Even A Blind Squirrel Finds A Nut Every Once In Awhile..

[SouthernMustang]

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/...5907241368.html

Jones takes coaching job at SMU

Advertiser Staff

June Jones, University of Hawaii's winningest football coach, has reportedly accepted a position to be the next head coach at Southern Methodist University today.

Last night, signs pointed to momentum changing in UH's favor as the school made an all-out effort to keep Jones, whose contract expires June 30.

Steinberg said Jones arrived in Dallas yesterday morning with the intent of becoming SMU's next head football coach.

But Steinberg said Jones began to have second thoughts after receiving an outpouring of e-mails and cell-phone calls from Warrior supporters.

However, this morning sources said Jones accepted the job to become SMU's coach, replacing Phil Bennett, who was fired Oct. 28.

[Mean Green 93-98]

It's a good hire for SMU. I was about to start feeling bad for y'all--but now I can happily resume my normal antipathy.

[SouthernMustang]

It's a good hire for SMU. I was about to start feeling bad for y'all--but now I can happily resume my normal antipathy.

There was another candidate I think we could've tied up much more quickly and neatly -- but at this point, I think someone like Jones is needed to try and salvage the recruiting season. We'll see how it goes. Hopefully this is a legit article and its all over now.

[UNTflyer]

It's kind of sad that it took such a monumental effort and $2 million to get someone to coach at SMU. Now let's see if it pays off. As NT fans have come to realize, high expectations do not translate into results.

[Eagle1855]

this is a great hire for SMU, in my opinion. It's pricey, but they've got the $$. Now we'll be competing for some of the same type of recruits. As someone else stated on this board, with Baylor and SMU making big hires, it isn't getting any easier for lil ole UNT.

Edited January 7, 2008 by Eagle1855

[ADLER]

Congratulations to SMU for making what seems to be an excellent hire.

[Will to Win]

I welcome the DFW area competition. This is good for the DFW area and competition always brings out the best in people so we will just have to improve all facets of football operations here at UNT.

[DeepGreen]

Looks legit.

Jones

Jones takes coaching job at SMU

Advertiser Staff

June Jones, University of Hawaii's winningest football coach, has reportedly accepted a position to be the next head coach at Southern Methodist University today.

His new contract is believed to be valued at between $1.85 and $2 million annually over five years.

Last night, signs pointed to momentum changing in UH's favor as the school made an all-out effort to keep Jones, whose contract expires June 30.

Jones arrived in Dallas yesterday morning with the intent of becoming SMU's next head football coach.

But Jones' agent Leigh Steinberg said Jones began to have second thoughts after receiving an outpouring of e-mails and cell-phone calls from Warrior supporters.

What's more, UH president David McClain, who took the lead in negotiations, addressed Jones' concerns about plans to improve the athletic facilities and the football program's resources.

"I don't think there's any question that June came here (to Dallas) meaning to make the change," Steinberg said. "But, obviously, his heart has been in Hawai'i. These calls and interactions he's had (Saturday) in person and (yesterday) on the phone and by e-mail are making it difficult.

"June has been deluged with calls from the Islands exhorting him to stay," Steinberg added. "I received a call from Gov. Lingle, and she asked if there's anything she could do."

However, this morning sources said Jones accepted the job to become SMU's coach, replacing Phil Bennett, who was fired Oct. 28.

Jones arrived in Texas yesterday to meet with SMU officials on the private school's Dallas campus.

Jones and Steinberg met with SMU president R. Gerald Turner. They had lunch at the home of Gerald J. Ford, a billionaire who donated $20 million for the campus stadium named after him. Ford is a member of the SMU board of trustees.

They also had a meeting with the search committee, during which Jones was offered the lucrative deal.

Later, Jones and Steinberg had dinner with several SMU alumni, including Dan Hunt, owner of the Kansas City Chiefs.

But UH ould did not back away. McClain sent Steinberg and Jones a list of proposed improvements for the football program.

UH also reaffirmed its offer of a five-year contract with a base salary of $1.3 million annually, according to sources. If Jones stays the entire five years, he would receive a $1 million bonus, sources said.

But Steinberg said Jones was not focused on producing the "best" financial deal. Jones earns $800,016 annually on a five-year contract that expires June 30. Half of the contract is paid by donors, the school said.

