DMN: SMU is lucky to have June Jones - he's going to win

[PerunaPunch]

Looks like June is putting on a media power play to get a contract signed.

It's so obvious too! Not a master of tact mr jones, eh?

Is it a coincidence that right when rumors start flowing about how June Jones is leaving SMU (fired or resigning) and SMU has a new coach (my oh my who could it be?? CM) coming in for 2014, the DMN all of a sudden starts spouting all these news about JJ? I bet they smell that SMU went shopping and got what it wanted and now they are stirring the pot with all this June stuff so that if we take action against June, we look like the bad school who let a great coach go. Nice one DMN...

Probably has more to do with the fact that we're playing a relevant game tomorrow, and the fact that there's a lot to controversy surrounding the fork in the road we're facing. Going to a bowl ain't what it used to be, but at least it gets you some pub.

[feelthehorsepower]

I got a respnse from Rick Gosselin:

SMU wins 27.2 percent of its games over a 19-year span, regularly drawing crowds in the 11,000, 12,000 and 13,000 range. Jones show up and takes SMU to four bowl games in five years and you want to fire him. It's tougher to win and recruit there than you think. If SMU is a destination program for kids that you obviously think it is, the Mustangs would be in the Big 12 -- not the American Athletic Conference. And, yes, SMU has taken strides since Jones took over to ease the academic restrictions on his recruits. That was mentioned in a quote.

And TCU/Baylor have which advantage over SMU? None! In fact they are at a disadvantage compared to us. We have comparable facilities, are in a better location, academics are better than both those schools combined, our brand was recognized nationwide (both positive and negatively after dp)...do I need to keep going?

[SMU 86]

Dealing with a contract through the media is generally not the best way to do things. This is really unfortunate.

[alamocitystang]

I would like an explanation as to why it is easier at TCU. It would be interesting to get gosselin's perspective. He says it's harder to recruit at SMU than we think. Ok, then how was TCU successful?

I think the answer is in the silence. For whatever reason, people in general just don't see TCU as similar. I will never understand that...we need a new PR department. This article should have been negated by a contract.

[ponyinNC]

Rick and I are actually going back and forth now - I applaud the guy for sticking to his guns and taking the time to write me:

Thanks for the response Rick - It's great to know that you communicate with your readers like this.

I don't disagree with your email, and I applaud Jones for coming to SMU and raising his voice so that the necessary academic/institutional changes could take place. Without him, I know that SMU would not have made those moves. He is a master at turning around moribund programs like SMU and Hawaii before that. All SMU fans should be grateful for the bowl games and 6/7 win seasons.

I don't think I said that SMU is a destination program for kids that want to play football, as I know that is not currently the case. Education? Yes. Packed house in a great conference? Of course not. However, I think we should be able to compete with lower-tier BCS schools such as Kansas, Iowa St. et al, while also finishing up near the top of the rankings in the AAC. We should not be competing for recruits with Sunbelt teams or recruiting kids with no offers at all (which happens quite frequently under Jones).

Jones has done his part to take SMU from a 1-2 win team in a bad conference to a mediocre team in a bad conference. But given the increased strength of schedule in the AAC, and the constant realignment moves being made in college football, it is my personal belief that we need a new direction focused on recruiting Texas HS kids to come to SMU and focused on actually going out to sell the program. I think SMU can win some battles here and there with B12 schools, and can dominate the G5 teams in recruiting the Great State of Texas. That takes time, energy, and motivation ? all of which I just do not see from Jones.

He is our Franchione. Now we need to go find our Patterson to take us to the next level.

He responded with:

Ryan,

I try to respond to every civil email I get. That means about half of them. Most folks don't bother stating their case as eloquently as you did. They just want to scream & curse and call me an idiot.

This is the first season in five Jones hasn't won seven games and gone to a bowl. I wouldn't be of the mind to fire him after one sub-par season. Of course I'm the guy who also felt Texas A&M owed Mike Sherman the chance to compete one season in the SEC. Kevin Sumlin did a wonderful job the last two years with all of Sherman's players and none of his own.

We'll see how it plays out on the Hilltop. If SMU wants to start winning 9-10 games again, change the non-conference schedule. Scheduling three Big 12 schools each year constitute three losses each year. Big 12 schools have accounted for six of his losses over the last two seasons. There's a reason a Baylor plays Wofford, Alabama plays UT-Chattanooga and Ohio State plays a Buffalo in Septembers. How do you think Texas Tech got off to that 7-0 start this season? Playing a non-conference schedule of SMU, Stephen F Austin and Texas State -- teams it could beat. You build up your record in the non-conference playing teams you can beat. Right now, SMU is playing teams it can't beat. If SMU could, they'd still be in the Big 12.

Thanks for reading and writing. Rick

[Rebel10]

Rick and I are actually going back and forth now - I applaud the guy for sticking to his guns and taking the time to write me:

Thanks for the response Rick - It's great to know that you communicate with your readers like this.

