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Amid rumors, LSU coach Miles says speculation on his job 'off-limits'
With talk of his potential firing swirling, LSU coach Les Miles on Monday briefly addressed his job status at a news conference, saying he didn't "want to go there."
"Speculation on my job at this point is off-limits," he said when ask whether he's met with top LSU athletic department officials about his future. "The information that I have is, do your job as you would do it. That’s something that I took when I took this job 11 years ago. If someone's asking me if I'm coaching for my job, I think I've done that for 11 years."
Miles has suddenly and surprisingly found himself pinned to hot seat rumors after three straight losses sent the Tigers reeling out of the College Football Playoff picture.
"I think the question's valid," Miles said of the questions regarding his future. "At some point in time there's a me in this. Not while I'm coaching. This will always be about our players."
The coach held a team meeting before practice on Monday afternoon, as he does every game week. During the meeting, he urged his players to focus on Saturday night's game against Texas A&M, not his job status, receiver Malachi Dupre said.
"He didn't allude much to his situation. I know he realizes that we're hearing a lot, just like everyone else is," Dupre said. "He doesn't want it to create that much of a distraction. I feel the players on the team are doing a great job of not letting it affect our play or our preparation.
"He's done a great job since he's been here, has put up historic numbers," Dupre said, alluding to Miles reaching 100 victories faster than any other LSU coach. "As long as he's our coach, we're standing behind him fully. We appreciate how hard he works. We realize he's a great coach."
Miles said he met with his assistants Monday morning.
"They kind of understand this is not about me. This is about the team. This is about preparing to beat an opponent and enjoy the young men that we coach."
Miles said there is "probably some concern," among members of the coaching staff, but added that they understand that "victory is maybe more important than anybody's job."
Beyond that, Miles spent the bulk of his time Monday addressing his team's next opponent, Texas A&M -- a clear indication he intends on coaching. With both teams involved in a four-way tie for third place at 4-3 in the SEC West, the game will go a long way to determining bowl positioning.
But will any non-playoff bowl silence the Miles critics? Several reports over the weekend shed various degrees of doubt on his job status. ESPN reported Monday that there is "a very good possibility" that LSU would spend somewhere between $15 million and $20 million to buy out the remainder of his contract.
That fueled speculation that Monday's comments would be more substantial, but Miles asserted he's "going to go on and work."
"I guess what I'm telling you is that you can have a flat tire for a while," he said. "But here at LSU, this is an elite program. We expect to regroup and get going fast. That's really where we're at."
Miles is under contract through 2019. His buyout would decrease from $15 million to $12.9 million if he was fired after Jan. 1.
The group that would likely foot the bill to buy out Miles -- a private, nonprofit athletic fund-raising arm called the Tiger Athletic Foundation -- has not been in talks with anyone about firing Miles.
"There has been no meeting and there will not be," said TAF executive committee member Charlie Weems, a Shreveport attorney who also is a former chairman of the LSU Board of Supervisors. "We support LSU Athletics, but hiring and firing decisions are made solely by those LSU officials charged with that responsibility."
Those officials are athletic director Joe Alleva and LSU President F. King Alexander; they have not commented publicly on Miles' status.
Miles, meanwhile, said this isn't the first time there have been reports that he was leaving LSU.
Those past reports, Miles said, "had me in (another) job not long ago, either, as I recall, and on a plane that I was not on."
Miles’ Tigers started the season with seven consecutive wins and opened at No. 2 in the year’s first College Football Playoff poll. But the Tigers have dropped three straight games since, losing to Alabama, Arkansas, and Ole Miss by a combined 52 points, marking the first three-game losing streak for Miles at LSU. At 7-3 overall, they currently hold the No. 15 spot in the College Football Playoff rankings. If LSU loses to Texas A&M, the Tigers will finish 4-4 in the SEC for a second straight season.
Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher declined to talk specifically about the LSU coaching situation, but did address all the coaching vacancies and state of the profession.
"It's the nature of the business. There isn't patience or any of that anymore," Fisher said Monday. "What have you done for me lately or how are you going to do it? I've never seen a year like this year. There are so many jobs and situations out there."
Fisher said the College Football Playoff has contributed to the changes.
"You have to get in the playoffs and that is where leaders of the university have to understand what they want and how they want it," Fisher said. "Be very explanatory to the people there and if you do something just make sure you communicate."
Miles has coached LSU since the 2005 season. During his tenure, the Tigers have never missed a bowl game and won the national title in 2007. Miles holds an overall record of 110-32 at LSU, including two SEC titles (2007, 2011). In 2011, he won multiple awards for coach of the year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
