Chavis, LSU appear to agree

• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sports writer
• Published: Dec 30, 2008 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 6:18 a.m.

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ATLANTA — The LSU football program won’t officially have a new defensive coordinator in place until later this week at the earliest.

ESPN reported early Monday that former Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis has agreed to a deal with LSU to take over as the leader of a unit that struggled mightily in 2008.

Not that anybody wanted to talk about it Monday. Nor did anyone deny that Chavis and Miles have reached an agreement.

Reached on his cell phone shortly after the ESPN report surfaced, Chavis politely declined comment.

“I really can’t comment on it,” he said. “Les would have to comment on it.”

Asked if he could confirm whether he had interviewed for the job, Chavis said “I’d rather not at this time if that’s OK. I don’t know what all is out there.”

When asked if there was a comfort level with staying in the Southeastern Conference, where he’s been a coach at UT for 20 seasons and the defensive coordinator the last 14, Chavis said “There’s no question. But I don’t want to comment on anything until coach Miles has.”

Given that chance, Miles also deflected comment on the biggest news since LSU (7-5) arrived here to finalize preparations for a showdown with 14th-ranked Georgia Tech (9-3) in the Chick-fil-A Bowl at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday (ESPN).

Pursued by a handful of reporters after the Tigers practiced Monday afternoon at the Georgia Dome, Miles stopped briefly as he was being whisked away by LSU officials and security personnel and said “I’m not saying a word about it until after the game.”

LSU’s athletic media relations office issued a statement from Miles shortly thereafter.

“There will not be any announcement regarding our coaching staff until we return to Baton Rouge,” Miles said. “Right now the only thing we are focused on is getting ready to play Georgia Tech in the Chick-fil-A Bowl and I don’t want to do anything to take away from the opportunity our team has here in Atlanta. We have a chance to win our eighth game and finish the season on a positive note and that’s our focus.

“I will not make any additional comments regarding my staff until we return to Baton Rouge.”

So, while nothing was confirmed Monday, all signs point to the 52-year-old Chavis as the heir apparent to a position that was shared this season by Doug Mallory and Bradley Dale Peveto.