June speaks on SMU/Hawaii in Hawaii Bowl

[mrydel]

Jones said in his interview that an SMU/Hawaii match up would be a sellout and good for the State of Hawaii. I did not get the impression he was dead set on the Hawaii Bowl but rather dead set on a SMU/Hawaii match up in the Hawaii Bowl. Of course he would most likely want to go there regardless but I think the push to get the bid would be less if Hawaii were not included.

[OR-See-Nee]

In a perfect world, I'd rather us go to the Liberty Bowl as the conference representative, or to a BCS bowl because we were a top 5 team (or whatever it takes for a non-AQ school).

However, if this team needs the Hawai'i Bowl as motivation to gel, put distractions behind them, and motivate them for the last three regular season games, then I'm okay with that.

At this time, in my humble opinion, we need wins and bowl victories: the cure for many of the issues discussed on this board (marketing and attendance in particular).

We'll always have exciting debates about the geldings, black jerseys, and burger wars.

[redpony]

I would personally prefer one of the other bowl games. When we played in Hawaii I checked on prices and the airfare alone for me was over $3k. However, from a recruiting standpoint the Hawaii bowl might be best. I am sure recruits would love to imagine themselves on the beach in Hawaii etc. etc. Now, the most important thing is to win some more games and get a bowl invite.

GO PONIES!!!

[cutter]

However, from a recruiting standpoint the Hawaii bowl might be best. I am sure recruits would love to imagine themselves on the beach in Hawaii etc. etc. Now, the most important thing is to win some more games and get a bowl invite.

GO PONIES!!!

I agree about the theoretical impact on recruiting. I am curious what the response would be if we polled all the current underclassmen on the team (as well as near-miss recruits) and ask if they watched the Hawaii Bowl and if it impacted their decision to join the ponies.
at the very least, I'm guessing that JJ is right, ie young teenage recruits are more likely to be glued to the tv to watch the only football game on that day, than they are doing the family thing.

[sbsmith]

If Hawaii (now 5-4) doesn't make it to the Hawaii Bowl, what bowl will SMU go to?

That is a real concern for Hawaii fans after losses to UNLV, San Jose State, and now Utah State. Hawaii needs to win 2 more games and at least has Tulane in Hawaii for what should be 1 win...but the team has lost a lot of players to injury (worse than ANY of the 10+ years that DeLaura was in Hawaii) and at Nevada, home games vs. BYU and Fresno State will be tough. I think that Hawaii will make it to the Hawaii Bowl, but there is a real chance that might not happen.

If Hawaii isn't there, does JJ want to play in the Hawaii Bowl? Or does that wait until 2012, SMU's last chance at the Hawaii Bowl?

One thing to consider is that if Hawaii doesn't make it to the Hawaii Bowl, there is a real chance that the WAC will not fill all of its bowl spots. The last time the Hawaii Bowl had an opening, they got Notre Dame to fill it...ESPN (which owns the Hawaii Bowl) could make an interesting matchup for that game if there is an open spot.

If Hawaii can't get bowl eligible then we're going to either the Armed Forces Bowl or the Ticket City Bowl. AFB has a higher pick and they've invited teams in back to back years before. It would be a guaranteed sellout with BYU coming in.

[SMU_Alumni11]

Im telling you he probably made us lose on purpose in tulsa and usm, just so he can have his 2nd bowl in hawaii.... I mean can we please stop pushing ourselves to this bowl. I really enjoyed the armed forces bowl (except we lost to a team like army) but it was awesome being there and at a full stadium. Im not going to be in hawaii nor pay attention to the game on Christmas Eve. I'm sorry June, but with the exception of questionable people in this forum, nobody desires the hawaii bowl, the hawaii bowl desires the team. We better get that freaking BE, so we will never have this forum discussion every again.

