My take on the Hawaii Bowl controversy here

[ponyinNC]

1) June broke down the season so the kids could play looser and have fun. The team has achieved the 1st goal. Maybe he is trying to keep them loose instead of making them feel we HAVE to win 3 more games in a row. Not our team style yet.

2) Maybe he is trying to assure that if we lose the next 2 games and are 6-6, the Hawaii bowl still takes us, instead of screaming about liberty and turning our back on the Hawaii bowl at the first chance.

3) At the end of the day, just like the rest of College Football, it's about the money. While the extra pub would be nice, go where you get the most money. Garrett says it will be close to even due to the bowl pool split , but this is where June's bosses come into play.

4) Any long time fan should know we are having this conversation way to early. Marshall on the road will be tough, and Tulane.....no game is a cake walk for us. A winless Rice (who took us to the wire) barely beat them. Then we prolly will have to play and beat ECU for the 2nd time this season, odds are probably not in our favor and our D is getting more nicked up each week. No more bowl talk, Marshall first.

agree

[San Antonio Mustang]

First of all I agree with those who say the OP has very sound information. Thanks.

Not very many SMU fans will travel to Memphis. In fact since Texas will be playing on Dec. 5th in Dallas in a game with National Championship implications we will not even fill Ford for the C-USA Championship game. At least in Hawaii we will have the local fans on our side. And we might actually get more students.

Of course, for me, any bowl will be great and the Conference Championship will be fantastic. If where the Conference Champion plays is negotiable then I see nothing wrong with us, as Champions, going to Hawaii.

I do think that the ones with the least say in bowl destination should have the least say-- the fans. We fans did not win 6 games this year -- the one's who should have the most say are the players and coaches. They earned the right to choose.

[Mestengo]

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[jtstang]

For us, at this time, any bowl is a good bowl. Congratulations to the team for making the 6 win goal with two remaining games.

Don't misunderstand me, I am in complete agreement here. I have even told folks beggers can't be choosers. All I am saying is that if you have the option of going to the game that is the Champion's game, that is where you should go, no question. But that is far from a lock and the Mustangs still have work to do....

[George S. Patton]

First of all I agree with those who say the OP has very sound information. Thanks.

Not very many SMU fans will travel to Memphis. In fact since Texas will be playing on Dec. 5th in Dallas in a game with National Championship implications we will not even fill Ford for the C-USA Championship game. At least in Hawaii we will have the local fans on our side. And we might actually get more students.

Of course, for me, any bowl will be great and the Conference Championship will be fantastic. If where the Conference Champion plays is negotiable then I see nothing wrong with us, as Champions, going to Hawaii.

I do think that the ones with the least say in bowl destination should have the least say-- the fans. We fans did not win 6 games this year -- the one's who should have the most say are the players and coaches. They earned the right to choose.

Help me understand. The Liberty Bowl is January 2. Why would SMU fans not travel? Did you look at the schedule correctly? If we went to Memphis you would get more SMU fans coming to that game than you would in Hawaii.

I'm sure the Mustang Club is in talks about a package to make it reasonable for our fans to travel to Hawaii to watch a bowl and the basketball team in the tournament. But I still don't think you're going to get the draw there as you would in Memphis -- should we be playing as CUSA champions.

As for hosting the CUSA championship game at Ford, the Texas game at Cowboys Stadium doesn't have anything to with us. We'll do what we can to fill Ford, but I'd like to have that opportunity to even play the game there. Do you know how huge that would be?

Plus, that CUSA title game would start around 11 am and the Big 12 game would be at 7 so there is no time conflict.

[ponyinNC]

what's the estimate on any proposed Mustang Club package for Hawaii for 2 people?? $1500? $2500?

[Stallion]

You can get 4 nite packages on the internet for airfare, 4 star accommodations(ex Sheraton Waikiki or Hilton Hawain Village type) and rental car for in the $1800-1900 range for a single and $2800 or so for 2. Less for cheaper accommodations as the cited examples are prime Waikiki Beach resort locations-more for certain 5 star Resorts. You could probably economize with no rental car etc and cheaper hotel in the $1,100-1,200 range

[ponyinNC]

thanks

[Garret]

I agree that SMU should do everything they can to win the conference and I believe that is what the coaches and players are doing. However, I do *not* think that just setting a conference championship as the goal before the season would have been an effective way to get buy-in from the players--breaking the season down into segments and making everything realistically possible in the minds of the players was the best way to get everyone on the same page.

Now that the culture has changed, I'm guessing that every year the goal will be to win the conference instead of just making it to a bowl game...unless the team gets to a point like in 2007 when Hawaii set its goal as an undefeated season and a BCS bowl spot. If JJ hadn't let the coaches and players know *before* the Sugar Bowl that he would be leaving Hawaii, maybe the team would have played differently. Knowing that the head coach and many assistants would leave because the AD was horrible probably was not a motivational force for the players...but I'm sure that SMU fans enjoyed hearing all about it during the build-up to the Sugar Bowl.

Now that the bowl goal has been achieved this season, I think that expectations *have* been raised by the coaches, players, and fans. However, instead of talking about the conference title game right now, I think that the most effective thing that the coaches and players can do is to prepare for this week's tough final road game test.

It wasn't that long ago when SMU lost almost every conference road game, especially against teams that could become bowl-eligible with a win. Looking past this game would be a sure way to lose the chance to win the conference.

[Garret]

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20091116_sjsu_next_on_uh_hit_list.html

The news out of Hawaii seems to indicate that SMU will go to the Liberty Bowl if they win the conference. They seem to be getting their information from the Executive Director of the Hawaii Bowl...who is an interested party to this situation.

