Les Miles Michigan: Why Marriage Would Be Bigger Disaster Than Rich Rod
Rich Rodriguez is out as Michigan's head coach. Who's in?
Jim Harbaugh's off the table, leaving LSU's Les Miles as the leading candidate. He's a "Michigan Man" and was in the running for the job when Rodriguez was hired.
As badly as things went for Rodriguez—Michigan's first losing season in nearly 40 years, NCAA violations and missing bowl games for two straight seasons—could it possibly get worse?
Some think it can if Miles is hired. Here are 10 reasons why that may be the case.
The Hire Could Be Troubling Financially
1 of 10
Money isn't that big of a concern to Michigan. After all, they fill the Big House with over 110,000 people for every home game and even did so for an outdoor hockey game. People happily pay a premium for football in Ann Arbor.
However, overspending is a scary trend. The school already paid $2.5 million to help buy Rodriguez out at West Virginia. Then they paid him about $2.5 million per season to coach.
Les Miles makes $3.9 million annually at LSU. How much will it take to lure him away? Every program's pockets have to have a bottom somewhere.
Miles Has Only Won One Conference Championship
2 of 10
Les Miles has won a national championship. It was the same season—2007—that he won his only conference championship as a head coach. In 10 seasons as a head coach—four at Oklahoma State and six at LSU—Miles has only been to two conference title games.
The SEC is brutal, no doubt, and his teams are always in the mix. Rodriguez wasn't able to bring a conference title to Michigan despite winning four Big East titles in seven years at West Virginia.
The Michigan Roster Fits Rich Rod's Offense
3 of 10
Rich Rodriguez used the past three seasons overhauling the Michigan roster to fit his spread-option offense that relies on a dual-threat quarterback. He's finally got most of the pieces in place, including electric quarterback Denard Robinson.
What is Miles supposed to do? Overhaul the roster again to fit his more traditional, pro-style/spread offense? He asks his quarterbacks to be passers. He is creative and daring, so surely Miles could find a way to use Robinson and the other players, but there are still questions about how it would work.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Too Much Stock Put in Michigan Man Moniker
4 of 10
The hiring of Rich Rodriguez came with great trepidation from the Michigan fanbase simply because Rich Rod was not a "Michigan Man." Michigan, like many traditional powers, takes great pride in keeping the football family together and hiring from within that family.
Miles was an offensive lineman at Michigan and was also an assistant coach. These ties to the program would heap immense expectations on him if he were to take the job. Many people believe he can return Big Blue to power simply because he's a Michigan Man.
Rodriguez had the usual pressure of proving people wrong; Miles has the pressure of proving people right.
Miles' Luxury of Recruiting in Texas and the South Would End
5 of 10
There are plenty of talented football players in the Midwest and Northeast of the United States. Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey have long been known for pumping out college and pro standouts. But they aren't Texas, and they aren't Florida or the rest of the South.
Miles plucked from Texas while at Oklahoma State and from Louisiana, Georgia and Florida while at LSU. If he's at Michigan, those recruiting lines won't be shut off, but they'll be clogged. Rodriguez was used to finding the talent in less heralded regions from his time at West Virginia.
Michigan Would Likely Hang on to an Unsuccessful Miles Too Long
6 of 10
What if Miles isn't the guy? What if that becomes obvious to the rest of the country after two seasons but Michigan isn't catching on?
This is the danger in a fanbase and university officials putting so much weight in having a coach be from the university family.
Emotion can get in the way of logic. If that's the case, Miles could potentially lead Michigan deeper into its current hole.
Trusting the Mad Hatter Can Be Dangerous
7 of 10
Les Miles has developed a reputation as an off-kilter personality, to put it lightly. He's a bit defiant, has committed some embarrassing gaffes and is prone to gambling with trick plays.
Lucky for him, he's had some gaffes get nullified by other team's gaffes and his own players' spectacular play, and his trick plays have an unbelievably high success rate.
But when does his luck run out? It's easy to imagine a fake field goal blowing up against Ohio State, costing the Wolverines a game.
Who Will Coach Miles' Defense?
8 of 10
Les Miles has enjoyed strong defenses while in LSU, thanks in large part to former defensive coordinator Bo Pelini and current defensive coordinator John Chavis. Those defenses have allowed Miles to retain his gambling ways, at times.
Maybe he can get Chavis to come with him to Michigan if he gets the job. But maybe not. Michigan's defensive depth chart is scary. It's thin and without much talent. If Miles doesn't get the right person to run the defense, more pressure will be put on his offense.
Who Will Run Miles' Offense?
9 of 10
Gary Crowton is extremely underrated as an offensive coordinator. His job dealing with erratic quarterback Jordan Jefferson, finding a way to make a two-quarterback system work and producing NFL-caliber wide receivers in the meantime is impressive.
Miles is known as an offensive guy but works best as a coach that oversees everything and doesn't directly control anything. If Crowton were to stay behind, Miles would either have to hire a replacement or take over himself. Either way, it could get ugly.
Even If Hired, Negative Feelings Between Miles and University Could Still Exist
10 of 10
Les Miles is no less of a hire than he was three seasons ago when Michigan passed on him. Athletic director Dave Brandon was not holding his current position when Rodriguez was chosen instead. It appears that any hard feelings between the two sides no longer exist between the two, as they are talking.
But what if Michigan loses its opener under Miles? Or what if it finishes near the bottom of the Big Ten? Ugly feelings can arise quickly in disappointing situations.
When emotion comes into play, things can spiral out of control, and rash decisions can be made that leave the program looking again for a new coach too soon.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
