Perhaps no topic garners more discussion than this one. Mitchell versus Willis; Willis versus Mitchell.
Lost in the scuttlebutt of leading the Houston game for all but the last few seconds was an interesting statistic. Bo Levi Mitchell set the SMU freshman record for passing yards with 2,047 (with four games to play). He will almost certainly break the SMU freshman total offense record of 2,401 this week. Further, Mitchell has 21 passing touchdowns (22 total touchdowns) and has four games to play; Willis had 26 passing touchdowns (29 total touchdowns) his freshman year (lest we forget he sat a game).
Not so long ago, SMU ran this ad for a kid that scored 29 touchdowns.
Reminder: Bo Levi Mitchell is a TRUE freshman.
Barring injury (knock on wood), Mitchell will likely beat all of Willis’ freshman records. That includes interceptions, of course. Assuming Mitchell starts 12 games in 2009, he will obliterate all of Willis' career records as well.
Here is an interesting thought: the offense appears to be coming around somewhat; the last four games, SMU has averaged 28 points per game. Assume that SMU adds a field goal to that average over the next four weeks. SMU would then average as many points per game as it did in 2006.
The difference between 2006 and 2008, of course, is wins. The difference, of course, is a lousy start and a lousy defense. In 2006, SMU probably had the best defense it has had in 20 years and it still gave up points in bunches. Make no mistake-in the future, SMU will only go as far as its defense takes it.
So what does it mean? This is not an attempt to say that June Jones was right to start Bo Levi Mitchell. I think that decision was wrong. Nothing I have written above changes that. Mitchell played too early; he struggled; they tried to compensate by dumbing the offense down and made matters worse. Now, it appears he is starting to get it. But it does give you hope for the future. Next season, there will be an offense in place that will likely be better than any offense we have seen in 20 years. I think you have to be optimistic about that.
Now if we can just get a defense that only gives up 300 yards a game....
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
My review
Dammit. Some people noticed I have blogged twice in the last month. Maybe that will get me to do it again. Or not. Or something.
Anyway, Tulsa was at Ford Stadium last week. Here is my review:
The first song was Leonard Cohen's "I'm your man." Then he went straight into Sinatra's "I've Got the World on a String." Wait. YOU wanted a review of the game? Sorry, dude. Wife dragged me to Michael Buble' for her Birthday. Going to see Michael Buble is not gay; going to Michael Buble for the second time in 9 months is gay.
A good friend provided constant updates via text message and for a moment, I was afraid I would have to avoid all future SMU games, because I thought my absence was going to lead to an SMU victory. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be. By all accounts, however, there was improvement and a complete game was played on both sides of the ball.
Let's just keep it up Saturday against Houston.
My favorite comment from the stream of text messages was my own-"Hey, I am at the Michael Buble concert, is Houston in town?, because all the Cougars are here!"
Anyway, Tulsa was at Ford Stadium last week. Here is my review:
The first song was Leonard Cohen's "I'm your man." Then he went straight into Sinatra's "I've Got the World on a String." Wait. YOU wanted a review of the game? Sorry, dude. Wife dragged me to Michael Buble' for her Birthday. Going to see Michael Buble is not gay; going to Michael Buble for the second time in 9 months is gay.
A good friend provided constant updates via text message and for a moment, I was afraid I would have to avoid all future SMU games, because I thought my absence was going to lead to an SMU victory. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be. By all accounts, however, there was improvement and a complete game was played on both sides of the ball.
Let's just keep it up Saturday against Houston.
My favorite comment from the stream of text messages was my own-"Hey, I am at the Michael Buble concert, is Houston in town?, because all the Cougars are here!"
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Keith Hernandez
Listening to the SMU-UCF game, I realized what this season was about. June Jones decided to pull a "Keith Hernandez."
You see, June Jones walked onto the Hilltop and looked at the QB situation and decided he didn't like what he saw. He had a pretty good QB in Justin Willis whose strengths were not suited to June Jones' offense. Sure, he could make do with what he had and implement his offense over time, but, hey, he's June Jones. So he defied all logic and decided that a true freshman could come in, not participate in the Spring, learn a new system and start for SMU. Of course it is going to work. He's June Jones.
Well, of course it isn't working. Bo Levi Mitchell is a true freshman. He didn't participate in Spring Practice. He is learning a new system. The odds of this working were 1 in a 1,000.
Well, it isn't Mitchell's fault. He should not have been put in this position. June Jones should have known better. June Jones probably did know better.
One of the things SMU fans have craved is accountability. They want someone to take responsibility for the 20 years of losing. They want someone to admit the last 20 years have been a series of mistakes. That carries itself to every decision that is ever made about SMU football, from those made on the field to those made in the AD's office. SMU fans never get that satisfaction.