You might have enjoyed the AFB but the team didn't which was evident in their attitude during bowl week and during the game. June and the team want the Hawaii Bowl, better for them to go over there and play in a bowl they care about than to appease a few more fans and stay here to play in another lame bowl they'll sleepwalk through.

How so, they got beat by army, they need to redeem themselves. I dont want them to necessarily go to AFB, just anywhere other than Hawaii. I prefer the ticketcity bowl, because it will bring our past with our future, playing in the cotton bowl. Remember last time we went to hawaii? I can assure you that it will be pitful stadium performance as it is every year. All CUSA teams try their best to avoid this bowl. If we end up playing hawaii, we win... it was expected, if we lose people will demand that we need to withdraw from the BE immediately

[Blvd_Stang]

“I hate to say it, I don’t know who controls who goes [to which bowls], but I do know that if Hawaii is bowl eligible and we’re bowl eligible, it’s a sell-out and it really helps the state of Hawaii,” Jones said. “That’s why I’d like to go.”

Seems like hes thinking of Hawaii instead of SMU. We should play in the Ticketcity Bowl in Dallas, c'mon now.

[SMU_Alumni11]

“I hate to say it, I don’t know who controls who goes [to which bowls], but I do know that if Hawaii is bowl eligible and we’re bowl eligible, it’s a sell-out and it really helps the state of Hawaii,” Jones said. “That’s why I’d like to go.”

Seems like hes thinking of Hawaii instead of SMU. We should play in the Ticketcity Bowl in Dallas, c'mon now.

Agreed, one of the few logical statements. Seriously his loyalty is with Hawaii, when it comes scheduling. He will probably beg BE to take the hawaii bowl and have smu play hawaii in OOC.

[sbsmith]

How so, they got beat by army, they need to redeem themselves. I dont want them to necessarily go to AFB, just anywhere other than Hawaii. I prefer the ticketcity bowl, because it will bring our past with our future, playing in the cotton bowl. Remember last time we went to hawaii? I can assure you that it will be pitful stadium performance as it is every year. All CUSA teams try their best to avoid this bowl. If we end up playing hawaii, we win... it was expected, if we lose people will demand that we need to withdraw from the BE immediately

They can redeem themselves by winning a bowl they care about, if we play in Dallas we're going to see the same apathy we saw from them in last year's AFB. If we play Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl it'll be a sellout with a great atmosphere (due to June's return), losing that game will not affect our BE status in any way. We wouldn't able to fill a 1/3 of the Cotton Bowl versus a lame Big 10 opponent like Illinois, Northwestern or Purdue.

[mrydel]

The bowl game is for the players and more particularly the seniors. They deserve a trip outside of Dallas. And I say that with the knowledge that I will not travel to Hawaii and I would travel to Dallas. But the bowl game is a treat for the players. Now for me personally, if the Liberty Bowl is out I would just as soon go to the New Orleans Bowl even with the Sun Belt opponent. Fun trip and fun for the players also I would imagine.

For what it is worth, Hawaii will not be a recruiting tool because it does not have a tie in to the Big East. We only have one more chance (next year) to go there. So I do not see it as a big recruiting benefit.

Now the future will mean getting into a BCS Bowl and then we have a whole new ballgame.

[SMU_Alumni11]

How so, they got beat by army, they need to redeem themselves. I dont want them to necessarily go to AFB, just anywhere other than Hawaii. I prefer the ticketcity bowl, because it will bring our past with our future, playing in the cotton bowl. Remember last time we went to hawaii? I can assure you that it will be pitful stadium performance as it is every year. All CUSA teams try their best to avoid this bowl. If we end up playing hawaii, we win... it was expected, if we lose people will demand that we need to withdraw from the BE immediately

They can redeem themselves by winning a bowl they care about, if we play in Dallas we're going to see the same apathy we saw from them in last year's AFB. If we play Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl it'll be a sellout with a great atmosphere (due to June's return), losing that game will not affect our BE status in anyway. We wouldn't able to fill a 1/3 of the Cotton Bowl versus a lame Big 10 opponent like Illinois, Northwestern or Purdue.

