Jones' Hawaii Bowl Jones - cusa-fans.com

[Statler]

The real question is...will JJ have the geldings go to Hawaii and leave Peruna.

[SMU 86]

I guess we don't have to many attendance predictions.

[mr. pony]

The players I've spoken with around campus seem pretty set on Hawaii, and excited about the prospect of playing there. They seemed to like the idea of Christmas in the Aloha State (who wouldnt).

My only concern is that if the players read these comments form June, it may take away some of the desire and urgency to take advantage of this situation and actually win CUSA. Its almost like win or lose, we know where we are going, and there is no reward for winning out, other than bragging rights and a banner.

I guess if the bowl payout does go to a communal pot before distribution, I wouldnt be as upset about playing for 700g vs. 1.7m, but for me, traveling to Memphis is a realistic option, while Hawaii is not.

The plays know nothing is guaranteed until 7 wins. They will play hard vs Marshall to get that 7th win.

Which will bring us to this situation, predicted by moi in mid-October on cusa-fans.com:
And what if on November 28 SMU has seven wins and is playing for the West division championship against Tulane? Sure, the Mustangs play hard to win - and should win. But say, somehow, they spit the bit and lose after having said all year they wanted to go to Hawaii?

What’s the perception? And who needs it?

(And God forbid there’s guava nectar iced down in the post-game locker room.)

[Charleston Pony]

the only real question in all of this is "what would the team vote for?" Especially these seniors who fought so hard for so long and endured those back to back 1-11 seasons...if they want Hawaii, they should get Hawaii.

[Mestengo]

Memphis 783
Hawaii. 229

Non player parent / Staff

[Statler]

Another question no one has answered..

I am sure JJ gets a nice bonus in his contract for winning CUSA...Does he give that up to go to Hawaii?

[smupony94]

Another question no one has answered..

I am sure JJ gets a nice bonus in his contract for winning CUSA...Does he give that up to go to Hawaii?

Doubtful

[jtstang]

You have to love the fact that the [deleted] session of the day in mid-November is what bowl we are most likely to go to. We've come a long way in one year, baby.

[SMU 86]

Well Mr. Pony, still waiting on your attendance predictions.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Well, I usually make most of the road trips, and a couple of years ago we took less than 200 to Memphis, and had around the same number at UAB this year. So mr pony, do you really think we are going to take 19,800 more people to Memphis, to freeze their butts off in January? Like somone else posted, you have had 25 miserable years, to save up to go to Hawaii, if you can't make it, ALOHA!

[mr. pony]

Well Mr. Pony, still waiting on your attendance predictions.

Scroll back. They're up. Bottom of page 2.

[mr. pony]

Well, I usually make most of the road trips, and a couple of years ago we took less than 200 to Memphis, and had around the same number at UAB this year. So mr pony, do you really think we are going to take 19,800 more people to Memphis, to freeze their butts off in January? Like somone else posted, you have had 25 miserable years, to save up to go to Hawaii, if you can't make it, ALOHA!

Just there in June, my brother. Said I might go. Like I said, this ain't about me.

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

You have to love the fact that the [deleted] session of the day in mid-November is what bowl we are most likely to go to. We've come a long way in one year, baby.

LOL

[DiamondM]

I really really would like to go to Hawaii, and would still wait to see what kind of package the Mustang Club can offer, but there is only a 10% chance that I could go with my husband and 2 year old given our current financial situation and other family commitments.

On the other hand, there is a 99.99999% chance the 3 of us would go to Memphis, and at least a 75% chance that I would bring additional family with me.

What bothers me most about this situation is that Jones didn't HAVE to give the fans, the Liberty Bowl, and Conference USA the finger. If he keeps his mouth shut about his secret desire not to go to CUSA's top bowl, then we're all happy as a clam about our taste of success, and there is no bitter aftertaste. For example, he could have said: "At the beginning of the season, we set the goal of becoming bowl eligible and going to Hawaii for Christmas for the Hawaii Bowl. It was an aggressive, but achievable, goal given what we knew about our team before the season started. Through hard work, belief in themselves and each other, this team has achieved that goal. But WE'RE NOT SATISFIED. Now we --- the coaches and the players -- are hungry and want more -- and I know our fans do too. We're still going to take one game at a time, but we have a chance to far exceed our lofty pre-season goals and become Conference USA champs, and we're going to try our darndest to do that. That is our focus right now." Period.

But instead, he got into the business of lobbying for a lesser bowl (even if he and other coaches believe that it is superior and has clearly convinced the players that the Hawaii Bowl is better, it is the lesser bowl). So now instead of all smiling, focusing on the great achievement and the amazing possibility of hosting a conference championship game, we have this unnecessary, divisive, and unsettling PR nonsense swirling about. And if we do lose one of the next 2 games, instead of us all feeling good about our "fall back" safety bowl option, there will be a little voice questioning whether the team was really motivated to win out or was satisfied to just muddle through knowing that they already got what their coach wanted. There was NO reason for this to be the case.

So maybe it is true that Jones' desire to go to Hawaii is purely out of selfless love for his players. Maybe Jones doesn't care more about Hawaii fans getting to see the return of the king than he does about the long-suffering SMU fans who have stuck it out lo these 25 years getting to support their team in person. But, unfortunately, he has again stirred a pot that didn't need to be stirred -- at least not yet. Why create these questions when you didn't have to? We'll likely never know.

[SMU 86]

Stallion, RGV, or really anybody.....fill in the blanks below.

This is not a set-up gotcha later question....I really would like to know what
people predict we would travel if we get to play in one of these two bowls.

SMU would travel roughly about _________ fans to Memphis in January.

SMU would travel roughly about _________ fans to Hawaii in December.

I am curious as to what Mr. Pony would predict on each of those.

1,500 Hawaii
20,000 Memphis, give or take
Add Auburn or the Hogs bringing 35-40 and you've got a nice little get together.

I don't see Aloha Bowl breaking 45,000.

Do you really believe we can get 20,000 SMU fans to go to Memphis?