Sunday, April 29, 2007

Quote about Ikaika from a Detroit paper

Detroit GM Millen said about Ikaika:
"That's not to say you're disappointed with the players you took. Those are good football players. But the fact that people don't know who Ikaika Alama-Francis is, they'll find out." (Detroit Free Press)

Some notes about the draft

Interesting note about Reagan. He's been drafted to be their "FB of the future." Miami signed a 13-year vet (he was the FB at Detroit last year) and want Reagan to take over the starting job eventually. So, they have big plans for Reagan!

Quote from Reagan:
"I played nose guard before I went to fullback," said Mauia. "I was big back then, about 351 [pounds]. I ended up converting to fullback and played last year at 290, 300. I recently decided to make the move to lose more weight so I could be more effective on the next level." (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)


By the way, Samson and Mauia will probably someday be protecting Miami's "QB of the future" that they took in the 2nd round...the QB from BYU. Having UH linemen picked to protect a BYU QB is interesting to me, because I grew up hoping that every BYU QB would be knocked around by the defense. See: Detmer after he won the Heisman and got really "congratulated" by the UH D.



The LA Times has short mentions of each draft pick.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/football/nfl/la-spw-roundtwo29apr29,1,3035688.story?page=6&coll=la-headlines-sports-nfl

About Ikaika:


Francis is the son of former Green Bay quarterback Joe Francis, who played behind Bart Starr in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Jerry Glanville, Hawaii's defensive coordinator, called Francis "the most talented defensive lineman I've ever coached."


About Samson:


Satele holds the school record with 53 consecutive starts. That streak was the longest among all active players in the NCAA Division I-A ranks in 2006.



Nice bio of Samson in the Miami Herald.

http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=miami2&page=nfl/draft/2007/bio.aspx?p=6525


Moved to center as a senior because of a team need at the position...One of the premier interior pass protectors at the collegiate level...2005 & 2006 First Team All-WAC performer...Held his main assignment to zero tackles in seven of the 14 games that Hawaii played in '06...Started all 53 games that he played at UH...177 career knockdown blocks, including 65 as a senior...As steady a performer as there is in this draft...Thick build with low center of gravity makes it difficult to be pushed backward...Great balance and quickness for a big man...Plays with the type of mean streak that coaches love...An emotional leader who works exceptionally hard...One of the most underrated players in this draft...Could be a true steal.



It looks like the Dolphins shuffled their starting offensive line after they picked Samson, replacing their starting LT (with their starting RT) and possibly moving their starting RG to RT. That seems to possibly open a starting RG spot for Samson. Of particular interest to me is that the Dolphins didn't shuffle their OL around until after they picked Samson.


Cameron woke up the weary media when in his first-day draft wrap-up he announced that incumbent starting right tackle Vernon Carey is now the left tackle. Does that mean L.J. Shelton moves from right guard to right tackle? Or possibly newcomer Mike Rosenthal?

Samson, who by the way has shoulder-length hair and laughed at the suggestion that one should never cut Samson's hair, could step in and give Joe Toledo a tussle for a guard spot.


If we compare UH's draft with the Pac-10, WAC and MWC results, things are very impressive right now. It looks like UH had more draft picks in the first 2 rounds than 9 of the 10 teams in the Pac-10 and ALL of the teams in the MWC and WAC.

When you consider that Colt would have definitely been drafted in the 1st 2 rounds and Rivers might have been also, UH's total could have been even more impressive. Next year with Colt, Rivers, and maybe another player or two, UH will have another impressive top of the draft.



If ESPN is correct, Detroit sure wanted to get Ikaika. To get New Orleans' 58th pick, Detroit gave up their 66th pick and a 5th round pick.

So, to move up 8 spots in the draft, they gave up a 5th round pick. If they hadn't wanted Ikaika so much they would have just kept their pick and hoped he was still there at #66.