"It's never been about (money)," Steinberg said. "It was about commitment. It wasn't until (McClain's list yesterday that) I saw anything in writing about the (UH) facilities."

SMU is a member of the 12-team Conference USA and finished 1-11 overall and 0-8 in the conference last season. The Conference USA, like the Western Athletic Conference in which UH is a member, is not one of the six BCS conferences with an automatic berth to a BCS bowl.

Jones was hired by UH in December 1998 and resurrected a football program that had just finished the season at 0-12. With a record of 76-41, Jones has accumulated the most victories of any UH coach. In his nine years at UH, he has had seven winning seasons. He received a five-year contract extension and a raise from $320,000 in 2003. Since then, Jones had four winning seasons in five years, earned four bowl berths, and accumulated records of 11-3 and 12-1 the past two seasons. The 2007 season was capped by the school's first invitation to a Bowl Championship Series bowl, the Sugar Bowl in the Superdome in New Orleans.

[EagleMBA]

Congratulations to SMU for a quality hire. I think they let themselves get bid up too high for his services, but it's their money and their coach. It is a relief that they have a coach now; I was beginning to feel embarrassed for them and their plight. I stand by my post from a day or two ago re: my opinion of what the ultimate results will be. More power to Jones if he can win where several others could not; the predecessors were not all incompetent.

I agree with the general sentiment that this will probably be good for D-1 football in the Metroplex and look forward to a renewed series with the Ponies. Let's hope the Frogs will eventually come around.

[class84]

Looks legit.

Jones

"It's never been about (money)," Steinberg said. "It was about commitment. It wasn't until (McClain's list yesterday that) I saw anything in writing about the (UH) facilities."

Yes, I'm sure money had nothing at all to do with it

[Huff]

This is going to make recruiting tougher for North Texas. The two coaches run similar offenses and will recruit from the same pool of kids. They will both try to recruit quarterbacks who are mobile and can throw plus lots of wide receivers and very few running backs. This first year, June Jones won't have any idea where to find schools in Texas and will have very few contacts here. Todd Dodge will have a real advantage in that way. That will change. This first year I would bet that recruits will hear "Do you want to go to North Texas and play for a coach that was 2-10 last year or would you rather come to SMU and play for a coach that was 12-0 and got his team to the Sugar Bowl?" It should be interesting.

[Will to Win]

This is going to make recruiting tougher for North Texas. The two coaches run similar offenses and will recruit from the same pool of kids. They will both try to recruit quarterbacks who are mobile and can throw plus lots of wide receivers and very few running backs. This first year, June Jones won't have any idea where to find schools in Texas and will have very few contacts here. Todd Dodge will have a real advantage in that way. That will change. This first year I would bet that recruits will hear "Do you want to go to North Texas and play for a coach that was 2-10 last year or would you rather come to SMU and play for a coach that was 12-0 and got his team to the Sugar Bowl?" It should be interesting.

JJ will have a losing season his first year. It takes time to build a program to a 12-0 point ... 9 years for UH with JJ!

TD will have a wining season his second year.

[MeanGreen61]

This is going to make recruiting tougher for North Texas. The two coaches run similar offenses and will recruit from the same pool of kids. They will both try to recruit quarterbacks who are mobile and can throw plus lots of wide receivers and very few running backs. This first year, June Jones won't have any idea where to find schools in Texas and will have very few contacts here. Todd Dodge will have a real advantage in that way. That will change. This first year I would bet that recruits will hear "Do you want to go to North Texas and play for a coach that was 2-10 last year or would you rather come to SMU and play for a coach that was 12-0 and got his team to the Sugar Bowl?" It should be interesting.

The sky is falling ! The sky is falling ! Woe is us, our coach can't recruit against a program with a similar offense

[UNTflyer]

The sky is falling ! The sky is falling ! Woe is us, our coach can't recruit against a program with a similar offense

Man, I'm with you. There is no reason to freak out, Mean Green Nation. We're still talking about SMU... a non-BCS private school that hasn't won a damn thing since their fake national championship.

[Quoner]

Man, I'm with you. There is no reason to freak out, Mean Green Nation. We're still talking about SMU... a non-BCS private school that hasn't won a damn thing since their fake national championship.

It's true. They can't hold a candle to our proud heritage.

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

Does the title mean SMU is NUTS and that June Jones is a blind Squirrel.???

it is possible...LOL