Thought we'd see a lot -- and I mean a lot -- of this in 2008. Thought wrong.

I’ll have much more on this in next week’s column in the dead-tree version of The Sportatorium, but it commands addressing right here and right about now.

Justin Willis won’t be SMU’s starting quarterback next Friday when the June Jones era kicks off at Rice. And the reason isn’t another suspension.

Nope, despite entering his junior season already holding SMU’s all-time record with 51 touchdown passes, despite last year being voted All-Conference USA honorable mention, despite producing four of the top 15 most prolific total yardage games in school history, despite starting 22 of the Mustangs’ 24 games over the last two years and despite being the team’s most athletic, most talented, most experienced quarterback and arguably its best overall player, Willis has somehow been beaten out of the job.

Twice.

By true freshmen.

More

SMU’s basketball team is back safely and successfully from its summer camp in Africa. If you’re interested, head coach Matt Doherty will provide details tonight at 8 on KRLD 1080 AM.

I don’t expect an explanation of the above video, which seems to be SMU football players dancing. But I’d like one.

Anyone? -- Richie Whitt

Wonder if SMU AD Steve Orsini has an extra $400k laying around. Just in case.

SMU football coach June Jones is going back to Hawaii. Relax. It’s just so he can avoid re-paying his former employer a cool $400,000.

The University of Hawaii thinks Jones owes it the cash – half his annual paycheck while turning the Warriors from bitch-slapees to BCS big boys – for terminating his five-year contract before its June 30 expiration date. Jones, making a healthy $2 million on The Hilltop, disagrees, claiming he had a legally amended agreement with former athletic director Herman Frazier that waived the penalty. The AD was fired the day after Jones left Hawaii for SMU.

Since Jones’ agent, Leigh Steinberg, promises he has detailed emails from Frazier about the agreement and since such changes are allowed under UH rules, SMU’s boss seems in the clear. Mediation is set for June 9th in Honolulu.

Expect Jones to win. After all, he’s no dummy.

More

David Stanley

When you think Penn State football, it’s Joe Paterno. Texas? Gotta go with Earl Campbell. Boise State? Blue astroturf. Boston College? Doug Flutie’s Hail Mary in the Orange Bowl. SMU?

Hmmm. Can I phone a friend?

In a confusing-yet-intriguing promo, CBS College Sports TV is somehow, I think, teaming up with ESPN SportsNation to identify the Face of the Program for all college football schools. With some, pinpointing an iconic image is a no-brainer. With our heroes on The Hilltop, however, CSTV/CBS/ESPN apparently needs a little help.

Mark ... get set ... jump for My Top 10:

More

class="blogImageCaption">Longest road trip in Mustangs' history?

If ZZ Top can appear on American Idol, I guess anything’s possible. Even SMU’s basketball team embarking on an African Tour.

The squad, led by head coach Matt Doherty, leaves Sunday for a 12-day trip to Senegal and South Africa. Why? Good will. Recruiting. Opponents they can actually beat.

SMU, including Senegalese players Bamba Fall and Papa Dia, took an anthropology class called People of Africa and will keep online journals of their trip. They’ll take tours of Johannesburg, zip past Nelson Mandela’s house and go on a safari in Dakar. Oh yeah, they’ll also play three exhibition games before returning June 5.

More

The NCAA might wipe off the SMU dust and fire up ol' Sparky one more time.

Since the NCAA sentenced SMU’s football program to the death penalty 22 years ago, the organization has admitted its error by pardoning more than 30 schools that committed similarly egregious violations.

Thanks to Division I-AA Alabama State, that might be about to change.

The Montgomery, Ala. school committed a cool 668 violations, according to a five-year NCAA investigation. The governing body also found the dreaded “lack of institutional control” that most experts believe got SMU the chair.

Not a big deal, I know, but somehow seeing another school similarly penalized would make the Mustangs feel better, right?

More