Quotes about Samson and Ikaika being drafted

About his reaction to being drafted, Ikaika said:
"I just broke down. I couldn't save any tears. It was an amazing thing." (HA)


About his reaction to being drafted, Samson said:
"After I talked to the Miami guy, I saw my dad and gave him a big hug. And then everything just came out. All of my tears just came out. It took me an hour to recover." (HA)


Not being overconfident after projections had said he'd be drafted on Saturday (rounds 1-3), Samson said:
"You never know." (HA)


About his anticipation for the draft, Samson said:
"I couldn't sleep. I stayed up more than 24 hours. I drove around at 4 o'clock in the morning. I went to Fast Stop and got a couple of Red Bulls. I thought (the draft) started at 5. It started at 6. I had to wait another hour." (HA)


About how Ikaika couldn't take the tension of watching the draft, his father Joe Francis (who played for the Packers) said:
"I turned around, and he was gone. I said, 'Where's Ikaika?' They told me he had to leave." (HA)


About how he went to the driving range with former UH punter Kurt Milne during the draft, Ikaika said:
"I was going crazy, man. I had to do something. I couldn't take it anymore." (HA)


About how his cell phone rang soon after he got to the driving range, Ikaika said:
"It was a 313 number. I thought, 'This could be it.' I answered the phone, and the voice on the other end said: 'Welcome to the Motor City.' I started going crazy. I started screaming and yelling. And then I started giving away my golf balls. I just bought a bucket and I'm like, 'I don't care.' " (HA)


About watching the draft, Samson said:
"It was nerve-wracking. I had my hat down low. My pillow was covering my face. I tried not to look at the TV. I was sitting there for a long time. It was a long wait." (HA)


About how there was a slight panic when ESPN's draft coverage ended, until they realized that the coverage had moved to ESPN2, Samson said:
"All we had to do was click the channel button, and everything was better." (HA)


About being drafted by the Dolphins, Samson said:
"I know I have a lot of work to do, but I'm so happy I was drafted. It's so hard to explain." (HA)

"I am speechless right now. I am so happy for Ikaika and I'm praying for our other boys (to be drafted). Anywhere would have been good, but I was pretty sure it was going to be Miami. They had the most interest and I love their coach. I've never been there, but I think it will be easy to get used to." (HSB)


Ikaika, who will report to Detroit's mini-camp on Thursday, talked about being drafted:
"It's a dream come true. I never thought I'd be in this position. Never. I mean, what do you know? I'm in the National Football League. Me. Unbelievable." (HA)


About how Detroit always plays on Thanksgiving, Ikaika said:
"Happy Thanksgiving." (HA)


Samson, who will leave on Thursday for the Dolphins' introductory dinner and stay for mini-camp, said about going to Miami:
"It's going to be a fun ride from now on. I'm going to make my way around Miami and try to find Shaq." (HA)


Samson's agent Leo Goeas (former UH and NFL lineman) said about the draft:
"After Kalil got picked, I texted Larry with 'Miami.' Then came the call (from the Dolphins) and then his name flashed. He was the first from our company to go (in the draft). There was a lot of jubilation and cheering here. I thought it was really cool that he and Ikaika were so close together. He's such a great kid whose potential is untapped." (HSB)


About the draft, Goeas said:
"I think Dane should be the next of my guys to go, probably fourth, fifth round. But the draft is never a perfect science. Esera is right up there and Mel and Nate should go sixth, seventh round. I remember what it was like, the stress of waiting, watching, seeing the clips of players then all of a sudden your phone rings and there's someone saying, 'We just took you.' Sixty seconds it's on TV." (HSB)

HSB note: "When watching yesterday, Goeas noticed something else. Both he and Satele were the 60th pick overall on their respective draft days, Goeas going to San Diego in 1990 early in the third round. But the bonus money is a world apart 17 years later. Goeas said he signed for $127,000, while Satele is expecting around $1.1 million."


About the expected $1.4 mil he'll get as a signing bonus, Ikaika said:
"I'm going to stash it away. I'll take care of my family, of course. Having that amount of money ... I just want it to be the start of something good." (HSB)


Happy about how Ikaika and Samson were taken in the 2nd round, JJ said:
"I'm really excited for them and their families. I was hoping they'd go first or second round. And to have them drafted so close to each other got our program a lot of play on ESPN. Sam is going to be a great player. Ikaika is very physical and is only going to get better. I think we've got at least four more with a shot Sunday." (HSB)


About how he watched the draft and is hopeful for his prospects, Nate Ilaoa said:
"I'm doing OK. I'm happy for my teammates, a little surprised about their teams, but happy for them. I'm hoping for the best. I'll wait and see." (HSB)

Quotes from Reagan Mauia from before the draft

I thank Tombo for finding this article from the Lodi News-Sentinel and posting about it on The Warrior Beat. By the way, if you haven't visisted Tombo's blog you are missing the best fan-generated UH Football site that I know of. The link is on the right and the address is uhfootball.blogspot.com.


