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Former LSU AD: Les Miles turned down more money from Michigan in 2011
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Everybody knows about what could’ve been.
Had Les Miles come to Michigan in 2007, the Rich Rodriguez era would’ve never happened. Perhaps the Wolverines wouldn’t have fallen off the national scene like they did. It probably pains Wolverine fans even more to know that Kirk Herbstreit reported that Miles was set to accept the Michigan job in 2007.
As it turns out, the Wolverines allegedly took another shot at Miles.
The recently-fired LSU coach was reportedly a top target back in 2011 after the Wolverines fired Rodriguez. They apparently made him a pretty impressive offer, according to former LSU athletic director Skip Bertman:
Skip Bertman revealing a lot from behind the scenes. Michigan did offer Les Miles the job + more money in 2011. "I swear to God it's true."
— Shea Dixon (@Sheadixon) September 28, 2016
Miles, of course, played for Michigan in the 1970s and got his coaching start in Ann Arbor as a grad assistant. He was also an assistant on the Wolverines staff from 1987-94.
Surprising it is to hear a former AD talk so openly about behind-the-scenes negotiations like that. The Wolverines fired Rodriguez after the 2010 season and were eager to make a hire early in January. Miles was coming off a Cotton Bowl victory that earned LSU a No. 8-ranking, and he had a wealth of talent returning.
Whether Miles was offered the job or not, the timing wasn’t right. Michigan then hired Brady Hoke and the rest is history.
Miles went on to lead LSU to the BCS National Championship game in 2012 after leading the Tigers to eight wins over ranked opponents during the 2011 regular season.
Miles never admitted that Michigan made him an offer. Bertman said he “was too humble” to address that. But apparently Bertman’s claim has some opposition.
To repeat – yet again – all my sources, very good ones, made clear UM never offered Les Miles the HC position in 2007, 2011 or 2014.
— John U. Bacon (@Johnubacon) September 28, 2016
Whatever happened, it’s all in the past. Jim Harbaugh is leading the revival in Ann Arbor many thought Miles would.
And now, Miles is openly rooting for Michigan.
Connor O'Gara is the senior national columnist for Saturday Tradition. He's a member of the Football Writers Association of America. After spending his entire life living in B1G country, he moved to the South in 2015.