Les Miles, normally a shy and reserved guy, has been talking a little smack this offseason. On Friday, the LSU coach decided to take some of it back. Miles used his session at the SEC media days to apologize for using an expletive when describing the Tigers' renewed rivalry with Alabama before a signing-day gathering of LSU boosters. After going head to head in several recruiting battles with Alabama's Nick Saban, who was his predecessor at LSU, Miles reportedly told a group of Tigers fans, "We now have a new rival in ... Alabama." The comment fueled speculation of a Miles-Saban rift. It doesn't help that fans continue to suggest that Miles has been winning big the past two seasons ?- he's 22-4 ?- with Saban's players. "At the end of a recruiting season, when there was some hearsay and innuendo, I had an emotional reaction," Miles said. "I regret any choice of words that I made. I am in no way trying to be derogatory towards Alabama. I look forward to competing with Alabama and their head coach." Later, Miles also called out Southern Cal, the preseason No. 1 pick in most polls, because he felt SEC teams have a tougher time getting to the BCS championship game. "I'd like nothing more than to play USC for the [national] title," Miles said at a function in New Orleans. "I'll tell you this: They have a much easier road to travel." Miles insists that he wasn't criticizing the Pac-10 but praising the SEC. "I don't feel like I called out USC in any way," he said. "I was just sticking up for the quality of the SEC. I just think it's easier to [get to the BCS championship] from a conference that does not have a championship game."