June Jones and Southern Methodist University on the opponent sideline when the University of Hawai'i football team opens its 2009 season at Aloha Stadium?

It is one of the more interesting possibilities in play as the Warriors begin the search for a new opening game opponent for 2009, following a switch with Navy.

Three years ago, Navy contracted to open UH's 2009 season with a Sept. 5 game at Aloha Stadium. But UH athletic director Jim Donovan said yesterday that he has reached an agreement with Navy that will allow the Midshipmen to move the game to Nov. 21, 2009 instead. Navy is coached by former UH quarterback and assistant coach Ken Niumatalolo.

The switch came after Ohio State, which had a change in its scheduled, offered Navy a reported $1.4 million, according to USA Today, to go to Columbus on Sept. 5, 2009 The $1.4 million is one of the largest guarantees on record in college football.

UH, for example, is contracted to receive $600,000 for its Aug. 30, 2008, opener at Florida.

Donovan said UH is talking "to several schools" about filling one of the two UH openings for 2009 — Sept. 5 or Dec. 5 — and confirmed that SMU is among them.

"Both sides are taking a look at it," Donovan said. "June is very supportive."

Jones, who coached at UH for nine season and won more games (76-41) than any Warriors' coach in the all-college era, left Hawai'i in January for SMU.

Jones and UH are in mediation and possibly headed for binding arbitration on whether he will have to pay $400,008 for leaving prior to the June 30, 2008, expiration of his last contract.

Donovan said, "Coach (Greg) McMackin is behind it (a game with SMU) and the UH fans would love it."

Earlier, SMU officials had said it could be a decade or more before the two schools could play because the Mustangs have full schedules. But Jones and UH have reminded Mustangs' officials about the potential for a 13th game if they play in Hawai'i. The NCAA has a 12-game regular-season limit except for UH and teams that play the Warriors here. The extra game exemption was allowed more than 40 years ago to encourage teams to play UH.