Here’s audio of Kirk Herbstreit before the Big 12 championship game, explaining himself on the story he broke this morning on GameDay. [display_podcast] Basically he says one of two things happened here: 1. LSU reacted to his report and signed Miles. 2. It is all a smoke screen and Miles still may be coming to Michigan. What Herbstreit didn’t address is if #1 or #2 is true, what about his report that Miles is going to Michigan? If his story is correct, then Miles is burning Michigan and his “deal”. He didn’t talk about that. Herbstreit’s of the opinion that this isn’t over (“this saga shall continue”). Miles has since clarified on multiple occasions that he’s coming back to LSU next season. And if #1 is true, so Miles had a deal with Michigan and as his team was taping up for the SEC Championship, Miles’s agent and LSU hashed out a better deal? In a hour or so after Herby’s report? Unlikely man! Meanwhile, Mitch Albom is lashes out at Les Miles for all of this. I don’t get that. I’m not a huge Miles guy but I don’t see how he acted inappropriately here. The word on the street is that he loves Michigan. His Oklahoma State players talked about it. Albom suggests that this love was all…

The Regional Finals of the ‘Death March Madness’ tournament (current bracket HERE – background here). Here’s a printable version. Bobby Petrino (Atlanta Falcons) vs. Greg Schiano (Rutgers) {democracy} Petrino knocked off Kansas State headman Ron Prince in the first round, then upset Iowa coach and rumored favorite Kirk Ferentz in the second. Schiano barely slipped by Florida coach Urban Meyer in the second round in the closest battle of Death March Madness to date.

I told you this would be a DEATH MARCH! First Ferentz is hired, then Miles, then not Miles, then MAYBE MILES? Good lord! We continue: The Regional Finals of the ‘Death March Madness’ tournament (current bracket HERE – background here). Here’s a printable version. Les Miles (LSU) vs. Jon Gruden (Tampa Bay Bucs) {democracy} Miles smoked Navy coach Paul Johnson in the second round by taking 92% of the vote; Gruden easily handled Michigan defensive coordinator Ron English taking 67%.

Just announced on ESPN: Sources have told ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit that barring any unforeseen circumstances, Michigan will announce early next week it has reached an agreement with LSU coach Les Miles to be its next head football coach. Herbstreit is also reporting that Miles will make Georgia Tech defensive coordinator and interim head coach Jon Tenuta part of his staff at Michigan. Herbstreit’s source? Well you have to look right at Desmond Howard, who is on the search committee and is a part of the GameDay team. Duh. Here’s the bio on Tenuta. Herby added he’s “in my mind the best [defensive coordinator] in the country”. Here’s some specifics on his background, yes, he’s a former Buckeye coach: Tenuta began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Virginia (1981-82) and Maryland (1983), and then served as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt (1984-85), Marshall (1986-87), Kansas State (1988), SMU (1989-94) and Oklahoma (1995). At SMU, Tenuta was the defensive backs coach in 1989 before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 1990. At Ohio State, he was the defensive backs coach from 1996-1999 before being elevated to the defensive coordinator post in 2000. A native of Columbus, Ohio, Tenuta is a graduate of Virginia. He lettered three years as a defensive back for the Cavaliers and earned the team’s John Acree…

The Regional Finals of the ‘Death March Madness’ tournament (current bracket HERE – background here). Here’s a printable version. Bob Stoops (Oklahoma) vs. Brian Kelly (Cincinnati) {democracy} Kelly defeated Missouri coach Gary Pinkel in the second round by taking 64% of the vote; Bob Stoops slipped by Rich Rodriguez with a late surge in the second round, taking in 57%, and Stoops smoked Carolina Panthers assistant Mike Trgovac in the first round by a wide margin.

The Regional Finals of the ‘Death March Madness’ tournament (current bracket HERE – background here). Here’s a printable version. Jeff Tedford (California) vs. Bill Cowher (NFL retired) Tedford defeated Boise State coach Chris Petersen in the second round by taking 60% of the vote; Bill Cowher crushed Cam Cameron hauling in 80%. {democracy}