And here is another instance where that admission is not going to be made. Nor should it. There is nothing that can be said or done that is going to change the way the season is going. Sure, Willis or Turner or somebody else could be named the starter tomorrow, but what will that accomplish? We will be int he same spot next season. Let Mitchell play; let him figure it out. If he does, then all the better. If he doesn't, it is an open competition in the Spring. Fine. And let's be honest, we all recognize this team wasn't going to be very good no matter who was the QB: the defense is terrible and the best player at his position is the kicker. If the offense worked perfectly, maybe, just maybe, the team could win enough shootouts to eek into bowl eligibility. But that, I think we can see, was not and is not going to happen.
Somebody on ponyfans wondered why other schools can bring in a new coach and turn things around immediately and SMU can't seem to do it. I will give you three reasons. First, and most importantly, past academic restrictions really hurt the overall talent level of the team. Hopefully those issues have been resolved. The hiring of June Jones suggests it has as he wouldn't come if he had to deal with the BS his predecessors have. Second, SMU has kept coaches around too long. Five years is enough and in some cases, too long. After Bennett's winless season, recruiting took a nosedive and enthusiasm dropped off dramatically. Any objective observer would have told you the football team was going to struggle (especially the defense) after Bennett's 6-6 season and the graduation of probably the three best defensive linemen SMU has had in 20 years. Third, Cavan and Bennett were idiots.
When a person seems to do something completely off the wall and/or completely outrageous for no other reason than he or she is famous and feels he can get away with it or not face repercussions from it, Simmons will say he is having an "I'm Keith Hernandez Moment". The reference comes from the famous Seinfeld episode where Keith Hernandez, on a date with Elaine, tries to convince himself to kiss Elaine by reciting (in his head), "Wait a second - I'm Keith Hernandez!" The most commonly used example of an athlete in an "I'm Keith Hernandez" Moment is Reggie Bush's ill-advised lateral against Texas in the 2006 Rose Bowl.
You see, June Jones walked onto the Hilltop and looked at the QB situation and decided he didn't like what he saw. He had a pretty good QB in Justin Willis whose strengths were not suited to June Jones' offense. Sure, he could make do with what he had and implement his offense over time, but, hey, he's June Jones. So he defied all logic and decided that a true freshman could come in, not participate in the Spring, learn a new system and start for SMU. Of course it is going to work. He's June Jones.
Well, of course it isn't working. Bo Levi Mitchell is a true freshman. He didn't participate in Spring Practice. He is learning a new system. The odds of this working were 1 in a 1,000.
Well, it isn't Mitchell's fault. He should not have been put in this position. June Jones should have known better. June Jones probably did know better.
One of the things SMU fans have craved is accountability. They want someone to take responsibility for the 20 years of losing. They want someone to admit the last 20 years have been a series of mistakes. That carries itself to every decision that is ever made about SMU football, from those made on the field to those made in the AD's office. SMU fans never get that satisfaction.
And here is another instance where that admission is not going to be made. Nor should it. There is nothing that can be said or done that is going to change the way the season is going. Sure, Willis or Turner or somebody else could be named the starter tomorrow, but what will that accomplish? We will be int he same spot next season. Let Mitchell play; let him figure it out. If he does, then all the better. If he doesn't, it is an open competition in the Spring. Fine. And let's be honest, we all recognize this team wasn't going to be very good no matter who was the QB: the defense is terrible and the best player at his position is the kicker. If the offense worked perfectly, maybe, just maybe, the team could win enough shootouts to eek into bowl eligibility. But that, I think we can see, was not and is not going to happen.
Somebody on ponyfans wondered why other schools can bring in a new coach and turn things around immediately and SMU can't seem to do it. I will give you three reasons. First, and most importantly, past academic restrictions really hurt the overall talent level of the team. Hopefully those issues have been resolved. The hiring of June Jones suggests it has as he wouldn't come if he had to deal with the BS his predecessors have. Second, SMU has kept coaches around too long. Five years is enough and in some cases, too long. After Bennett's winless season, recruiting took a nosedive and enthusiasm dropped off dramatically. Any objective observer would have told you the football team was going to struggle (especially the defense) after Bennett's 6-6 season and the graduation of probably the three best defensive linemen SMU has had in 20 years. Third, Cavan and Bennett were idiots.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Yeah
Yeah, I quit writing this thing. I have too much going on right now to blog full-time or even semi-full time. However, I can't let yesterday's TCU-SMU game go by without comment. I went to that game and saw a sorry excuse for a football team get out hustled, outworked, out game planned, out coached and outclassed.
I have been generally supportive of Bo Levi Mitchell over Justin Willis or anybody else. I questioned fro Day 1 whether Willis could fit in as QB in Jones's system. Last night was a deal breaker for me. The interception of a shuffle pass by a defensive tackle was too much to take. You can't tell me Justin Willis can't do everything Coach Jones wanted BLM to do in the TCU game.
Note to Coach Jones: If you don't trust BLM to throw the ball 10 yards down the field, then you don't trust him to run your system. If you don't trust BLM to run your system, then get somebody who can or get somebody who can run whatever watered down system you are throwing out there now. Two picks thrown to defensive linemen is too much to bear. That was freakin' nonsense.
