Devil's Advocate - the June Jones Case

[SMUer]

I agree 100% with your assessment. The problem I had with it is the complete hack-job in the way he went about it and the unnecessary damage he has inflicted on the school. There are other ways to go about that.

[kull]

I can get anyone I want into school, but can't do much scouting, and can't take the team to the next level.

False, this paints an erroneous picture of Hawaii's admission standards.

[ponyinNC]

keep him for the 2012 recruiting class. I'm okay if he leaves after 2012. Also, take a look right now...many jobs open and not that many quality candidates right now.

I mean, UCLA is looking to spend up to $4 million and they are having trouble finding the right guy.

[ponyboy]

"As much as I love SMU" -- That's your first flaw with the argument.

Other than that, I can go along with it...

Whatever. Sorry June hurt your feelings at the alumni function. Grow a pair and get over it.

And how about choosing one school to root for at one time?

[kull]

"As much as I love SMU" -- That's your first flaw with the argument.

Other than that, I can go along with it...

Whatever. Sorry June hurt your feelings at the alumni function. Grow a pair and get over it.

agreed

[Mexmustang]

I imagine it all started with a call from Super Agent, "June, look you are almost 60 (I have only one more chance on a big payday), you have a good record at SMU, but you (I need a fee this year) have limited patience so I know you are frustrated that the things you want don't materialize in 24 hours, I know SMU moves faster on many things that any state school would or could, but look, next year's record will be a real challenge (I don't want a smaller fee in the future), you remember how slow you were to get coaches that were willing to recruit (it is not my fault)? This year's offense was boring and frustrating--so much so you lost traction in gaining new fans, next year will be worse (even I couldn't sit through one of your games)".

"So listen, what I am telling you, is that you are at the top of your career at SMU, (my largest fee opportunity) from now on it will be all downhill in terms of your value (to me) in the market." "Let me find (a fee) better opportunity (before your record falls to .500), I can persuade (that idiot woman) at ASU to pay (me) big dollars and the buyout from SMU (maybe I can get another client placed there and get a second fee?), so listen have I convinced you that you should be unhappy here in Dallas and feel more wanted in the desert (what the hell are these protestors saying?) where they really want you?"

[PerunaPunch]

JasonB,

I agree that your analysis is the most likely explanation. The game of football is a game of momentum, and I think that carries over into everything associated with it (public perception, attendance, etc.).

Starting at the very bottom of the barrel, I think June reached on his early QB recruits because they were in his analysis the best available.

Unless something changes, in 2012 we have a nice stable of skill position players, but we are lacking the QB to make it all click and we graduated our entire offensive line, which is going to make the maturation at QB that much harder. Add to that a tougher schedule and the likelihood is that the program is going to take a step backwards. And that's a step backwards from a team the underachieved the last half of the year.

ASU was an easy out and an opportunity for June to maintain the June Jones mastermind mystique.

Staying at SMU would be the harder road, but given the philosophy he espouses, I though taking the higher and harder road would be in character for June.

One last observation is that June's main gripe seems to center around attendance, which came to a head after the Rice game. I find it a bit hypocritical that June got on the fans for not being there to support a couple dozen seniors when he apparently is ready leave Dallas and the other 80-something of his players.

[Mexmustang]

Good point...he also needs to be reminded how poor the reviews were for his high flying offense--frustrating and boring doesn't bring the crowds.

[redpony]

Nor do 7-5 records- especially in Dallas.

GO PONIES!!!

[Arkpony]

I remember in the early RonMeyer days we played Rice in theCotton Bowl before 6,000 people. The players talked about how hard that was. But they kept hustling and playing and within a few years we packed Texas Stadium. It CAN be done!