June Jones Or Dodge

[Dodge2007]

Who gets the most wins and turns the program around the quickest?

[Guest 97and03]

Well we should have the better team, but SMU definately has an easier OOC schedule.

Guess it come down to the DC hires.

Edited January 11, 2008 by 97and03

[KingDL1]

My faith is in Dodge, I think we will be first!

SMU has plenty of problems to deal with from a bad overall image from the death penalty to a very disinterested fan base and finally a difficult Faculty senate and more.

[UNTflyer]

Who gets their faster what?

[Dodge2007]

June says the program is closer to turning it around than people think and will recruit heavily in a 30 mile radius.

January 11, 2008

Jones Intrigued by rebuilding opportunity at SMU

DAVID KOENIG Associated Press Writer

Talk about it in the Message Boards

June Jones To SMU

Jones was lured by chance to rebuild SMU. He says there were only two college jobs of interest; SMU and Duke.

By DAVID KOENIG

Associated Press Writer

DALLAS — Staying at Hawaii would have been the easy choice for June Jones. It was the challenge of rebuilding a tattered football program that led him to take the coaching job at Southern Methodist, which stumbled to a 1-11 record this season.

"Where you are now excites me because the only way is up, and I am good at going up," Jones said Monday.

The introduction of Jones at a booster-packed press conference ended the nation's longest college coaching search this year. It had been 70 days since Phil Bennett was dismissed with four games left in the season.

School officials hope Jones can bring some of Hawaii's run-and-shoot magic, which produced 43 points per game, an undefeated regular season and a BCS bowl berth this year. They were also impressed by Jones' ability to resuscitate Hawaii, which went 0-12 before he arrived in 1999 and won nine games.

Jones' decision to leave Hawaii came after an extraordinary bidding war that even involved the governor of Hawaii.

Leigh Steinberg, Jones' agent, said the coach accepted a five-year deal worth about $2 million per year. He said Hawaii offered about $1.6 million per year.

"In 30 years representing athletes, I've never seen the emotional reaction from a state like Hawaii," Steinberg said. "There was a flood of e-mails and calls exhorting him to stay."

Besides more money, Jones will be in the middle of the rich Texas recruiting base, and he'll get better facilities. SMU recently built a new brick-faced stadium and a modern training center.

"There's absolutely no comparison," Jones said. At Hawaii, "the office that I sat in was the same office that Dick Tomey used in 1986. The carpet was the same ... You're talking about the NFL and a Pop Warner team."

A handful of SMU players met Jones after Monday's press conference. The coach said he had watched tape of some SMU games and the Mustangs were "close to turning the corner." But he declined to predict how many games they'll win next season.

Jones would have faced a rebuilding process even had he stayed at Hawaii. The Warriors, who suffered a 41-10 thrashing by Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, will lose quarterback Colt Brennan, who finished third in the Heisman voting, and leading receiver Davone Bess, who is skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft.

Still, the Warriors are the only football show in Honolulu, which helped turn Jones and Brennan into celebrities in paradise.

By contrast, SMU is nearly invisible in the area, overshadowed by the Dallas Cowboys and better college programs at Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and TCU. The Mustangs play in Conference USA, which according to popular power ratings is even weaker than Hawaii's league, the Western Athletic Conference.

Jones said, however, that recruiting for SMU will be easier than at Hawaii, where distance made mainland parents reluctant to send their kids. He added that many Texas high schools now run spread offenses featuring the passing game, just like his run-and-shoot.

"It'll be fun to watch, and we'll attract the players to come play in our offense," he said. "I know there are a lot of players within 30 miles of this campus."

Jones, who turns 55 next month, had a record of 75-41 with Hawaii, including 4-2 in bowl games. His teams finished first in the WAC twice and second two other times. He went to Hawaii after 12 years in the NFL, including stints as head coach at Atlanta and San Diego.

Bennett was the fourth coach to lead SMU since it came off the death penalty in 1989. The Mustangs are 58-153-3 and have had only one winning season in that span.

Bennett's departure was announced Oct. 28, with four games left in the season, and that was just the beginning of the long hunt for a replacement.

Athletic Director Steve Orsini pursued Navy coach Paul Johnson, but he took the opening at Georgia Tech instead. Recently fired Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione and former Miami coach Larry Coker were among those rumored to be in the running.

While the SMU search dragged on, Navy found a replacement for Johnson in one day and Texas A&M replaced Franchione in three days.

"We took our time. We did it right," Orsini said. "We have to fill up Ford Stadium."

SMU got permission to speak with Jones last month. Jones said he watched as many coaching jobs came open and were filled, but the only schools that intrigued him were SMU and Duke.

"Hawaii will always be my home," he said. "The opportunity here surpasses everything ... I just really believe this is the time for me to move on."

AP sports writer Jim Vertuno in Austin contributed to this report.

[FirefightnRick]

And for the third time now. The difference betwen the two programs will be who hires the best DC, and this is where NT will excell in hires. It depends on how quickly GD is able to shore up our D line. Our defensive line is our number one concern/priority right now. We need Ike or Gilmore or someone to step up and take the line to the next level in order for them to turn our defense around.

