Looks like JJ's going to let all the QBs

[dcpony]

get a shot at the starting spot.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/ ... 72404.html

Houston Chronicle
Jan. 21, 2008, 3:54PM
FOOTBALL
Katy's Mitchell switches commitment
State championship winning QB following Jones to SMU
By MIKE TENNEY
Chronicle Correspondent
Katy senior quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell has changed his mind on where he wants to play college football.

After originally committing to play at the University of Hawaii under head coach June Jones, Mitchell is now following Jones to SMU, where he has committed to play for the Mustangs.

"It really was an easy decision," said Mitchell, who visited the SMU campus last weekend. "Once the entire coaching staff from the University of Hawaii decided they were going to SMU, then that's where I wanted to go. I really like coach Jones. I think he's a cool guy and he's a straight up guy. He said we'll all have a chance at the starting job and if it doesn't work out, then he'll redshirt who he has to. I like a coach that is straight up with me."

He also admitted it's a much easier trip to Dallas than to Honolulu.

"This also gives my parents and friends a better chance to see me play because I'll be much closer to home," Mitchell said. "So it would have been nice to play at Hawaii and I was looking forward to it, but I'm excited about going up to Dallas and playing for SMU."

Katy head coach Gary Joseph said he's excited for his two-year starting signalcaller.

"I think it's a great opportunity for him and I'm very happy for him," Joseph said. "Not only is he going to school with a lot of football tradition, but he's going to a school that is an excellent academic university. He's going to get a chance to play college football, but SMU is the type of school that when he graduates, he'll be able to get a good job, so that's the part I'm most excited about it. I'm not saying those other schools don't offer great academics, but SMU is one of the finest colleges in the country as far as their academics."

Mitchell backed up that statement.

"I was really blown away by some of the academic opportunities that SMU presents," he said. "It really seemed like they just skyrocketed past some of the other schools academically."

Mitchell was 29-1 in two years as a starter for the Tigers, including 16-0 last season when the Tigers won the Class 5A Division II state championship. For the year he completed 132 of 240 passing attempts for 2,455 yards, with 37 touchdowns to go with just four interceptions.

Should Mitchell become a starter for the Mustangs in the next couple of years, it would give the Metroplex two starting quarterbacks from Katy, with 2005 graduate Andy Dalton starting for TCU.

"We've got one (quarterback) in Fort Worth and one in Dallas now," Joseph said. "We think that's all right."

All verbal commitments are non-binding. Prospective players will sign their letters-of-intent on the first Wednesday in February.


[/i]

[OR-See-Nee]

What a great story.

Great pub in H-Town for SMU.

I guess SMU will be allowed in Houston for recruiting!

Katy coach Gary Joseph sounds like a very smart fellow!

[RGV Pony]

And in a related story, new Hawaii football coaching staff says "that's not how we do things in Hawaii" and that the Katy football coach's future athletes "will not be welcome" in the Hawaii program in the future.

[George S. Patton]

Somebody might want to send this quote:

"I think it's a great opportunity for him and I'm very happy for him," Joseph said. "Not only is he going to school with a lot of football tradition, but he's going to a school that is an excellent academic university. He's going to get a chance to play college football, but SMU is the type of school that when he graduates, he'll be able to get a good job, so that's the part I'm most excited about it. I'm not saying those other schools don't offer great academics, but SMU is one of the finest colleges in the country as far as their academics."


...to Mike Owens.

If we can make some serious inroads in Houston, our program will get better and better. You would think that could happen because of Jones' connections with that city.

EDIT: That would cool in future SMU-TCU meetings if former Katy quarterback Bo Mitchell opposed former Katy quarterback Andy Dalton.

[MisterV]

And in a related story, new Hawaii football coaching staff says "that's not how we do things in Hawaii" and that the Katy football coach's future athletes "will not be welcome" in the Hawaii program in the future.

RGV Pony,
That was hilarious! Nice tie in to the Dews story.


http://www.ponyfans.com/phpBB2/viewtopi ... highlight=

http://www.tylerpaper.com/article/20080 ... /801190353

[WorldStang]

Why berate a HS coach for taking up for the kid that wanted to come to SMU? I know it's JJ's decision - but no reason to harp on Mike Owens; he's a good guy that didn't agree with JJ's decision. Big Deal

[BrentMusburger]

Mike Owens is not allowed to come in University Park. That's not how we do business in the Park Cities.

[Junior]

Mike Owens is not allowed to come in University Park. That's not how we do business in the Park Cities.

I agree. Screw Mike Owens if he thinks he's going to be the downfall to SMU football. That ship sailed a long time ago, you schmuck.

[Junior]

Given the number of people who tend to misconstrue things on this board, I was referring to the coach.

[mathman]

Why berate a HS coach for taking up for the kid that wanted to come to SMU? I know it's JJ's decision - but no reason to harp on Mike Owens; he's a good guy that didn't agree with JJ's decision. Big Deal

You must not have read what Owens said. Way over the line. Ok for him to berate JJ?? I don't think so.

[MustangLaxer]

honestly, who cares...he's a high school coach and he'll be forgotten in two weeks...if the people on this board will let him.

everyone knows "long live JJ" ... isn't that enough?

[WorldStang]

Why berate a HS coach for taking up for the kid that wanted to come to SMU? I know it's JJ's decision - but no reason to harp on Mike Owens; he's a good guy that didn't agree with JJ's decision. Big Deal

You must not have read what Owens said. Way over the line. Ok for him to berate JJ?? I don't think so.

Of course I read it.. but what's so "way over the line" of a HS coach questioning a new coach not honoring a commitment made to the previous coaching staff?? It happens.. yes.. and guess what.. most HS coaches would say the same thing. It's not the greatest precedent to set with any HS coaching staff.

All that being said - I understand JJ wants his own guys in here and I understand NCAA rules are loose when it comes to these type things. BUT.. you're seriously questioning a HS coach who's player kinda got the screw job in the 11th hour of recruiting? Come on man.. be realistic. Again.. Owens didn't say anything that any of us wouldn't say if we were coaching at Lee. He's trying to protect his player and let JJ know that he didn't appreciate the slap-down.

[jtstang]

Hey apologist--if he's such a good coach looking out for his kids, when Bennett got canned, why didn't he help the kid set up a backup plan?? If a letter went out saying the new coach might not honor Bennett's offers, why did he just sit on his @ss waiting for something bad to happen?

[ALEX LIFESON]

I'm with you, on this one jt.

[SoCal_Pony]

Hey apologist--if he's such a good coach looking out for his kids, when Bennett got canned, why didn't he help the kid set up a backup plan??

Because maybe everyone is looking for a scapegoat instead of facing the facts that this kid is not D1-A worthy.

Of course, that would be all the more reason for ALL of them to find a back-up plan for Dews, as anyone who was following SMU knew the money we had raised and the ‘new’ emphasis we are about to place on FB.

It is like working at an unprofitable firm that is bringing in new, high-priced management to turn the company around and you are the most unproductive employee there. You better start looking at other employment options before the ‘efficiency experts’ come around.

IMO, the Orsini letter was the right thing to do, even though it cost us a couple of good recruits, actually 2 of our BEST recruits. I have sympathy with Dews, but only to a point. He should have been smarter. I have zero sympathy for Owens.