I don't disagree with your email, and I applaud Jones for coming to SMU and raising his voice so that the necessary academic/institutional changes could take place. Without him, I know that SMU would not have made those moves. He is a master at turning around moribund programs like SMU and Hawaii before that. All SMU fans should be grateful for the bowl games and 6/7 win seasons.

I don't think I said that SMU is a destination program for kids that want to play football, as I know that is not currently the case. Education? Yes. Packed house in a great conference? Of course not. However, I think we should be able to compete with lower-tier BCS schools such as Kansas, Iowa St. et al, while also finishing up near the top of the rankings in the AAC. We should not be competing for recruits with Sunbelt teams or recruiting kids with no offers at all (which happens quite frequently under Jones).

Jones has done his part to take SMU from a 1-2 win team in a bad conference to a mediocre team in a bad conference. But given the increased strength of schedule in the AAC, and the constant realignment moves being made in college football, it is my personal belief that we need a new direction focused on recruiting Texas HS kids to come to SMU and focused on actually going out to sell the program. I think SMU can win some battles here and there with B12 schools, and can dominate the G5 teams in recruiting the Great State of Texas. That takes time, energy, and motivation ? all of which I just do not see from Jones.

He is our Franchione. Now we need to go find our Patterson to take us to the next level.

He responded with:

Ryan,

I try to respond to every civil email I get. That means about half of them. Most folks don't bother stating their case as eloquently as you did. They just want to scream & curse and call me an idiot.

This is the first season in five Jones hasn't won seven games and gone to a bowl. I wouldn't be of the mind to fire him after one sub-par season. Of course I'm the guy who also felt Texas A&M owed Mike Sherman the chance to compete one season in the SEC. Kevin Sumlin did a wonderful job the last two years with all of Sherman's players and none of his own.

We'll see how it plays out on the Hilltop. If SMU wants to start winning 9-10 games again, change the non-conference schedule. Scheduling three Big 12 schools each year constitute three losses each year. Big 12 schools have accounted for six of his losses over the last two seasons. There's a reason a Baylor plays Wofford, Alabama plays UT-Chattanooga and Ohio State plays a Buffalo in Septembers. How do you think Texas Tech got off to that 7-0 start this season? Playing a non-conference schedule of SMU, Stephen F Austin and Texas State -- teams it could beat. You build up your record in the non-conference playing teams you can beat. Right now, SMU is playing teams it can't beat. If SMU could, they'd still be in the Big 12.

Thanks for reading and writing. Rick

Did you mention the 6-29 record against winning teams to Rick?

[PerunaPunch]

I know of no SMU commit who was fully qualified under NCAA rules without a serious criminal record who was denied admission to SMU and went on to start a single game at the Division 1A level. Nobody in the SMU community has ever been able to come up with an exception.

Because SMU won't comment on a kid until they sign a LOI or are enrolled in the university. So unless a kid approaches the media himself (ala Darryl Jackson), there's no way we would know about it.

[Rebel10]

Rick Hart said that it is against school policy to comment on contract issues. Since June is an employee of the school why is June violating school policy by commenting on the contract.

[Mustangs_Maroons]

Then you should know his record and understand the teams that most of his wins have come against.

THAT'S an argument? Are you sure you're a Chicago grad? Sagarin's the best we have to determine what teams were comparable to us since the start of the 2008 season. How good were the teams they beat?

I am a Chicago grad, but clearly not as smart as you.

During the last 3 years (including this year), the only teams worth a damn that we beat was Fresno in the bowl game in '12 and tcu in '11. The only teams we have demonstrated that we can beat with consistency are Memphis, Utep and Tulsa. We're better than Tulane as well, and we are 3-0 against FCS team (we should be proud of both). We are 1-1 against Houston, Rice. We're not better than either right now. We'll be 1-2 against UCF after tomorrow, and we've proven we can't consistently compete against A&M, Baylor, TT and tcu. So no, I don't think he has a good record, and no I'm not impressed by the teams we've beaten over the last 3 years, and not happy with lack of talent/recruiting and how it positions us moving forwad. We rised to being average, and now we're on the decline again. But, then again that is just my own deduction from seeing this team play, how poorly prepared we are in many games and the lack of talent we have because our HC doesn't think recruiting is as important as coaching. But, clearly, you know much better than the rest of us.

[PerunaPunch]

Am I wrong that June has gotten every recruit admitted who qualified?

There was one, Darryl Jackson, which (I guess?) is debatable. He signed an LOI here, but then didn't arrive on campus- not sure if he wasn't admitted, but it looks like he then signed with Oregon State, didn't do anything his freshman year, and retired from injuries.

There was also the stud New Mexico running back with serious prior transgressions who was probably coming here, then wasn't, but he was a JUCO and it wasn't grades, it was "other stuff." Don't know if June decided to cut chase or was told to. Don't think he ever panned out here.

