If you guys really hate JJs agenda of going to hawaii u can.

[NickSMU17]

The goal is to win the Conf. Championship and then win the respective bowl game which outlays 1.7 mil to our conference, the highest paying bowl....It really should be their decision, if anyone. They are paying the most and deserve the right of first choice.

so you think just cuz the liberty bowl pays the most they should automatically have a trump card on who comes... even if the team they want doesnt want to go...

Yes...They should have their choice, if they come to realize that we won't fill the stadium or game won't be good, that is in their eyes, they are "Ponying Up" the money.

I wouldn't want to [deleted] off the biggest bowl we have for the conference...I think they can come to some mutual agreement if they decide that E. Carolin or whomever will draw more, but I wouldn't want to [deleted] them off only to have them change affiliations at contract time and Conf USA to replace the 1.7 mil game with the sh*t bowl for 400k.

These are rational arguments you need to consider other than JJ wants to go to Hawaii

[RGV Pony]

let's say you're the Liberty Bowl. Which would you rather have...be FORCED to take SMU which will bring maybe 5,000 fans (and that's pushing it) and be more prone to being blown out (read: bad TV ratings) by an SEC team, or an out, one way or another, where ECU can play and sell out their bowl allotment and bring a defense more suited to face an SEC team?

This deal is already done folks. What the Liberty Bowl guy said the other day is window dressing. What did you expect him to say "nah...Hawaii can have SMU..." or "we better get SMU if they win the title" (and [deleted] off ECU)?

[NickSMU17]

let's say you're the Liberty Bowl. Which would you rather have...be FORCED to take SMU which will bring maybe 5,000 fans (and that's pushing it) and be more prone to being blown out (read: bad TV ratings) by an SEC team, or an out, one way or another, where ECU can play and sell out their bowl allotment and bring a defense more suited to face an SEC team?

This deal is already done folks. What the Liberty Bowl guy said the other day is window dressing. What did you expect him to say "nah...Hawaii can have SMU..." or "we better get SMU if they win the title" (and [deleted] off ECU)?

Please stop saying SMU will be blown out by SEC team...the lines with some of the WAC opponents will be similar to some of those SEC opponents....

These are what we call irrational arguments...

[Longtime]

BTW: There is precedent for a conference champion bypassing the Liberty Bowl.

This from the always-reliable (ahem) Wikipedia:
In 2005, Mountain West Champion TCU chose to play in the Houston Bowl instead of the Liberty Bowl. At-large WAC team Fresno State took their place.

I remember hearing about this, but forget the details. TCU played in the 2002 Liberty Bowl and probably, as a result of that experience, said, "Thanks, but we'll stay in Texas."

Memphis is a lot closer than Hawaii, but it's still a long way to go to play in an outdoor stadium in January. I hope this becomes an issue, meaning SMU wins C-USA, but since it benefits all parties (except those SMU fans who can't go to Hawaii) I'm confident SMU will be allowed to go to Hawaii instead of Memphis.

[huskerpony]

Big 12 opponent vs. CUSA opponent. They opted for the better competition.

[RGV Pony]

let's say you're the Liberty Bowl. Which would you rather have...be FORCED to take SMU which will bring maybe 5,000 fans (and that's pushing it) and be more prone to being blown out (read: bad TV ratings) by an SEC team, or an out, one way or another, where ECU can play and sell out their bowl allotment and bring a defense more suited to face an SEC team?

This deal is already done folks. What the Liberty Bowl guy said the other day is window dressing. What did you expect him to say "nah...Hawaii can have SMU..." or "we better get SMU if they win the title" (and [deleted] off ECU)?

Please stop saying SMU will be blown out by SEC team...the lines with some of the WAC opponents will be similar to some of those SEC opponents....

These are what we call irrational arguments...

okay...if SMU faces Miss State, they will not be blown out. If they face Ole Miss and Snead has a bad day, they will not be blown out. If they face Arkansas and Mallett has a bad day, they might not be blown out.

[RGV Pony]

Big 12 opponent vs. CUSA opponent. They opted for the better competition.

as I recall, that was one of the highest attended Texas Bowls also

[SMU21TCU10]

or just keep your mouth shut and let the man do what he does best, build a winning program...