The Hawaii Bowl has the second pick or a "preferred selection" from Conference USA, and bringing former UH head coach June Jones back to the islands would add some sizzle to the game. But a catch remains.

SMU's win coupled with Houston's loss pushed the Mustangs into first place in the West division. If SMU (6-4, 5-1) wins out, the Mustangs would play in the league title game. The Conference USA champion is contracted to go to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

[smuuth]

You guys are making this way too complicated. Of course Hawaii is a great travel destination! However, if I am a player, fan or coach do I want to go to the Hawaii Bowl just because June Jones has connections there OR DO I WANT TO BE A CHAMPION AND GO TO THE LIBERTY BOWL, A BOWL I EARNED BECAUSE OF OUR PLAY ON THE FIELD! Maybe we haven't gone to a bowl or won for the last 25 years because so many people have forgot what you compete for, Championships! Let's raise our expectations to greatness instead of mediocrity! It's not about beaches and good restaurants. Do you think UT is having any discussions about preferring to go to any bowl besides the National Championship Bowl game? You gotta believe. We could be undefeated with a few breaks, refs and coaches playcalling at the end of a few games. If TCU, Cinn and Boise State.....why not SMU!

[Stallion]

The vote would be 99-1 in favor of Hawaii. If SMU players didn't want to go to the Cotton Bowl over the Hawaii Bowl in 1984 then they damn sure wouldn't care about the Liberty Bowl today. Some of these kids may never have an opportunity to go to Hawaii in their life.

[San Antonio Mustang]

First of all I agree with those who say the OP has very sound information. Thanks.

Not very many SMU fans will travel to Memphis. In fact since Texas will be playing on Dec. 5th in Dallas in a game with National Championship implications we will not even fill Ford for the C-USA Championship game. At least in Hawaii we will have the local fans on our side. And we might actually get more students.

Of course, for me, any bowl will be great and the Conference Championship will be fantastic. If where the Conference Champion plays is negotiable then I see nothing wrong with us, as Champions, going to Hawaii.

I do think that the ones with the least say in bowl destination should have the least say-- the fans. We fans did not win 6 games this year -- the one's who should have the most say are the players and coaches. They earned the right to choose.

Help me understand. The Liberty Bowl is January 2. Why would SMU fans not travel? Did you look at the schedule correctly? If we went to Memphis you would get more SMU fans coming to that game than you would in Hawaii.

I'm sure the Mustang Club is in talks about a package to make it reasonable for our fans to travel to Hawaii to watch a bowl and the basketball team in the tournament. But I still don't think you're going to get the draw there as you would in Memphis -- should we be playing as CUSA champions.

As for hosting the CUSA championship game at Ford, the Texas game at Cowboys Stadium doesn't have anything to with us. We'll do what we can to fill Ford, but I'd like to have that opportunity to even play the game there. Do you know how huge that would be?

Plus, that CUSA title game would start around 11 am and the Big 12 game would be at 7 so there is no time conflict.

I hope your right that the Big 12 championship game would not affect our attendance. But I believe that it will keep us from a sell out. My guess is we would have about 15 to 17 K SMU fans, a couple of thousand Dallas college football fans and about 5 to 7 K from the other team. The media will have to split their attention and so you can guess who will get the short stick. Now I am not complaining and desperately hope I will get to see the Championship game in our stadium, but simply believe the reality is the coincidence will hurt our attendance and local media attention.

Of course more of us will go to Memphis than Hawaii. The point I am making is that far more of the opponents fans will be going to Memphis. Do you really think that Arkansas or Old Miss want have more fans attend in Memphis. Both schools regular attendance is far greater than ours and they are closer to Memphis. However, in Hawaii we will be the favorite of the locals. The only point I am making here is that in Memphis you will not be able to hear the SMU fans and in Hawaii you will not be able to hear the opponents fans.

Reading Coach Jones statement in todays DMN leads me to conclude that his position is: I told the team before the season -- win 6 probably Hawaii -- win 7 and definitely Hawaii. If we win the Championship he will seek to keep his word and try to get Hawaii. If the Conference turns him down then we go to Memphis and he can say "I did what I could to keep my word."

Those of you who thinks Jones wants to go to Hawaii for selfish reasons do not know the man. He is looking ahead to recruiting in 2011 & 2012. Hawaii is good. A Championship and Memphis is better. A Championship and Hawaii is best.

[Balatro Diabolus Ex]

The vote would be 99-1 in favor of Hawaii. If SMU players didn't want to go to the Cotton Bowl over the Hawaii Bowl in 1984 then they damn sure wouldn't care about the Liberty Bowl today. Some of these kids may never have an opportunity to go to Hawaii in their life.

In 84 it didnt come down to a vote, Houston held 2 tiebreakers. They beat us head-to-head, and it had been longer since they had played in the Cotton Bowl (which was an actual tiebreaker back then) than us. So, that meant they got the conference champions automatic bid to the Cotton Bowl, and we were at loose ends. Our only options were Hawaii, or Shreveport.

[Balatro Diabolus Ex]

7. The biggest argument to me for the Liberty Bowl is that the SMU fans will be able to attend.

What about the fact that the C-USA Champion gets the automatic bid and is the host team at the Liberty Bowl, does that not make it into the analysis?

If our goal is make it to the Hawaii Bowl, and your information is correct, then we've already met that goal. If we were to somehow win out and do not intend to represent the conference at its bowl game I think we should consider whether to sit out the conference championship game and let a team play who wants it.

JT, while the Liberty Bowl has the first choice among C-USA teams and typically takes the C-USA champion, it is not obligated to take the C-USA champion.

Yes, they are.