They can redeem themselves against a team that has respect in the Cotton Bowl. You are telling me that a Big 10 team(that people know) vs SMU wont get a great crowd? Thats crazy, I mean we filled our stadium against a team like army. You can say that players were apathetic to AFB. It was just disappointing performance by padron with his 1st quarter mistakes. Those mistakes are what hurt the team. Im pretty sure if they go to Hawaii they will have the same stellar performance they had at Tulsa. However, I agree that there were be alot of fans....alot of fans for Hawaii. I mean the Hawaii bowl scenario has no effect for SMU (respect, tv coverage, anything), but like I said for Junes marriage with hawaii, it will help them greatly.

Again I guess you and some others, we just wont agree on the bowl thats best for SMU. But the only way Ill retract my statement that the Ticketcity or AFB bowl is better for smu that hawaii, is if the team actually says we want the hawaii bowl (not with june around or anything). Also as I remember from last year, nobody from SMU could really make this game for multitude of reasons (Spending family time on Christmas eve (like me), no decent package for students or starting off alumni to make it, or simply they werent interested in going there

[SMU_Alumni11]

The bowl game is for the players and more particularly the seniors. They deserve a trip outside of Dallas. And I say that with the knowledge that I will not travel to Hawaii and I would travel to Dallas. But the bowl game is a treat for the players. Now for me personally, if the Liberty Bowl is out I would just as soon go to the New Orleans Bowl even with the Sun Belt opponent. Fun trip and fun for the players also I would imagine.

For what it is worth, Hawaii will not be a recruiting tool because it does not have a tie in to the Big East. We only have one more chance (next year) to go there. So I do not see it as a big recruiting benefit.

Now the future will mean getting into a BCS Bowl and then we have a whole new ballgame.

If that is true that you have knowledge then I do hope that the players get what they want, however I cannot see a player saying..."I dont want them cotton bowl, I want the hawii bowl." I just dont see it. I can only see "I want the hawaii bowl if its between that and the beef o'bradys bowl." Again I agree this will have no impact for the football team in the future, if anything people will just where did we go again? (hawaii situation)

[SMU_Alumni11]

Keep in mind (for benefiting the team): Ticketcity payout around 1.2 million to each team... hawaii bowl: .75 million to each team. Obviously not to go all numbers on you but the ticketcity pays out 60% more than hawaii

[mrydel]

Payouts do not matter in CUSA. The money is paid out to the schools equally, so SMU would not get anything more going to one over the other. I do not have any personal knowledge of what the kids want, but I do know they were unhappy being in Dallas last year and if you will listen to the Zach Line interview you can get his opinion on Hawaii.

[sbsmith]

They can redeem themselves against a team that has respect in the Cotton Bowl. You are telling me that a Big 10 team(that people know) vs SMU wont get a great crowd? Thats crazy, I mean we filled our stadium against a team like army. You can say that players were apathetic to AFB. It was just disappointing performance by padron with his 1st quarter mistakes. Those mistakes are what hurt the team. Im pretty sure if they go to Hawaii they will have the same stellar performance they had at Tulsa. However, I agree that there were be alot of fans....alot of fans for Hawaii. I mean the Hawaii bowl scenario has no effect for SMU (respect, tv coverage, anything), but like I said for Junes marriage with hawaii, it will help them greatly.

SMU vs a Big 10 team won't draw any more than Tech vs. Northwestern did last year (40,000) and Tech travels well and has a lot of DFW alumni. We filled our tiny stadium for the AFB, not that a big deal. Hawaii's not Tulsa, and they've been blown out the last 2 times they've played in the Hawaii Bowl. The Hawaii Bowl is the only game on Christmas Eve, it's going to get us more exposure than playing a noon game in an empty Cotton Bowl on a day with 5 other games.