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[Dodge2007]

Matt Hayes

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How to win big at a non-BCS school

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Posted: January 22, 2008

Wasn't so long ago I was sitting with June Jones on Waikiki Beach and staring into the surf while Island Time eased by.

We talked about life and its lessons -- not football or run-and-shoot schemes or contract negotiations.

"Sometimes," Jones said, "you have to believe that dreaming can lead to doing."

Few words could translate better to the life of a non-BCS program in a BCS world. When Jones arrived in M anoa in 1999, Hawaii had just completed an 0-12 season and administrators were debating the future of the program. When he walked away earlier this month, Hawaii had completed a 12-0 regular season before losing in the school's first BCS game.

The transformation under Jones -- 76 victories, six bowl games, national exposure -- can happen anywhere in the non-BCS world with the right combination of vision and commitment. Despite the built-in obstacles, one thing stands clear in the have/havenot society of college football: The rewards of the few are more satisfying than the expectations of the fortunate.

"Hawaii goes to a BCS game, it's a lifetime experience," Jones says. "Georgia goes and the next question is, 'When are you going back?' " The report card

Who's now and who's next among non-BCS programs:

Five at the top

1. Boise State. Facilities, support, success -- on top after only 12 seasons in Division I.

2. BYU. 22-4, two bowl wins against BCS teams and 16 straight Mountain West victories the past two seasons.

3. TCU. Nine wins per season this decade, with five seasons of double-digit victories.

4. Utah. Terrific facilities; 13-10 this decade against BCS schools.

5. Fresno State. Twelve wins against BCS teams this decade; at least nine wins overall in five of eight seasons.

Five on the way

1. UCF. The best facilities among non-BCS schools; coach George O'Lear y isn't going anywhere.

2. Florida Atlantic. A strong recruiting base, and coach Howard Schnellenberger's vision is already paying off.

3. East Carolina. Onetime non-BCS heavyweight is surging again with underrated coach Skip Holtz.

4. Tulsa. No longer a dead-end job; the program is thriving, first under Steve Kragthorpe and now Todd Graham.

5. Houston. New coach Kevin Sumlin will elevate what Art Briles began.

Or in this case, why can't we have a playoff?

The question: How do non-BCS schools reap the rewards of the few? The process:

The coach builds from the inside out

It's so much more than X's and O's. The key to change begins with identity and culture.

When Jones arrived at Hawaii, the team had lost its ties to the Island people and less than 10 percent of the players on the roster were Polynesian. This past season, more than 70 percent were Polynesian.

When Bronco Mendenhall took over at BYU in 2005, the Cougars had veered from the tough-guy philosophy of LaVell Edwards and become a finesse team with no identity. Since then, BYU has won 21 of 2 4 Mountain West Conference games and has bowl victories over deep-pocket BCS schools Oregon and UCLA.

The administration builds from the outside in

The university community must become more involved, both monetarily and emotionally.

When Steve Orsini was athletic director at UCF, he raised revenue for an on-campus facility even though the city of Orlando was in the early stages of planning for renovations to the aging Citrus Bowl. The Knights opened the 45,301-seat stadium last fall with sold-out home games and were the hosts -- and winners of -- the Conference USA title game. Before moving to the on-campus facility, UCF was fortunate to draw mosquitoes to the Citrus Bowl.

Now Orsini is doing the same thing at another C-USA school, SMU, which for two decades has been the definition of destitute. He found 20 boosters to contribute $100,000 a year to support a BCS-type coaching salary ($2 million per season) and pry Jones away from Hawaii.

Meanwhile, Jones already has connected with Euless Trinity High School -- the Class 5A Division I state champion with a strong Polynesian Community -- near Dallas and Fort Worth. Plus he has this to pitch to recruits in talent-rich Texas: newer facilities (the on-campus stadium opened in 2000), elite academics on a bucolic campus and his record of turning around programs.

The reality is, Jones is in a significantly better situation now -- including a more manageable conference -- than when he arrived at Hawaii a decade ago.

"The only way for SMU to go is up," Jones says. "I'm good at going up."

Dreaming leads to doing.

[stebo]

Man, Schnelly really is the media darling. UCF and USF have really paved the way for the smoke and mirrors aproach down in Boca.

[Quoner]

"The only way for SMU to go is up," Jones says. "I'm good at going up."

Unless you happened to follow his NFL career where he got both himself and Jeff George fired in Atlanta and then followed one playoff season with a 3-13 stinker; followed by a 3-7 disaster with the Chargers. He pissed off the organizations, fans and players everywhere he went that cared about holding him accountable and had an NFL record of 22-36 (.348.) You might as well hire Lee Corso.

