Quotes from the local papers and the Dallas Morning News

About how he'd like for GM to get the head coaching job, Adam Leonard said:
"Yeah, we would welcome that. Especially the defensive side knows how compassionate he is for the players. He's really about his players and not about personal pride and accolades he might receive. He really wants to create an environment where player and coaches can do their best." (HSB)

About how some people have already applied for the job, John McNamara said:
"We've already received some (applications). I don't know how many." (HSB)

About how the team leaders will set up a meeting when the players return to school next week, Adam said:
"We'll talk about our expectations for next year. We need to step up and take charge. Nothing's going to change how hard we work." (HSB)

About being considered for the UH AD job, Keith Amemiya, Hawaii High School Athletic Association executive director said:
"Being a lifelong UH supporter and an alumnus, I would love the opportunity to perhaps one day work there. However, I'm excited about what we've been able to accomplish on the high school level and continue to enjoy working with all the high schools across the state." (HSB)

About how he'd be interested in the UH AD job, former UH coach and current Kamehameha-Hawaii AD, Bob Wagner said:
"That's something I'd be interested in." (HSB)


About how JJ owes UH $400,008 for ending his contract early, Carolyn Tanaka, associate VP for external affairs and university relations, said:
"we assume he will do the right thing and live up to the (terms) of his contract." (HA)

HA Note: "Under the terms of the five-year agreement Jones signed with UH in 2003, he owes the school $400,008 — the amount the school paid him for one season — "if he terminates this agreement prior to June 30, 2008," according to the contract"

Remembering his reaction when Bob Beaudine, of the executive search firm Eastman & Beaudine, mentioned JJ as a possible SMU candidate, SMU AD Steve Orsini said:
"A lightbulb went off; I added him to my 'A' list right away. [But] probably like most of America, I thought June Jones was a lifer." (DMN)

About his coaching search, Orsini said:
"I wouldn't say everyone should wait to hire a coach 71 days. But saying that, I truly planned to have our timeline dictated by the quality of our coaches." (DMN)

DMN Note: "Orsini began the courtship, as he terms it, with many long conversations with Leigh Steinberg, Jones' agent. They intensified after Jones received permission from Hawaii to explore other options on Dec. 24. Dealings increased rapidly after the Sugar Bowl."

About how JJ took UH from 0-12 when he started to 12-1 this season, Orsini said:
"It is the right fit. We need to rebuild this program. It has been 20 years, so it's like building from scratch because so much as been torn down and left dormant for so long." (DMN)

About how they wanted a proven coach, Orsini said:
"We did not want on-the-job training here." (DMN)

Note: Orsini had daily conversations with SMU president R. Gerald Turner...I wish McClain had overseen HF like that.

Unhappy when he realized that JJ leading UH to a BCS bowl was going to slow his coaching search, Orsini said it was:
"a fly in the ointment." (DMN)

DMN Note: "Meanwhile, SMU had talks with candidates including former Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione and former Miami coach Larry Coker."

Asked if he interviewed minority candidates, Orsini said:
"I think I'll pass that course. Will I get an A-plus? Probably not." (DMN)

DMN Note: "Orsini and Steinberg both said they continued talking. Daily. Through the holidays. Orsini carried his phone charger with him in his pocket. It was through Steinberg that Orsini laid the groundwork. Steinberg called Orsini "compelling." Orsini, on Monday, called Steinberg SMU's MVP."

About waiting for JJ, Orsini said:
"I was willing to risk it because I want the best available." (DMN)

About how he had a backup plan if JJ stayed at UH, Orsini said:
"I'm smart enough to never not have a parachute or two or three with me." (DMN)

DMN Note: "Jones said he grabbed some SMU game tapes from the Hawaii offices to watch before Hawaii traveled to New Orleans. On Jan. 3, two days after the Sugar Bowl, Jones said he had a two-hour phone conversation with Orsini from Hawaii."

Orsini asked JJ on January 3:
"Do you really have to stay there?" (DMN)

DMN Note: "And Orsini said Jones had not booked a return flight."

DMN Note: "Jones met with Orsini for most of the morning Tuesday before departing for Hawaii. Orsini said Jones wanted to put a period on his time in Hawaii so he could get going at SMU. Jones is expected to be back at work in Dallas on Tuesday ready to go."

About getting the coach he wanted, Orsini said:
"Mission accomplished." (DMN)

About coming back to UH for his senior season, Adam Leonard said:
"I think I have more to prove. I feel my best football is ahead of me." (HA)

HA Note: "Leonard played all of last season despite a fractured right thumb. A recent medical scan of his right thumb showed that a piece of bone broke off completely. He will undergo another scan today, at which time it will be decided if the injury requires surgery or will heal with rest. He said he would miss only a month of weight-training if he undergoes surgery."

About how he hopes that his scan today shows what they need to treat his thumb, Adam said:
"Hopefully the scan can answer my questions." (HA)

About how he'd like the UH job, John L. Smith said:
"With 18 years of collegiate head coaching experience and over 130 wins, I would hope that would qualify me as a candidate to be the next head coach at the University of Hawai'i." (HA)

In 2004, Smith said about Hawaii:
"Have you been there (to Hawai'i)? It's a miserable trip. It's forever. Eleven hours. That's just to get you there. Then, you've got to acclimate and play a game. It's such a lovely trip. It's like a reoccurring bad dream." (HA)

HA Note:"And that was before the Spartans got taken down, 41-38, by the Warriors in another of the late-season collapses that eventually resulted in his removal from East Lansing in 2006. Afterward, he bad-mouthed UH and all things Hawai'i not only during the 4,400 miles home but into the Big Ten football meetings. Smith, as you will recall, is in large part responsible for UH's subsequent difficulties in booking Big Ten opponents here. So shrill were his bleatings that Michigan State bought its way out of the scheduled 2007 game at Aloha Stadium even after he had been fired. Even Purdue tried to get out of its 2006 game before begrudgingly following through with the contest."

Smith further lobbied for himself:
"I think I could bring high energy and an unsurpassed work ethic to help keep Hawai'i at the top of the WAC." (HA)

Asked if he was looking forward to the 2007 trip to UH, Smith sarcastically said:
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." (HA)