Your right it is about the hear and now, but that's only because it has to be. Whereas, in Michigan and Notre Dame's case, its talk about them regardless. Example, Notre Dame and Michigan have been less than mediocre the last 3 seasons, yet they are still on everyone's list of teams they talk about. LSU and Florida have been well above mediocre and have been on everyone's list of teams they talk about. Here is my question. Would anyone even be talking about LSU or Florida, if they were having consecutive sub par seasons?
My answer to that is.....no. That is the difference between the powers in the NCAA, and the right nows. The powers could lose every game, and still sell out every game, and pull national headlines. The right now's, can only pull national headlines and sell out games, while they are relevant. No matter how irrelevant Notre Dame and Michigan become, they will still get the national publicity. Their alums have more money than god. Their alums are more powerful than god. Their fanbases are huge and cover most of the country. And the national media, eats up everything they can coming out of these two schools. Even though LSU just got a huge win over a good Texas A&M squad, they are now being talked about nationally not because of their bowl win, but it's because Les Miles is a potential Michigan head coaching candidate.
Michigan is by far the better paying job. As would be Notre Dame. LSU couldn't touch what Michigan can offer. Tradition wise Michigan is the choice. Recruitng wise....LSU will get the nod because of the state they recruit and the advantage they have. Media wise, Miles would be smart to get out of dodge. Baton Rouge has crucified the man and all he has done is win. Win at Michigan, and you get the Lloyd Carr treatment. It took losing to a 1AA school to get them to finally get him to retire. If Rich Rodriquez had Miles' record in the past three years, instead of fired, he would have a long extension. Marketability, although LSU has their Wal Mart fans, they cannot touch the marketability of Michigan. The choice is clear. It was clear years ago. The only question is does Miles want to take the path of least resistance (stay at LSU) or greatest resistance (go to Michigan and try and turn it around). Even though Michigan is clearly the better job, Miles seems like the kind of guy who takes the path of least resistance. I say he stays at LSU. Again.
Let's say Miles decides to go to Michigan. How many people here, think that LSU's coaching search would garner the national publicity of the current Michigan head coaching search? Any takers?