Deep in Aloha Stadium after SMU's landmark 45-10 win Thursday night in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, the celebration still going strong back in the locker room, coach June Jones was asked to compare some special seasons.

How did SMU's flip from 1-11 in 2008 to 8-5 in 2009 compare to the 1999 season at Hawaii, when Jones arrived and took the Warriors from 0-12 to 9-4 — the NCAA's best single-season turnaround ever?

"This was a little harder to turn than what we did here in Hawaii," Jones said. "I'm just really proud of the kids because they just hung in there, believed in each other, played together, learned how to love each other."

Jones has said that in his system, it's the players — his players — who teach the ways of the program to each other. Therefore, when he took over at SMU, it took that first season to make the Mustangs his own.

Now, with a roster loaded with underclassmen, notching the biggest turnaround in the nation this season and coming off a dominant performance against Nevada in the bowl, that transformation appears complete. The cycle can continue.

"Coach Jones has already turned the program around," senior receiver Emmanuel Sanders said, "but he's going to take it to Top 25."

Sanders, who owns the school's career receiving records, will be one of a handful of key players who the Mustangs will miss next season. Others include center Mitch Enright, safety Rock Dennis, cornerback Bryan McCann and linebacker Chase Kennemer, who became the heart of this season's defense.

Running back Shawnbrey McNeal, a 1,000-yard rusher after becoming eligible on only the day before the season opener, is debating his return because of his family situation.

But look at who's coming back.

Quarterback Kyle Padron, who threw for a school-record 460 yards in the bowl, is just completing his freshman season. And SMU coaches expect that position to become only deeper — and are happy with their incoming recruiting class, their third at SMU.

Aside from Enright, all of the starters on the offensive and defensive lines return.

Receivers such as Aldrick Robinson, Terrance Wilkerson and Cole Beasley will have to continue to improve with the loss of Sanders.

McNeal pointed out Thursday that Jones preaches making football fun. The Mustangs had a ton of it in Hawaii — and more could be in store.

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