Les Miles on Harbaugh to Michigan
Thanks for the support Les. Go kill ND tomorrow night.
Les Miles said he is very happy that Michigan hired Jim Harbaugh. “It’s just a matter of time before they return to prominence. Go Blue."
— Andrew Owens (@BGI_AndrewOwens) December 29, 2014December 29th, 2014 at 2:58 PM ^
I kinda feel bad for Les - he seriously seems like he always wanted to coach at UM at some point in his career. He's seen that dream probably die for the last time.
Still, nice to see the extended family give some support.
December 29th, 2014 at 3:02 PM ^
He wanted the job so bad and now 3 times reports are he was never a candidate yet has been nothing but a class act about it.
Would have loved his as Plan B.
December 29th, 2014 at 3:04 PM ^
He was happy with the situaition at LSU and was in no hurry to move. Coaching at Michigan was also cool and he would have been equally happy to finish his career in Ann Arbor.
So I think that's why he stayed on the list as an emergency backup. He wasn't going anywhere, there was no "swim lane" with him.
December 29th, 2014 at 6:01 PM ^
Who knows what would have happened up here, but he's got a good thing going down there . . . great recruiting area, glamour team in the SEC West, Death Valley at night, and they pretty much let Les be Les down there.
He's in a position that pretty much everybody except Harbaugh and himself would kill for.
December 29th, 2014 at 2:59 PM ^
I would have been satisfied if we had to go with Les instead, actually and the thing is...there are a lot of LSU fans groaning because Michigan didn't take Les off of their hands.
December 29th, 2014 at 3:01 PM ^
is a class act. Gets a bad rap from 20% of the fan base because he coaches in the SEC and isn't a country club kind of guy.
December 29th, 2014 at 3:53 PM ^
of course, the "other things" that actually gave some reservation.
[I've never heard the Country Club theory....like ever. Hiring HC's like RichRod, Brady and even JH would seem to disabuse that perception.]
December 29th, 2014 at 4:56 PM ^
Those are completely unsubstantiated, and people continue to parrot the accusations as if they themselves know the events as facts. I give you credit for not spelling it out but a lot of people mention it without considering the reality that they are impugning another person's and family's reputation (and I don't mean Les's).
It's a horrible thing to flippantly throw around the internet, and I wish folks had the judgment to withhold making such accusations. I know, I know - I am new to the internetS. I am sad for Les that his dream could not be realized, but I am happy for Wolverine Nation that we look to better days ahead.
December 30th, 2014 at 10:56 AM ^
I respect my sources on this one. How good are yours? I am not sure what you would need for substantiation, but if you want something proven, then you won't like the internet.
December 29th, 2014 at 3:01 PM ^
It'd be great to see Miles v. Harbaugh play for the championship someday -- might even rehabilitate and reintroduce the now dreaded phrase "Michigan Man."
December 29th, 2014 at 3:30 PM ^
December 29th, 2014 at 3:07 PM ^
Great words from Les really, and like others, I do rather feel bad for him in that he probably has wanted to have a shot here and between this and the prospect of retirement - which I assume is only beginning to loom in his mind - it may not happen. Not once has he ever been salty about it and I will also admit that he would have been a pretty darn good plan B among realistic options.
December 29th, 2014 at 3:12 PM ^
I really do like Les Miles. I really do think we should have given him the job in both of the last coaching searches, since he is a really good coach. I know I have heard he wasn't in the running this time even if harbaugh had said no, but he was still #2 on my list(even though he now is getting a little too old).
December 29th, 2014 at 3:21 PM ^
I too am a little sad that Miles will now probably never get a chance to coach at Michigan. Unless the naysayers are right and JH bolts to the NFL before his contract is up (which I honestly don't see happening).
I for one would have been just as excited to get Les as I am for JH. Maybe when he retires can come work for the AD in some capacity. I'd love to see him wearing a Michigan hat again.
Godspeed Coach Miles. Now go kick the shit out of ND.
December 29th, 2014 at 3:22 PM ^
Thanks, Les. I still think what could have been if he was given the chance in 2007. It just wasn't meant to be, however, I will always think fondly of him.
December 29th, 2014 at 3:25 PM ^
It's hard to imagine where we would be if Les did actually take the job (or was offered) before that LSU championship. However, I suspect the last two weeks wouldn't have been as excruciating.
December 29th, 2014 at 3:34 PM ^
alone at the top of the B1G. With at least 2 NC's.
Makes me sick to think about not hiring him in 2007.
December 29th, 2014 at 3:29 PM ^
December 29th, 2014 at 3:34 PM ^
Michigan and LSU have never played. I'm thinking our paths shall cross someday. Maybe in the CFP, please?
December 29th, 2014 at 3:48 PM ^
And I hate LSU. And it's not because I hate ND more, usually in this situation I root for the meteor. Not tonight, I'm 100% rooting for LSU. Geaux Tigers!
December 29th, 2014 at 3:57 PM ^
December 29th, 2014 at 4:07 PM ^
Whether a united UM Football family in '07 is more or less likely to lead to Les Miles. Ultimately, it doesn't matter, but looking back on the past 7 years it's hard to not see a gaping hole that Les would've filled nicely [insert sexual joke here]. Whether you liked the guy or not, and regardless of whether you think he's a good coach or not, he would've likely have been a less controverial figure than Rich Rod and has more coaching chops and program-manager skills than Hoke. Definitely an odd and interesting nugget of UM football history either way.
December 29th, 2014 at 4:14 PM ^
I too feel for Les. Like some of the others here know that there will be most likely never another chance for him to coach at UM. I really believe that was a deciding factor for JH too who is at the height of his career---I really don't think he wants to end up in Les' position. Les has always had a very soft spot for Michigan and from everything I have heard, he would have coached Michigan in a heartbeat. I know he loves Michigan as much as Jim, played for Bo just like Jim so I know, if given a real chance, he would have came home just like Jim.
GO LSU and beat those domers!
December 29th, 2014 at 4:22 PM ^
Good luck Les. Would have been great to have you in 2007.
December 29th, 2014 at 4:36 PM ^
If LSU beats ND tomorrow night, then they finish 7-6 and Brian Kelly is on the hot seat in 2015!
Geaux Tigers!
December 29th, 2014 at 5:06 PM ^
Classy Les!
How about the U-M and LSU ADs get together for an OOC game now?
December 29th, 2014 at 6:08 PM ^
Les Miles has always been one of my choices for open coaching positions in 2007 and 2011. There is no doubt in my mind he would have righted the ship.
December 29th, 2014 at 6:19 PM ^
December 29th, 2014 at 6:34 PM ^
December 29th, 2014 at 8:32 PM ^