Here we go again.

For the third time since 2007, Les Miles is being romanced by Michigan.

That’s quite a seven-year itch the Wolverines have with Miles.

Twice scorned, Michigan officials appear to be trying, once again, to see if Miles is willing to pull his struggling alma mater out of his hat.

He is known as the Mad Hatter, after all.

According to media reports that first surfaced at GoBlueWolverine.com, Michigan has reached out to Miles’ agent in hopes of gauging the interest the LSU coach might have in moving back to Ann Arbor.

There is no question the school wants a Michigan man at the helm. Les Miles is a Michigan man.

He graduated from Michigan, coached a couple times at Michigan, even met his wife while at Michigan.

Miles is even sending his quarterback son to Michigan in the fall.

You can’t get much more Michigan than Les Miles, who played for the school’s legendary coach, Bo Schembechler.

He might even have “Hail to the Victors” as his ring tone.

Yet the previous two times his college came calling, Miles stayed put. Ultimately he got more money from LSU, but that’s all part of the game today.

Still, the timing might be right for Miles to move back to Michigan. If not now, then likely never.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Miles spoke to a group at a football camp in Detroit last summer saying: “Without the lessons learned at Michigan, without Bo Schembechler making a mistake and taking a small offensive guard from Ohio, I’m not sure where I’d be right now. That being said, if it wasn’t right for Michigan, I certainly understand. I’ve got a wonderful place, I’m very happy there.”

That hardly sounds like a guy not willing to a least think about a move.

At 61, and on the back nine of his coaching career, if you will, Miles might be right for the move. Michigan won’t likely pop the question a fourth time or even kick the tires. So the school’s last, best chance to sway Miles off the bayou is now.

Last Sunday, while talking about LSU’s bowl game with Notre Dame, Miles was asked the Michigan question.

Miles responded in his typical fashion, refusing to talk about anything but his team and the Music City Bowl.

That was par for the course. But let’s look at this from a realistic standpoint.

Michigan is in a desperate situation. The program has never been in more disarray and never in need of new leadership with a link to its past greatness.

The school needs to make a big splash and fire up the fan base. Miles would be a big splash. Maybe Jim Harbaugh would be bigger, but Miles would be much better at firing up the folks in maize and blue.

We all want to be loved, and if Miles could turn around Michigan and lead the program back to the glory days of Bo, then he would be loved forever. Heck, they may even build him a statue right outside the Big House.

Meanwhile, he has never gotten the love he probably deserves from the LSU faithful, many of whom look at him more as a program caretaker than builder.

To those folks he is just carrying the flag Nick Saban planted a few years before. And with Saban winning championships at Alabama, Miles may never get out of that shadow.

That is why this could be the right time for Miles to go. Granted, he has plenty of reasons to stay, starting with a talented freshman class that has come a long way in a short time.

With a few bounces in the right direction, Miles could have the Tigers playing for a title sooner rather than later.

And he makes a nice living in Baton Rouge.

But if Thomas Wolfe is wrong and you can go home again, this seems like the last time Miles will be asked to do so.

For him it is likely now or never.

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Jim Gazzolo is managing sports editor. Email him at jgazzolo@americanpress.com(Kirk Meche/Special to the American Press)

Kirk Meche