SMU head coach June Jones and Pittsburgh head coach Todd Graham, whose teams will face each other Jan. 7 in the BBVA Compass Bowl, introduced themselves and their teams to the media for the first time in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday afternoon.

SMU head coach June Jones

On the chance to play in the BBVA Compass Bowl

“We are appreciative to be playing here. It’s a great opportunity for me to come back to the Southeast. Having spent most of my adult life in Atlanta, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve driven over here to do different things. Nick Saban being the head coach at Alabama, I follow (him) greatly. One of my football operations guys (Randy Ross) is from Alabama also, so the great tradition of being able to play this game in this city is pretty exciting.”

On this year’s SMU team

“We have a young team. We’re graduating some key seniors this year, but we feel so fortunate to be able to come here to contribute and play in this game against the University of Pittsburgh’s historic tradition. As a young man, I watched and grew up following Pittsburgh. A lot of the guys I coached in the pros at different teams played at Pitt. So it’s exciting, and I too remember that game at the Cotton Bowl (between SMU and Pittsburgh in 1983) and remember how cold it was that day when they played.”

The Mustangs will be trying for the third consecutive season to bring home a bowl trophy (photo by SMU athletics).

On his team playing in three consecutive bowl games

“We have a great group of kids. As I shared with them before I got on the plane today, we have the opportunity to really do something for the first time for a school. This is the first time we’ve played in three consecutive bowl games.”

On his appreciation for the effort it takes to put on a bowl game

“I know what it takes to put on this bowl. We are very appreciative of all the volunteers and the commitment from the sponsors to do, this because it is an all-year job. Those people I think a lot of times go unnoticed, but the hospitality, the events, the hotel, everything that we do is so meaningful to these young kids. We’re proud of our athletes, and we’re proud of them not just being athletes, but the student-athletes they are.”

On the close games when teams he and Graham have coached have played in years past

“I can assure you it will be an exciting game. I think every time that Todd (Graham) and I have played, it’s come down to the last play of the game. I might be wrong, but I think it’s come down to the last play, so it’s going to be fun.”

On playing against the University of Pittsburgh

“They’re going to present some challenges for us. We both have gone through some key injuries, but the kids just love to play the game and love to compete. I have a great group and a great staff, as does Todd, and it’s just fun to come together and enjoy the game of football in this tradition-rich town. We’re very appreciative to the people of Birmingham, to BBVA Compass and all the bowl committee and volunteers for making this possible for all of us.”

Pittsburgh head coach Todd Graham

On the invitation to the BBVA Compass Bowl

“On behalf of the University of Pittsburgh and the Pitt Nation, we are excited about coming to Birmingham, Ala., again for the second year in a row. We’re excited to be here in such a great football tradition city. To be at the (Alabama Sports) Hall of Fame here, I was looking at the Bear Bryant scrapbook over there — I’m a huge Bear Bryant fan — and it’s great to be in Birmingham.”

On what it means for his team to play in a bowl game

“I want to thank every one of the people who are here and all the people who volunteer and support and work for the bowl. I can’t tell you over the years of coaching the experiences that our young people have going to bowl games and just how important it is in their development, in their education, so I want to thank you. Every time I have players come back and speak to our team, they reflect, and a lot of those great memories are created through experiences like this one. I want to thank BBVA Compass for being the title sponsor for this bowl game and making this thing happen.”

Pitt coach Todd Graham was a high school senior in Dallas when quarterback Lance McIlhenny led SMU to a win over Pitt in the 1983 Cotton Bowl (photo by SMU athletics).

On this year’s Pittsburgh team

“It’s my first year at the University of Pittsburgh, and I’m very proud of our football team. We have a really good football team. We have a great group of young men that excel on and off the field. I took over the job shortly after this game last year. I remember watching this game on TV, and it really had a big impact. How Pitt played and the tenacity they played with was very influential in me going to Pitt. Our team is one that’s made up of a great group of seniors. This is their fourth straight bowl game, so they’ve had a tremendous career at the University of Pittsburgh.”

On the last meeting between SMU and Pittsburgh

“Pitt also has a great football tradition. Many of you probably remember back in 1983, the last time SMU and Pitt met. It was in the Cotton Bowl, Dan Marino versus the ‘Pony Express.’ I actually grew up in Dallas, Texas, and I was graduating high school that year, and I remember that game well. We’re excited to be going against SMU.”

On SMU’s program

“Coach (June) Jones is one of the first-class people in coaching that exemplifies sportsmanship. We’ve been competing against each other for quite some time, going back to 2003 when he was at Hawaii and I was the defensive coordinator at Tulsa. His teams are always very, very exciting to watch, very, very difficult to defend, and they’re going to play hard. What he’s done at SMU is remarkable, their third straight bowl game. Bringing that program back and resurrecting that program is absolutely phenomenal, and it’s a great honor and privilege for me and for our football team to compete against them here at the BBVA Compass Bowl.”

On his team coming back to Birmingham

“We’re excited to be here and looking forward to our players coming to town. We have a first-class group of guys that are really looking forward to coming back and being part of such a great bowl in such a great football city.”