Asked if he thought he would be drafted, Mauia said:
"Sure, I think I'll be drafted. I've taken a couple of visits and been in contact with teams. I've visited Miami, Arizona and the Chargers. I would love to go down to Miami and play for the Dolphins. They've shown the most interest in me. Or San Diego. I would love to be under the tutelage of (Chargers fullback) Lorenzo Neal before he retires." (LNS)


Asked what he planned to do during the draft, Mauia said:
"Go to the beach or work out. I don't think I can watch. I'm not expected to be drafted, but I'm hoping for the best. I would love to get drafted. I've been fighting an uphill battle all my life. But I don't think I'll watch. I'll work out in the morning and then go to the beach. But I'll have my phone on." (LNS)


Asked if switching from DL to RB was good for his potential NFL career, Mauia said:
"I believe it was the best move. Coach (June) Jones and I decided to go for it. In the league, physical defensive lineman go about 6-2 and around 300 pounds. Some are as tall as 6-6. (Mauia is 6-0 and currently weighs 270 pounds.) I want to be on the field wherever a coach feels he can use me." (LNS)

Note: In hindsight JJ was right once again, just like with Ikaika.


Asked about his weight, Mauia said:
"The most I ever weighed was 380, right after a season. I was lifting hard, not running, eating a lot and sitting on my butt.

I came in at 350 pounds at Hawaii. When I moved to fullback I started to lose weight. I played at about 330 the last couple of games in 2005. I was moving OK but thought I could be more powerful playing at a lighter weight. In 2006, I showed up at spring ball weighing 284 pounds. I played my senior season at about 290.

During my pro day workouts (when a school's draft prospects work out in front of NFL scouts) I weighed in at 270. They thought I could move well, so there's no need to be any lighter." (LNS)


Asked what was the most he's eaten in one sitting, Mauia said:
"I don't know. Last year my roommate dared me to eat a triple Whopper and a double Whopper from Burger King. I did it. I got sick afterwards, but I won the bet. He dared me and I don't back down." (LNS)


Asked if he had any nicknames, Mauia said:
"They call me Juggernaut (from the movie X-Men) around here." (LNS)


Asked who was his favorite NFL player and why, Mauia said:
"I'd have to say Lorenzo Neal. He's just a hard-working animal. He's peaking in his later years. He's in his prime right now. He's a beast. I would love to take his spot and continue the fullback tradition, that old-school, hit-you-in-the-mouth football." (LNS)


Asked how his young son motivates him, Mauia said:
"My son is my biggest motivation. He's changed the way I look at life. He made realize there's more to life than just living and dying. He made me a better man. I was just a boy before he came along. I've matured. I've learned to walk away from fights. It's the greatest gift a man could ever ask for." (LNS)


Asked what he would do if the NFL doesn't work out, Mauia said:
"I'd love to finish my degree and be a juvenile counselor back in the 209 area code.

Growing up I had a lot of conflicts and a lot of people were counselors to me. I would love to give back and help other people do good.

My greatest counselor in high school was coach (John) Hunt. I gave him hell, but he was kept helping me and guiding me down right path

I owe a lot to him. His family is like family to me." (LNS)


Asked what would be his first purchase if he made it to the NFL, Mauia said:
"I'd probably move my parents from where they are now and get them a nice place. Get them in a safer neighborhood and closer to me. My parents took care of me. Now I want to give back." (LNS)

Quotes about the new Warrior Defense

GM said that the Warrior defense:
"will be a blitzing team. If you were to put our philosophy into words, it's an attacking, swarming defense that gang tackles and makes big plays with emotion." (HA)


About how he was able to implement most of his 4-3 defense this Spring, GM said:
"We have smart, coachable players, and they learned everything quickly." (HA)

"We've got in more than we did the first time I was here. These guys are really smart players and have done a great job of picking up things. I'm really excited about this bunch. I threw a lot at them." (HSB)


About how they might blitz on every play, GM said:
"We're going to go 11 up and go after some people." (HA)


About how he developed his aggressive philopsophy while the defensive coordinator at Miami, GM said:
"That came from Jimmy Johnson, trying to get the fastest guys on the field to make plays. Size is the big thing for our two tackles, but everything else is speed. And our tackles can run, too. The main thing is coach (June) Jones allows us to blitz, which a lot of coaches don't." (HA)


Praising their DEs (Noa, Purcell, Clore, Veikune, Maka), GM said:
"They're perfect in this package. They can all run. They can pass rush. They're all around 250, 260 pounds." (HA)


About how the starting LBs can stay on the field when they go to the 3-3-5 Okie defense, GM said:
"It gives us an advantage when our linebackers don't have to leave the field." (HA)

Note: The nickleback replaces a DT in that scheme.


