Reports: Les Miles Will Remain at LSU, Will Not Take the Michigan Job

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Reports are coming fast and furious out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana that LSU head coach Les Miles will not accept the Michigan job and will return as the head coach of the Tigers.

According to Randy Rosetta, LSU beat writer for the Baton Rouge Advocate, he received a text message from the LSU athletic director confirming that Miles will in fact stay with LSU.

Now the rumors will really start flying.

San Diego State head coach Brady Hoke has been the one name that continues to come up and has come up over the past month or two since word of Rich Rodriguez's fate, or potential fate at that point, was a foregone conclusion.

Another name that was brought up by Lisa Horne of Fox Sports, via Twitter, was University of Huston head coach Kevin Sumlin. He's not exactly as big of a name as Hoke but then again Hoke's name isn't huge either.

It's a wait and see game at this point but what we do know is Les Miles has taken his name out of the running.

For Michigan, it's Down to Les Miles or Brady Hoke

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Just hours prior to the Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium, talk began to spread through the stadium about the possibility of LSU head coach Les Miles getting interest from Michigan about their head coaching vacancy.

Though no one thought Miles would answer any questions about the job before, during, or after the game, it didn't take long to find out that the two sides were going to begin conversations to gauge each other's interest.

We know that this isn't the first time Miles' name has come up. You might remember his name coming up before Rich Rodriguez left West Virginia in the middle of the night to become the new head coach in Ann Arbor.

This time, Rodriguez is out and the Wolverine fans want a big time name to replace him. A guy that's going to bring them wins over Ohio State and another national championship. Though not necessarily in that order.

But Miles isn't the only name that's being talked about when it comes to the biggest vacancy in college football right now. Another name that is on the Ann Arbor radar is current San Diego State head coach, and former Michigan lineman coach under Lloyd Carr, Brady Hoke.

He's not the "sexy name" that most would believe a job like this would require. Sure Hoke has a familiarity with the university as he spent seven years under Carr but that doesn't make him the kind of guy that can come in and immediately turn this team around.

There was a comment made by Yahoo Sports' Columnist Dan Wetzel about how Hoke would be his choice if he were a fan. To me that statement makes absolutely no sense at all.

If you polled, just for argument sake, 100 Michigan fans do you really think the majority would be ok with Brady Hoke? Absolutely not and especially not if Les Miles is being mentioned.

When Miles' name first came up before LSU's win over Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl, I talked to a few people in the press box who agreed that taking the head coaching job at Michigan would not be a step up for him. It would be a lateral step at best and one could argue it would be a step down seeing as Miles has had more success at LSU.

As far as Hoke is concerned, San Diego State is hoping Les Miles takes the job at Michigan for no other reason than they're enjoying the success they had this past season. Keeping Hoke means continuing that ride. One that doesn't look like it's going to end any time soon.

There's been no indication of when a decision is going to be made as to who the next head coach of the Wolverines will be. We do know it's down to two names but only one of those is the right guy for the job.

Whoever is chosen will leave another empty seat that will need to be filled. Will it be LSU or San Diego State?

LSU, Texas A&M Thrill Fans at the 75th Annual Cotton Bowl

For those of you who love college football this was the perfect atmosphere for this game. The fans were already getting loud before the game even started.

From the moment each team came out on the field for warmups, Cowboys Stadium in Arlington was already jumping with fans from both teams screaming and yelling at the top of their lungs. Not like they needed the gentle shove but when the big screen put up the "noise meter" it became so loud that none of us could hear each other in the press box.

All of this was before the opening kick off. They were just getting warmed up.

It was all about mistakes for Texas A&M and two of them were enough to allow the LSU Tigers to run away with the game. Aggie quarterback Ryan Tannehill was intercepted twice and both were telegraphed badly.

When you first learn how to be a quarterback and you learn the ins, outs, do's and don'ts, you're taught to never stare at your receiver or stare them down. Tannehill apparently forgot those lessons because its what caused both of his interceptions, one of which led to a late LSU touchdown.

Though we can talk about the game until we're blue in the face and talk about what each team did or didn't do, I think enough of you watched it where you don't need me to break it down. So how about we do something a little different? You ok with that? Good.

From the moment I walked in to Cowboys Stadium there was a different feel to this game. But it wasn't the game itself, it was the atmosphere that surrounded it.

