Michigan Football: Miles, Brandon Meet at LSU, Agreement Could Be Finalized Soon

The wheels and planes are moving rapidly in the search for a new Michigan football coach.

Wolverines AD David Brandon met Monday night with LSU head coach Les Miles, sources in Baton Rouge confirmed.

Brandon and Miles were teammates on the 1973 team which finished undefeated but tied Ohio State 10-10 in the final regular season game.

Miles was the primary candidate for the Michigan head coaching job three years ago, when he abruptly withdrew his name from consideration due to an erroneous leak during ESPN’s College GameDay. An announcement that Miles had accepted the job was made by network personality and former Ohio State quarterback Kirk Herbstreit.

Former West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez eventually accepted the job, but never lived up to expectations and was terminated last Wednesday after three tough seasons..

Meanwhile, Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh immediately became the favorite to land the position, but opted out of the conversation by signing a five-year deal with the NFL San Francisco 49ers.

Several candidates remain in the running. Miles, San Diego State coach Brady Hoke, Mississippi State's Dan Mullin and former NFL coach Jon Gruden appear to be the most popular.

Miles became the primary subject of media speculation when a Lear Jet with University of Michigan markings landed in Baton Rouge last Friday. The plane turned out to be owned by Michigan fundraiser Richard Rogel.

A second plane, owned by Dominos Pizza and often used by Brandon, showed up in Baton Rouge Monday afternoon.

After the meeting Brandon returned to Ypsilanti’s Willow Run airport and told a local newspaper that the meeting went well, but the deal wasn’t done.

A source close to ESPN reported that Miles would accept the job if offered. It’s also known that LSU could lower or waive the $1.25 million buyout if he Miles decides to leave.

Michigan is expected to offer in the neighborhood of $5 million annually. Miles earns roughly $3.75 million per year.