A Q&A With SMU Coach June Jones
Dec 6 | Football
Dec. 6, 2010
Opening Statement:
"We're excited that we've been extended the opportunity to play in the Armed Forces Bowl game. I have been a big promoter of trying to play as many service academies as we can, not here at SMU, but also when I was in Hawaii. That has been always an important thing to me. We're really excited to be able to play my good friend Rich Ellerson, who has done an unbelievable job. Congratulations to him for taking them that next step to a Bowl game. I know his mind isn't really on it right now, but he will be excited, I know, to play. They should have beaten the University of Hawaii earlier in the year. Had they not fumbled the ball, they would have had another win in their category. I'm sure they'll like to play against our offense again."
Q: After taking this team to Hawaii last year, how do you make this a home game?
A: Well, since I've been coaching in college, I've kind of always used the same formula when we go to Bowls. The kids will really enjoy the opportunity to play, especially after coming after a loss yesterday. The result of the Bowl game really takes you through the whole next year. The importance of not only having fun and doing it right, but also winning the game.
I think that our kids got a taste of that last year, and they will certainly want to finish that way again. It's going to be a challenge. All three years I've been here we haven't beaten Navy. Army runs a similar offense.
Q: Talk about your relationship with Rich Ellerson...
A: Rich Ellerson and I coached in Hawaii. In fact, Rich was one of the guys recruiting him. Rich was my center when I was a QB. So we go way back. I've always been a fan of Rich and followed him, the BC Lions, Calgary, and also ever since he adopted -- Dick Tomey hired me and give me my first job. He also gave Rich his first job. We both have stolen a lot of things from Dick. I see a lot of that in the things he says. I see that in the way he plays defense still, the way that they play on offense. So there's going to be a lot of crossover between them.
Q: Talk about the triple option...
A: The triple option is a very difficult offense to prepare for. I'm glad we have time to prepare for it. We also played against it at Navy. This will be a better situation for us. I know Rich very well. He will have some new little wrinkles and some little things by the time we get to game day.
Q: Do you like playing triple option offenses, going up against them?
A: You know, it's one of those things during the year that you usually get some guys rolled up or get some guys hurt in the front seven with all the cutting and all the things that go on with it. So you kind of take a beating the next week whenever you go play.
But all in all, I think the advantage of playing the Academy outweighs all the things about the offense. When I was in Hawaii, the only time we got any newspaper coverage was playing Air Force, Army or Navy, and it would be on the front page of the New York Times. They normally wouldn't even cover our games because they were so late, but they always covered those, so it was important. Since I've come to SMU, when we play Navy, it's in everybody's newspaper and the TV coverage. So it's all positive for the school.
Q: What will your team's schedule be like?
A: My plan will be to practice right up to Christmas Eve morning, give the kids off on Christmas Day. We'll meet in Fort Worth and practice on the 26th.
Q: How strange that for you, to practice in Fort Worth when you're only 30 miles away from your home campus?
A: Well, it's fun. Anytime you depart and go somewhere together as a team, it's great for the bonding, it's great for the chemistry, the camaraderie. That's why I think it's mandatory that even before a game, even home games, you stay in a hotel. It's what the game is all about, about togetherness, those types of things. Even though we're going to Fort Worth, it's an opportunity to do the schedule we would have if we were practicing right here in our own stadium. It will be a fun time for us.
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For more information on SMU's appearance in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, click here.
