Pat Forde: American Athletic Conference determined to slug i

[Harry0569]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf--ame ... 36591.html

In Texas, the hope is that Houston and SMU can hit a few high notes. Houston is trying to find out if there is life after Kevin Sumlin and Case Keenum (the early returns were not good, tumbling from 13-1 to 5-7 in the first year under Tony Levine). SMU may have plateaued under June Jones (30-23 the past four seasons), but at least it has regained competitiveness after 20 years in the wilderness post-Death Penalty.

[ponyinNC]

all true. I think we must win 7 games this year for JJ to be extended.

[ponyboy]

Agreed again, NC.

[StallionsModelT]

ponyinNC,

While I agree that the bar needs to be raised for JJ to stay, Rick Hart doesn't have the stones to fire June Jones unless the 2013 season is an unmitigated disaster. If SMU goes 5-7 you can take it to the bank that JJ will be here in 2014. It would take a 3 win season for Jones to fired.

[ponyboy]

Seems to me Hart's personal opinion is only a small factor. First, will JJ's contract end at the conclusion of this season? Second, what does the COC think?

[StallionsModelT]

Good point. Hart is nothing more than RGT's errand boy. If the COC are content with Jones then he'll stay. If they've had it with him then he's gone.

[Pony81]

You can bet that RGT and Hart will sit down with the COC and see if they want to continue funding JJ. So ultimately, it is the COC that will be the deciding factor on if JJ is extended.

He who pays the piper names the tune.

[Water Pony]

First of all, Pat Forde's article is reasonably good and on target. The keys beyond UConn and Cincinnati getting over their frustration, TX and FL schools becoming highly competitive in and our of the conference and evaluating FB at Memphis, Temple and Tulane all make sense.

I would add that we need BB to excel, if not make others forget the Catholics quickly. UConn, Cincinnati, Temple and Memphis and at lease team from TX and FL need to make noise nationally, while we have Louisville for one more year. The BB league should be a source of added strength media wise for the American.

We need a chip on our should approach and be the "Challenger", as Aresco has stated many times. In summary, 'we need to hang together or we will certainly hang separately." (Ben Franklin)

[ponyinNC]

ponyinNC,

While I agree that the bar needs to be raised for JJ to stay, Rick Hart doesn't have the stones to fire June Jones unless the 2013 season is an unmitigated disaster. If SMU goes 5-7 you can take it to the bank that JJ will be here in 2014. It would take a 3 win season for Jones to fired.

that very well may be the case. I'm trying to think if we get 6 wins and go bowling, what then? Likely guess is JJ stays.

[StallionsModelT]

There is a 100% chance that JJ is coming back if we go to a bowl game. No way SMU fires a coach that has taken the school to 5 straight bowls.

[ponyinNC]

There is a 100% chance that JJ is coming back if we go to a bowl game. No way SMU fires a coach that has taken the school to 5 straight bowls.

good point.

Who knows - this may be the breakout year we have been waiting for. The year where everything clicks and the bounces go our way. It happened at Hawaii - it could happen at SMU.

We beat Tech and anything is possible. We get stomped and anything is possible as well.

[sbsmith]

There is a 100% chance that JJ is coming back if we go to a bowl game. No way SMU fires a coach that has taken the school to 5 straight bowls.

Who knows - this may be the breakout year we have been waiting for. The year where everything clicks and the bounces go our way. It happened at Hawaii - it could happen at SMU.

Yep, now all we need is an incredibly weak schedule, All-American/Heisman candidate QB and 3 All-Conference WRs.

[SMU21TCU10]

I thought JJ had 2 more years left on his contract including this one?

[PonyKai]

Good article.

[ponyinNC]

There is a 100% chance that JJ is coming back if we go to a bowl game. No way SMU fires a coach that has taken the school to 5 straight bowls.

Who knows - this may be the breakout year we have been waiting for. The year where everything clicks and the bounces go our way. It happened at Hawaii - it could happen at SMU.

Yep, now all we need is an incredibly weak schedule, All-American/Heisman candidate QB and 3 All-Conference WRs.

good points.