Another message to Coach Jones: I don't know if you knew this, but you were hired for the express purpose of preventing crap like last night from happening. I wasn't expecting a miracle season this year. I was expecting a team that was well prepared, well coached, with the right mindset, high energy, played hard, with a good game plan and confidence that at the right time during the game, the right decision would be made. I saw none of that, and the fact that it happened against TCU only makes it worse. That really was an embarrassment all the way around.
I have been generally supportive of Bo Levi Mitchell over Justin Willis or anybody else. I questioned fro Day 1 whether Willis could fit in as QB in Jones's system. Last night was a deal breaker for me. The interception of a shuffle pass by a defensive tackle was too much to take. You can't tell me Justin Willis can't do everything Coach Jones wanted BLM to do in the TCU game.
Note to Coach Jones: If you don't trust BLM to throw the ball 10 yards down the field, then you don't trust him to run your system. If you don't trust BLM to run your system, then get somebody who can or get somebody who can run whatever watered down system you are throwing out there now. Two picks thrown to defensive linemen is too much to bear. That was freakin' nonsense.
Another message to Coach Jones: I don't know if you knew this, but you were hired for the express purpose of preventing crap like last night from happening. I wasn't expecting a miracle season this year. I was expecting a team that was well prepared, well coached, with the right mindset, high energy, played hard, with a good game plan and confidence that at the right time during the game, the right decision would be made. I saw none of that, and the fact that it happened against TCU only makes it worse. That really was an embarrassment all the way around.
Monday, January 07, 2008
By now you all have heard the news… Coach Watch Day 72.
That is right. It is true. General Joe’s Chopstix on Mockingbird is shutting down for good. General Joe’s chicken was a staple of mine on Sundays throughout the early 1990’s. In its place will be the finest coloring book collection this nation has ever seen.
Oh, and SMU hired a football coach!!!
The story broke in the weirdest of ways. The Honolulu Advertiser had an article that said Jones stopped taking calls late last night, which was linked to on the ponyfans message board. Then, all of a sudden, at around 10AM, the article changed to “Jones takes coaching job at SMU.” I called Brad Sutton, SID at SMU and he didn’t know what I was talking about. He looked at the website himself and said he would go find out. Turns out Jones’ assistants that were asked to come to SMU spilled the beans. And the rest is history.
One must say that in the last twenty years of SMU football, this day is pretty high on the list.
Press conference video
Press conference summary
Press conference quotes
Ticket interview summary
The press conference was packed with SMU fans. Easily ten time the people that were at the Matt Doherty press conference. They even had an overflow room. And they needed it. There was a lot of excitement in the room. It was nice to feel optimism among the SMU crowd. I can’t think of the last time I felt that kind of optimism. Certainly not in the last twelve months. Turner and Orsini were positively giddy. OK. That isn’t fair. We all were.
Anyway, this is my first impression of Jones. Jones has complete confidence in his abilities, his system, his assistants. Far more so that Bennett ever showed in his first press conference. You get the sense that June Jones is here to turn this thing around and there is absolutely zero possibility that he will fail.
I still maintain that at some point over the last 72 days, the search was not going well. It would be interesting to know exactly who was spoken to about this job. Somehow, I doubt we ever know. I said all along that just because the search may not be going well, it doesn’t mean that SMU won’t get a great coach. In the end, I should have stuck to my first comments about the search. At the end of the day, with everyone wondering who will take this awful, awful job, just like the athletic director search and the basketball coaching search, the answer will be someone better than any one of us have a right to expect.
Weirdest person in attendance: Channel 8 film critic Gary Cogill. Cogill apparently grew up with June Jones. Who knew?
One does feel for Hawaii under the circumstances. They don’t want our pity; they want somebody’s head on a stick. And it appears that Hawaii athletics director Herman Frazier will soon have his head lopped off.And with good reason. Jones is at SMU because this guy apparently doesn’t know how run an athletic department and Steve Orsini does. Think about that. One of the most inept programs over the last twenty years stole the master of one of the greatest turnarounds in college football history from his alma mater.
University of Hawaii President went so far as to apologize:
Dude. Obviously, this was important to Hawaii. The Governor got involved. I kind of feel bad. Maybe SMU should offer Herman Frazier a job or something. We owe him a lot.
Questions we all have:
1) Staff. Jones extended invitations to all of his staff to join him at SMU. It is unclear how many will take those offers. At least three have already accepted: DC Greg McMackin, QB Coach Dan Morrison and running backs coach Wes Suan. There is some talk that linebackers coach Cal Lee will be named as head coach of Hawaii (he was one of five coaches suggested to Hawaii by Jones). At some level, one would want Texas people to have some of the jobs and Jones said as much.
Ramon Flanigan was at the press conference. He has been an offensive coordinator before. He was a running QB in a run and shoot offense. I wonder if there is a place for him on this staff. Certainly could do worse.
