A Road Les Traveled

So late yesterday, Bill Martin asked LSU athletic director Skip Bertman for permission to talk to Les Miles regarding the open position at Michigan.

Skip has asked that the contact be made after the SEC Championship game on Saturday. The reason for this is two fold. 1) It allows Les to focus on the game 2) It gives Skip a couple of days to keep his coach.

So here is what I believe has happened. The deal for him to come to Michigan has been wrapped up via 3rd parties. Usually, you wouldn't do something like "ask for permission" for a coach you didn't want to hire, because the PR would be too great if he turned it down or wasn't interested.

Second, I believe Skip is going to break the bank and try to keep Les. I'm hearing Skip will offer in the $3.5 Million a year range. I don't believe Bill Martin will pay that much. I expect Michigan to be the $2.5-$3.0 range. Skip has already met with George Bass, Les's agent on a contract extension. Bass says he has not talked to Michigan.

So it comes down what is more important to Les: His dream job? Or more money?

Only time will tell. Hopefully this is a no brainer for him.


It looks like Michigan's inability of their fans to travel to non-important bowl games is going to haunt them. The Outback bowl has chosen the well traveling Wisconsin Badgers and the Citrus will most likely take Illinois. The Alamo bowl hasn't been impressed on how many tickets they sold the last time they were in town and are leaning towards Penn State. So that leaves Michigan in some other bad Orlando bowl against an ACC team before New Years. Way to go out Lloyd!