AAC Notebook: Jones resigns as SMU football coach

June Jones resigned Monday as football coach at SMU, citing personal reasons.

SMU was off to an 0-2 start, losing 43-6 to NorthTexas last week after opening the season with a loss at Baylor. The Mustangs were scoreless for the first seven quarters of the season and have been outscored 88-6 heading into an off week. SMU’s next game is Sept. 20 against No. 7 Texas A&M.

“This afternoon, I talked to my staff and players and notified them that I have decided to resign as SMU head football coach effective immediately,” Jones said in a statement released by the school. “It was a very difficult decision for me to make, as you can imagine. I have devoted my life for the last 50 years to playing and coaching this game and it has been a great journey.

“This job has a lot of demands, as you know, and along with that journey comes a price that is paid. I have some personal issues I have been dealing with and I need to take a step away so I can address them at this time.”

SMU announced associated head coach and defensive coordinator Tom Mason will serve as head coach or the remainder of the season. Jones agreed to a three-year extension in December that would have kept him at the school through 2017.

Jones won two Conference USA titles at SMU and led the Mustangs to four straight bowl appearances before finishing 5-7 last year in the school’s first season as a member of the American Athletic Conference. He finishes with a 36-43 record over seven seasons at SMU.

“In addition to reestablishing SMU as a winner, June has helped shape the university and athletics department in ways which benefit student-athletes and coaches across all sports,” Mustangs athletic director Rick Hart said in a statement. “June’s decision to resign was his own, and we thank him for his efforts and wish him the best.”

Jones made his regularly scheduled appearance on the AAC weekly coaches teleconference Monday morning and gave no indication he was resigning.

“We didn’t play very well on special teams, and the offense had some breakdowns,” Jones said of the North Texas game. “I thought the defense played decently but we just put them in a bad position with five turnovers. With the open week, we’ve just got to get a lot better and work on the things that we need to work on and get the guys doing what they do in practice and not  straying from that one the game starts.

“I don’t know when there’s a good time [for the open week] but when you’re 0-2, you’ve got to definitely do something to shake it up and that’s what we’ll try to do.”

UCF LOOKING TO MAKE A SEC STATEMENT

The AAC earned a surprise victory over a Southeastern Conference opponent when Temple won at Vanderbilt. Now the conference will be looking for a bigger statement when UCF plays at Missouri Saturday. The Tigers are one of the new members of the SEC, coming over from the Big 12 in 2012. And Missouri has already proven it belongs with the big boys.

“They played for the [SEC] championship last year, so I think [they have adjusted],” UCF coach George O’Leary said. “They have the talent and the coaching. I think they did very, very well in the SEC. They have kids that can play SEC football.

“I’ve always been a big believer in playing a great out of conference schedule. I think it’s very important today that you do well in those games. Not being a member of  a Power Five conference I think you’ve go out out, play competition like that. That’s how you get better.”

UCF won the AAC championship last season, then went on to defeat Big 12 champ Baylor 52-42 in the Fiesta Bowl. That earned O’Leary’s team its first top 10 ranking when the Knights came in 10th in the final AP poll. UCF opened this season with a 26-24 loss to Penn State in Dublin.

There are eight SEC teams in the AP Top 25 this week, including Missouri at No.20.

JOIN THE FUN, BEARCATS

It is week No. 3 of the college football season. If you are wondering why you haven’t heard much about ACC preseason favorite Cincinnati in a while, it could be because the Bearcats haven’t played a game yet.

Coach Tommy Tuberville’s team opens at home Friday night with Toledo providing the opposition.

“Well we had a party this morning,” Tuberville said Monday. “We’re excited about being back.We thought people forgot about us.

“It’s been an unusual [preseason] camp. Our guys are tired of hittin’ on each other. We’ve had to be very imaginative of how to make this thing work. It is what it is.”

JUST THE FACTS

Boise State (1-1) comes to Rentschler Field Saturday to play UConn after piling up 676 yards in a 37-24 victory over Colorado State Saturday night.  UConn has 578 yards total offense in two games. Running back Jay Ajayl has rushed 53 times for 305 yards. Quarterback Grant Hedrick has completed 58 of 79 passes for three touchdowns and 616 yards. He has been sacked five times and intercepted five times.

“This week, everybody understands the challenge,” UConn coach Bob Diaco said. “We’ve got an offensive juggernaught coming to town in Boise State. Fast moving, fast paced … It’s fast moving, fast paced, fast athletes [on] offense that creates a major problem for the defense. So that will be a fun challenge for the defense all week, to get ready and prepare for that.”

Coach Bryan Harsin said Monday that Hendrik has not shown any ill effects from a a hit to the head in the Colorado State game. Hedrick was slow to get up and was examined by trainers, then cleared to return. “Grant was in today watching some film, studying,” Harsin said, according to the Idaho Statesman.

Matt Miller broke a school record with eight receptions against Colorado State.

Starting cornerback Cleshawn Page will not play against UConn because of an injury suffered in the Colorado State game. Starting left tackle Rees Odhiambo is questionable.

 

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