BATON ROUGE, La. — Les Miles made it clear, in his own particular way, that he is living in the present.
His nostalgia for Michigan, where he played, and his enduring pride in his alma mater could not outweigh the relationships he has built in the past six seasons at LSU, where he has won 62 games and five bowls, including the 2007 national title.
“I’m one of those guys that believe where you are at is where you live your life,” Miles said Wednesday shortly after LSU announced that the Tigers’ coach had agreed to a new contract that would keep him living down on the bayou for the next seven seasons.
Miles’ annual salary will remain the same at a little more than $3.75 million. However, his new deal gives him three additional years and more opportunities with bonuses based on postseason success.
Long introduced as Aztecs coach
SAN DIEGO — Rocky Long had a chance to follow Brady Hoke to Michigan. Instead, he stayed at San Diego State and was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach.
“This is a much better deal,” Long said. “And I’m not talking about anything about being a head coach. We’ve got things started here. They’ve got a lot of work to do there.”
The two schools will find out for sure when San Diego State visits Michigan on Sept. 24.
Long inherits a team that enjoyed a quick turnaround under Hoke. The Aztecs were 9-4 in 2010, including a victory against Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl.
Long, the Aztecs’ third head coach since 2008, will get a five-year contract paying $800,000 per season.
“You see my hair? This is not a steppingstone for me, I’ll promise you that,” the graying Long said when asked how long he plans to stick around.
Footnotes.
All-America receiver and Biletnikoff Award winner Justin Blackmon and quarterback Brandon Weeden are returning to Oklahoma State for their junior and senior seasons, respectively.
• Iowa receiver Marvin McNutt, who led the Hawkeyes with 53 receptions for 861 yards in 2010, said he is coming back for his senior season.
• Utah defensive tackle Sealver Siligi will bypass his senior season and enter the NFL draft.
• Michael Floyd, Notre Dame’s leading receiver with 79 receptions, will return to the Fighting Irish for his senior season.
• Nebraska junior defensive tackle Jared Crick is returning to school for his senior season.
• Georgia Tech junior offensive tackle Nick Claytor is entering the NFL draft.
• Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said quarterback Tate Forcier is no longer with the program because of academics.
The Associated Press
