Today's Honolulu Advertiser

[50's PONY]

Jones' deal expiring; no UH offer yet


By Stephen Tsai
HawaiiWarriorBeat.com Editor



With the season over, June Jones says he will "disappear" for a week to ponder his future.


EUGENE TANNER | The Honolulu Advertiser




Not only did last night's Sugar Bowl mark the end of the Hawai'i football team's season, it completed the contracted seasons for head coach June Jones.

Jones' five-year contract officially expires June 30. But the "seasons have expired," said his agent, Leigh Steinberg.

Jones has empowered Steinberg to listen to offers. Jones reportedly has received strong interest — if not offers — from a college and National Football League team.

"I'm not going to comment on the specifics," Steinberg said. "June asked me to listen to people who might call and ask about his services. The process has been occurring."

Jones has said he will "disappear" for a week to contemplate his future. The team returns to Honolulu this afternoon, and Jones said he will spend time in Kona.

"I'm going to take a little time off and step away from it," Jones said. "Leigh and I will spend some time the next six or seven days and reflect on a lot of stuff."

Jones would not comment on the reported offers.

"I haven't had a chance to talk to Leigh about it," Jones said. "I've just been focusing on football."

Steinberg said: "Now that the season is over, I think we'll have a chance to sit down and evaluate his future."

With the dead period for recruiting set to end next week, Steinberg said, "I think the time frame will be a reasonably rapid one."

Steinberg confirmed that UH athletic director Herman Frazier has not negotiated a new contract for Jones.

"We have not had one conversation (on a new contract)," Steinberg said. "Nothing of substance. They haven't made a proposal."

Quarterback Colt Brennan, who completed his UH eligibility with last night's game, said he understands the frustrations of a limited budget, but he hopes Jones will return for a 10th season.

"I hope he stays," Brennan said. "He's a good fit for Hawai'i. I think he understands the culture and the people, and how to have success in Hawai'i. I really hope he stays."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser

[ponyboy]

1. Jones reportedly has received strong interest — if not offers — from a college and National Football League team.

2. With the dead period for recruiting set to end next week, Steinberg said, "I think the time frame will be a reasonably rapid one."

These two statements from the article sure seem to point to SMU right now. It says "a college" but then opens the possibility of NFL interest. But for his agent to come back with the second statement...

[PonySnob]

With the way his team looked totally unprepared last night.....Orsinini should be able to knock several hundred thousand dollars off whatever he was going to offer him.............not impressed at all with JJ and the way that he comes across.

[Top 25]

Perhaps the more prudent++++++ course would be to examine the entire body of work.

[mr. pony]

..........not impressed at all with JJ and the way that he comes across.

I thought he came across as no-nonsense and calm in an interview last night before the game.

What's wrong with that? The guy took a program from 0-12 to a BCS Sugar Bowl game.

[Top 25]

Oops. Sorry for the typo, but the thought is the same...let's not overreact to one game against a vastly superior opponent.

The guy is the classic turnaround specialist, and would resurrect our football program.

[Stallion]

Well isn't that great-he's going to take a week to ponder his future. I'll bump the Recruiting Calendar immediately. SMU is being played people.

[jimhagle]

I doubt it will take him a week to make his decision but any delays obviously aren't good . Are we getting played-I'm not sure about that. These are hard choices for anyone to make. They take some time and time is something we no longer have on our side.

[EastStang]

He's meeting with Leigh Steinberg and Leigh is letting any suitors know that they have until next Monday to finish the bidding. Steinberg is not going to let any loose change hit the floor. The NFL jobs right now appear to be Baltimore, Atlanta, Miami and San Francisco with San Diego waiting to see if Norv can win a playoff game. (Although SF and Miami have not pulled the trigger yet). There is some jabber that Marvin Lewis might be out at Cincy, but that does not appear too credible. On the college level its SMU and West Virginia. All the other Division 1-A jobs have been filled. I don't see him going back to Atlanta or San Diego. That leaves Miami, SF, and Baltimore in reality. Parcells still has to hire a GM before he fires the coach. I don't see Miami meeting Jones timeframe. He also has a losing NFL record which will make him a hard sell to NFL GM's. My guess is that it is all up to Hawaii.

[papawasamustang]

I appreciate SO exploring the JJ situation.

However, I too feel we are being played.

Having said that, since my personal favorite Gary Barnett appears to be totally out of the picture I believe SO needs to go ahead & hire Fran. TODAY !!

[StallionsModelT]

Good grief if this guy is playing with us ala Paul Johnson I am officially on the hire Fran bandwagon. God how I hope that he's serious.

[friarwolf]

Good grief if this guy is playing with us ala Paul Johnson I am officially on the hire Fran bandwagon. God how I hope that he's serious.

He's not. He wants an NFL job and I doubt he will get one of those in the next week. So, he's going to slow play us hoping he gets an NFL gig. If Orsini can't close the deal with him in the next 48 hours, he needs to go sign Fran. Asap.

[StallionsModelT]

That's what I am afraid of too friarwolf. I want to believe this so badly it hurts. June Jones is probably the only real candidate that would justify this disgustingly long coaching search. If Orsini finds a way to get him, then he validates the length of the search and puts a huge feather in his cap. If he gets the brush off again like he did with Paul Johnson, then Orsini should be ashamed for being tricked into being a bargaining chip for Hawaii or another team. Either way, Orsini is high stakes gambling.

[SMU Football Blog]

He's meeting with Leigh Steinberg and Leigh is letting any suitors know that they have until next Monday to finish the bidding. Steinberg is not going to let any loose change hit the floor. The NFL jobs right now appear to be Baltimore, Atlanta, Miami and San Francisco with San Diego waiting to see if Norv can win a playoff game. (Although SF and Miami have not pulled the trigger yet). There is some jabber that Marvin Lewis might be out at Cincy, but that does not appear too credible. On the college level its SMU and West Virginia. All the other Division 1-A jobs have been filled. I don't see him going back to Atlanta or San Diego. That leaves Miami, SF, and Baltimore in reality. Parcells still has to hire a GM before he fires the coach. I don't see Miami meeting Jones timeframe. He also has a losing NFL record which will make him a hard sell to NFL GM's. My guess is that it is all up to Hawaii.

Nolan expects to be back at San Fran.

I can't imagine Parcells hiring June Jones. That leaves Baltimore, Atlanta and possibly San Diego. Atlanta most likely suitor.

[Water Pony]

That's what I am afraid of too friarwolf. I want to believe this so badly it hurts. June Jones is probably the only real candidate that would justify this disgustingly long coaching search. If Orsini finds a way to get him, then he validates the length of the search and puts a huge feather in his cap. If he gets the brush off again like he did with Paul Johnson, then Orsini should be ashamed for being tricked into being a bargaining chip for Hawaii or another team. Either way, Orsini is high stakes gambling.

I disagree. SO has played his hand pretty well so far. Setting his sites on Johnson and Jones has made sense. Without a BCS moniker, SMU needed to send a loud message ($10M coaching staff budget) that we were going to play our best cards:
- Funds
- Tradition
- Cindrella Story Opporunity
- Dallas Market
- etc.

Not sure he could have played it better, given our recent history. We didn't have a real shot at the truly big candidates, but Johnson and Jones along with the Fran, Coker, Barnett, Neuheisel, Turner, etc. possibilites is our playing field.

The final choice will want us, our market, our conference and this opportunity to write a great story.