As you drive up to the stadium you see fans clad in LSU purple and gold as well as Aggie fans dressed in maroon and white. This is what college football is all about and I don't think you could get a better venue for this game and for these teams than Cowboys Stadium.

Everyone who's been here talks about the huge screen that sits some 50-60 feet above the playing surface. Don't get me wrong it's a sight to behold but it's just screen no matter how big it is.

This game was about the fans and it was about a game that has so much tradition behind it. When you talk about this game you mention guys like the great Jim Brown and so many of the other hall of famers that have graced this game through the years.

From the opening kickoff to halftime to every play in between, the fans enjoyed themselves at every turn. Not to offend Texas A&M fans but the LSU Tiger fans were loud from the moment this game got underway. They drowned out everybody and they have every right to be proud of their team's victory on this night.

It was a back and forth game from the start but one the Aggies just couldn't hang on to. They made too many mistakes, turned the ball over too many times, and made unforced errors that gave the Tigers new life. This 41-24 win was not only earned by LSU but you could almost say the Aggies handed them a few touchdowns just like a scratch golfer giving a few strokes to an opponent that's not quite as good.

The Aggies had a good run and we're looking for their first 10-win season in more than a decade but the Tigers made sure that 10th win wasn't coming on this night. They made sure that they would be the best team that took the field on this Friday night.

No matter whether you're a college football fan or an NFL fan, atmospheres like this don't come around very often. This was my very first time to take in a game, in person, that featured LSU and I wasn't disappointed.

For now, Texas A&M will go back to the drawing board and their students will head into yet another off season. Both teams will lose their seniors and both will rebuild with incoming freshman as well as experienced upper classmen.

We will see these teams again and even better than they were this season. We're not done hearing from the LSU Tigers and the Texas A&M Aggies.

As the clocked rolled to triple zeros at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, I get one more look at what was an amazing experience and a tremendous game from both teams.

Say what you want about the win for LSU and the mistakes from Texas A&M, they deserved to be on this stage and they put on a show that should make their fans proud. A bounce here and a change in fortune there could have turned the tide in another direction but neither of those things happened.

This game went exactly as LSU wanted it to go and they leave here with the Cotton Bowl trophy.

Until next year and the 76th Annual Cotton Bowl, we wrap things up with a big thank you to Cowboys Stadium, to the LSU Tigers and their fans as well as to Texas A&M and their fans.

Congratulations to the LSU Tigers, the 2011 Cotton Bowl Champions. Well deserved and well earned.

Texas A&M vs LSU: Updates From the 7th Annual Cotton Bowl

Update: 9:54pm CST - A&M couldn't get the big play they needed and they punt it back to LSU. With 6:59 to go in the third quarter, LSU still has their 35-17 lead.

Update: 9:48am CST - Texas A&M better get something going soon because if they don't the LSU Tigers are going to run away with this game long before the fourth quarter ever comes up. They need a score on this drive.

Update: 9:43pm CST - Sorry this update is late. We're underway in the 2nd half and already LSU has put another score on the board and looks to be running away with this game if A&M can't figure out something quick. It's 35-17 LSU

Update: 9:09pm CST - We've reached halftime and it's been a tremendous game so far here at the 75th annual Cotton Bowl. The LSU Tigers lead the Texas A&M Aggies 28-17 as both teams head for the locker room.

Update: 9:03pm CST - Momentum folks and LSU has it. After a bad pass by A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, resulting in his 2nd interception of the night, the Tigers used that turnover and have extended their lead to 28-17 with 1:16 left in the half.

Update: 8:52pm CST - Just when the Aggies were putting together a drive of their own, Ryan Tannehill is intercepted and the Tigers have the momentum on their side.

Update: 8:40pm CST - LSU takes the kick off and returns it back to their own 32-yard line. They'll have the ball 1st and 10 with 7:35 to go in the 2nd quarter.

Update: 8:39pm CST - Just when you thought LSU was taking control of this game, think twice. Texas A&M scores on a halfback option and they take a 17-14 lead with 7:44 to go 2nd quarter.

Update: 8:28pm CST - Touchdown LSU and with the extra point they take a 14-10 lead over Texas A&M

Update: 8:19pm CST - Here are some first quarter stats for you:

Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill had six complete passes on nine attempts for 60 yards and a touchdown. A&M wide receiver Jeff Fuller led the way with two catches for 18 yards. Running back Cyrus Gray had 50 yards on seven carries with a 7.1 yards per carry average.

