June Jones (mis)quoted

[San Antonio Mustang]

The transcript states:

"His point is: Are they going to be serious about investing in the program from a football standpoint? And that's, I think, what he wants to see.

"Hey, I'l sign the contract, but I also want to make sure you're in the foxhole will me and we're going to build this thing to a point where we have success on an ongoing basis."

This implies that the school has not been serious about investing in the program. This is a false statement made by an employee about both the institution he works for and the individuals. He is seeking to provide an excuse for his shortcomings by blaming his superiors. This is ground for dismissal. If Turner and Hart let him get away with this they will loose the ability to control other employees as well as the respect of many.

The truth is the University and specifically his superiors have been very supportive of the football program - new education school, change stadium lights, new locker room, offered to build an IPF and when he didn't like the location agreed to tear down a soccer stadium and build an IPF as soon as a new location for the Soccer Stadium is found and built, worked tirelessly to get us in a better conference to increase the chances that SMU could play in bigger bowls, etc. The list is longer, but the implication that the program is not supported is absolutely false. A good reporter would call Jones on this statement including asking for names of recruits who told him they would not come to SMU because there is no IPF.

[gostangs]

i see it as cover. Assuming we don't re-sign him - he can say 1) he had an offer (which i have heard is not true at this point) and 2) he determined we are not "serious" so he chose not to sign it and is leaving.

I would be fine with that scenario - since it is easy to refute that in conversations with next staff (at or above existing salaries - which in and of themselves prove seriousness) and would be totally refuted when that staff is hired.

Standard pre decision dancing by both parties. We are figuring out what it would take to pay him off to leave - or have him stay one last year with a "no penalty contract for after one more year". in other words - a brand new contract starting 1-1 14 that goes 3 years, but can be broken by either party without penalty on 1-1-15. announce expansion without actually extending - but doesn't solve anything now and wastes a year.

Given our 750M campaign -seems like this issues is worth a 1M pay off to JJ to say goodbye and go ahead and transition now.

[Webmaster]

Webmaster - Thanks for posting the transcript. Unfortunately this doesn't prove that JJ was misquoted. This is just the transcript from what the ESPN talking heads said about his comments. If you posted a transcript of the original interview or the reporter's notes, then we would know if he was misquoted. All the transcript you provided indicates is that he opened his mouth and said stupid things about his employer and the program he is responsible for.

I titled this thread "(mis)quoted" because yesterday the anti-June crowd was stating that June said, "SMU is not committed to football."

In fact, the ONLY actual quote from June Jones in this segment was Jones saying he would "probably sign the contract."

The rest of the segment was the ESPN guys SPECULATING on what June meant by saying he would probably sign the contract. The only thing we know for sure is that June DID NOT verbalize any of this (The ESPN guy said "Basically, without saying it Grace*, he was saying").

That may or may not be what he was thinking. We don't know. But the two things we do know for sure is 1) Jones probably will sign the contract, and 2) Jones DID NOT SAY anything about SMU or it's commitment to football to the ESPN crew.

There's plenty to be dissatisfied about without having to twist what the man said. All of these arguments about Jones as an employee making statements to the media don't hold water because he didn't actually SAY anything. He absolutely might be using the contract as leverage, and he may hope that people (like the guys at ESPN) interpret his behavior that way. But that's all speculation.

*I assume this is the other ESPN reporter's name, which I probably heard incorrectly.

[San Antonio Mustang]

Webmaster, I understand your point. But, I find it hard to believe that the ESPN journalists and the DMN journalist both came up with idea that what is holding up June signing the extension is his wanting to know if the school is serious about investing in football. These comments and interpretations did not just come out of the blue. Someone had to put into their mind that this is June's concern. If it wasn't June or his agent then who was it? Perhaps since you are in the journalistic fraternity you can contact these journalists directly and ask them where they got the idea that June is trying to determine whether SMU is serious about committing to the football program. Maybe they will tell you and you can let us all know. Now, if I am Turner and Hart, I call June in and ask him directly what he has said or his people have said to any media. You could do the same.

[SMU 86]

They did seem to know about the IPF issue. Someone had to inform them of that.

[abezontar]

Coach Jones has been catching a fair bit of heat for what he allegedly said to the announcers on ESPN. Here's the exact transcript.

June Jones told us yesterday that they have offered him a contract extension. He says he probably will sign it.

And I asked him, "What do you mean by that?"

Basically, without saying it Grace, he was saying, "Look, I've got a little leverage here. I've done something with this program nobody else could do prior to that. They're paying me a lot of money, and I just want to make sure the school is committed."

Yeah, absolutely.

The school has a lot of money, but he wants an indoor facility ... some other things.

His point is: Are they going to be serious about investing in the program from a football standpoint? And that's, I think, what he wants to see.

"Hey, I'l sign the contract, but I also want to make sure you're in the foxhole will me and we're going to build this thing to a point where we have success on an ongoing basis."

June brought up the contract issue. If he hadn't said anything then there would be nothing for the announcers to speculate about. At best it shows he isn't very media savvy. At worst is was a calculated mention to get the idea into the public.

[CalallenStang]

The rest of the segment was the ESPN guys SPECULATING on what June meant by saying he would probably sign the contract. The only thing we know for sure is that June DID NOT verbalize any of this (The ESPN guy said "Basically, without saying it Grace*, he was saying").

Grease = Brian Griese

What they said was not speculation, it was paraphrasing

[Mustangs_Maroons]

I unfortunately expect Jones to sign. He has no other alternatives. Plus he wants to stay in Dallas for his ministry, right?

Jones knew perfectly well what ESPN would takeaway from the discussions with him, same as with the ridiculous DMN article. He only has excuses for why we don't do better. After the ASU fiasco, he showed his true colors. Their fan base was smart enough to stop the hire, it's a shame can't do the same. ASU lost the PAC 12 championship game, and we're caught up with having to deal with his veil threats through the media.

There's only one puppet master. I guess SMU will play the dummy again.

[CalallenStang]

I unfortunately expect Jones to sign. He has no other alternatives. Plus he wants to stay in Dallas for his ministry, right?

If he wants to stay in Dallas for his ministry, he can go get a stocker's job at Central Market. The truth is that he wants to stay in Dallas for the paycheck.

[Pony Fan]

I am sorry Webmaster, but he has to go.

[Mustangs_Maroons]

I know CalallenStang, that comment was made tongue in cheek. His primary concern is to collect his $2mm paycheck, and I'm sure the ministry falls somewhere at the top. What is not at the top is his devotion to SMU and putting in the work commensurate with his salary or with being the face of the football program.

[Rebel10]

I wonder how the people at the DMN and ESPN got the idea that SMU was not committed. There may have been some off the record conversations.

[PlanoStang]

by mrydel » Sun Dec 08, 2013 11:55 am

Planostang: I played for Hayden Fry so he was not before my time. Still having trouble with facts I see.

=========================================================================

I wasn't saying you didn't play for Hayden, just not during the 2 8-3 seasons in 3 years under Fry.

I'm thinking you played during the 7-4 season under Fry when the CONTROLLING IDIOTS @ THE
TIME fired him

Being on PF has educated me greatly why Fry was fired

[mrydel]

He was fired the year after I left. The firing, in hindsight, was the best thing that ever happened to him. He needed to get away from the stress of coaching in the SWC and be reborn, which he did. He is in the top 5 of my favorite people living or dead.

[mr. pony]

JJ quite obviously - in so many words - told ESPN's crew he thought he had leverage and that he had doubts about SMU's commitment. (They didn't make it up.) THAT is inexcusable.