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I was up at the stadium today when the guys were coming in from practice. Everyone was seemed to be upbeat and carrying themselves pretty well. The weight room was packed with players, lifting pretty heavily from what I could tell. Even though the numbers aren’t there in the win column, it says something about what this coaching staff has done for the team. The culture is changing at Ford Stadium and that is a good thing. These kids want to win and they are working very hard every week to do so. Let's keep being the great fans that we are and this team will come around. Go Stangs.

Gotta feel for those seniors as they have endured the "bottom." Course there are not many as we are still the "youngest team in the nation."

BTW in his news conference yesterday June Jones stated the fact that SMU players ARE NOT in the weight room on their free time was the one thing that has been his biggest disappointment/surprise about the culture at SMU and turning this program around. I have a feeling that June Jones sent a message with that comment to Staff and players.

Now let's see if it sticks....

Sounds like he's getting increasingly frustrated. I wonder what the odds are of him pulling the plug on the whole thing if next year goes like this one.

03Mustang wrote:Now let's see if it sticks....

Sounds like he's getting increasingly frustrated. I wonder what the odds are of him pulling the plug on the whole thing if next year goes like this one.

I kind of wonder that too. "Screw this. I'm moving to Kona. JJ out." What a death knell that would be for SMU football. Seriously, JJ is our.....last.....chance, IMO.

The good thing is we should know pretty early on next year if the spring session and summer let the system sink in. Our one win is not going to turn many heads in the high schools, but the potential of the JJ offense and "you can play right away" might get a few here (although I'm sure that is an oft-used phrase when recruiting). JJ's stock is currently down, way down, but we've got to buy low. What else can we do?

RGV Pony wrote:I kind of wonder that too. "Screw this. I'm moving to Kona. JJ out." What a death knell that would be for SMU football. Seriously, JJ is our.....last.....chance, IMO.

Ya know, one of my good friends and a big college football fan, said before this season that this just felt like a cash grab by JJ. I dismissed it at the time but maybe he just saw the money and his heart isn't in it. I am not saying that is the case and maybe things turn around next year but now I am starting to think that maybe he was right. Guess we'll find out next season.

RGV Pony wrote:

03Mustang wrote:Now let's see if it sticks....

Sounds like he's getting increasingly frustrated. I wonder what the odds are of him pulling the plug on the whole thing if next year goes like this one.

I kind of wonder that too. "Screw this. I'm moving to Kona. JJ out." What a death knell that would be for SMU football. Seriously, JJ is our.....last.....chance, IMO.

If this isn't our last chance, it's getting close. I'm really worried about him taking off and deciding this hassle isn't worth it...we just can't seem to get anything right, and the majority of our fans take a passive interest in the game at best. If we don't show some major progress in the next 2 years I think even many of the long term faithful are going to disappear.

Geez-we just got serious about winning. We've waited 20 years to get to this position. Wipe the tears from your eyes, dust off your britches and Pony-up a little.

Stallion wrote:BTW in his news conference yesterday June Jones stated the fact that SMU players ARE NOT in the weight room on their free time was the one thing that has been his biggest disappointment/surprise about the culture at SMU and turning this program around. I have a feeling that June Jones sent a message with that comment to Staff and players.

Wonder if the reason some or not spending free time lifting weights is they are spending that time reading for class.

quote from head coach June Jones

What has Jones learned about SMU football that didn’t know when he took the job?
The “little extraâ€

ReedFrawg wrote:

RGV Pony wrote:I kind of wonder that too. "Screw this. I'm moving to Kona. JJ out." What a death knell that would be for SMU football. Seriously, JJ is our.....last.....chance, IMO.

Ya know, one of my good friends and a big college football fan, said before this season that this just felt like a cash grab by JJ. I dismissed it at the time but maybe he just saw the money and his heart isn't in it. I am not saying that is the case and maybe things turn around next year but now I am starting to think that maybe he was right. Guess we'll find out next season.

I disagree with the proposition that this was a cash grab. From what I have read and can find out from Hawaii sources JJ was simply totally frustrated at his inability to get any support to make critical changes needed for the football program. They started to take him for granted because they knew he loved Hawaii and had told many people it was his dream job and place to be. He even offered to take huge pay cuts to better compensate assistant coaches and the AD and President ignored his attempts to stabilize his coaching staff to no avail. Facilities were in terrible condition, his budget and specifically recruiting budget was a $50,000 joke.....etc. Bottom line is that he left after at least 5 years of futile and frustrating attempts to make the program better and more attractive for all involved. He was not appreciated, his efforts ignored until they learned he was leaving and it was time to leave a bad situation.

[quote="ALEX LIFESON"]quote from head coach June Jones

What has Jones learned about SMU football that didn’t know when he took the job?
The “little extraâ€

Stallion wrote:Geez-we just got serious about winning. We've waited 20 years to get to this position. Wipe the tears from your eyes, dust off your britches and Pony-up a little.

I was thinking the same thing. How funny is it that Stallion has to be the one to shoot a little sunshine out there. Look back at the thread at the beginning of the season when everyone predicted the season record. This is the first friggin year. I was hoping for better but certainly wasn't going to be devastated if we didn't win many. And Reedfrawg. did you see the guy on killerfrogs that stole my avatar????? I couldn't believe it.

JJ's "most frustrating season ever." LOL. Welcome to the Hilltop, June. I bet he really did think he'd win 6 or 7 games this year. This is SMU, friend.