Drumbeats getting louder: Is Les Miles about be dumped by LSU for Jimbo Fisher?
Multiple news outlets are reporting that LSU boosters have pledged to raise $15 million to buy out coach Les Miles contract.
That’s insane. In many ways.
Love him or hate him, you can’t argue with what he’d done for the program over the years. 11 seasons, 2 SEC championships, and a national championship. Oh, and he averaged 10 wins per season while sending 64 players into the NFL draft.
But you know big-time college football. It’s the old “what have you done for me lately” thing. A loss to Alabama, Arkansas, and Ole Miss has the fans wanting more. A team that was regaled as one of the top recruiting classes in the country, and a top 5 team early in the season, fell to no. 15 before the Ole Miss loss. Now, they are no longer in the AP Top 25.
A $15M buyout for Les Miles would be the 2nd biggest buyout in college history. Charlie Weis’ ND deal is believed to have been for $18.9M.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) November 23, 2015
Asked about the rumors during his Monday news conference, Miles said speculation on his job is “off limits” at this point. “The information that I have is, do your job as you would do it,” Miles said. “ That’s something that I took when I took this job 11 years ago. If someone’s asking me if I’m coaching for my job, I think I’ve done that for 11 years.” Miles said simply he’s going back to work. “I guess what I’m telling you is that you can have a flat tire for a while. But here at LSU, this is an elite program. We expect to regroup and get going fast. That’s really where we’re at.”’
“LSU is ‘prepared’ to part ways with coach Les Miles, multiple sources told Yahoo Sports.
“I can tell you that I don’t know anything other than let’s go to work; let’s rally the troops; let’s enjoy the men that I’ve hired and the young men that I’ve recruited,” said Miles. “Let’s coach them hard and go away with victory. I’m going to enjoy that, and it’s just that simple.” You can read the full transcript of Miles news conference here from NOLA.com.
“In Louisiana, we expect national championships, and we’re not in it,” the source told ESPN, adding that meetings happening on Monday could lead to a quick resolution.” — ESPN.com
If Miles departs LSU, it won’t be one of those “mutual things.” “No, I’m not considering retirement,” Miles said.
To be the best, you must beat the best. Les Miles has had success in arguably the most difficult division in #CFB pic.twitter.com/yhxL1DrB7q — Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) November 23, 2015
Whether there’s truth to the swirling rumors, it’s already having an effect. Late Monday, one of LSU’s top recruits de-committed from the Tigers. And another recruit, a 4-Star QB, may be on the fence about his commitment as well.
Next Up: Jimbo Fisher?
Rumored replacement? Jimbo Fisher, current Florida State coach, former offensive coordinator/QB coach for LSU from 2005–2006. He’s been the coach at FSU since 2010/ He’s 67–13 in his career as head coach with a national title and 2 ACC titles since joining the Seminoles.
“I have no comment on that,” Fisher said in a news conference setting. “ I have a policy: I don’t speak about jobs. It’s unfair to the players that are there, the players that are here, the coaches there and here.”
Other names being tossed around are Dabo Swinney (Clemson), Gary Patterson (TCU), Jon Gruden (ex-NFL), and Chip Kelly (Philadelphia Eagles), and probably half a dozen others.
The 62 year old Miles is 110–32 — a 71% win percentage. He’s signed through 2019 at $4.3 million per (plus performance bonuses).
Les Miles has the highest winning percentage in LSU football history. https://t.co/1rAmUHJ9vs pic.twitter.com/8BZdUJLjDu
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 23, 2015
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