now, we're shooting for Jim Harbaugh and he's our top target. It doesn't reflect one way or another on you, we just feel that is what is best for our program.
Due to past discretions we're going to be up front that the committee has chosen not to consider you as a candidate for the job. You're a great coach, we wish you all the best, and we appreciate the way you've represented the University of Michigan of the course of your career. Good luck."
It's clear to everyone in the world that Miles is a top 5, probably top 3 candidate...IF he's being considered. Why would anyone think Miles doesn't know this as well? Of course he does.
We may as well be as transparent with him as possible. He knows he's either at the top or not on the list at all. It's not like we're talking about Jim Mora or Greg Schiano, where you don't know where you rank...Miles and Harbaugh are clear. Mullen is probably a clear top 5 as well, and maybe Bob Stoops.
I think it's good that Miles likes the way things are being run this time around. That gives me hope that we're doing this the right way and getting away from the good ol' boy Michigan Football network.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:32 AM ^
I think the first "quote" would be more in line - past history would not be brought up!
December 19th, 2014 at 9:37 AM ^
Hopefully it is option number 1.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:41 AM ^
Past discretions aren't really a problem.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:44 AM ^
Miles should be a top 5 candidate. He wouldn't be my 2nd choice though. I'd rather get Stoops if that were possible, If we're looking for an immediate boost in the prestige of the job and in recruiting, poaching someone with no Michigan ties like Stoops carries more weight than Miles. Looking a few years down the road. we're avoiding possible scenarios where Miles is still doing okay, but declining.due to age. Replacing a coach in those circumstances can be difficult.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:12 AM ^
Les Miles is a damn fine football coach and if Harbaugh decides to stay in the NFL then I really hope we get him. People around here act as if Harbaugh is Ruth Chris Steakhouse and all other coaching candidates are three day old, half-eaten White Castle sliders and that's not the case at all.
Les would be McCormick & Schmick's IMO. Great, but just not as great as the #1 choice and different.
EDIT: I just read Mr Yost's post and IMO he's 100% dead on the money. Very well said!
December 19th, 2014 at 9:13 AM ^
who's Smith and Wollensky's then?
December 19th, 2014 at 9:19 AM ^
Bill Belichick - or someone who isn't as good, depending on your opinion of S&Ws
December 19th, 2014 at 9:31 AM ^
John Harbaugh. Just like Ruth Chris but not located in the same area.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:18 AM ^
your post made me hungry; could really go for a Ruth's Chris steak right about now.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:44 AM ^
Harbaugh > Ruth Chris
RC steaks are medicore. Better than a Schiano, to be sure, but no Harbaugh.
December 19th, 2014 at 10:02 AM ^
Les Miles loves to run the ball until the other team gets "tired." At LSU, Miles owns Louisiana, which is a very good state to find talent. He also pulls in a few from TX and a few from FL. His incoming recruiting class was ranked 19 by Rivals. Since then, every class has been ranked in the top ten, including 2014, which was ranked #2 by pretty much everyone, second only to Alabama.
We all know that oversigning contributed greatly to his success until the SEC decided to reform the practice and only allow 25 LOI's per year.
I am not concerned with "past transgressions" as much as I am the feasibility of his offense if he doesn't recruit legitimate top ten classes every year. He is at the point where his age will soon be used against him in recruiting, which could make it tougher. Add in an offense that will frustrtate fans immensely during losses, questionable clock management in close games and bizarre playcalling: it all adds up to "more disappointment" to me.
That being said, if he does end up at Michgan, I will be a big Les Miles fan, becauase Michigan...
December 19th, 2014 at 11:45 AM ^
I saw the folder for the Method Of Service we will usually develop for various commercial customers, and indeed Ruth's Chris is setting up a location in Ann Arbor. Now, I am not one for reading tea leaves for fer that, in situations like a coach search, I would get lost in a tea field, but if a location is opening in Ann Arbor and Harbaugh is Ruth's Chris....hmmmm....
December 19th, 2014 at 12:22 PM ^
Schiano = Outback Steakhouse - a step above...
