The Michigan Coaching Search: Les Miles Out of Picture (Again)

by Maize n Brew Dave on Dec 11, 2007 3:39 PM CST in Michigan Football

Les Miles quashed any speculation that he's headed to Ann Arbor this afternoon by releasing a statement on the LSU website clarifying what exactly his conversations with Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman and AD Bill Martin were about. Taken from ESPN (via MSC):

"I had a conversation with Michigan last week that covered a wide range of topics. I was doing nothing more than helping them with their search for a football coach, just as any loyal alumnus might do. It was nothing more than that," Miles said. "I'm not a candidate for that job and I will not be a candidate for the job. I was only assisting them in their search for a coach," he added. "I have a great job at a wonderful place, a place that my family calls home. It's time that Michigan goes on with their search for a football coach. "I'll say it again, I'm going to be the coach at LSU next season."

If that doesn't definitely shut the door on Miles' candidacy I don't know what does. Whether or not Coleman and Martin extended a hefty salary package or not will have to be left to speculation and "insider information," neither of which I possess. Irrespective of that, the coaching search will go on and no one, including the people conducting it, seem to have a clue what direction it's going.

Is it time to jump in front of a bus? Hardly. There are plenty of very good coaching options available to Michigan and the smartest thing to do now that Choice A1 is out of the picture is for Michigan to take its time and zero in on the right candidate.

That said...