For LSU, quarterback Jordan Jefferson completed three passes on six attempts for 61 yards with a touchdown as well as an interception.

Update: 8:18pm CST - Texas A&M was stopped on a 3rd and 21 thanks to an incomplete pass. They tried a 52-yard field goal but it went off the right upright. LSU has the ball 1st and 10 at their own 48-yard line

Update: 8:13pm CST - That's the end of the first quarter with Texas A&M leading LSU 10-7. They will begin the 2nd quarter with the ball and a 3rd and 21 from the LSU 35-yard line.

Update: 8:07pm CST - LSU is on the board with a 50-yard touchdown pass. It's 10-7 Texas A&M with 1:48 to go in the first quarter.

Update: 7:54pm CST - Field goal good from Texas A&M after they intercepted LSU deep in A&M territory. The Aggies came to play tonight and they take a 10-0 lead with 5:03 left in the first quarter.

Update: 7:45pm CST - Just when A&M had the momentum forcing a three-and-out on LSU, a running into the kicker penalty gave the Tigers the ball back and they're driving on the Aggies.

Update: 7:37pm CST - What a start to this one. A long kick return from Texas A&M to the LSU 28-yard line and a few plays later the Aggies punched it into the end zone. The Aggies jump out to a quick 7-0 lead. Not sure LSU knows what hit them. The Aggies had their no huddle offense going right off the bat, not allowing the Tigers to get set.

Aggies drive: 5 plays 31 yards

Update: 7:30pm CST - LSU wins the toss and we are ready for the 75th Annual Cotton Bowl. This place is absolutely deafening right now. If you want to know why I love college football over the NFL every day of the week and twice on Sunday, you should be at Cowboys Stadium right now.

Update: 6:47pm CST - We're about 45 minutes from kickoff, both teams still on the field running drills and will probably be here for another 15-20 minutes before heading back to their respective locker rooms.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to Arlington, Texas and Cowboys Stadium the sight of the 75th Annual Cotton Bowl.

I'll be bringing you updates from the game all night long as well as sending out updates on Twitter so you can follow me there (@T_Kaufmann).

Both teams are on the field for warmups, LSU is in their road whites with yellow pants and yellow helments while Texas A&M is in their home maroon jerseys with white pants and maroon helmets. We're expecting a crowd of a little under 90,000 for tonight but that's still a solid number for a big game like this between two good teams.

LSU's end zone is on the east side of the stadium while Texas A&M is directly opposite them to the west. The fan sections are to the north and south, LSU to the north and A&M to the south.

We're going to have a great game today so I hope you can hang around and join in on the conversation either here or on Twitter. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the 75th Annual Cotton Bowl

Michigan: Rich Rodriguez Out, Brady Hoke In?

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According to reports that are slowly coming out, the University of Michigan has fired head football coach Rich Rodriguez. Fox 2 News in Detroit, via Twitter, confirms that report.

This is a move that a lot of us knew was coming and after reports surfaced that Rodriguez would be meeting with the athletic director this afternoon, it was just a matter of time before we learned what his fate would be. Turns out it was exactly what we all knew it would be.

What happens next is anyone's guess. Most of the talk late yesterday centered around Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh becoming the next head coach in Ann Arbor but as of this morning that possibility seemed all but gone.

I'll give you a few names that will begin to come up now that the news is official.

1) Les Miles - Head coach at LSU

2) Brady Hoke - Head coach at San Diego State


Yes those are only two names that could be considered but they are two guys that have been thrown around before. Miles is a Michigan guy and after talking to a source with ties to LSU, they told me that there was no question in his mind Les would take the job if it was offered. However, the source did say that they didn't think Michigan would offer him the job.

I also talked to a source out of San Diego who has it on good authority from a San Diego State insider that if Jim Harbaugh were to turn this deal down, it's Brady Hoke's job to lose.

Take that for what you will, but that is something I had heard a few weeks ago when the San Diego Union Tribune talked about the very same thing.

There's no question in anyone's mind that Hoke would love to be the next head coach at Michigan but I don't think even he believed Harbaugh wouldn't be the guy.

This could get very interesting very quick. I'll give you updates as they come.