Rich Rod is out. Will Michigan go after Les Miles again?
Congratulations to The Ohio State University for beating Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl and posting its first win over an SEC team in a bowl game. It has been duly noted that thanks to the creative enforcement of the NCAA, Terrelle Pryor and the rest of the Ohio State Five made their contributions to the victory and we salute you for it. College football looks forward to having each and every one of you back for the 2011 season, when you will serve your five-game suspension. (Regular readers of this blog may insert their well wishes here.)
Wait a minute Tony, you SEC shill. Isn’t Auburn’s Cameron Newton playing in the national championship game Monday night because of the same inexplicable NCAA enforcement process?
Nope. I’ll explain on Thusday but today I want to talk about something fun.
And oh my goodness, this has a chance to be fun.
Michigan finally announced Wednesday morning that coach Rich Rodriguez has been fired.
There is no doubt that Michigan’s No. 1 choice is Stanford’ Jim Harbaugh but it sounds like he is not interested in returning to his alma mater
So if Harbaugh stays at Stanford or goes to the NFL, does Michigan take another run at at LSU’s Les Miles?
Miles was an offensive guard for Bo Schembechler from 1973-75. Randy Rosetta of the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate reports that Miles played one of those seasons with Brandon, who was a backup quarterback for Michigan and went on to make a fortune in the pizza business.
It’s pretty clear that a lot of the lettermen and alumni want a “Michigan man” back in charge of the program.
Remember that on Championship Saturday, 2007, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit reportered that Miles was headed back to Michigan. Just hours before the SEC Championship game in Atlanta LSU called a press conference and Miles angrily denied the report and said he was staying put. Miles became a member of the YouTube Hall of Fame that day when he told us to “Have A Great Day.” Then his LSU team went on to win the SEC championship and the National Championship.
Miles was bumped up to a salary of $3.751 million (one thousand more than Nick Saban) the following year) and he stayed at LSU.
But since the national championship in 2007 Miles has caught more than his fair share of grief. After some of the time management gaffes of 2009 and the continuing struggles on offense, a lot of LSU people wanted this guy gone. For about 90 seconds, when it appeared LSU had lost to Tennessee back in October, it appeared Miles was done at LSU.
Miles just pulls one escape after another and this season he beat Alabama, won 10 games, and has the Tigers in Friday’s Cotton Bowl against Texas A&M.
So if Michigan offers, would he be tempted to go this time?
A word of advice for the Michigan athletics director. If you really want the LSU coach you really only have to say two things to him:’
1) We would like the priviledge of paying you $5 million per year to coach our football team.
2) Michigan needs you. Bo would want you to come home and get us back to the Rose Bowl.
I think that would do it. Les Miles might just decide it is time to move on from the weekly insanity that is the SEC. And even if he stays in Baton Rouge, the process would be a really entertaining thing to watch.
If you were Les Miles and your alma called, would you go?
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509 comments Add your comment
GTBob
January 5th, 2011
11:04 am
Good grief, I don’t care about my conference. That is the point RambleOn was making earlier. I have never met a non SEC fan who has true conference pride. Where you guys hatched that idea ill never know. When have you heard ACC chants? The only times I have ever heard them was after beating SEC teams, so they chanted ACC to make fun of them. Do you realize that the SEC chant is a running joke to all non SEC teams and fans?
Good grief
January 5th, 2011
11:05 am
cry me a river,
How do you know that no one wants them exactly? I’m not hearing any rumors for any assistant coaches from anywhere. Are you??
BigTimeTECHFan
January 5th, 2011
11:05 am
BCS Rankings: Top 25
SEC – 6 teams
ACC – 2 teams
Need I say more?
We can go back for the last 10 years if you want? Any ACC takers, or are you just full of Sh*t?
Last year ACC had more ranked teams then SEC, so are you saying the ACC was better in 2009?
RambleOn84
January 5th, 2011
11:07 am
No, not really. Rankings don’t matter unless you’re #1 or #2 and the only way for Tech to get there is by going undefeated. And to me an undefeated season is just as good as a National Championship Trophy, since the whole process is so subjective these days.
WolverineFan
January 5th, 2011
11:09 am
I pity the cheaters of OSU. If you think OSU Deserves the win over Arkansas your have as about as much sportsmanship as Mike Tyson. The Buckeyes did not deserve a bowl. We all know the players should have been suspended immediately like everyone else in the NCAA. Nice Job Buckeyes on a dishonorable win.
RambleOn84
January 5th, 2011
11:11 am
By the way, Tony, if you are reading this, I want to commend you and Wes on your show on 790 AM.
