LSU’s Miles meets with Michigan

Associated Press

BATON ROUGE, La.

Les Miles met with Michigan on Monday evening about the Wolverines’ coaching vacancy, shortly after the LSU coach said he is also “extremely happy” with his current job.

LSU spokesman Michael Bonnette confirmed that the meeting took place but could not immediately say which Michigan officials were involved.

A Domino’s Pizza jet arrived in Baton Rouge on Monday afternoon and was on the ground for nearly five hours before departing for an airport near Michigan’s campus. When the plane landed at Willow Run Airport, Brandon got off but did not provide any details about the search to reporters waiting at the airport.

Bonnette said Miles’ status as LSU’s coach remained unchanged and that he and Miles still planned to travel to Dallas today for Miles’ previously scheduled speaking engagement at an American Football Coaches Association gathering.

Earlier Monday, Miles attended LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson’s announcement that he was entering the NFL draft, then spoke afterward about the direction of his coaching career.

“The only thing I can tell you is, I spent my day today with a number of underclassmen that I want to return right here,” Miles said. “I am extremely happy here.

“There’s a real comfort with my family here in Baton Rouge. I think it’s best left that way and I don’t know that there’s anything more to say.”

LSU athletic director Joe Alleva did not object to Miles meeting with Michigan but reaffirmed comments he made over the weekend concerning LSU’s intention to retain its coach.

“I can certainly understand coach Miles’ desire to accommodate his alma mater by speaking with them during their coaching search,” Alleva said. “We remain committed to working toward keeping Les Miles as the head of the LSU football program, a program that wins at a high level, graduates its student-athletes and represents the university well in the community under his leadership.”

Brandon has been very quiet about details of his search since firing Rich Rodriguez last week other than to confirm Friday he was using some “external resources” to help him find a new leader for college football’s winningest program.

Miles was an offensive lineman on two Big Ten championship teams for the late Bo Schembechler, who later gave Miles his first chance to be an assistant coach in 1980.