$10 million lures Jones to SMU

June Jones tells Colt Brennan to "snap out of it." (Photo credit: AP)

As if this Cinderella season for Hawaii fans couldn't come to a worse conclusion (see: 41-10 Sugar Bowl loss), head coach June Jones resigned last weekend to return to the mainland and assume the head coaching position at SMU, vacated by Phil Bennett.

Emotional pleas from Hawaiians, fans, and even Hawaii governor Linda Lingle were not able to sway Jones -- nor could a proposed $1,500,000 annual salary. What really seems to be the issue at hand here are the university's abysmal facilities. Vocal criticism of the facilities came from star quarterback Colt Brennan last year, initially raising some eyebrows. Having spent two months on the Manoa campus myself, I would probably admit that as much as I enjoyed it there, the university and the state could probably afford to step it up a bit and refurbish some of the buildings and classrooms on campus -- although I'll admit I never was in the athletic facilities. Despite reports that university officials pledged to approve the football facilities, Jones still said aloha.

So what does Jones get in return for bolting for SMU? Well, for starters, he gets far more superior facilities to work with and, oh yeah, how about $2,000,000 a year for five years? Woof. Jones also inherits a football team that went 1-11 last year, including an 0-8 record in Conference USA play, that is still reeling from the death penalty that the NCAA dealt them 20 years ago. Restoration is Jones' speciality, though -- he left the NFL in 1999 to take on a 0-12 Hawaii team, made the greatest turnaround in college football history (won 9 games), and lead them to 6 bowl games (4-2), culminating in a WAC title and a Sugar Bowl berth. So, maybe in this case, everybody wins.

Well, except for Hawaii, that is. You have to be awfully discouraged if you're a Warrior fan. You get embarrassed on national television by Mark Richt, your record-breaking quarterback is graduating, and now you lose your high-profile coach and QB guru. Now on top of all this, your athletic director is suddenly out of a job. At least next year was looking slightly optimistic, as Tyler Graunke was ready to step in and take the reins of the Warrior offense. But with June Jones jumping ship, their conference hopes could be shaky at best. And where do you start the season next year? In Gainesville, Florida.

Now it becomes a question of who can Hawaii hire with a decent salary, but shoddy athletic facilities. I'd be surprised if the Warriors don't make an internal hire here.

And since when could Conference USA teams afford to pay their coaches $10 million over the course of five years?