Rick

[AnotherEagleFan]

UNT gets there faster (bowl game). But the real question is who goes the highest... UNT has more potential SMU seems to be spending more money.

[Stan R]

Sired is such a great word. Just thought I'd say that.

[LongJim]

Sired is such a great word. Just thought I'd say that.

I agree. So is 'mounted'.

[NT80]

"We took our time. We did it right," Orsini said. "We have to fill up Ford Stadium."

OK, lets say Jones wins all games with SMUt. I still don't think they can fill up Ford Stadium with their own fans playing Texas State, Tulsa, Houston, et al. When they were in the SWC they relied on opponent's fans to do most of the filling, even last year Tech and NT pumped up their home game average. I don't see SMUt filling a stadium on their own no matter what their own record.

[Dodge2007]

My grammar mistakes always got me in trouble, I should learn how important it is to (or is it too.......aw sh*t who cares) to slow down and correct my grammer mistakes before I post. My bad.

You really think a DC is going to be the difference in whether or not SMU rises to the top 20 faster than UNT?

I don't, it is much deeper than than, my fire fighting buddy. I could rattle off several other key factors but I would have too many spelling or grammar errors.

Edited January 11, 2008 by Dodge2007

[nautique]

A proven track record at the college ranks for one.

[PerryG2480]

If June Jones gets SMU into the top 20 some time in the next few years...he'll be gone to greener BCS pastures. I guess the same could be said for Dodge though.

[Green Lantern]

Glad you qualified that at the end.

[nautique]

That is true Perry G. Both guys could be long gone. BUT if June was willing to stay in that hell hole of an office and facilities for that long at Hawaii, I guarantee you the boys in Highland Park will Pony up even more cash if he gets them in the top 20 and he does have a sense of loyalty about him. (not saying that Dodge has no loyality but his pay is no where near June's salary)

[DallasGreen]

Who gets the most wins and turns the program around the quickest?

A $2 Million coach ALWAYS gets there faster than a $200K coach. The PONY EXPRESS is now alive and well and will race through C-USA.

[Dodge2007]

A $2 Million coach ALWAYS gets there faster than a $200K coach. The PONY EXPRESS is now alive and well and will race through C-USA.

Not according to the "gospel" of Rick (who has made it very clear, I believe 3 times nows) He says its the DC. I say its more than that.

Edited January 11, 2008 by Dodge2007

[greenminer]

A $2 Million coach ALWAYS gets there faster than a $200K coach. The PONY EXPRESS is now alive and well and will race through C-USA.

wow.

[ShopMeanGreen]

I stil say it's magic and a strong fan base/wins. More wins, more fan base, more filled seats, more money, more attention, better recruits, more wins etc, etc, etc. Most mid levels as well as some others (Baylor) are stuck in some sort of funk. Baylor recruits great athletes and has absolutely sucked with every coach since Grant Taff or however you spell the old dudes name. They have Big 12 money, facilities, coaches and recruits but they don't have the magic...the fans. NT lost some ground with the disaster of a season but a good 08 will turn that around and even in the SBC Fouts will see 25K+ at every game and in 09 the new place will see 30K+ every game and then...who cares what the stupid ponies are doing cause I'm lovin me some MEAN GREEN FOOTBALL.

[emmitt01]

A $2 Million coach ALWAYS gets there faster than a $200K coach. The PONY EXPRESS is now alive and well and will race through C-USA.

If I get RV to hand write an apology to you for someone pissing in your cheerios will you give up the negativity? I'm not saying I want you to start blowing sunshine up our a$$es, just stop with the "NT is doomed" and "SMU will be in the SEC by a week from Tuesday" stuff.

[UNTLifer]

A $2 Million coach ALWAYS gets there faster than a $200K coach. The PONY EXPRESS is now alive and well and will race through C-USA.

Thought about changing your name to DallasBlue, or DallasPonyUp?

BTW, your reasoning makes no sense.

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

Who gets their faster what?

Beats me...

There --- their --- they're .... [ Where ---- ownership ---- they are ]

______________________

A high-dollar coach may produce a few more wins but not a top-20 ranking. Winning a lot is a more about great recruiting and a coaches ability to recruit. After that is done then coaching ability can bring in a few more wins. If we can solve our defensive woes then I think we do a lot better sooner. TD is better known in Texas and I suspect can recruit better.... at least for the next 2-3 years. SMU does have a schedule advantage... they play a lot more regional (Texas) teams so that may appeal to many recruits.

[untbowler]

Thought about changing your name to DallasBlue, or DallasPonyUp?

BTW, your reasoning makes no sense.

I would let him keep on believing that the new SMUT whore will do wonderful things because if he does he will be walking in 2 years backstabbing SMU like he did Hawaii.

[Eagle1855]

I agree. So is 'mounted'.

Well, the two kind of go hand in hand...

[Dodge2007]

The dude only took a crappy program and stayed 9 seasons. He asked his former employer to put more money into facilites but realized he wasn't going to get it.

Now are you going to call Dodge a whore when he leaves in 3 to 5 seasons? (If a new stadium is not built and someone gives him a Million dollar raise? I would hope not.

Edited January 11, 2008 by Dodge2007