LSU fans on edge; Michigan is lurking

Les Miles’ Tigers need a win over Arkansas to remain atop the BCS standings.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — LSU fans have finally warmed up to Les Miles.

Whether they see him coach another game in Tiger Stadium after today remains to be seen.

The game for “the Golden Boot,” a trophy shaped like Arkansas and Louisiana, routinely provides a compelling end to the regular season for the Tigers and Razorbacks. But this year’s edition carries even more subplots than usual.

No. 1 LSU (10-1, 6-1) needs a win to carry national championship hopes into the Southeastern Conference title game Dec. 1 in Atlanta. Arkansas (7-4, 3-4) might be playing for coach Houston Nutt’s job.

Then there’s that vacancy at Michigan, where Miles played, was an assistant coach and is now being talked about as a prime candidate to take over the Wolverines’ storied program.

“We’re not letting any of that [Michigan talk] get in our heads,” LSU linebacker Luke Sanders said. “We’re focused on Arkansas, because it really has an impact on what our whole season’s going to be.”

Miles avoided discussing Michigan at length during his weekly luncheon with reporters on Monday, pausing, watery-eyed, to compose himself as he asserted that he loves his current team and wouldn’t do anything to hurt it.

The coach stopped short of promising to return next season. If he comes back, it would seem fitting that it took him time to decide whether LSU is the place he wants to be for the foreseeable future.

Tigers fans certainly took their time deciding whether Miles was the guy they wanted to lead their beloved team.

Miles had the good fortune of inheriting a squad loaded with talent (see the four first-round draft picks in 2006) when he took over for Nick Saban in 2005.

During Saban’s two seasons in the NFL, many continued to credit the former coach’s groundwork when LSU won and blame Miles when the Tigers lost. Miles was 11-2 in each of his first two seasons with a pair of lopsided bowl victories, but two losses were too many for a team with national championship aspirations.

Support for Miles began to surge this season when Saban returned to the college ranks with SEC West Division rival Alabama. Now, Miles has not only vanquished Alabama but has used daring, exciting play-calling to keep LSU in the hunt to play in the BCS title game in January in New Orleans.

Plus, he’s had several highly regarded recruiting classes, keeping LSU in line for future success.

“I have a great job. I love this place. This is a place where I am comfortable and my family is comfortable,” Miles said. “I don’t want to talk about jobs and don’t care about jobs. I don’t want to involve myself in that thought process. It is counterproductive to preparation.”

LSU spent the week preparing for an Arkansas offense that looked impressive in a 45-31 win over Mississippi State last Saturday. Led by Heisman Trophy candidate Darren McFadden, the Razorbacks have won three of their last four SEC contests, topping 40 points in each win.