JJ chose the SMU job a month before the Sugar Bowl?

[Garret]

Jones-to-Southern Methodist was in the works even before the Sugar Bowl. Nearly a month earlier, Jones had called Eric Dickerson – a former SMU great and a close friend – to inquire about the job.

“The job had been open since October, and this was Dec. 8,” Jones said. “I told Eric, ‘If that job is offered to me, I’ll take it. But if my name is mentioned in the media at any time before the Sugar Bowl, I’m not going to take it. I can’t do that to my players. They’ve waited forever for this opportunity. I don’t want to ruin that for those kids.’

“I’ll be damned, how in the heck could (SMU officials) keep it quiet for that long? But they did, and that told me these guys have some character. They got ridiculed by the media for waiting so long to hire a coach, but they stood firm.”

http://portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=128348266539521400

[that's great raplh]

Wow!!!

[mrydel]

Curious. Was the Paul Johnson visit before or after December 8th? (Of course the immediate answer is yes, but I am wondering if the visit was a ruse.)

[Get_Some_Ponies]

Yes but what about the PROMISES about admissions !!!!!!!

I think Orsini and Jones most likely have a pretty good understanding on the things this board freaks out about: contracts, geldings, admissions, indoor practice stadiums...

[davidpaul123]

you gotta love June's optimism and vision...

“The stadium is perfect for now,” Jones said. “They’d lost for so many years, there was a reason nobody came. We have approval (to expand) to 65,000 at some point in the future. I’d like to do that.

He's always looking for bigger and better things. The future is bright.

[smu diamond m]

This certainly puts all that ridiculous banter of the time in to perspective

[Get_Some_Ponies]

Curious. Was the Paul Johnson visit before or after December 8th? (Of course the immediate answer is yes, but I am wondering if the visit was a ruse.)

Or a little leverage in negotiations. Who knows what JJ thought he could get. The Circle of Champions fund was put in when, last fall? You think Orsini gets the call from Dickerson, and goes to the boosters saying something like "this is an option but we need money", and Jones slow plYs it for a couple months to hike the price?

[Mestengo]

Good read. Am I the only one that get's to the part you've read before a million times and you just go to auto fast forward?

[ponyscott]

We have approval for 65,000 seats?......dream time..good artilce.

[Harry0569]

We have approval for 65,000 seats?......dream time..good artilce.

Approval for 65 yes, but based on what inside sources have said is that the biggest they'll make it in the coming years in 42-43k. They would complete the bowl, and have the stadium as close to mockingbird as is legally possible.

[SMU21TCU10]

Other than when Tech and TCU bring 20 k fans to our stadium, will we ever bring more than 20 ourselves ? WHy expand? Then the stadium will look even more empty...

[RGV Pony]

remember JJ also said the we'll play in front of 80000 at Tech. My guess is 65=45 in JJspeak

[Blvd_Stang]

That was a great article. Really good.

[Harry0569]

Other than when Tech and TCU bring 20 k fans to our stadium, will we ever bring more than 20 ourselves ? WHy expand? Then the stadium will look even more empty...

They (Athletic Dept.) would not think of expanding until we were continually selling out/getting close.

[Water Pony]

Terrific article, which speaks volumes about values and leadership. Young men will kill themselves for him and each other.

It looks like we have a good five year window to be a predictable and consistent winner. After that we will be a great destination for whoever wants the job, if JJ decides to retire.

As for stadium expansion, 45k sounds right by enclosing the south end without a huge expense. If we go beyond that (unlikely), then we will have to consider an upper deck on east side. A nice problem to have, but filling 32K consistenty is key, but doable.