I think Dontae Levinson didn't make NCAA standards, then fell off the face of the earth.

Darryl Jackson was here, he actually moved to Dallas and was living with some of his future teammates when he got the news that he would not be admitted. Any way you look at that deal, it was handled POORLY by SMU and basically pissed off everyone in the AD.

Dontae Levingston was admitted (so he must have been fine with NCAA standards), but only lasted a year or so before becoming an academic casualty.

[ponyinNC]

i mentioned the record in an earlier email. I feel like we both made our points and I just wanted to give him some facts/opinions from a fan and alum who is closer to the program than he is.

kudos to him for writing me back. i don't intend to flood his inbox or anything.

[PerunaPunch]

Rick Hart said that it is against school policy to comment on contract issues. Since June is an employee of the school why is June violating school policy by commenting on the contract.

No. Same issue with recruits. SMU won't say anything as a matter of policy. June or a recruit can tell the media whatever they want (at least pertaining to his contract and their recruitment respectively).

[leopold]

I got a respnse from Rick Gosselin:

SMU wins 27.2 percent of its games over a 19-year span, regularly drawing crowds in the 11,000, 12,000 and 13,000 range. Jones show up and takes SMU to four bowl games in five years and you want to fire him. It's tougher to win and recruit there than you think. If SMU is a destination program for kids that you obviously think it is, the Mustangs would be in the Big 12 -- not the American Athletic Conference. And, yes, SMU has taken strides since Jones took over to ease the academic restrictions on his recruits. That was mentioned in a quote.

Makes a reasonable argument to me.

[Mustangs_Maroons]

Rick and I are actually going back and forth now - I applaud the guy for sticking to his guns and taking the time to write me:

Thanks for the response Rick - It's great to know that you communicate with your readers like this.

I don't disagree with your email, and I applaud Jones for coming to SMU and raising his voice so that the necessary academic/institutional changes could take place. Without him, I know that SMU would not have made those moves. He is a master at turning around moribund programs like SMU and Hawaii before that. All SMU fans should be grateful for the bowl games and 6/7 win seasons.

I don't think I said that SMU is a destination program for kids that want to play football, as I know that is not currently the case. Education? Yes. Packed house in a great conference? Of course not. However, I think we should be able to compete with lower-tier BCS schools such as Kansas, Iowa St. et al, while also finishing up near the top of the rankings in the AAC. We should not be competing for recruits with Sunbelt teams or recruiting kids with no offers at all (which happens quite frequently under Jones).

Jones has done his part to take SMU from a 1-2 win team in a bad conference to a mediocre team in a bad conference. But given the increased strength of schedule in the AAC, and the constant realignment moves being made in college football, it is my personal belief that we need a new direction focused on recruiting Texas HS kids to come to SMU and focused on actually going out to sell the program. I think SMU can win some battles here and there with B12 schools, and can dominate the G5 teams in recruiting the Great State of Texas. That takes time, energy, and motivation ? all of which I just do not see from Jones.

He is our Franchione. Now we need to go find our Patterson to take us to the next level.

He responded with:

Ryan,

I try to respond to every civil email I get. That means about half of them. Most folks don't bother stating their case as eloquently as you did. They just want to scream & curse and call me an idiot.

This is the first season in five Jones hasn't won seven games and gone to a bowl. I wouldn't be of the mind to fire him after one sub-par season. Of course I'm the guy who also felt Texas A&M owed Mike Sherman the chance to compete one season in the SEC. Kevin Sumlin did a wonderful job the last two years with all of Sherman's players and none of his own.

We'll see how it plays out on the Hilltop. If SMU wants to start winning 9-10 games again, change the non-conference schedule. Scheduling three Big 12 schools each year constitute three losses each year. Big 12 schools have accounted for six of his losses over the last two seasons. There's a reason a Baylor plays Wofford, Alabama plays UT-Chattanooga and Ohio State plays a Buffalo in Septembers. How do you think Texas Tech got off to that 7-0 start this season? Playing a non-conference schedule of SMU, Stephen F Austin and Texas State -- teams it could beat. You build up your record in the non-conference playing teams you can beat. Right now, SMU is playing teams it can't beat. If SMU could, they'd still be in the Big 12.

Thanks for reading and writing. Rick

Did you mention the 6-29 record against winning teams to Rick?

Thanks Rebel. Perhaps you should reference that to some other posters on here keep referecing Sagarins. When it counts, he has an abysmal record against winning teams, and the numbers bare this out.

[Rebel10]

i mentioned the record in an earlier email. I feel like we both made our points and I just wanted to give him some facts/opinions from a fan and alum who is closer to the program than he is.

kudos to him for writing me back. i don't intend to flood his inbox or anything.

Good to know he at least has the facts that most of June's wins came against team with losing records. All he has to do is look at this year.