The Jones Extension

[PonySnob]

Out of interest, name me a school that fired a coach for losing a game like the Tulane game...

The thing that gets me about the attitude towards JJ is that it suggests there has been a change. June has been consistent in his approach since he got here. His emphasis is not on recruiting conventionally. His emphasis has in my mind failed, but it's been consistent. And the Klemm thing has got to be dropped. That's not on JJ.

Arkansas fired Jack Crowe after losing to the Citadel in 1992.......

[Mustangsabu]

Thanks!

[ponyinNC]

In other words, we were willing to overlook the fact that he doesn't wear socks as long as he was winning for us. You're right that I missed the part about recruiting. That's big. I'm not going to try to downplay it. But I'm not certain what else he's done wrong, other than be unconventional.

And what does the ASU backlash at having Jones have to do with anything?

Sorry if i was rude. I just meant that I didn't see any vitriol toward Jones from SMU fans until after the ASU debacle. That is (in my mind) where it comes from. No one really cared about Leis and horses and no socks until after that. That sort of stuf is childish - if the guy wins, he can wear a speedo for all I care!

I think the backlash from ASU fans goes toward our exact reason for no longer wanting JJ as coach unless tings dracstically change - 1.)lack of recruiting and 2.) a stagnant offense that has evolved since the RnS was created. ASU fans are smart. They knew what they would be getting, even if the ASU BoT and AD didn't.

Bottom line - JJ has taken us from perenniel losers to mid-level conference team in the mix for bowl games year in and year out. That is quite an accomplishment.

[peruna11]

The overhead projector incident has always seemed to me to show just how shallow, b!itchy and petty some SMU fans can be, purposefully misinterpreting what JJ was trying to communicate. You know the types who judge a man by the kind of car he drives or where he lives. The fact is that JJ isn't a good cultural fit here and never was. A good contingent of us are just too full of ourselves. When he tried to bolt for ASU -- who wouldn't! -- he hurt our feelers. That's the whole story. We were looking the throw him under the proverbial bus the second he stepped off of it wearing a hawaiian shirt and no socks.

I can't speak for anyone else but myself, but here goes.

I see no way how the projector incident shows how shallow any of us are. He knew what was coming that day and intentionally prepared an awkward and defensive reaction that didn't even address the question. What's worse, he omitted key facts from his transparencies to try and make his point (i.e. He didn't mention most of his starters at the time were Bennett's nor did he mention the monster 4 star linemen Klemm had committed in his 2nd year recruiting). For the first time in the Coach's Luncheon series, his snake oil wasn't selling, and 90% of the room couldn't get their jaws off the floor. The fact he used 1960's technology to deliver a childish message just made it hilarious.

The truth is, JJ is an odd bird. A lot of coaches are. Based on his attire, he wouldn't be a culture fit anywhere but Hawaii. Aside from the dark green shirts and possibly the leis, not many folks would be saying anything about those things if the program were moving in the right direction.

Personally, I am thankful for where June has gotten us. We are out of the cellar... middle of the road. This is a feat not to be taken lightly, nor do I take it for granted. However, the ASU situation was a turning point. I don't blame him for wanting the job, and Steinberg humiliated him in the process. But from that point on, everything has plateaued or declined.

I could care less what car he drives or what color shirts he wears. Hell, I hate wearing socks too! Give me a break with all that. I care about winning. I care about the trajectory of the program. I care about SMU.

[mrydel]

Out of interest, name me a school that fired a coach for losing a game like the Tulane game...

The thing that gets me about the attitude towards JJ is that it suggests there has been a change. June has been consistent in his approach since he got here. His emphasis is not on recruiting conventionally. His emphasis has in my mind failed, but it's been consistent. And the Klemm thing has got to be dropped. That's not on JJ.

Arkansas fired Jack Crowe after losing to the Citadel in 1992.......

And it was his first game as head coach.

[ponyboy]

...if the guy wins, he can wear a speedo for all I care!

I didn't need that image

[ponyboy]

I could care less what car he drives or what color shirts he wears. Hell, I hate wearing socks too! Give me a break with all that. I care about winning. I care about the trajectory of the program. I care about SMU.

While I'm not certain that you represent that vocal minority of haters, I'm glad to hear that at least some of us agree on essentials.

[PonySnob]

[I can't speak for anyone else but myself, but here goes.

