PonyFans.com

“If we could win this one we get to go to a bowl game and the bowl game is against June Jones and SMU,” said UH Athletic Director Jim Donovan. “You got to give credit to coach McMackin, his staff and the players to put themselves in this situation so on Saturday night we can play for all the marbles.”

“That would be a dream match-up,” said Sheraton Hawaii Bowl Executive Director David Matlin of the possible UH-SMU match-up. “Most people thought we couldn't top Hawaii-Notre Dame (last year) but I think this does.”

While the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl has never sold out in its seven year history, Jones’ return to Aloha Stadium on Christmas Eve adds a certain level of intrigue and excitement to the game.

“I think selling out will be a challenge on Christmas Eve - it always is,” said Matlin, “but I think we'll have a very solid crowd. I think June makes the event very relevant (and) very interesting to the local market as well as national.”

Matlin says a generation later SMU is pulling out all the stops for the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. He says the school is considering bringing its band members as well as two of its mascots to help fans celebrate.

“I think they’re planning on bringing in some mustangs possibly if we can get that arranged. We're working through quarantine and all that to see if it's logistically feasible.”

And just how bad did Jones want to play in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl? Both Matlin and Donovan say the former UH head coach purchased his plane ticket back in August before the college football season even began.