Breaking: Les Miles to stay at LSU, gets a raise

LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles slaps hands with fullback Connor Neighbors (43) during pre game warmups prior to facing the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium. LSU defeated Ole Miss 41-35. (Crystal LoGiudice-US PRESSWIRE)

What at first sounded like totally unfounded rumors by an incensed and irresponsible sports media quickly became a reality when Arkansas’ massive contract offer to current LSU coach Les Miles was confirmed.

Arkansas is desperate for a head coach, and they were apparently willing to pull out all of the stops to try to lure Miles away from Baton Rouge. After all, LSU is where he has won a BCS National Championship and has become ingrained in the culture of the school after eight years at the helm.

How desperate are the Razorbacks to please their rabid fan base? Try five years and a whopping $27.5 million. That is desperate.

However, Miles understands exactly the type of figure he has become on campus, and in an emergency press conference called Wednesday afternoon, Miles announced to the college football universe precisely that.

He and the Tigers athletic department have agreed upon a new deal that will keep Miles on as the program’s head man for well into the foreseeable future.

“Les Miles is one of the premier coaches in the country and has LSU in contention for championships year in and year out,” LSU athletic director Joe Alleva said. “Only two coaches in the 119-year history of LSU football have coached as many years at this school and only one has won more games. Les Miles has made a commitment to LSU and LSU is solidifying its commitment to Les Miles.”

Saturday’s win over none other than Arkansas pushed his Tigers to 10 wins. It was the fifth time in his eight seasons that the football team has cracked the 10-win plateau; Since arriving at LSU in 2005, Miles is 85-20 overall.

LSU has not released details of Miles’ extension or raise, but his previous contract paid approximately $3.75 million annually through 2017.

One assumes that the school has made their Mad Hatter giddy with riches.

Quotes from ESPN has been used in this report

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