2) Recruiting. It appears that Defensive Coordinator Greg McMackin is in town and will stay for the time being. Greg McMackin was former Big XII recruiter of the year of Texas Tech before going to the 49'ers and then to Hawaii. There was a report that a Hawaii radio station spoke with one Hawaii recruit who stated that he intended to go where June Jones went. At least four of Jones current Hawaii commitments are from Texas. Presumably, the first priority is to shore up current SMU commitments and then Hawaii commitments, then former SMU commitments, and finally non-committed players.
2A) Recruiting standards. I handed off my question to Kate; we will see if she asks Coach Jones about his 2003 comments on the SMU job. In the Dallas Morning News on November 13, 2003; June Jones said the following regarding Phil Bennett:
At the press conference Jones, Turner and Orsini said standards were nationally competitive. I have said for a while, I think standards are being used in part as an excuse. We will see. Let's start with the kid that already wants to switch his commitment.
3)Money. I don't know who is in the "Circle of Champions," but I bet they have good seats. Widely reported that it is 20 boosters that have committed $100,000.00 per year over the next five years. That is a big commitment and seems to be the focus of most of the media to this point-SMU got Jones because it threw a lot of money at him. Some SMU fans are taking umbrage at that. Why? SMU is a small school with a rocky past. You use your resources in the best way possible. That was done here. Never apologize.
4)Spring Game. Dude. Give it a rest. The Spring Game will probably be near the end of March and you should plan on attending. It should preview what I have to assume will be a record-setting year for SMU passing statistics. Barring injury, doesn't Willis have to set the single-season SMU passing record?
You, too, will be asked to "pony up." Walking out, I was handed a flier on season tickets for next year. You will get a discount with a Mustang Club contribution. (Typical SMU mind of mine immediately started thinking of the tax consequences of that benefit.) Probably a smart way of getting the rolls up and then they will hit us all up for larger contributions in later years. I am trying to find fault with this plan, but it seems pretty savvy at first look.
Finally, I don't know if Steve Orsini thinks I owe him an apology or not. Actually, I should not flatter myself to think he cares. I don't personally think I owe him one for anything I have said in this blog. But I do owe Steve Orsini an apology for losing faith somewhere between Day 1 and Day 72. Steve Orsini got SMU a great coach. This is Steve-O's day. So here is to you, Steve. Soak it up. I am sure we will find something to complain about soon.
Oh, and SMU hired a football coach!!!
The story broke in the weirdest of ways. The Honolulu Advertiser had an article that said Jones stopped taking calls late last night, which was linked to on the ponyfans message board. Then, all of a sudden, at around 10AM, the article changed to “Jones takes coaching job at SMU.” I called Brad Sutton, SID at SMU and he didn’t know what I was talking about. He looked at the website himself and said he would go find out. Turns out Jones’ assistants that were asked to come to SMU spilled the beans. And the rest is history.
One must say that in the last twenty years of SMU football, this day is pretty high on the list.
Press conference video
Press conference summary
Press conference quotes
Ticket interview summary
The press conference was packed with SMU fans. Easily ten time the people that were at the Matt Doherty press conference. They even had an overflow room. And they needed it. There was a lot of excitement in the room. It was nice to feel optimism among the SMU crowd. I can’t think of the last time I felt that kind of optimism. Certainly not in the last twelve months. Turner and Orsini were positively giddy. OK. That isn’t fair. We all were.
Anyway, this is my first impression of Jones. Jones has complete confidence in his abilities, his system, his assistants. Far more so that Bennett ever showed in his first press conference. You get the sense that June Jones is here to turn this thing around and there is absolutely zero possibility that he will fail.
I still maintain that at some point over the last 72 days, the search was not going well. It would be interesting to know exactly who was spoken to about this job. Somehow, I doubt we ever know. I said all along that just because the search may not be going well, it doesn’t mean that SMU won’t get a great coach. In the end, I should have stuck to my first comments about the search. At the end of the day, with everyone wondering who will take this awful, awful job, just like the athletic director search and the basketball coaching search, the answer will be someone better than any one of us have a right to expect.
Weirdest person in attendance: Channel 8 film critic Gary Cogill. Cogill apparently grew up with June Jones. Who knew?
One does feel for Hawaii under the circumstances. They don’t want our pity; they want somebody’s head on a stick. And it appears that Hawaii athletics director Herman Frazier will soon have his head lopped off.And with good reason. Jones is at SMU because this guy apparently doesn’t know how run an athletic department and Steve Orsini does. Think about that. One of the most inept programs over the last twenty years stole the master of one of the greatest turnarounds in college football history from his alma mater.
University of Hawaii President went so far as to apologize:
Finally, I also want to apologize to our fans and all of Hawaii for matters getting to this stage in the first place. Exceptional performance deserves exceptional recognition, and your University was slow to step up.
Dude. Obviously, this was important to Hawaii. The Governor got involved. I kind of feel bad. Maybe SMU should offer Herman Frazier a job or something. We owe him a lot.