Adazio = Steak and Shake
Les = McCormick and Schmick - can also have seafood, every time can see something new
Stoops = Morton's - Classic. Consistent. (see also The Palm)
Mullen = Sullivan's - was pretty good most recently, but prior meals just above average
Harbaugh = no franchise can compare. Gibson's in Chicago or Sparks in NYC. Don't bother going without a reservation. Even Abe Froman, the sausage king of Chicago, won't get a table at Gibson's without a reservation
December 19th, 2014 at 9:18 AM ^
He told reporters what he told them off camera and off the "record" so he's not asked later if Jim says no. Les is very much a candidate and should be.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:32 AM ^
in thinking that Les is every bit as good a candidate as JH.
Obviously JH is a game changing, home run hire, and an excellent coach. But count me as one that would be just as excited to have Miles as our next coach.
I think that he would sleep, eat, and live Michigan football. He might not even buy a house here. He'd just sleep on a cot in Fort Schembechler so could spend every waking moment planning for the MSU, OSU, and NC games.
He would come here feeling like he had something to prove, especially since it would be known that he was the 2nd choice this time around.
Miles Uber Alles.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:45 AM ^
Harbaugh would be the best best (if either candidate retired after coaching Michigan).
December 19th, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^
we could get 15-20 more years out of Les. Just wheel him out there until he drops dead on the sideline. Then bury him in that exact spot.
My only concern with Harbaugh is that he bolts for the NFL eventually.
December 19th, 2014 at 10:33 AM ^
His corpse would feast on our turf!
December 19th, 2014 at 9:55 AM ^
December 19th, 2014 at 9:56 AM ^
December 19th, 2014 at 9:59 AM ^
was like 132 when they fired him. Miles looks and acts 10 years younger than he is. I think we'd easily get 10-15 years out of him. Provided that he kept winning of course.
December 19th, 2014 at 10:46 AM ^
December 19th, 2014 at 11:56 AM ^
the man did win a lot of games over a lot of years though.
Much like Michael Jackson sold a lot of records.
/eew on both counts though
December 19th, 2014 at 11:15 AM ^
I don't see Harbaugh as a long term coach at UM. I think he still has NFL aspirations so even if he comes to UM, I don't think he stays much longer then 6-8 years.
December 19th, 2014 at 10:02 AM ^
I'm not completely with you, but I agree a hell of a lot more than I disagree. JH would be a coup that would turn heads everywhere. It would be a massive game-changer, and the age difference gives JH the ability to create his own era of Michigan football if he really puts roots down. The potential there is really exciting, and it would kick off with unprecedented positive momentum.
None of those things, however, diminish the accomplishments of Miles. Hiring away a coach who has won a national championship... recently... as a head coach... would be a huge coup in its own right. And Miles just wins a lot of football games. He's clearly an outstanding coach, and no sane person could be unhappy about "ending up" with Miles. I don't want him over Harbaugh, but I won't be sulking if we have Miles leading us next fall.
December 20th, 2014 at 2:12 PM ^
Totally agree with your comments.
December 19th, 2014 at 10:41 AM ^
I think that the reported contract package should be Harbaugh specific but that UM should make Miles the highest paid coach in CFB.
December 19th, 2014 at 11:48 AM ^
I feel the same about Les. I love him and wouldn't mind one bit seeing him in Maize and Blue. Only issue is his age BUT....he certainly doesn't act it at all. I think we could at least get a good 10 years out of him which would be about the most amount of time we would keep Jim anyway IMO.
Dad Pants or The Mad Hatter....I'd personally be perfectly happy with either.
December 19th, 2014 at 9:36 AM ^
if this is consistent in any way with the department's 'Best man over Michigan man' parameter.
You can take that to read as 'The past doesn't matter so much as the present' - and at present Les Miles has to be a top candidate. Not the top, of course, but way up there.
He's also not going to screw up his young team's minds with no-comments or waffling: he is a winner and wants to win that bowl game. Whatever he is saying in terms of denial is mostly coach speak I think.
As for UM's approach, they have to be different (open, honest) if they want to bring about significant change.