Jan. 12, 2010

DALLAS (SMU) - It has been almost three weeks since SMU's 45-10 win over Nevada in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, and the honors and media mentions keep rolling in for the Mustangs and Head Coach June Jones. The latest honors come from CollegeFootballNews.com, which named Jones its Coach of the Bowl Season and offensive lineman J.T. Brooks to its All-Bowl Team and ranked Kyle Padron's 460-yard, two-touchdown performance the eighth-best among all players in the post-season. A fill list of CFN's honors is available here.

After finishing the year with their best record in a quarter century and posting the largest margin of victory in any bowl game, the Mustangs received a vote in the final USA TODAY Coaches Poll and have made news nationwide. Among the media mentions in the past week are:

Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com - "Pony-ing up: In June Jones' second year, the Mustangs won eight games, beat Nevada in the bowl and emerged as a possible favorite next year in Conference USA."

The Sporting News - "If true freshman Kyle Padron can throw for 460 yards and two touchdowns in just his seventh collegiate start, I think June Jones' offense might turn SMU into a terror in short order..."

Orlando Sentinel: "2010 BCS busters? Don't forget about SMU, which loses two players off an offense that figures to be one of the highest scoring in 2010. June Jones made big strides in 2009... He's one year ahead of schedule, so that means much bigger things for the upcoming season..."

Richard Cirminiello, CollegeFootballNews.com: "Who's hot coming off the bowl season? Honestly, all things SMU..."

For fans wanting to hear more, the Mustang Club Bowl Wrap-Up Event with Coach Jones is set for Wednesday, Jan. 20, at noon at the Radisson Hotel (6060 North Central Expressway). Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. and the cost to attend is $15. Fans should RSVP by noon on Friday, Jan. 15, to kmaiella@smu.edu if planning on attending.