Questions we all have:
1) Staff. Jones extended invitations to all of his staff to join him at SMU. It is unclear how many will take those offers. At least three have already accepted: DC Greg McMackin, QB Coach Dan Morrison and running backs coach Wes Suan. There is some talk that linebackers coach Cal Lee will be named as head coach of Hawaii (he was one of five coaches suggested to Hawaii by Jones). At some level, one would want Texas people to have some of the jobs and Jones said as much.
Ramon Flanigan was at the press conference. He has been an offensive coordinator before. He was a running QB in a run and shoot offense. I wonder if there is a place for him on this staff. Certainly could do worse.
2) Recruiting. It appears that Defensive Coordinator Greg McMackin is in town and will stay for the time being. Greg McMackin was former Big XII recruiter of the year of Texas Tech before going to the 49'ers and then to Hawaii. There was a report that a Hawaii radio station spoke with one Hawaii recruit who stated that he intended to go where June Jones went. At least four of Jones current Hawaii commitments are from Texas. Presumably, the first priority is to shore up current SMU commitments and then Hawaii commitments, then former SMU commitments, and finally non-committed players.
2A) Recruiting standards. I handed off my question to Kate; we will see if she asks Coach Jones about his 2003 comments on the SMU job. In the Dallas Morning News on November 13, 2003; June Jones said the following regarding Phil Bennett:
"I think Phil is on an island sometimes," Jones said. "He's going through some unfair requirements over there. He's not on the same playing field as the rest of us."
At the press conference Jones, Turner and Orsini said standards were nationally competitive. I have said for a while, I think standards are being used in part as an excuse. We will see. Let's start with the kid that already wants to switch his commitment.
3)Money. I don't know who is in the "Circle of Champions," but I bet they have good seats. Widely reported that it is 20 boosters that have committed $100,000.00 per year over the next five years. That is a big commitment and seems to be the focus of most of the media to this point-SMU got Jones because it threw a lot of money at him. Some SMU fans are taking umbrage at that. Why? SMU is a small school with a rocky past. You use your resources in the best way possible. That was done here. Never apologize.
4)Spring Game. Dude. Give it a rest. The Spring Game will probably be near the end of March and you should plan on attending. It should preview what I have to assume will be a record-setting year for SMU passing statistics. Barring injury, doesn't Willis have to set the single-season SMU passing record?
You, too, will be asked to "pony up." Walking out, I was handed a flier on season tickets for next year. You will get a discount with a Mustang Club contribution. (Typical SMU mind of mine immediately started thinking of the tax consequences of that benefit.) Probably a smart way of getting the rolls up and then they will hit us all up for larger contributions in later years. I am trying to find fault with this plan, but it seems pretty savvy at first look.
Finally, I don't know if Steve Orsini thinks I owe him an apology or not. Actually, I should not flatter myself to think he cares. I don't personally think I owe him one for anything I have said in this blog. But I do owe Steve Orsini an apology for losing faith somewhere between Day 1 and Day 72. Steve Orsini got SMU a great coach. This is Steve-O's day. So here is to you, Steve. Soak it up. I am sure we will find something to complain about soon.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Someone else can make it official, but I think it is a done deal.
Be very wary of AP news stories like this one. AP doesn't have its own reporters. This one is written by a Hawaii reporter. Just as likely that the Dallas Morning News story could get picked up next. Pay attention to the Dallas Morning News. Pay some attention to the Hawaii papers.
I will say this, if the above linked article is accurate and Jones met with the search committee, it is all but over. SMU wins; Hawaii loses. Orsini would not have let Jones meet with the search committee unless it was a done deal.
I was told Friday, by one guy that June Jones was a 99% done deal.
I was told by another guy Friday that it looked promising.
I never posted anything, because I was waiting to hear from a specific person, who has still not contacted me yet.
On Saturday, I spoke with someone not associated with SMU but works in college athletics and knows quite a bit about coaches and coaching searches. He said, "You get June Jones on a plane and he is yours. The challenge should be getting him on the plane. I would have somebody escort him if I were you."
So today is Sunday and I know no more than you. I can say with 99% certainty that the first official word will be here.The other one percent: here. I have no desire to screw this up and be wrong and doubt I am going to hear anything before you.
Just my thoughts.
Jones was in Dallas meeting with SMU officials and the search committee that has been working since late October to hire a replacement to Phil Bennett. Meanwhile, the folks on the island were doing all they could to get him to say no and continue leading a program he has guided to national prominence.
I will say this, if the above linked article is accurate and Jones met with the search committee, it is all but over. SMU wins; Hawaii loses. Orsini would not have let Jones meet with the search committee unless it was a done deal.
I was told Friday, by one guy that June Jones was a 99% done deal.
I was told by another guy Friday that it looked promising.
I never posted anything, because I was waiting to hear from a specific person, who has still not contacted me yet.
On Saturday, I spoke with someone not associated with SMU but works in college athletics and knows quite a bit about coaches and coaching searches. He said, "You get June Jones on a plane and he is yours. The challenge should be getting him on the plane. I would have somebody escort him if I were you."
