Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Les Miles is a possible Genius?
Les Miles is staying at LSU...with a buyout clause if he decides to go to Michigan. For those of you unaware of what a buyout means, it means that for a certain "x" amount of dollars, Miles can leave LSU without any further penalties from the school as opposed to leaving and having to possibly pay back some money he has already earned of a breach of contract.

Stay with me here because this could seem to be a stretch and I'm not saying it isn't but it's a thought I've concocted while watching the undying re-runs of Les Miles specials on the WWL.

Miles is trying to raise his own stock price. By getting a contract extension at LSU, that tells Michigan and any other suitor school (or NFL team) that he really likes where he is and doesn't intend to leave unless the price is right. There are several reasons why i think he is using LSU as a bargaining chip
  1. The contract does not increase his salary. It will stay at 2.8 million annually.
  2. He still has one buyout clause in the contract and the one buyout clause is if Michigan comes calling!
To me the extension of years means nothing since the buyout is still in place which is for the circumstance of Big Blue knocking on his door. I don't think there's any worry of him leaving for the big leagues, after all, look at all the recent failures of former college coaches that have left for the pro programs and came right back (most recently Petrino yesterday.). If Les is going to leave this school and football team he loves so dearly, it would be for one school and one school only, Michigan University. LSU has become one of the best college jobs there is. Ohio State isn't calling nor is USC or Notre Dame (though they should consider it), or even Miami. Michigan is not a program known for having a coaching carousel either. I don't expect the next coach to be there for only a couple years unless he is colossal disaster. The only things Les is saying with this contract extension to me are that Michigan is going to have to come with more money and if not, he'll be happy to stay at LSU.
Miles has set himself up real nicely so the ball is now in Michigan's court and I expect them to give Miles what he wants. When Miles leaves this program post-championship game, don't call him a liar or a traitor, He's just doing business because that's what this is, a business.


EXTRA EXTRA:
Miles set himself up nicely with a new termination clause if he does decide to stay and they do fire him. If they fire him without cause, he can be owed up to 15 million from LSU.

CLICK HERE TO GO BACK TO THE MAIN GOTHAM TIMES HOME PAGE
Written at 2:48 AM by Gotham Times.
0 comments