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SMU coach June Jones: 'Have-not' programs should play in spring

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The NCAA announced plans Friday for a new governance structure in Division I that could widen the separation between schools in the five power conferences and those in smaller leagues.

RICKMAN: NCAA releases new governance model with focus on Power Five autonomy

In that case, SMU head coach June Jones has an idea for the smaller programs: play in the spring.

"I think the have-nots should go ahead and move to the spring just like the USFL did. I think that there's an opportunity to do a complete other side of that division, and I think that if we don't think that way as a group of have-nots, we're going to get left behind," Jones told Tampa, Fla., radio station WDAE (via NFL.com). "I can see in five-to-seven years, possibly, the public would demand to have the two leagues play, just like I think the USFL had in mind, originally, of the winner of the USFL playing the winner of the National Football League."

Jones is familiar with the USFL, having spent two season as an assistant coach in the league. Jones has been coaching football for over 30 years.

The SMU job is his second college head coaching position. Jones was the head coach of Hawaii from 1999-2007. 

The USFL lasted only three seasons, between 1983 and 1985. 

- Dan Gartland