Big One Didn’t Get Away

June Jones Takes Football Reins; SMU ‘Ready To Go’

DALLAS – After years of bitter disappointment, Mustang fans were understandably preparing for another shot to the solar plexus when word spread Sunday that June Jones was having late, second-thoughts about leaving Hawaii for SMU.

Jones, a hero in Paradise, just led the Warriors to a 12-0 regular season and a BCS berth in the Sugar Bowl, and folks there weren’t ready to let go. The Hawaiians threw everything but the pineapple-slicer at Jones, including countless e-mails, faxes and phone calls – even a call from the governor – all begging him not to leave and promising the world.

And it was working.

Sunday night, as Jones went to bed, he was still undecided whether “aloha” to SMU the next day would mean “hello” or “goodbye.” “It was a difficult decision for me,” Jones said Monday. “That’s all I can say.”

But in this high-stakes, highly-visible tussle that was starting to look like another SMU overtime loss - the Mustangs won.

And that just felt good.

71 Days

Monday’s lavish press conference in the Hall of Champions, adjacent to Ford Stadium, had an air of promise and pride. Giant banners featuring images of past Mustang greats stretched from floor to ceiling. A red carpet marked the path to the podium.

From left, SMU Director of Athletics Steve Orsini, new head football coach June Jones and school president R. Gerald Turner at Monday's press conference.

After 71 days, SMU Director of Athletics Steve Orsini had his man - and it was time to celebrate.

“Our goal was to aim high,” Orsini said in presenting Jones to the packed assemblage and those watching a live feed on the stadium concourse.

Jones explained his late-night Mustang epiphany this way: “The opportunity here surpasses everything,” he said. “There’s a time to move on and I just really believe that this is the time for me to move on.”

Jones, a former NFL head coach with Atlanta and San Diego, said SMU’s facilities and its unified commitment to winning were difference-makers.

One guesses the nearly $2 million per year for five years didn’t hurt either.

The deal, bankrolled entirely by the donations from 20 boosters, makes Jones easily the highest paid coach in Conference USA and among the upper tier, nationally.

Dallas Morning News columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor reported that Jones’ pay exceeds that of Baylor’s Art Briles and Texas A&M’s Mike Sherman. (You read that right.)

“Obviously, football is an important part of SMU’s past and we certainly intend for it to be in important part of SMU’s future,” said SMU president R. Gerald Turner.

Orsini said he was certain Jones was the one when Jones recently told him by phone, “I excel at building football programs. SMU is committed to rebuilding its football program. We will be successful at SMU.”

“That sealed me,” Orsini said.

Jones is one of only three non-BCS conference coaches to take a team to a BCS bowl.

Crunch Time

Turner later said the interview process with Jones had been intense, crunched as it was into just several hours on Sunday. “It wasn’t like he could come back and forth and have more than one interview,” Turner said.

With facilities, resources and leadership in place, Orsini called on SMU fans to respond. “We have to fill up Ford Stadium,” he said.

Turnaround Jones

SMU is coming off a 1-11 campaign, including a 0-8 mark in Conference USA. The Mustangs have had one winning since 1989 and haven’t been to a bowl since 1984.

Jones pauses near a poster of SMU's 1948 Heisman trophy winner, Doak Walker.

Jones has been there, fixed that.

In 1999, Jones took over a woeful Hawaii team mired in an 18-game losing streak. In his first season, the Warriors leapt to a 9-4 record, the biggest turnaround in NCAA history, earning Jones National Coach of the Year honors.

Jones went on to compile a 75-41 record in nine seasons at Hawaii, including two WAC championships and six bowl appearances.

In each of Jones’ years at Hawaii, the Warriors’ Run-and-Shoot offense led the WAC and was ranked in the top five, nationally.

In 2006, Hawaii led the nation in points per game (46.9), total yards per game (559.2) and passing yards per game (441.3). Last year, Hawaii was tops in scoring again, averaging 46.2 points per game.

Under Jones, Warrior quarterbacks Timmy Chang and Colt Brennan blew up the record books. In 2004, Chang set the all-time NCAA mark for career passing yards (17,072). Last year, Brennan set the record for touchdown passes in a season (58), while breaking 28 other marks along the way. He finished third in the Heisman voting.

