Les Miles Not Going to Arkansas, Gets Raise and Extension From LSU

Musical Chairs Update: Arkansas spoke with Les Miles and reportedly offered a lot of money. Miles claims the talks never progressed beyond the “preliminary” stage. Whatever happened, Les Miles’ agent parlayed that into what his client wanted, a raise and an extension from LSU. The deal is for seven years. The financial terms have not yet been revealed.

"“The coaching business is a competitive one and it is important to compensate our coach for his accomplishments and his worth,” Alleva said. “Les has not received a pay increase since his salary was automatically elevated following our national championship in 2007 and he has continued to keep LSU on the national stage."

LSU could have called Miles’ bluff here. Being the 5th highest paid coach in the country at LSU is not a bad gig. If he turned down more money from his alma-mater Michigan, he was not going to Arkansas to work with someone he once worked with at Michigan. However, the money is no issue to LSU’s athletic department with rising television revenues. Whatever the manner, Miles gets results. He has a 34-5 record the past three seasons while playing in the SEC.

What’s more disconcerting, is the thought that Arkansas’ best plan, after firing Bobby Petrino last spring, seems to have been sounding out Les Miles with a lot of money to see what happens. If so, pathetic.

[Photo via Presswire]