LSU replaces Saban with...

[CanadianChris 0]

...Les Miles from Oklahoma State.

 

Discuss. (Source: ESPN.com)

 

Oklahoma State's Les Miles has accepted an offer to coach LSU and will be introduced as the Tigers' new coach at a Monday afternoon news conference, ESPN has learned.

 

Miles traveled to Baton Rouge on Sunday to meet with LSU officials. He told the Tulsa World on Saturday that "if things work out, there will be something official [to announce] on Monday."

 

LSU is expected to hold a 1 p.m. ET news conference.

 

The Cowboys are expected to move quickly to replace Miles, with Oklahoma State sources telling ESPN Radio's Doug Gottlieb that offensive coordinator Mike Gundy is the odds-on-favorite to be promoted. Gundy met with university president Dr. David Schmidley on Sunday to discuss the job, the sources said.

 

At least five and as many as six current Oklahoma State assistants will leave Stillwater with Miles to join his staff, sources have told Gottlieb. The main sticking point in the negotiations had been that Miles insisted that his assistants be given three-year contracts -- the same insistence that Miles had during his tenure at Oklahoma State.

 

In his four years at Oklahoma State, the 51-year-old Miles was 28-21. This was the third consecutive year that the Cowboys had gone to a bowl game, which hadn't happened at OSU since 1985.

 

Miles' hiring will officially end a saga of a coaching search at LSU. Miles emerged as the top candidate Saturday after Louisville coach Bobby Petrino withdrew from consideration.

 

The job opened when Nick Saban announced on Christmas night that he was taking the head coaching job with the Miami Dolphins. LSU hoped to complete its search quickly to allow the new coach to immediately get involved with recruiting. The process was delayed because the most prominent candidates were coaching in bowl games or in the NFL.

 

Arkansas football coach Houston Nutt withdrew from consideration Thursday. LSU had hoped to interview Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio, but Del Rio backed out of an interview Friday.

 

Miles has experience as an NFL assistant and as a head coach in a power conference. He also comes as a Louisiana outsider.

 

This year Miles revamped his offense after losing two potential starting quarterbacks -- one to professional baseball, the other to injury. Oklahoma State went from a prolific passing attack to a run-first operation and still managed to win seven games and go to the Alamo.

[2GOLD 0]

Well, he did help bring Oklahoma State out of hell and make them a sorta player in the Big 12.

 

They could have done much much worse.

 

After Bobby decided to stay with L'ville, I guess this was the next best choice.

[Damaramu 0]

This is the way I see it with Miles.

 

1) He's the only coach to beat Bob Stoops twice.

 

2) He's the only coach to win in Norman in the 6 years that Stoops has been coaching at OU.

 

So the fact he's able to repeatedly take it to a Top 5 team like that every year shows he knows something about what he's doing on the sidelines.

 

3) He's been able to recruit good talent against OU and Texas. He should have no trouble in Louisiana and Mississippi getting good players.

 

So it's a good deal for LSU.

[Vern Gagne 0]

How much was it OU not being ready to play OSU?

[Damaramu 0]

How much was it OU not being ready to play OSU?

That could've been some of it.

But still when you say "I am the only man to win in Norman in 6 years" it sounds impressive.

 

Plus like I said. He's got the recruiting thing in his favor.

[Vern Gagne 0]

That can only take you so far. Just seems like a mediocre hiring, but who knows. What would of been interesting is if LSU offered Ferentz the job.

[Damaramu 0]

I think he's going to do a good job but he's not going to win a National Title as quickly as a Stoops or Carrol.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

But still when you say "I am the only man to win in Norman in 6 years" it sounds impressive.

You'd be wrong. Stoops did win there too, y'know!

[Vern Gagne 0]

Mike Gundy is the favorite to replace Miles at OSU. He had been the offensive cordinatator.

[Art Sandusky 0]

I'm glad del Rio stayed at Jacksonville. I want to see him finish turning that team into a power.

[Alro 0]

Well, he did help bring Oklahoma State out of hell and make them a sorta player in the Big 12.

 

They could have done much much worse.

 

After Bobby decided to stay with L'ville, I guess this was the next best choice.

From what I understand, Bobby Petrino didn't decide to stay at Louisville. He was informed he wasen't getting the job and then he released a statement saying he was withdrawing his name from consideration. Most people in Louisville seem to think that his statement was a weak attempt to patch up things with Tom Jurich (AD) and Card fans. After last year's double-secret meeting with Auburn and then talking with LSU despite signing a contract extention and saying he wanted to raise his kids in Louisville, I can understand where the city is less that trusting of Bobby P.

[Alro 0]

Double post.

[iggymcfly 0]

I think the city of Louisville should just get down on their knees and thank god any year that Petrino decides to stay.

 

How often does any mid-major get to 11-1, finish in the top ten (possibly even top five), and keep their coach at the end of the season. It happens once every ten years, tops.

[2GOLD 0]

I think the city of Louisville should just get down on their knees and thank god any year that Petrino decides to stay.

 

How often does any mid-major get to 11-1, finish in the top ten (possibly even top five), and keep their coach at the end of the season. It happens once every ten years, tops.

 

Not a Mid Major anymore. On their way to the little Big East.

L'ville though needs to be thankful he is staying no matter what the reason. If they want to be distrusting of him then I'd want out as well.