Posted by: Josh Kendall on December 11, 2012

SMU coach June Jones has marched to his own beat as a head coach whether it be in the NFL or setting passing records at Hawaii, and this statement from Monday night certainly qualifies him as an outlier among college coaches.

"I have said my feeling about spring ball before, it's very overrated," Jones said.

Jones was explaining why he's happy to have several of his football players moonlighting with the basketball team this season to help out first-year hoops coach Larry Brown.

"At least, it'll give them some depth if they get in trouble," Jones said.

Jones did not explain why he thought spring practice was not a vital part of the preparation process.

The Mustangs will play Fresno State in the Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 24. For most teams, that would mean fun in the sun and the surf. Not for the SMU, though. Jones' time as Hawaii's head coach has made him well aware of the state's hidden dangers, and that means no getting in the water, no mopeds and lots of sunscreen for the Mustangs. Not exactly spring break conditions.

"No. 1, you don't go in the water because you will cut your feet on the corral," Jones said. "The sun, even though you think it's not as hot, it's different over there. I can't tell you how many kids that we used to play that couldn't even put on their shoulder pads because their shoulders were blistered. And no mopeds."

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Josh Kendall is a staff writer for CoachingSearch.com and has covered the SEC for more than 15 years for papers such as the Athens Banner-Herald, Macon Telegraph, and The State. He’s the father of two boys who he’s hoping don’t inherit his wide receiver frame and offensive guard feet. Follow @EyeOnCoaches on twitter and send your feedback to josh@coachingsearch.com