Miles says no bonus for national championship return trip

Despite heading to his second national championship game in just seven seasons at LSU, coach Les Miles tells The Times-Picayune he hasn’t gotten any extra benefit from the university. “There was a very firm, strong commitment to athletics when I arrived,” Miles says. “It was really business as usual. The job that I took, they expected success, and they supported it very fully.” Miles also says he plans on practicing the Tigers through Wednesday, and then breaking for the holidays as the team prepares to take on Alabama in the BCS national championship on Jan. 9 in the Superdome. The Tigers will resume practice shortly after Christmas. “Let them enjoy Christmas,” Miles says. “We’ll bring them back with 10 practices to go. We’ll put in the remainder of the game plan and practice it well in the final week while we’re in New Orleans.” As for the coach’s Christmas, Miles says he’ll be in Baton Rouge with his wife Kathy and their four children, and is relishing the time he gets to spend with them. Each year, Miles says, he brings along his oldest child, 17-year-old Kathryn—nicknamed “Smacker”—when shopping for Christmas presents. Once the shopping is done, Miles plans on getting ready for St. Nick to stop by. “We’ll put the music on, make the cookies and put the milk out,” Miles says. “Generally speaking, if Santa stops he goes right for the milk and the cookies—usually leaves a bite or two remaining. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.” Read the full story here.