So today is Sunday and I know no more than you. I can say with 99% certainty that the first official word will be here.The other one percent: here. I have no desire to screw this up and be wrong and doubt I am going to hear anything before you.
Just my thoughts.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
June Jones says Thank You to the Warrior Nation...
Thank you for supporting our outstanding student-athletes during our 12-0 regular season, Western Athletic Conference Championship, and our first-ever appearance in a Bowl Championship Series game, the 2008 Allstate Sugar Bowl. These young men worked tirelessly during the course of the 2007 campaign in order to represent the entire state of Hawai`i in first-class fashion and I certainly could not be more proud of them.
It was my great honor to be associated with such a quality group of coaches and players. They demonstrated teamwork, sacrifice, grit, determination, unselfishness, humility, and an unrelenting commitment to success. Meanwhile, they were superior individuals off the field and represented Hawai`i with class, dignity, and honor.
I want to extend a special mahalo to the fans of Hawai`i. You were there for us during the course of the season and traveled with us in great numbers to New Orleans, making incredible personal sacrifices. That really touched our hearts in ways that can never be accurately communicated. The level of energy, excitement, and passion you demonstrated truly helped make this a wonderful experience for everyone involved.
Mahalo,
June Jones
Head Coach
Notice what is missing? Any reference at all to next year. Also notice every reference to Hawaii football is in the past tense.
Just saying.
The Chancellor of the University of Hawaii says an offer is on the way.
But will it come in time?
This is from a release from UH today. The speaker is Manoa chancellor Virginia Hinshaw.
“I know that there is a great deal of interest in ensuring that June Jones remains here as our football coach – and that is definitely our goal as well. We truly appreciate his outstanding efforts in leading us to the Sugar Bowl and producing successful student-athletes. It has always been our intent to make Coach Jones a firm offer that will keep him here, and I want to assure everyone that Athletics Director Herman Frazier is moving expeditiously to do just that,” said Hinshaw.
Reading the Hawaii message board, one gets a sense that Hawaii fans really hate this AD Herman Frazier. I am just dumbfounded that Hawaii doesn't seem to have anything in place yet.
Coach Watch Day 67: First and last.
After winning the Fiesta Bowl, Bill Stewart will be named head coach of West Virginia. That means that SMU, the first school to announce it was making a change will be the last school to actually hire a coach.
Unbelievable.
Read this to see how tense things are getting over at mustangmaniacs.com: http://smu.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=2350&tid=109269702&mid=109269702&sid=1174&style=2
I still maintain that the SMU coaching search is going badly. I also still maintain that SMU can still get a great coach. However, I will neither blindly proclaim the next head coach to be a great coach nor whitewash the process if SMU does get a quality coach. But until told otherwise, like everyone else, I will keep my eyes on the Sandwich Islands and the head coach of the University of Hawaii June Jones.
When I read things like yesterday’s New York Times [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/03/sports/ncaafootball/03colleges.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin] and the inability for June Jones and Hawaii to get basic football needs filled, I start to wonder if Hawaii even has the ability to keep him.
The major lingering issue for Jones’s future at Hawaii is not his salary, which is $800,000 a year and could be expected to increase. It is whether Hawaii, now that it has begun to benefit from playing big-time football, will commit to investing heavily in the program. The program’s football budget — $2.2 million — is more than $1 million less than that of its chief Western Athletic Conference rival, Boise State.
The Hawaii football facilities were described as “condemned” by quarterback Colt Brennan, who had to campaign through the news media to get soap in the locker room earlier this season. The Hawaii team videotaped practice for four years from a hand-held camera that Jones won at a golf tournament.
It isn’t that Hawaii isn’t capable of matching or coming close to matching any SMU offer (they may not be able to, but they may not have to). It is that aside from the salary, it is the refusal to run Hawaii football like a top 25 program, whereas Steve Orsini wants SMU to be “top 25 in everything [it] does.” Hawaii is capable of providing video equipment for the locker room, soap for the shower, a recruiting budget over $50,000.00, but they have achieved their success without it and the administration may not believe they have to. To give June Jones the salary he deserves and the budget his program deserves, may be more than Hawaii thinks it has to do to be successful and Hawaii may ultimately balk at the price tag. They may need to lose June Jones and lose a lot of football games before they think otherwise.
Another excellent article can be found in the Honolulu Advertiser [http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080103/NEWS01/801030366/1001/NEWS01].
It confirms that today, June Jones is in Hawaii. It also provides this money quote:
"In my opinion, and this is speaking out of turn, but June, to me, has to do what's best for June," UH offensive line coach Dennis McKnight said. "He has given so much. He basically saved a program that was floundering in the water, that was on life support in the life raft. He brought it to the summit of national prominence. It's a name. It's a logo. It's a school that people recognize.
"I know the way he's thinking and feeling and agonizing over this decision right now, that this is where his heart is. But at the same time, from a business standpoint, when you're talking money and a challenge, sometimes a competitor loves a challenge. I know it's going to be a tough deal, and a tough decision."
