DMN: SMU is lucky to have June Jones - he's going to win
Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 9:20 pmhttp://www.dallasnews.com/sports/column ... to-win.ece
UNIVERSITY PARK — SMU is lucky to have June Jones.
I say that with full knowledge that SMU’s streak of four consecutive bowl bids could come to an end Saturday. The Mustangs are 5-6 and need a victory in their finale against Central Florida to become bowl eligible.
That would constitute a colossal upset by SMU. Central Florida is 10-1 and 16th in the BCS rankings — and the Mustangs probably would have to pull the upset with a backup quarterback. Garrett Gilbert remains iffy at best with a sprained knee.
But back to Jones. He revealed this week that he has a contract extension in hand and is likely to re-up with the Mustangs at some point this off-season. Wise move by athletic director Rick Hart.
In his six years on the job, Jones has posted a 36-40 record with three bowl wins. That’s not worthy of an extension — until you study the history of the program. At least the history of the program since the death penalty.
Forrest Gregg, Tom Rossley, Mike Cavan and Phil Bennett all coached the Mustangs. None could win. Few could compete. There were no bowl bids during that 19-year stretch and only one winning season — a 6-5 mark by Cavan in 1997. In seven of those seasons, the Mustangs mustered one win or fewer.
Even Jones suffered a 1-11 season in his SMU debut in 2008. But once he got his offensive system up and running with players he was able to recruit, SMU started winning.
Keep in mind that in the academic stratosphere SMU fancies itself, it’s been tough for Jones to get kids into school. Once in, it’s tough to keep them in school. And when Jones loses a player, he can’t plug in a walk-on. Not when walk-ons must pay almost $60,000 annually to attend SMU. Chasing a dream isn’t supposed to be that expensive.
“What we’ve done here so far has been quite miraculous with the hand we’ve been dealt,†Jones said. “The school is 180 degrees internally from where we were when I came here. Dr. (Gerald) Turner and the admissions people have made changes, but we’re still not where we need to be to really get over the hump. But I think those are coming. I’ve been told they’re coming. Hopefully they will.â€
What SMU has done thus far under Jones is stay afloat. Central Florida becomes the 10th ranked team that SMU has played in the Jones tenure. The Mustangs are 1-8 in those games.
Subtract the 1-11 in his first season and the 1-8 against ranked teams, and the Mustangs would be 34-22 under Jones. Now that would be worthy of a contract extension.
“Could we have won more here since I’ve been here?†Jones said. “There are maybe a couple games we could have won with a play here or there. But really, we’ve won the games we’re supposed to win. If you look at the athleticism and talent of everyone we’ve played, we’ve won the games when we had equal talent.â€
Despite the six losses this season, the Mustangs might not be that far away from turning the corner as a program. And they can thank Gilbert.
There wasn’t a better prep quarterback in the land than Gilbert in 2008. Gatorade and Parade named him their national player of the year, and USA Today tabbed him as its offensive player of the year. Gilbert is from Austin and elected to stay home and play for the University of Texas.
But after spending three years at Texas and earning a degree, he fell out of favor there and transferred to SMU. Gilbert arrived in August 2012 and, with no prep work with the offense, passed for 2,932 yards and 15 touchdowns.
But given an off-season to work with his teammates, Gilbert turned in a masterful season in 2013. He ranks second in the NCAA in total offense and ninth in passing yards despite sitting the last six quarters with his injury.
Jones has been able to throw the ball and win games at SMU with the likes of Bo Levi Mitchell, Kyle Padron and J.J. McDermott at quarterback. When Jones finally landed a passer who could rival his Hawaii record-setters Colt Brennan and Timmy Chang, Jones was able to take his SMU offense to a new level.
The Mustangs averaged almost 42 points per game with Gilbert, who has played himself back into the NFL draft.
“Getting Garrett was a plus all the way around because he’s from Texas, and kids see the success he’s had with us since coming here,†Jones said.
“We’re getting a lot of looks from all around the country of kids who want to come home — kids who went to a top program elsewhere but now want to come back. They call us first.
“Also, just the fact that the Texas high school kids see a big-time name doing well at our school … it’s all been positive.â€
There is no more fertile territory for quarterbacks than Texas. Jones and his offense should be able to attract more quarterbacks, better quarterbacks now. That gives SMU a chance to make a long-awaited breakthrough back into the big-time.
That’s why you extend June Jones. He’s going to win. He could win big.