I had the pleasure of listening yesterday since I came to work late, but I usually don’t get a chance to listen.
I even called in yesterday. I am Barry from Atlanta, and we discussed much what I am getting at here, that the SEC is great only because of the top teams. The rest of the teams are comparable to teams from other conferences.
SEC Elite
January 5th, 2011
11:11 am
How many times in the past 5 years has an ACC team finished in the top 10?
Answer: only 2 (VT in 2007 finished at #9, and VT at #10 in 2009)
How many times in the past 5 years has an SEC team finished in the top 10?
Answer: 11 times between 6 different schools!!!
Paul in RDU
January 5th, 2011
11:13 am
JDawg January 5th, 2011 10:28 am
I agree with you about great coaches – they do have big egos and want to be where the challenges are. Other examples you could have given include
College coaches who have gone to the NFL (Saban, Petrino, Spurrier, Carroll, etc)
Urban Meyer (Utah —> UF)
The SEC is the top level in CFB. If UGA terminates CMR after 2011 they will get an excellent replacement.
Good grief
January 5th, 2011
11:13 am
Bob,
I’ve explained my reasoning for wishing my conference well in OOC games. I just don’t see the logic in wishing your conference does horribly against OOC foes since it only hurts your team. You really want GT to play unranked teams every year? How do you think that will work out for you? I thought you Tech fans were supposed to be good with numbers. When a team plays 6 or 7 ranked teams every year and does well, they have a better chance to go to a great bowl than a team that only plays 2 or 3 ranked teams each year. Better bowls mean more money for your school, not to mention great positioning for next season.
I think you are just trying to spin the fact you play in a crappy conference and you are jealous.
RambleOn84
January 5th, 2011
11:13 am
For the record, I am in complete agreement that it is a sham that the “OSU 5″ got to play in that game.
But seeing Petrino squirm made it all better.
And also, to everyone lambasting Tony for standing by the NCAA’s decision on Cam Newton, he is right.
Whether you like it or not, there seems to be no proof of Newton having done anything wrong.
There is tons of smoke, but no fire. While it does seem fishy, you can’t make a judgment based on proof you don’t have.
I still think the NCAA sucks, though.
cry me a river
January 5th, 2011
11:14 am
I stand corrected… I need a new yard/pool boy. Oh they would suck at that too!
Good grief
January 5th, 2011
11:15 am
WolverineFan,
My Suckeye buddy actually thought Tressell would sit the 6 guys for an entire quarter to begin the game. The fact they didn’t even miss a series tells you all you need to know about Tressell’s character and his desperation to beat an SEC team.
I was kinda shocked myself that they all started.
RambleOn84
January 5th, 2011
11:15 am
No doubt UGA will pull in a great coach if and when Richt leaves, but I just don’t think Patterson would leave his current job for it.
Petersen would be a better choice in my opinion, and he is much more likely to leave Boise than Patterson is to leave TCU.
Good grief
January 5th, 2011
11:17 am
The Newton thing is stale at the moment. I was one that thought it was horrible that he is still able to play, but after witnessing what the NCAA did with the OSU players where they apparently had all the evidence they needed, now I’m supportive of Newton playing. If Little 11 players can break the rules, get caught and still play, then an SEC player who broker the rules and “supposedly” hasn’t been caught yet should definitely play.
Good grief
January 5th, 2011
11:19 am
Personally there is no one out there that excites me enough to wish Richt would get fired. I was never enthusiastic about Muschamp and Smart, and I just don’t see the TCU or Boise coaches working out in the SEC. Unless Saban says he wants to up and move to Athens, I will remain all in with Richt.
RambleOn84
January 5th, 2011
11:20 am
Why would Tressel willingly hurt his own team just to appease some rival fans who don’t like him anyway?
The NCAA’s ruling is awful in this case, but don’t blame Tressel for not going above and beyond their ruling and hurting his own team in the process.
I don’t like Tressel or Ohio State either, but be reasonable.
Top Recruit
January 5th, 2011
11:21 am
I’d love to see Miles go to Michigan if he would take the entire offensive staff from UGA with him. I’d even take Rich Rod at UGA if he got put in an offense like he had at WVU. A word of free advice for Miles if he considers that. Bryant answered yes when “mama called”. But times have changed. You had better decide if the kitchen is better in “your current home” or “mama’s”. And you might want to ask Rich Rod if he should have not answered the phone and stayed at WVU. What do you think Tony.
