Why JJ came to SMU

[NickSMU17]

or the falcons...

[westexSMU]

JJ doesn't have an ego issue where he would need the security of a big school. He is confident in his abilities so why not just take over a program like ours and turn them into WINNERS at SMU ?

[Warbow]

IMHO, I believe it really was/is an Ego issue with JJ. He knew he went far as he could with Hawaii. He knew it was going to be a downhill journey following his unbeaten regular season (w/soft schedule). JJ wanted to leave Hawaii in legend status, to which he did as viewed by many here. Not me! The Georgia sugar bowl lesson JJ took told him his only success as a college head coach would be in a Non-BCS conference. His MO is building up a horrible "NON-BCS" program, take it to it's highest peak, then leave knowing he wouldn't be able to maintain it. Then he sits back and receives legend status locally and watches his replacement destroy it.

His teams didn't have much success playing against top notch BCS caliber type players. His system just doesn't work as well against good talent.

Ask me how many wins in his 11 year college coaching career does JJ have against BCS teams on the road?

Ask me how many wins in his 11 year college coaching career does JJ have against ranked opponents on the road?

[leopold]

IMHO, I believe it really was/is an Ego issue with JJ. He knew he went far as he could with Hawaii. He knew it was going to be a downhill journey following his unbeaten regular season (w/soft schedule). JJ wanted to leave Hawaii in legend status, to which he did as viewed by many here. Not me! The Georgia sugar bowl lesson JJ took told him his only success as a college head coach would be in a Non-BCS conference. His MO is building up a horrible "NON-BCS" program, take it to it's highest peak, then leave knowing he wouldn't be able to maintain it. Then he sits back and receives legend status locally and watches his replacement destroy it.

If June takes first Hawaii and then post-Death Penalty SMU to 12-0 records and hopefully BCS bowls then he is deserving of the "legend" status, similiar to Schnellenberger taking a pathetic Miami team to national prominence.

Here's hoping!

[Alaric]

IMHO, I believe it really was/is an Ego issue with JJ. He knew he went far as he could with Hawaii. He knew it was going to be a downhill journey following his unbeaten regular season (w/soft schedule). JJ wanted to leave Hawaii in legend status, to which he did as viewed by many here. Not me! The Georgia sugar bowl lesson JJ took told him his only success as a college head coach would be in a Non-BCS conference. His MO is building up a horrible "NON-BCS" program, take it to it's highest peak, then leave knowing he wouldn't be able to maintain it. Then he sits back and receives legend status locally and watches his replacement destroy it.

His teams didn't have much success playing against top notch BCS caliber type players. His system just doesn't work as well against good talent.

Ask me how many wins in his 11 year college coaching career does JJ have against BCS teams on the road?

Ask me how many wins in his 11 year college coaching career does JJ have against ranked opponents on the road?

Georgia was loaded with NFL talent that year, especially across the defensive line (not to mention Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno). How do you think the game would have turned out had JJ had Georgia's talent and Georgia had Hawaii's talent?

[Charleston Pony]

If JJ can lead SMU to a 13-0 finish and a BCS game, he can feel free to leave and we will take our chances with the next generation coach. At least the new coach will inherit talent at a level we haven't enjoyed in quite some time.

Jones will have done his job and earned every dollar he was paid.

[Warbow]

Actually, don't count on JJ to leave any talent when he departs. He left Hawaii with maybe two returning starters on offense and about 6 starters total. Although we appreciate what he did while at Hawaii, he left the program no better (talent wise) then when he first started. As a matter of fact, his first season in Hawaii (the big turn-around) was with the previous coaches recruited talent. A few ended up in the NFL. His second season here was a disaster playing mostly with his recruited JC talent.

I too am curious about what he could do with D-1 talent against powerhouses like USC and Florida etc.. All indications tell me, not very well. In JJ's system, the defense is on the field much to long. It won't be able to handle time consuming power running teams. History tells me, JJ hasn't been very successful against those type of teams.

[PonyKai]

Actually, don't count on JJ to leave any talent when he departs. He left Hawaii with maybe two returning starters on offense and about 6 starters total. Although we appreciate what he did while at Hawaii, he left the program no better (talent wise) then when he first started. As a matter of fact, his first season in Hawaii (the big turn-around) was with the previous coaches recruited talent. A few ended up in the NFL. His second season here was a disaster playing mostly with his recruited JC talent.

I too am curious about what he could do with D-1 talent against powerhouses like USC and Florida etc.. All indications tell me, not very well. In JJ's system, the defense is on the field much to long. It won't be able to handle time consuming power running teams. History tells me, JJ hasn't been very successful against those type of teams.

I would argue that Hawai'i has some serious problems that are preventing it from being competitive athletically in revenue sports, beyond the traditional one of distance. Have you read about the kicking and screaming from the students, media, and community over the 50$ a SEMESTER charge to students to augment the athletic budget to help remain competitive with other WAC schools? There seem to be some serious issues that the department and coaching staff are having trouble navigating.

When JJ departs, if he leaves once his "mission is accomplished" I foresee SMU having some immediate problems if the next coaching staff wants to switch to a different system, etc. However, if things don't go all chicken little, this school will be much, much, much better off to navigate the future. No longer will it be considered a coaching graveyard, and the vast majority of recruiting/admissions restrictions have been removed to be competitive. Further helping our effort is a Texas location and our facilities. While not saying we'll be in the BCS Title Game any time soon, Jones in his time here has slain many of the remaining beasts tormenting the athletic faithful.

[RGV Pony]

Actually, don't count on JJ to leave any talent when he departs. He left Hawaii with maybe two returning starters on offense and about 6 starters total. Although we appreciate what he did while at Hawaii, he left the program no better (talent wise) then when he first started. As a matter of fact, his first season in Hawaii (the big turn-around) was with the previous coaches recruited talent. A few ended up in the NFL. His second season here was a disaster playing mostly with his recruited JC talent.

I too am curious about what he could do with D-1 talent against powerhouses like USC and Florida etc.. All indications tell me, not very well. In JJ's system, the defense is on the field much to long. It won't be able to handle time consuming power running teams. History tells me, JJ hasn't been very successful against those type of teams.

I would argue that Hawai'i has some serious problems that are preventing it from being competitive athletically in revenue sports, beyond the traditional one of distance. Have you read about the kicking and screaming from the students, media, and community over the 50$ a SEMESTER charge to students to augment the athletic budget to help remain competitive with other WAC schools? There seem to be some serious issues that the department and coaching staff are having trouble navigating.

When JJ departs, if he leaves once his "mission is accomplished" I foresee SMU having some immediate problems if the next coaching staff wants to switch to a different system, etc. However, if things don't go all chicken little, this school will be much, much, much better off to navigate the future. No longer will it be considered a coaching graveyard, and the vast majority of recruiting/admissions restrictions have been removed to be competitive. Further helping our effort is a Texas location and our facilities. While not saying we'll be in the BCS Title Game any time soon, Jones in his time here has slain many of the remaining beasts tormenting the athletic faithful.

which is why you name Adrian Klemm coach in waiting