/Tongue in cheek, but remembers watching shit Atlanta teams with family

[MeanGreen61]

Unless you happened to follow his NFL career where he got both himself and Jeff George fired in Atlanta and then followed one playoff season with a 3-13 stinker; followed by a 3-7 disaster with the Chargers. He pissed off the organizations, fans and players everywhere he went that cared about holding him accountable and had an NFL record of 22-36 (.348.) You might as well hire Lee Corso.

/Tongue in cheek, but remembers watching shit Atlanta teams with family

Is Jones really the "big bad wolf" that's going to make life a lot tougher for TD and the Mean Green ? Have any BCS schools ever made offered and tried to get him ?

In 9 years at Hawaii, his schedule was, to say the least, over loaded with home games.

1999 - 9

2000 - 8

2001 - 9

2002 - 8

2003 - 7

2004 - 8

2005 - 7

2006 - 8

2007 - 7

In 9 years Jones never beat a BCS team on their turf. Actually in 9 years, Jones only played FOUR teams on their turf other than WAC teams at away games, losing all four.

Just wondering what his record would really be without the over load on home games and teams going to Hawaii to play in the sun as well as play Hawaii ?

Two of three coaches before Jones had winning records at Hawaii.

Dick Tomey was there 10 years (77-86), had 2 losing seasons and an overall record of 63-46. Left Hawaii for Arizona where he coached 13 years ('87-2000).

Bob Wagner was there 9 seasons ('87-'95) with a 58-49 record. Did have 4 losing seasons including his last two years there.

The only coach there for the past 30 years with an overall losing record was the one that Jones replaced. Fred VonAppen ('96-'98) was 5-31 with no winning seasons.

BUT - Go back even further.

Larry Price ('74-76) did have an overall losing record of 15-18, but 2 of 3 winning seasons.

Don Holmes ('68-'73) never had a losing season & his overall record was 46-17.

VonAppen is actually the only coach at Hawaii in 41 years that has done zip.

Edited January 23, 2008 by MeanGreen61

[UNTflyer]

Is Jones really the "big bad wolf" that's going to make life a lot tougher for TD and the Mean Green ? Have any BCS schools ever made offered and tried to get him ?

I don't think any body has tried to nab Jones before this season. He had become an islander, someone who was probably going to live out his career in Hawaii. Then he got a soft schedule, some talented players, a few lucky breaks in close games, and voilà! Suddenly SMU is trying to polish a big turd and justify the $2 million salary to its fan base.

[GreenAlums]

I don't think any body has tried to nab Jones before this season. He had become an islander, someone who was probably going to live out his career in Hawaii. Then he got a soft schedule, some talented players, a few lucky breaks in close games, and voilà! Suddenly SMU is trying to polish a big turd and justify the $2 million salary to its fan base.

I needed this laugh to get a tough day started. Too funny! Sad thing is, that kind of stuff happens every day in every walk of life. It's like, "Hey Steve, how much do you think we can pull over on 'em?"

[Guest 97and03]

Meanwhile, Jones already has connected with Euless Trinity High School -- the Class 5A Division I state champion with a strong Polynesian Community -- near Dallas and Fort Worth

This is the part that worries me. I sure wish some of those Trinity players would come to UNT!

[Dodge2007]

Meanwhile, Jones already has connected with Euless Trinity High School -- the Class 5A Division I state champion with a strong Polynesian Community -- near Dallas and Fort Worth

This is the part that worries me. I sure wish some of those Trinity players would come to UNT!

Why would this worry you, TD only tapped into two players last season without June Jones and both of those kids red shirted. Just because their Polynesian doesn't make them D-1 football players.

Edited January 23, 2008 by Dodge2007

[GreenBat]

And this is related to NT football, HOW?

[nautique]

The players are going to go where the best opportunity is for them personally. It's not about June Jones and his relationship with the Polynesian community. If any thing, I believe TD's relationship with Lineweaver is more important. But the bottom line, the Polynesian players worthy of playing Division 1 football are not going to look at SMU just because June coached in Hawaii.

[UNTLifer]

In fact, it appears that many of them gravitate towards Utah and BYU. I believe many Polynesians practice the Mormon faith.

[Guest 97and03]

Why would this worry you, TD only tapped into two players last season without June Jones and both of those kids red shirted. Just because their Polynesian doesn't make them D-1 football players.

No it doesn't. But Trinity has good players and UNT should build a strong pipeline there and any other school that has prolonged success.

I am sure that we do have a relationship with Trinity. But Jones has almost an immediate "in" with Trinity that another newcomer to the area would not normally have.