Observer contributing photographer Brian Harkin contributes the photos for USA Today's stories today on SMU and head football man June Jones, who figures he can get the Mustangs to a BCS bowl within the next five years. (Optimism tastes just like pineapple!) There's also the piece headlined: "SMU spends big again while hoping to avoid mistakes of '80s." Which features this quote from SMU president Gerald R. Turner concerning Jones' $10 million salary, which he'll collect during that five-year window:
"Is it more [money] than what you ever would have thought a coach at SMU would have been making four or five years ago? The answer is yes," Turner says. "Is it within the context that would emphasize institutional control? The answer is absolutely yes."And now, it might be a good time to remind you of this headline from the Daily Campus back in April: "SMU athletics deficit $56.7 million over four years." No reason. --Robert Wilonsky