Today's Honolulu Advertiser

[huskerpony]

Anyone vacationing in Kona this week? Let us know if you spot Steve-O or RGT drinking a Mai Tai!

Hippo, got time for a quick trip to the islands?

[Bergermeister]

The final choice will want us, our market, our conference and this opportunity to write a great story.

Yep.

[StallionsModelT]

Water Pony,

Wish I could believe that brother. Believe me I do. The reality is the only reason June Jones comes here is money. So much freaking money that he'd be an idiot not to take it if Hawaii doesn't come close to matching it. Of course there's no problem with that. The money is, as you've stated, our best assett right now. However, we went down this same path with Paul Johnson and we were left in the lurch. I just can't see Hawaii letting him walk away to, of all places, SMU. Again, I want to be wrong about this in the worst way. Maybe he feels that SMU is the kind of challenge that he's up to taking on. My guess, he and his agent are using SMU as leverage against Hawaii in order to secure a higher salary for his next contract.

[smupony94]

Water Pony,

Wish I could believe that brother. Believe me I do. The reality is the only reason June Jones comes here is money. So much freaking money that he'd be an idiot not to take it if Hawaii doesn't come close to matching it. Of course there's no problem with that. The money is, as you've stated, our best assett right now. However, we went down this same path with Paul Johnson and we were left in the lurch. I just can't see Hawaii letting him walk away to, of all places, SMU. Again, I want to be wrong about this in the worst way. Maybe he feels that SMU is the kind of challenge that he's up to taking on. My guess, he and his agent are using SMU as leverage against Hawaii in order to secure a higher salary for his next contract.

Hopefully they will think of SMU fondly for making them rich

[huskerpony]

Water Pony,

Wish I could believe that brother. Believe me I do. The reality is the only reason June Jones comes here is money. So much freaking money that he'd be an idiot not to take it if Hawaii doesn't come close to matching it. Of course there's no problem with that. The money is, as you've stated, our best assett right now. However, we went down this same path with Paul Johnson and we were left in the lurch. I just can't see Hawaii letting him walk away to, of all places, SMU. Again, I want to be wrong about this in the worst way. Maybe he feels that SMU is the kind of challenge that he's up to taking on. My guess, he and his agent are using SMU as leverage against Hawaii in order to secure a higher salary for his next contract.

I think this has little to do with JJ's salary. Of course more than doubling his $800,000 salary will be a huge draw for him, but listening to his comments and watching his actions as of late, it is more about his operating budget at UH, how his assistants are treated, and UH's commitment to its football program (facilities, recruiting budget, etc.)

Alumni collected a $100,000 gift for Jones at the end of the season. He didn't take a penny and distributed it to his assistants. He currently has a $50,000 recruiting budget and therefore has not been off the islands to recruit for 3 years. Most major programs have in excess of half a million for recruiting (with much lower travel expenses.)

With the money we have raised, we can double his salary, pay his assistants well, and give him 5 to 6 times the recruiting budget. That in addition to all of our new facilities, etc., make SMU a better situation than he is in (other than having already established a winning program and living in Hawaii). All indications from the UH message boards and recent media reports make it sound like UH isn't going to be able to meet his demands.

Still think its a long-shot, but I don't think he's playing us for a salary bump. I think he is trying to play us for the facilities and budget, but if UH doesn't come through, he bails.

Go Steve-O! Go!

[SoCal_Pony]

On the college level its SMU and West Virginia. All the other Division 1-A jobs have been filled.

Not if WV hires an existing D1-A coach.

This could go on indefinitely, that is why there needs to be a time limit, probably should have been 4 weeks ago.

[EastStang]

That could be true, but my expectation is that if that happens it would be another mid-major coach like the Eastern Michigan Coach who would be no more attractive than us.

[NickSMU17]

Atlanta will not go the college route ever again...esp with a guy friends with glanville...

[joekapp11]

[quote="NickSMU17"]Atlanta will not go the college route ever again...esp with a guy friends with glanville...[/quote]

Wasn't Jones already the head coach in Atlanta when Jeff George was the QB?

[PonyKai]

Todays Tank McNamara

http://wpcomics.washingtonpost.com/client/wpc/tm/

[Cadillac]

Wasn't Jones already the head coach in Atlanta when Jeff George was the QB?

Yes, but that was under Previous Ownership.

-CoS

[westexSMU]

[quote="friarwolf"][quote="StallionsModelT"]Good grief if this guy is playing with us ala Paul Johnson I am officially on the hire Fran bandwagon. God how I hope that he's serious.[/quote]

He's not. He wants an NFL job and I doubt he will get one of those in the next week. So, he's going to slow play us hoping he gets an NFL gig. If Orsini can't close the deal with him in the next 48 hours, he needs to go sign Fran. Asap.[/quote].................................I agree in that if we can't sign JJ by the week end, we should go ahead and hire Fran.