I see no way how the projector incident shows how shallow any of us are. He knew what was coming that day and intentionally prepared an awkward and defensive reaction that didn't even address the question. What's worse, he omitted key facts from his transparencies to try and make his point (i.e. He didn't mention most of his starters at the time were Bennett's nor did he mention the monster 4 star linemen Klemm had committed in his 2nd year recruiting). For the first time in the Coach's Luncheon series, his snake oil wasn't selling, and 90% of the room couldn't get their jaws off the floor. The fact he used 1960's technology to deliver a childish message just made it hilarious.

The truth is, JJ is an odd bird. A lot of coaches are. Based on his attire, he wouldn't be a culture fit anywhere but Hawaii. Aside from the dark green shirts and possibly the leis, not many folks would be saying anything about those things if the program were moving in the right direction.

Personally, I am thankful for where June has gotten us. We are out of the cellar... middle of the road. This is a feat not to be taken lightly, nor do I take it for granted. However, the ASU situation was a turning point. I don't blame him for wanting the job, and Steinberg humiliated him in the process. But from that point on, everything has plateaued or declined.

I could care less what car he drives or what color shirts he wears. Hell, I hate wearing socks too! Give me a break with all that. I care about winning. I care about the trajectory of the program. I care about SMU.

Wasn't that the last of the coaches lunches before it switched to happy hour at Ozonas.....and now not at all?

[mustangxc]

Many fans were ready to run him out after our loss to Army in the AFB and even more after our losing streak following the win against UCF in 2011. Most wanted him gone after the ASU debacle. There is quite a bit of revisionist history on both sides. The people that have wanted him gone still want him gone, and seem to want to come across as patient, but that is just not true. I agree that the ASU debacle was a fireable offense, but Orsini did not fire him for that so it is now irrelevant. I don't think he should be fired, but will not be too upset when he steps away either. I will be eternally grateful for him taking us to 4 straight bowls and winning 3 of them. We may not be a top tier team, but at least we are in the conversation.

[SMU2007]

You're right that I missed the part about recruiting. That's big. I'm not going to try to downplay it. But I'm not certain what else he's done wrong, other than be unconventional.

Offense that still struggles in year 6 and UNT level of recruiting. Isn't that enough to want a new coach?

[PonySnob]

Out of interest, name me a school that fired a coach for losing a game like the Tulane game...

The thing that gets me about the attitude towards JJ is that it suggests there has been a change. June has been consistent in his approach since he got here. His emphasis is not on recruiting conventionally. His emphasis has in my mind failed, but it's been consistent. And the Klemm thing has got to be dropped. That's not on JJ.

Arkansas fired Jack Crowe after losing to the Citadel in 1992.......

And it was his first game as head coach.

Actually he was their head coach in 1990 (3-8) & 1991 (6-6) taking over when Hatfield left after the 1989 season.

[ghost]

Are you kidding? Not signing him to an extension might hurt recruiting? I think the completely opposite is true. Signing him to an extension will keep recruiting the way it has been the last few years which is bad. Losing Klemm hurt us in recruiting. Losing Jones will help us in recruiting. Sure, we got to give him credit for signing Zach Line on the recommendation of a friend as a lb and getting some transfers but all those top players were from Bennetts recruiting classes except for a few. It looks as if there is not a very good relationship with Texas high School coaches. Sad since the Texas population is booming with more and more talented players and yet only 20-25 a year can go to Texas, ags, tcu, bu or tt which leaves 200 plus solid recruits.

[Mustangsabu]

I'm not speaking I favor of extending JJ. I'll wait til the end of the season to judge. But this is nonsense. JJ is not an active recruiter by all accounts, ok, but there is nothing to suggest players wouldn't come and at for him if another coach/stud recruiting assistant was doing the recruiting.

[ponyboy]

You're right that I missed the part about recruiting. That's big. I'm not going to try to downplay it. But I'm not certain what else he's done wrong, other than be unconventional.

Offense that still struggles in year 6 and UNT level of recruiting. Isn't that enough to want a new coach?

Yes, and I want a new coach. But that doesn't mean I have to post snide, petty remarks about the guy every five minutes, to carry childish grudges. (Not saying you necesarily do).

[MV pony]

Thought I read somewhere that Jones played a big role in bringing Brown to the hilltop. If true, that doesn't sound as if he's checked out on SMU.

And what happens if he does leave and SMU cannot get a decent replacement? I think I also read that a lot of potential b-ball coaches turned SMU down flat. I've learned the hard way to be careful what I wish for. So I'm wishing for a good recruiter on staff and not a new coach.