SEC Elite
January 5th, 2011
11:21 am
Hey, CheddarBob!
The lack of pride in your conference is the exact reason you will never measure up to the powerhouse that is the SEC!!!
Jim Bob
January 5th, 2011
11:22 am
The SEC is now 3-4 in bowl games, with all 3 wins coming against the weak Big Ten. Two losses are to the ACC, and one to Conference USA. Not much to pound our chests about.
GTBob
January 5th, 2011
11:22 am
Good grief, I don’t wish for the ACC to do poorly, I just don’t care if they do or not. When Miami lost to Ohio State earlier this year, it didn’t help or hurt GT, so I could care less. I wan’t really sad when Duke lost to Alabama either. I was actually happy that Boise St beat VT, as I will root against VT in just about every game they play. There are a few ACC teams that I like to root for but its on a team by team basis and has nothing to do with the letters ACC. Better bowls also do not mean better money when conferences like the SEC and ACC share bowl payouts. If GT was somehow in the hunt for the MNC then I would probably start rooting for every team on their schedule. Until then, I’m finding it hard to care.
Carlton
January 5th, 2011
11:25 am
Yeah, Tressle was definitely desperate to beat an SEC team. Did anyone else see the “accidental” onside kick after their first touchdown? Give me a break! Hey Tressle-just because you’re in the Superdome doesn’t mean you have to pull a Saints with that desperation move.
Sweater vests and people who wear them regularly are gay too
Good grief
January 5th, 2011
11:27 am
Ramble,
It gave OSU and the program a black eye to see them all playing last night for the entire game. He could have done some window dressing by at least sitting them out for a quarter. Maybe I’m drunk on the koolaid, but I suspect Richt would have done something like that. It was just poor form is all.
BAMA dude
January 5th, 2011
11:29 am
RambleOn84
January 5th, 2011
11:11 am
By the way, Tony, if you are reading this, I want to commend you and Wes on your show on 790 AM.
I had the pleasure of listening yesterday since I came to work late, but I usually don’t get a chance to listen.
I even called in yesterday. I am Barry from Atlanta, and we discussed much what I am getting at here, that the SEC is great only because of the top teams. The rest of the teams are comparable to teams from other conferences.
Yes, the best SEC teams are better than the best teams from any other conference. The mid-tier SEC teams are better than the mid-tier teams from other conferences, and considering that only two SEC teams missed bowls, the bottom-tier SEC teams are better than bottom-tier teams from other conferences.
Let’s look at the SEC losses thus far. Rankings are within their respective conferences:
#2(t) Arky vs. #1(t) tOSU
#9 UT vs. #5 UNC
#5 USCe vs. #2 FSU
#8 UGA vs. #1
Considering #4 Bama annihilated another B10 co-champion, #6 Missy State did the same to #7 Michigan, and #7 Florida beat PSU (three-way tie for third in B10 with same 4-4 conf record as UF), I’d say it’s pretty clear that the SEC is superior top to bottom.
BAMA dude
January 5th, 2011
11:31 am
Somehow the UCF part got deleted. I concede that UGA losing to C-USA champ UCF is a dissapointment.
RambleOn84
January 5th, 2011
11:31 am
Look, I’m not trying to be a jerk, but you don’t honestly believe Richt would sit a guy who wasn’t forced to sit, do you?
Richt seems to only be tough on the bench players.
If Tressel had sat the guys out for a quarter, people would still be calling him out for it and saying it wasn’t enough. The only way to satisfy people would have been sitting the guys for the whole game, and that would have basically ruined his chance to win the game.
Why willingly lose a game just to appease some rival fans who don’t like you anyway?
Be reasonable.
RambleOn84
January 5th, 2011
11:31 am
It didn’t give OSU a black eye; it gave the NCAA a black eye.
Good grief
January 5th, 2011
11:32 am
Bob,
Then you are a better man than I. Maybe I don’t adamantly despise our rivals as a program, just their fans. But I just think it’s better for your team if their conference as a whole is a success. What does everyone’s mother always preach? You are who you associate with?
Hmm….The SEC made two BCS bowls this year, plus the Cotton. Much higher paydays for the SEC teams than the ACC’s one BCS bowl.
BigTimeTECHFan
January 5th, 2011
11:32 am
Bad year for the ACC, and going into the season I thought ACC was on the way up, with the following teams battling for a ranking around 12 to 25, then:
Va Tech loses 1st two games
UNC has 1/2 it’s player suspended
GT get beat by Kansas, Nesbitt hurt, gives away 3 other games
Clemson loses to Auburn in OT after big lead
FSU played about as expected
Miami Don’t know what happened to them.
