Wow...Johnson takes a bunch of GT

[GoRedGoBlue]

Our O talent was more suited for the PJ offense, lots of tweener RB/WRs and a QB that could run a little.

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

"yeah PJ!"
"Yeah PJ!"

and if PJ was here at Smu it would be:

"why didn't we hire June Jones who got his team to the Sugar Bowl?"
"why didn't we hire June Jones who got his team to the Sugar Bowl?"

more at GreenerPasture.com......

[jimhagle]

No one will ever know what PJ would have accomplished in his first year here but he took a putrid Navy team and beat Bennett's butt his first game because he can coach. Just look at his track record.

[KnuckleStang]

I am a of course still a JJ guy, but I have never understood the argument that an offensive system that worked with service academy athletes will somehow not work with BCS athletes. Don't forget, according to certain folks on the board, service academies, with their mandatory military time after graduation in a time of war, daily 5 am formations, etc., have a distinct recruiting advantage over schools like SMU.

[ALEX LIFESON]

I am a June Jones guy 100%

[Charleston Pony]

I feel good about our having Jones at the helm of our football program and let's face it...if the initial plan was to try and hire Johnson...we never had a chance. GT brought Johnson back "closer to home" and allows him to do his thing on a bigger stage.

I really have no doubt that Johnson would have gotten more out of the current roster than Jones has. I believe that because he plays a ball control (clock control) offense that guys like Justin Willis, DeMyron Martin, Chris Butler and Emanuel Sanders would have done well in. I believe our O-line would have performed reasonably well in Johnson's offense. With a defense that has very little depth, Johnson's approach (with them hopefully spending less time on the field) would have allowed a more respectable showing. Who knows...he may have pulled out 4-5 wins this year.

Having said all that...I still love the fact Orsini was able to land Jones and although this 1st year has been a struggle...he has credibility and appears to be making inroads in recruiting that I'm not sure happens otherwise. Just look at the 11th hour decision of guys like Taylor Thompson...one of the few guys I can rememer in recent years who has come in physically ready to compete on the DL as a true FR. He looks to me like a guy who could develop into a legitimate NFL caliber player. He had plenty of BCS school options...and my guess is that he exercises one of those options if Jones isn't here. Jones' pedigree (of having been an NFL head coach & having taken a non-BCS program to a BCS game) brings SMU the kind of credibility we desperately need in the recruiting wars. If the current commitment list holds...it's a start...and I believe Jones will land bigger and better classes as he moves forward in this 5 year deal.

Let's just hope that towards the end of those 5 years, he (and the circle of champions) are having so much fun that he decides to stick around for a while longer.

[FordtoTolbert]

Not advocating Johnson over Jones..I am a Jones guy. Point is, first year turn arounds are possible, even with talent not perfectly suited for your system...Long Live JJ!

[GoRedGoBlue]

"yeah PJ!"
"Yeah PJ!"

and if PJ was here at Smu it would be:

"why didn't we hire June Jones who got his team to the Sugar Bowl?"
"why didn't we hire June Jones who got his team to the Sugar Bowl?"

more at GreenerPasture.com......

I didnt say I was upset at JJ hire, I do think that we would have more immediate success though.