Les Miles spoke with the media for the first time in more than a week on Monday. LSU’s coach met with the media following his team’s first bowl practice as they get ready to face Notre Dame (7-5) in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30.

Here’s what Miles had to say about his job status, his team’s practice and the bowl opponent.

  • Miles was very clear that he has no interest in the Michigan job. He asked reporters to go off the record several times, not wanting to be directly quoted, but his message was that Michigan is not on his radar and he is focused on LSU and the bowl game. Miles requested that cameras be turned off while he spoke about Michigan. According to reporters at the press conference, Miles brought up the subject unprompted.
  • Monday’s practice was designed to be an LSU vs. LSU affair, and Miles told reporters it was an up-tempo workout. LSU’s offense went up against its defense.
  • Miles told reporters that senior running back Kenny Hilliard, who suffered a shoulder injury late in the season, should be ready for the bowl game. Miles was not optimistic about center Elliott Porter, who was injured in the Arkansas game, playing against Notre Dame.
  • When asked about LSU’s quarterback situation, Miles told the media that LSU is evaluating several positions, and that Brandon Harris is being groomed “in a like fashion.” Miles said he believes the quarterbacks LSU has on the team now, Harris and starter Anthony Jennings, are good players that will continue to improve.
  • LSU will begin working on Notre Dame stuff for the third bowl practice, to be held Wednesday. Miles told the media he wanted his team to work against itself for the first two practices.
  • Miles likes the players he has on the roster now, telling the media that the team has the potential to contend for championships.
  • In speaking about safety Jamal Adams, Miles apparently likes what he sees. “It could easily be swagger. It’s infectious,” Miles said to reporters.
  • Miles told the media he has had informal conversations with several juniors about leaving school early for the NFL. He said more formal conversations will wait until NFL draft evaluations come back. Miles told the group that he had petitioned the NFL to get more than the maximum of five draft grades allowed per team.
  • Miles said that supsended cornerback Rashard Robinson has not returned to practice and likely will not during bowl preparation. Miles would not comment to the media about whether Robinson will return next season.