HONOLULU — SMU coach June Jones felt and looked right at home when he walked into Aloha Stadium.

Dressed in slacks and flip flops, he strolled down a corridor where portraits of Hawaii’s biggest stars hung on the wall, most of them players that Jones coached during an eight-year tenure that made him so popular in paradise that some suggested he run for governor. When Jones left a news conference for the Hawaii Bowl, he flashed the “Hang Loose” symbol to faces he has seen for years.

Never mind that Fresno State knows this island and stadium from playing at Hawaii every other year in the Mountain West Conference. Or that the Bulldogs, who have won their last five games by an average of 26 points, are favored by nearly two touchdowns against SMU on Christmas Eve.

Jones has ample reason to feel the Hawaii Bowl is a home game.

“Coming into the stadium it sure does,” Jones said. “We’re in the same locker room. I know where everybody is. I recognize all the workers.”

Jones will be coaching for the 75th time in Aloha Stadium when his Mustangs (6-6) face Fresno State (9-3) in the Hawaii Bowl. He hasn’t lost in this stadium since Oregon State beat Hawaii on Dec. 2, 2006. Hawaii had a perfect regular season in 2007, and then Jones bolted for SMU.

SMU, which had gone 25 years without a bowl game dating to its NCAA penalty, ended that drought when Jones brought it to the Hawaii Bowl in 2009 .