Follow Rick Gosselin on Twitter at @RickGosselinDMN
UNIVERSITY PARK — SMU is lucky to have June Jones.
I say that with full knowledge that SMU’s streak of four consecutive bowl bids could come to an end Saturday. The Mustangs are 5-6 and need a victory in their finale against Central Florida to become bowl eligible.
That would constitute a colossal upset by SMU. Central Florida is 10-1 and 16th in the BCS rankings — and the Mustangs probably would have to pull the upset with a backup quarterback. Garrett Gilbert remains iffy at best with a sprained knee.
But back to Jones. He revealed this week that he has a contract extension in hand and is likely to re-up with the Mustangs at some point this off-season. Wise move by athletic director Rick Hart.
In his six years on the job, Jones has posted a 36-40 record with three bowl wins. That’s not worthy of an extension — until you study the history of the program. At least the history of the program since the death penalty.
Forrest Gregg, Tom Rossley, Mike Cavan and Phil Bennett all coached the Mustangs. None could win. Few could compete. There were no bowl bids during that 19-year stretch and only one winning season — a 6-5 mark by Cavan in 1997. In seven of those seasons, the Mustangs mustered one win or fewer.
Even Jones suffered a 1-11 season in his SMU debut in 2008. But once he got his offensive system up and running with players he was able to recruit, SMU started winning.
Keep in mind that in the academic stratosphere SMU fancies itself, it’s been tough for Jones to get kids into school. Once in, it’s tough to keep them in school. And when Jones loses a player, he can’t plug in a walk-on. Not when walk-ons must pay almost $60,000 annually to attend SMU. Chasing a dream isn’t supposed to be that expensive.
“What we’ve done here so far has been quite miraculous with the hand we’ve been dealt,†Jones said. “The school is 180 degrees internally from where we were when I came here. Dr. (Gerald) Turner and the admissions people have made changes, but we’re still not where we need to be to really get over the hump. But I think those are coming. I’ve been told they’re coming. Hopefully they will.â€
What SMU has done thus far under Jones is stay afloat. Central Florida becomes the 10th ranked team that SMU has played in the Jones tenure. The Mustangs are 1-8 in those games.
Subtract the 1-11 in his first season and the 1-8 against ranked teams, and the Mustangs would be 34-22 under Jones. Now that would be worthy of a contract extension.
“Could we have won more here since I’ve been here?†Jones said. “There are maybe a couple games we could have won with a play here or there. But really, we’ve won the games we’re supposed to win. If you look at the athleticism and talent of everyone we’ve played, we’ve won the games when we had equal talent.â€
Despite the six losses this season, the Mustangs might not be that far away from turning the corner as a program. And they can thank Gilbert.
There wasn’t a better prep quarterback in the land than Gilbert in 2008. Gatorade and Parade named him their national player of the year, and USA Today tabbed him as its offensive player of the year. Gilbert is from Austin and elected to stay home and play for the University of Texas.
But after spending three years at Texas and earning a degree, he fell out of favor there and transferred to SMU. Gilbert arrived in August 2012 and, with no prep work with the offense, passed for 2,932 yards and 15 touchdowns.
But given an off-season to work with his teammates, Gilbert turned in a masterful season in 2013. He ranks second in the NCAA in total offense and ninth in passing yards despite sitting the last six quarters with his injury.
Jones has been able to throw the ball and win games at SMU with the likes of Bo Levi Mitchell, Kyle Padron and J.J. McDermott at quarterback. When Jones finally landed a passer who could rival his Hawaii record-setters Colt Brennan and Timmy Chang, Jones was able to take his SMU offense to a new level.
The Mustangs averaged almost 42 points per game with Gilbert, who has played himself back into the NFL draft.
“Getting Garrett was a plus all the way around because he’s from Texas, and kids see the success he’s had with us since coming here,†Jones said.
“We’re getting a lot of looks from all around the country of kids who want to come home — kids who went to a top program elsewhere but now want to come back. They call us first.
“Also, just the fact that the Texas high school kids see a big-time name doing well at our school … it’s all been positive.â€
There is no more fertile territory for quarterbacks than Texas. Jones and his offense should be able to attract more quarterbacks, better quarterbacks now. That gives SMU a chance to make a long-awaited breakthrough back into the big-time.
That’s why you extend June Jones. He’s going to win. He could win big.
Follow Rick Gosselin on Twitter at @RickGosselinDMN