Listening to the radio this morning, it was the first thing discussed on the Ticket at 6AM. They seem relatively astounded that SMU could land June Jones. Stewart Mandell at CNNSI.com understands what SMU sees in Jones but not what Jones would see in SMU. The same can be said of basically every national college football sports writer in the country. The people on the message board or around Dallas that would not be thrilled with a June Jones hire should be beaten with a stick.
Maybe June Jones is serious about SMU, but maybe he is just using SMU to get all of the Sugar Bowl payout money devoted to football. I don’t know. Today I will be positive. I ran this morning with my iPod on “shuffle.” “Peruna” was the first song it played. It is a sign. As I was coming home, “Pony Battle Cry.” It is a sign. Good things are going to happen today.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Coach Watch Day 66- Post-New Year?s Day Edition
Well, now that June Jones doesn’t have a job to do, we can start watching planes again. If it isn’t Jones, I assume it has to be a hodgepodge of readily available coaches, former coaches and assistants. I still have a hard time believing June Jones is leaving Hawaii, but I will put that aside for a moment.
Hawaii got rolled in the Sugar Bowl. Would it have been cool if Hawaii won and June Jones became the SMU head coach? Sure. Does the loss mean anything? No. The Hawaii 31 point loss to Georgia wasn’t the biggest blowout of this year’s bowl season and wasn’t even the biggest point disparity of New Year’s Day. I would have liked to have seen Hawaii be more competitive, but so what? June Jones did what only Urban Meyer and Chris Petersen have done: taken a non-BCS team to a BCS bowl game. Heck. The list of coaches that haven’t taken a team to a BCS bowl game is pretty long and a lot of those coaches have been routed in bowl games, too.
June Jones now appears to be contemplating his future:
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080102/NEWS01/801020394
From the above article, there are a few things you should take away.
First, June Jones’ contract has now expired, which is significant for a couple of reasons. Coaches in the last year of their contracts is virtually unheard of in college athletics; the mere fact that it has gotten to this point between June Jones and Hawaii should raise questions about the true extent of the relationship between June Jones and his alma matter. Also, because June Jones is no longer under contract, there is no buyout; June Jones can walk away from Hawaii for nothing.
Second, related to above, Jones and Hawaii haven’t even discussed a contract. As much as Jones has complained about facilities, commitment, carpet in his office, pay for his assistants, can June Jones effectively negotiate a contract with a state school for both a raise and resolve these other issues?
Third, “Jones has said he will "disappear" for a week to contemplate his future. The team returns to Honolulu this afternoon, and Jones said he will spend time in Kona.” This is both good and bad. Bad in that Jones has, apparently, returned to Hawaii. Logic dictates that June Jones isn’t going to take the SMU job without seeing the facilities. While it is true Hawaii has played SMU in Ford Stadium while Jones was coach, that was in 2001. It is good in the sense that he will spend some time away from the team to get this resolved. The fact that this could also take another week to resolve itself is depressing.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Nearing the end if only because of the inevitability of it all-Coach Watch Day 64
Sorry for the lack of posting this last week. I kind of missed most of the Junes Jones development or lack thereof. Well, I am not really sorry. I am just about sick of waiting. I can either post vitriolic rant or play with my kids. I choose kids.
SMU will have a coach soon. SMU will not be coachless as it enters the next contact period with recruits just as it will not be coachless as it enters Spring practice or next season. That means SMU will have a new coach at the end of this week or perhaps next week.
The next full contact period begins January 13th. I refuse to entertain for a moment the idea that a coach won’t be hired by that date. You could also note that recruits can visits the weekends of January 4th and January 13th, but the idea that a coach can get be hired one day and turn around and host recruits the next day borders on the absurd. Again, I will point out that aside from there not being a head coach, there is NO COACHING STAFF. If SMU goes in any direction other than a coach that is currently a head coach, putting together a staff will take time. That time and energy will also take away from the time and energy that needs to be devoted to recruiting.
Of course, the whole notion that it is OK that SMU doesn’t have a head coach because recruiting is in a “dead period” is ridiculous. While it is true that during a dead period, no one associated with SMU may contact or evaluate prospects on or off campus, coaches may still write or call prospects.
If SMU essentially has no recruiting class in 2008, it will affect SMU for years. Those players will, in effect, never exist and never be replaced on the roster. SMU has historically come close to offering the limit of 25 scholarships every year through graduation and attrition anyway. If there is an “empty” class, even though only half of those athletes might pan out, those athletes won’t redshirt, they won’t play, they won’t make the two-deep roster. It will harm depth. It will require more athletes to burn redshirts in the future.
A few thoughts on June Jones and Jon Tenuta, since their names came up in the last week.
June Jones is the head coach of Hawaii and an offensive genius. I would hire June Jones any day of the week and twice on Sundays. I would wait until January 3rd to hire June Jones; he is worth the wait. I would not wait until January 3rd to talk to June Jones. All signs say June Jones isn’t coming to SMU and most pundits say that if he did, he would be nuts. Most likely, SMU is the only school dumb enough to chase June Jones and he intends to use Orsini to get himself a raise and new carpet for his office.
