June's logic ... SEC or WAC foe?
Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 6:33 pmHere is where you have to side with June Jones ... If, some how, some way, SMU were to win the league, the Mustangs would have to play an SEC team in a virtual road game in Memphis. You want any part of any SEC team right now? Not when even Jones himself admits he's one recruiting class ahead of schedule. SMU does not physically match up vs. any SEC West team and probably not anyone from the SEC East, either, at this point. You'd hate to go to Memphis and play 6-6 Tennessee -- because the game has to sell some tickets -- and get slaughtered.
Last time June Jones took a team to a bowl game and played an SEC school it was not pretty: Sugar Bowl vs. Georgia. It was "name your score" after two possessions.
Whereas, in going to Hawaii, it's familiar ground, a true neutral site and probably some locals rooting for Jones. And, you play a WAC team, which the coach knows just a little something about. There is a much better chance of winning that bowl game that there would be vs. the No. 8 SEC team in Memphis.
When he refers to it being better to go to Hawaii for recruiting at this point, that makes sense. Win your bowl game vs. risk being taken apart physically. It would be different if SMU mowed through C-USA with a 10-2 or 11-1 mark. Remember, as hot as the team is now, this team lost to Washington State and has actually been outscored in conference games.
June can easily couch this politically by playing the "butts in seats" card with C-USA. Send Southern Miss or East Carolina to Memphis to get fed to the SEC wolves. While it would be great to play a bowl game within reasonable travel distance, the object is to get to that game, to get the extra practice time and to WIN on national television.
Surely, this team can play with anyone except Boise State in the WAC. As for the SEC, I want no part of Arkansas, Ole Miss, Auburn, Georgia or Tennessee.
June's logic makes sense; he just can't actually come out and say that. And, of course, none of this matters unless SMU wins three more in a row and, let's be honest, it's been a fun season, but is this team truly good enough to win six in a row? We all saw the last two games and how we were only a play or two better than winless Rice and 3-6 UTEP. I am just glad a bowl game appears on the horizon.
Last time June Jones took a team to a bowl game and played an SEC school it was not pretty: Sugar Bowl vs. Georgia. It was "name your score" after two possessions.
Whereas, in going to Hawaii, it's familiar ground, a true neutral site and probably some locals rooting for Jones. And, you play a WAC team, which the coach knows just a little something about. There is a much better chance of winning that bowl game that there would be vs. the No. 8 SEC team in Memphis.
When he refers to it being better to go to Hawaii for recruiting at this point, that makes sense. Win your bowl game vs. risk being taken apart physically. It would be different if SMU mowed through C-USA with a 10-2 or 11-1 mark. Remember, as hot as the team is now, this team lost to Washington State and has actually been outscored in conference games.
June can easily couch this politically by playing the "butts in seats" card with C-USA. Send Southern Miss or East Carolina to Memphis to get fed to the SEC wolves. While it would be great to play a bowl game within reasonable travel distance, the object is to get to that game, to get the extra practice time and to WIN on national television.
Surely, this team can play with anyone except Boise State in the WAC. As for the SEC, I want no part of Arkansas, Ole Miss, Auburn, Georgia or Tennessee.
June's logic makes sense; he just can't actually come out and say that. And, of course, none of this matters unless SMU wins three more in a row and, let's be honest, it's been a fun season, but is this team truly good enough to win six in a row? We all saw the last two games and how we were only a play or two better than winless Rice and 3-6 UTEP. I am just glad a bowl game appears on the horizon.