Fired Up

Monday, SMU alum Craig Welch was excited about the message Jones’ hiring sends: “SMU is back and serious about football again,” he said.

“Obviously, if June Jones, in this phase of his career, is willing to take this job, he has been totally, completely convinced he will have every tool that he needs to be successful.”

Ramon Flanigan, left, SMU's all-time leader in career yards (7,437), talked Run-and-Shoot with current SMU quarterback Justin Willis at Monday's event.

“It’s a new start,” said Jim Johnston, president of SMU’s Lettermen’s Association. “This gives a lot of encouragement and enthusiasm to go forward.”

SMU quarterback Justin Willis said he and wideout Emmanuel Sanders have been Hawaii fans for some time.

“We watched Hawaii every night they played,” Willis said “We loved what [Jones] was doing over there … with his players.”

Willis said Jones’ system means points and excitement. “He can bring people to the game,” Willis said. “He brings out the best talent in his players and I think that’s what is gonna be key here at SMU, with our talent level.”

“Man, it’s time to go to work,” said Sanders. “Orsini did his job. He came through.”

“I’ve never been in a Run-and-Shoot offense,” Sanders said. “Everybody keeps saying you’re gonna get the ball more than 15 or 20 times. I’m ready for that.”

SMU’s all-time career yardage leader, Ramon Flanigan, said he knows the system. Flanigan, the former offensive coordinator at North Texas, said he’d like to join Jones’ staff in some capacity.

“Without a doubt,” he said. “It would be a dream come true to get back here.”

“It’s the exact same offense we ran when I was here at SMU,” said Flanigan, who quarterbacked the Mustangs from 1992-1997.

Getting Started

Jones said he’ll complete his staff soon. “I have a commitment from a number of the coaches in Hawaii that wanted to leave,” he said. “I offered them all jobs.”

Some stars from SMU's past were on display Monday. From left, Don Meredith, Craig James, Chuck Hixson and Jerry LeVias.

He said he’ll also be talking to coaches with Texas ties.

Recruiting-wise, Jones said he’ll soon contact SMU’s verbal commits. “I’m sure they’re watching this press conference now with interest,” he said.

“I have a plan on how to handle [recruiting.] I’m not in a rush.” Jones said he got a late start when hired at Hawaii too.

“I know there are a lot of players within 30 miles of this campus,” Jones said. And he may already have inroads. Hawaii’s starting secondary last year was from Texas.

Can Jones work his magic again and send the Mustangs to a bowl this year? How about the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl?

Just watch out for the pineapple-slicers.

Quotable Jones

*On scheduling the University of Texas: “I know that as we get better and better, I’m sure everybody’s gonna get excited about some of the natural rivalries that used to be here 20 years ago.” … “I’m sure at some point those things will take place.”

*On Eric Dickerson, who played for Jones at Atlanta: “I’ve just always had a great respect for him. He and I talked about SMU every time we got together every summer.”… “He’s just a class act, a great guy.”

*On Hawaii: “ Hawaii will always be my home and it’s always gonna have half of my being there.”

*On his coaching style: “I’m different than your normal Texas coach, but I get it done and we win.”

Jones Facts:

• Hometown: Portland, Oregon
• Education: New York State Regents College
• College playing career: quarterback at Oregon (1971-72), Hawaii (1973-74) and Portland State (1975-76).
• Pro playing career: Atlanta Falcons (1977-81), Toronto Argonauts (1982).
• Pro coaching career: assistant in USFL, CFL and NFL (1984-93); NFL head coach with Atlanta (1994-96) and San Diego (interim, 1998).

Other SMU Football Notes:

• Candidates reportedly considered for SMU’s head coaching job included: former Navy coach Paul Johnson, who accepted the Georgia Tech job, former Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione, former Miami coach Larry Coker, Baltimore Ravens assistant Rick Neuheisel, who accepted the UCLA job, Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe, and former Detroit Lions assistant Mike Martz.
• Jones is the second former National Coach of the Year hire at SMU since Orsini’s arrival 18 months ago. Men’s basketball coach Matt Doherty was hired in April, 2006.