Les Miles, LSU Coach, Open to Talk With Michigan?

ARLINGTON, Tx. -- LSU coach Les Miles was emphatic earlier this week he wouldn't leave the Tigers to take over at his alma mater, the University of Michigan.

But Miles seemed to leave the door slightly open for an exit to Michigan as rumors swirled following the 11th-ranked Tigers' 41-21 rout over Texas A&M in the AT&T Cotton Bowl Friday at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

"This is really about an LSU staff and really not about the coach's issues," said Miles, who declined the Wolverines' overtures three years ago on the heels of the Tigers' BCS National Championship season. "Coach's issues are not important right now."

While Miles reiterated he had not been in contact with Michigan prior to the Cotton Bowl, he seemed to indicate he would be open to listening if Michigan came calling this time. Miles said he has discussed the rumors with his players.

"I told them that I had not had any conversations with Michigan to this point and, if I did, I would communicate with them very effectively," Miles said.

Michigan is in search of a new coach after three disastrous seasons with Rich Rodriguez running the program. Michigan's top choice was believed to be Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, who signed a five-year, $25 milliion to coach the San Francisco 49ers earlier Friday.

That likely means at some point in the next couple days Michigan might come calling on Miles to see if he has had a change of heart.