But Maryland and NC State were better then I expected
SEC Elite
January 5th, 2011
11:32 am
Hey, News Flash Jimmy Bubby Bob,
The SEC still has 3 more bowl games to play…how many more are the ACC in? ZERO
ACC must love those early, before the new year “high-profile” bowl games!!!
Good grief
January 5th, 2011
11:33 am
and Bob, don’t forget the half a billion dollar ESPN deal we inked a couple of years ago. Do you think ESPN agreed to that since we are just a mediocre conference with only a couple of ranked teams each year?
Come on dude….think about it….
Good grief
January 5th, 2011
11:37 am
Ramble,
Ha! You aren’t being a jerk. I myself admitted that I may just be drinking the koolaid. But at the same time, I don’t think any UGA fan would be shocked or the least bit surprised if Richt were in Tressell’s shoes and sat the players. I mean at least for a quarter or something pointless.
He didn’t break any rules, so I’m not entirely condemning him, I just thought it was poor form. Especially in a season when the exact same things happened to two SEC players who were IMMEDIATELY punished. One of which happened to be the linchpin to UGA’s season .
He just acknowledged the favoritism by the NCAA is all.
BigTimeTECHFan
January 5th, 2011
11:37 am
RambleOn84 – To Richt’s credit he did sit AJ Greene before NCAA ruled, Bama did the Same thing, so did UNC.
Tressel knew the NCAA was investigating long before the bowl game, why didn’t he sit player then like other coaches sem to do.
Silver Britches, Red Panties
January 5th, 2011
11:39 am
I just hope Michigan doesn’t try to hire Coach Richt.
Where would Our Beloved Dawgs be without him?’
SEC Elite
January 5th, 2011
11:40 am
Oh, by the way Jim Bob…
No commentator on TV started calling the Big 10 weak until they came up against the SEC!
Good grief
January 5th, 2011
11:43 am
Bama dude,
That’s always been my point. The Herbstriets of the world harp on the “closeness” in bowl wins when the SEC goes head-to-head with the Little 11, but he never points out that it’s always a fairly higher ranked Little 11 team, and always a higher seeded team within their own conference. going against a lower ranked and seeded team.
Most bowl seasons the SEC is always the lower ranked and seeded team, yet this is never acknowledged by the Little 11 loving media.
GTBob
January 5th, 2011
11:43 am
The SEC still has 3 more bowl games to play…how many more are the ACC in? ZERO
Not that I care about bowl scheduling but you might want to double check that one.
Driving Ms Dooley
January 5th, 2011
11:44 am
The SEC East has been damaged by their mere proximity to ACC teams.
West Coast teams can’t play defense — East Coast teams can’t play football.
Good grief
January 5th, 2011
11:46 am
BigTimeTechFan,
I’m sure you know the answer to your own question, but to humor you, because Tressell knew this was his best chance to get the SEC monkey off his back. I personally thought OSU would smoke Arkansas with all their starters playing. Arkansas just found new ways to give them then win.
As much as I despise and realize that OSU is a media made myth, I still found myself subconsciously buying into them thanks to the brainwashing on ESPN.
Good grief
January 5th, 2011
11:46 am
Yes, BC still has to play
GTBob
January 5th, 2011
11:47 am
Good grief, the money ESPN is willing to pay conferences is based on fanbase more then anything. The ACC will never be able to compete with the SEC or Big ten when it comes to the amount of fans who actually watch or go to games. It has nothing to do with how high VT or Miami finishes in the top 25 or whether they win their bowl games or not. The ACC actually has a pretty good ESPN contract as well and it’s mostly for basketball which is what most of our schools care more about.
SEC Elite
January 5th, 2011
11:50 am
Sorry CheddarBob,
I forgot that BC has yet to lose to Nevada. They’re still Big East in my mind…at least talent-wise anyway.
Karl Childers
January 5th, 2011
11:50 am
@ Saban … Willie B – it’s not that the NCAA didn’t find anything on Auburn and Cam Newton, it’s that they haven’t found anything YET – the investigatin isn’t closed, so enjoy the Sears trophy while you can.
@Gatorzip74 – you’re a fool to think that SEC teams could compete with Ohio State week in / week out.
@No Ga Gator – The Ohio State University is 5-4 in BCS bowl games. I don’t consider Bear Bryant’s record against Woody Hayes to be especially relevant.