It's a f***ing message board, pal! And we'd like to be able to SEE in person if our mustangs go to a bowl game. JJ is killing prospects of doing that by going to Hawaii.

What's Hawaiian for F Off?

F off?

[mrydel]

The Players earned the choice-that's the only reason I would accept the Hawaii Bowl as their decision. You hurt your own arguments. I've never heard of a school going to a bowl because a Coach earned it. The Players yes-the Coach No.

This is correct. The kids have earned it. Bowl games are not designed for the average fan. If they were, the games would be played at the home stadium of one of the participants. Jones led the players, and the players performed. Again, my only argument is not wanting any let down in the quest for the Championship. You may not have this opportunity again next year. After we win it all, then someone other than I can decide where to play.

[Mestengo]

Say RGV do use 15 spf or 30?

[NickSMU17]

The Players earned the choice-that's the only reason I would accept the Hawaii Bowl as their decision. You hurt your own arguments. I've never heard of a school going to a bowl because a Coach earned it. The Players yes-the Coach No.

This is correct. The kids have earned it. Bowl games are not designed for the average fan. If they were, the games would be played at the home stadium of one of the participants. Jones led the players, and the players performed. Again, my only argument is not wanting any let down in the quest for the Championship. You may not have this opportunity again next year. After we win it all, then someone other than I can decide where to play.

This is my dilemma...

[ponyboy]

also it bothers the hell outta me to see a bunch of fans finding a reason to complain about the one thing that gave them everything... kinda like a bunch of hawaii fans on our boards who complained about the way JJ did things even though he was on the verge of taking us to the sugar bowl... sigh!!! i just dont get it.... then they btich and moan after he left and we started losing like it was the next big fad....

Unfortunately that is human nature, my friend. You are right that it's ugly. I for one really appreciate your post and am very thankful that your loss is our gain. Mahalo.

[Statler]

The Players earned the choice-that's the only reason I would accept the Hawaii Bowl as their decision. You hurt your own arguments. I've never heard of a school going to a bowl because a Coach earned it. The Players yes-the Coach No.

This is correct. The kids have earned it. Bowl games are not designed for the average fan. If they were, the games would be played at the home stadium of one of the participants. Jones led the players, and the players performed. Again, my only argument is not wanting any let down in the quest for the Championship. You may not have this opportunity again next year. After we win it all, then someone other than I can decide where to play.

Mrydel, I have always appreciated you posts and think you are a great fan. But this post, I don't get. So by your logic football games in general are for the players only and not the fans, students, community, etc. So I guess it doesn't matter that we buy season tickets, gear, and support the team throughout the community.

[Blue Horseshoe]

All this bowl talk is making me a bit nervous! We've been 6-6 before. There is a possibility that we lose out...and then what...we are back at 6-6 again.

Wouldn't it be something if we were then relegated to the mercy of bowl selection committees because we failed to earn an automatic bowl birth! June Jones' bowl talk and especially his determination to go where 'he want's' is a bit arrogant at this point in time. If he keeps this up and Orsini doesn't do anything about it, we could be in a position that the bowl committees would leave us behind for again at 6-6.

It seems like June doesn't respect the bowl committees so why should they respect June Jones.

Anything other than a win at Marshall this weekend should make all at SMU a little uneasy for yet another year.

Just trying to keep it real!

Go Ponies!!!

[ReedFrawg]

I'd sure as hell like to know what's going on with America, because again, I agree 100% with Stallion.

SMU WILL TAKE FEWER THAN 10,000 to Memphis. Count on it. Maybe 5,000. Besides, as JJ said, he's locked in to Hawaii. I'll bet we have around 1000-1500 at Hawaii.

At this point, provided SMU beats Marshall and Tulane (and that's not a guarantee), I think ECU has a better than even chance of making it a non-issue as to whether the champion goes to Memphis or not.

I agree with all of this so why did JJ feel the need to make this a public issue? Just focus on football and work on this behind the scenes. Does he just want the attention?