JJ thinks that UH should go independent for football and play in the Big West for other sports

HSA Note: "A good place for a guy like June Jones, who -- even though he was back in Hawaii just a couple of weeks ago -- misses laulau and kalua pig ... almost as much as the fairways at Waialae Country Club, lush enough to navigate in bare feet. Jones worked a crowd of displaced islanders Saturday between bites of his plate lunch, talking story with guys more than willing to pay two bucks for a can of orange-passion juice. Some trekked to the Metroplex from as far as Oklahoma City for Hawaiian music and local food. No poi, but plenny mac salad and rice -- and face time with the current SMU and former Hawaii football coach, a transplant like them."

About his gathering at an L&L in Plano, TX on Saturday, JJ said:
"It was a great time. By the way, we're going to have Henry (Kapono) and Willy K do the national anthem and halftime shows at some games this year." (HSA)

HSA Note: "Those popular Hawaiian entertainers were Aloha Stadium staples during Jones' nine-year run as UH head coach, and they still play at UH games now. Interesting that downtown Dallas will get a dose of kanikapila this fall to go with the local kine grines -- and a Mustangs team with heightened expectations after last year's 8-5 record, including a Hawaii Bowl win in Jones' second season."

About how he expects tough competition in C-USA this year, JJ said:
"Central Florida's always good, but we don't have to play them this year. Houston, East Carolina should contend. It's one of those conferences where anyone can win." (HSA)

About how it is possible that they could get into another conference if they keep winning and add a few other sports, JJ said:
"The Mountain West is interested in the Dallas TV market. If we can show some consistency ... But we don't have baseball and track. I think we'd have to add them and show a commitment to those sports. I don't think (realignment is) over yet. I think the Mountain West might add a few more teams. And I'm kind of surprised the Big 12 didn't make a run at TCU." (HSA)

About how UH could benefit from BSU leaving the WAC, JJ said:
"Boise's always one of the toughest places to go play at," said Jones, whose Warriors teams never won on the blue turf. "Not having to do that makes your chances of success in the conference better." (HSA)

About how it will be difficult for SMU to play UH soon except for the Hawaii Bowl, JJ said:
"There's a possible change involving a Texas A&M game. But our schedule's booked up for the next 10 or 15 years. It'd have to be one of those special things." (HSA)

About how UH should go independent in football and play in the Big West in other sports, JJ said:
"I've talked about independence for 10 years. There's a lot of interest in that TV slot, the last game. Hawaii has a unique slot, and FOX, ESPN, Comcast, a lot of people are looking for programming. I've thought being independent is the direction to go toward for a long time, with the rest of the sports in the Big West. Of course you're taking a chance with scheduling. You just never know how it will work out, but it's worth really taking a good look at." (HSA)

JJ said that the student athletic fee that just passed at UH is:
"pretty favorable, that's going to help a lot." (HSA)

HSA Note: "Everything's not perfect for SMU football; two recruits were recently denied admission by the academic office despite being NCAA qualifiers. But things are good enough in Jones' eyes that he agreed last week to sign a three-year contract extension that keeps him in Dallas through 2014. How bad can it be when you head into the upcoming season with 17 starters back from a winning team? Especially when you're always just minutes away from an authentic plate lunch."

http://www.staradvertiser.com/columnists/furtherreview/20100720_Hawaiian_flair_works_for_Jones_in_his_coaching_job_at_SMU.html