@ConVick – The SEC doesn’t have Big Ten strength, just ask Bobby Petrino about OSU defensive line’s bull rush. He said he hasn’t seen that kind of power in the SEC this year. 31-26.
@Stone Cold Dawg – Please. Including this week’s brawl, how many Bulldog players have been arrested this year?
@All Other Drinkers of SEC Kool-Aid – You have a nice competitive conference this year, but that’s all it is – competitive. Oregon will wear Auburn out – those Barners will be sweating gravy by halftime. Oregon 38 – Auburn 27.
OSU 31 – SEC 26. Take a suck of that bitches.
RMFT
January 5th, 2011
11:52 am
as Bear Bryant said, “When Moma Calls……”
Karl Childers
January 5th, 2011
11:57 am
@WolverineFan – Michigan is our Bitchagain. Fondly, OSU.
Dontavius Supremo
January 5th, 2011
11:59 am
He should go, but for all the right reasons. Tony, you’re right about the “daily insanity” of the SEC. (I invite naysayers to review the comments above about Coach Richt). And the right reasons are that the LSU people don’t like him, were ready to fire him long ago, he will never be a Louisiana “home boy” and they will be ready to fire him again if he loses this week. If I were him I’d be gone in a Detroit minute.
Jim Bob
January 5th, 2011
11:59 am
The SEC is 3-4 in bowl games this year but listening to Bama dude you’d think they’re 7-0 or that apparently every loss was a good loss.
SEC elite, the ACC went 4-5 against the SEC this year and is 14-16 head-to-head against the SEC over the PAST 3 YEARS, but don’t let facts get in your way. Yea what matters is what commentators say haha.
Bottom line if yall are such a dominant conference why are you only winning 53% of your games against the lowly ACC over a 3 year stretch??? And why am I wasting my time trying to talk sense into ignorant SEC fans.
mack
January 5th, 2011
12:00 pm
It’s time for Les Miles to move on, i am a die hard LSU fan and, i would love to have Rich Rod in Louisiana!!!! with the talent of our offense and his coaching style this could be a really good thing for the LSU program. Les Miles please take the damn job, this process is way to easy lets just do a one for one SWAP!!!!
Carlton
January 5th, 2011
12:03 pm
Hey Karl-if OSU’s so upstanding, need I remind you of the originator of NCAA infraction? Your very own Maurice Clarrett! Yeah, he was an upstanding and model citizen. Just like tatted-up Pryor and Herron right?
And OSU sure couldn’t compete with SEC teams for the past 30 years (different generation, players, coaches, schemes, offensive/defensive philosophies)..so what makes you think they couldn’t compete with them week in and week out?
OSU and their fans need to get over themselves. Your team sucks and they always have (their only popular nationally because of the $$ they generate). They almost lost last night playing 5 ineligible players (who collectively accounted for 4 touchdowns together and the big interception at the end) and you still think OSU is better than a mid-tier SEC team?? Come on man-quit drinking the Kool-Aid.
Last thing for you pompous OSU fans that I’ll keep saying til you grasp it:
Herschel Walker college stats in 3 YEARS: 5,259 yards, 49 touchdowns
Archie Griffin stats in 4 YEARS: 5,589 yards/26 touchdowns
Herschel>Archie
Carlton
January 5th, 2011
12:04 pm
sorry: *could compete with them week in and week out
SEC Elite
January 5th, 2011
12:05 pm
@ Karl Childers
I want to commend you on your 1-9 bowl record against SEC schools…CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Jan. 4, 2010 – Sugar Bowl New Orleans, LA – Ohio State 31, Ark 26
Jan. 7, 2008 – BCS National Championship New Orleans – LSU 38, Ohio State 24
Jan. 8, 2007 – BCS National Championship Glendale, Ariz. – Florida 41, Ohio State 14
Jan. 1, 2002 – Outback Bowl Tampa, Fla. – South Carolina 31, Ohio State 28
Jan. 1, 2001 – Outback Bowl Tampa, Fla. – South Carolina 24, Ohio State 7
Jan. 1, 1996 – Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, Fla. – Tennessee 20, Ohio State 14
Jan. 2, 1995 – Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, Fla. – Alabama 24, Ohio State 17
Jan. 1, 1993 – Citrus Bowl Orlando, Fla. – Georgia 21, Ohio State 14
Jan. 1, 1990 – Hall of Fame Bowl Tampa, Fla. – Auburn 31, Ohio State 14
Jan. 2, 1978 – Sugar Bowl New Orleans, La. – Alabama 35, Ohio State 6
I would be PROUD too if I were an OSU fan!!!