In the Dallas Morning News on November 13, 2003; June Jones said the following regarding Phil Bennett:
"I think Phil is on an island sometimes," Jones said. "He's going through some unfair requirements over there. He's not on the same playing field as the rest of us."
Now, does that lead you to believe that Jones would even consider coming to SMU four years later, when little more than the name on the AD's door has changed? That being said, if June Jones did take the job, it would go a long way towards restoring some credibility to SMU because he obviously would not come unless he thought he could win.
As for Jon Tenuta, his name has unfairly become a punchline for me. The cruelest thing you can say about Tenuta is “Jon Tenuta is Phil Bennett without the personality.” That isn’t really fair, because Tenuta is a heck of a defensive coordinator and has a better resume than Phil ever did as defensive coordinator. However, Tenuta has wanted a head coaching job for years, rarely even gotten an interview. Many think he lacks the personality to be a head coach.
There is a widespread rumor that he had a special deal at Georgia Tech where he did not have to recruit. Seriously. Even if it isn’t true, the mere fact that it is out there gives me pause. He is a college football coach. College football coaches recruit. It is part of the job. I can’t imagine any self-respecting coach allowing such a rumor to even get out there.
Tenuta will not sell tickets. Tenuta will not sell SMU. Not to alumni. Not to Dallas. Not to recruits. End of story.
My new fear is that SMU will hire someone like Tenuta and use his current role as interim head coach as an excuse for the ridiculous delay. "Hey, he was the interim head coach, we couldn't hire him a month ago." Or, "He was coaching the quarterbacks for the [insert NFL team here], we couldn't hire him." If they tried that, it would be a lie. A lie. An untruth. A falsehood. Coaches have left their current teams; coaches have been announced as leaving and stayed to coach the bowl game or the rest of the NFL season.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Coach Watch Day 54: Fran and stuff
Yesterday was Franchione day, which followed Coker day. It appears that there is no new news today.
I was surprised by the Franchione story. Like many, I am not entirely sure how this and the Coker story came to light. The Dallas Morning News never actually says Franchione interviewed or when the contact/discussion takes place. I said a long time ago that Fran was trying to contact SMU. The Dallas Morning News only says that ESPN says Coker interviewed and has no other information, including when such an interview took place. I think logic would tell you that the Coker interview took place recently.
Despite being a former frog and former aggie, I don’t have near the animosity towards Fran that I do Coker, though I vaguely recall cursing his name on a cold rainy night at Ford Stadium in November 2000. Coker’s Miami team was worse when he left it, though I realize it couldn’t have gotten any better. They trended downward every year and there is no evidence he was capable of disciplining his players. He led a team that ended up being an embarrassment on and off the field. Fran, on the other hand, put together great staffs at New Mexico and TCU. He built up New Mexico and TCU; people forget he won 10 games at Alabama and I am not that turned off by his coaching performance at A&M. The next paragraph will annoy some aggies (Sorry, aggie pals).
A&M is a school with high expectations, but people forget that A&M has been trending downwards since 1998, which coincides with the arrival of Mack Brown. R.C. Slocum’s last season was a disappointing no bowl 6-6 season in 2002. A&M was solidly behind OU and Texas in the Big XII South; lost to Tech two years in a row, the last years of RC in conference were 7-1, 5-3, 5-3, 4-4, 3-5. While Fran had two sub .500 years at A&M, where is A&M today? Arguably a little better, but A&M is not worse off today than it was under Slocum. .500 in conference, two consecutive victories over Texas and still can’t beat Texas Tech (but that is a problem they have had for over 10 years). I know that is faint praise: “Fran didn’t make them worse,” but I think it is accurate.
The VIP newsletter doesn’t concern me. It is the kind of thing nobody cares about when you are 8-4, but when you are not living up to expectations, it is a real issue.
I still think Fran can recruit and put together a staff. Fran, of all the mentioned candidates, in my opinion, is in the best position, to do good things at SMU.
A couple of follow up notes on my most recent posts. Apparently, Coker only had three players die while he was head coach: two car accidents and a shooting death, though at least one of the car accidents was alcohol related, there was another accidental shooting of a player by another player and an indicted felon was signed to a letter of intent (albeit the trumped up charges related to an incident at another school’s recruiting trip). The “bludgeoning” took place while Butch Davis was head coach and Coker was offensive coordinator.
Also, I forgot to mention something else about recruiting. It takes more than a head coach to recruit. It takes an entire staff. You can’t reasonably hire a coach, especially a coach like Coker who has been out of football, and expect him to have an entire staff immediately and ready to recruit. That is one thing that the other two available jobs have over SMU in this process-both are bowl teams with staffs in place where some assistant coaches hope/expect to be retained. At SMU, the entire staff was fired; they are gone.
I am working on a "What I would do if I were Orsini" post. I am sure everyone is waiting with baited breath. I halfway expect SMU to hire a coach before I am finished.
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