Praising Patek, GM said:
"He's learned how to go to the football. He's doing great." (HA)


About how they picked up GM's defense well this Spring, Patek said:
"We got everything done that was on the agenda, and even more than what Coach wanted to put in because we handled it so well. I think we're going to start off on the right foot and build from there." (HSB)


About how he'll spend the next 2 weeks meeting 1-on-1 with each defensive player, GM said:
"I want to get to know all of them a little better." (HA)

Note: I love that GM will take the time to meet with each player individually!


About how he's at UH to stay, GM said:
"I'm going to be here as long as June is here. I'm not going anywhere." (HA)


Asked what he'd do if another school offered him a lucrative deal, GM said:
"If something came up, I'm going to stay right here with June Jones. Fortunately (Texas Tech and the 49ers) did give me a lot of money, and now I'm not as concerned about money. Back then, I had to do that. Now I don't have to do that. I like it here. I love June Jones. I think he's the best coach in the country." (HA)

Quotes from the Spring Ohana Gathering

Asked what he meant when he said he liked the person he was becoming in Hawaii when he decided to stay at UH for his senior season, Colt said:
"I think for me, I came here in kind of such crisis in my life, at a time when I was in such crisis, and just trying to grow up and become a man, and mature and everything. I came here kind of as still a kid, I was still growing up. And now I feel kind of like I've had a couple years where I've been kind of in the spotlight, and really have grown up a lot. And as I've been growing up, I just like the person -- kind of the morals and the values that Hawaii has, that's good about it, I kind of like those. I'm really just enjoying the person I'm becoming out here in Hawaii. Not just only as a football player, but as a person as well." (HSB)


About how they accomplished their goals for Spring Practice, JJ said:
"We got done what we set out to do this spring, looked at a lot of guys. We wanted to make sure we gave everybody an opportunity." (HSB)


About the line of fans waiting for his autograph, Colt said:
"It was crazy, but obviously if that's happening you're doing something right. I was glad to see it." (HSB)


About having their Ohana Gathering at Aloha Stadium, JJ said:
"The kids get excited to come down to the stadium, and it's good for the fans to see a lot of the players." (HSB)


About waiting 90 minutes for Colt to sign a helmet that he says won't end up on eBay, Steve Lin said:
"It was well worth the wait. Part of something special. He's an NFL prospect and he's brought so much attention to Hawaii. Off the field he's awesome, he seemed like a really nice guy." (HSB)


About how the autograph sessions started 15 minutes early and ended 20 minutes late, Scott Tanijo (who got his jersey signed with just 5 minutes left in the extended time) said:
""I heard them talking and they said they would extend to 6:45, so I felt better." (HSB)


About how there was a long line when they cut off the autograph session, associate AD John McNamara said:
"I think this type of event clearly demonstrated the interest in this year's football team, so as successful as this event was we're going to have other opportunities for the fans to come out and meet the players. It was really important for us that we do something that was a way to reach out to the community and allow them to really embrace this year's football team." (HSB)


Lynn Davis talked about how her 7-year-old son Justin's first UH game at Aloha Stadium was the Purdue game:
"It got him fired up and now he wants to go to every game." (HA)


Justin's Dad Kevin said abuot the autographs given out at the Gathering:
"I think it's great that (UH) is doing this. It's nice to get out, and the kids can get up close to their favorite football players." (HA)


Lester Kaichi of Aiea said about Colt:
"When I saw Colt at the news conference (announcing his decision to return to UH), by the look on his face I didn't think he was coming back. I was really surprised and happy." (HA)


Jennifer Stevens (33) talked about why she and her son Jeremy (9) didn't mind waiting for an hour for Colt's autograph:
"We have our reasons." (HA)

"I think he's hot. I'm not into football but with a guy like Colt, I think you can bring more females into the game." (HA)


Asked why he liked Colt, Jeremy said:
"Who?" (HA)


Prompted (by his Mom) that Colt was the player he always watches, Jeremy said:
"Oh. He's my favorite player." (HA)


Kevin Lopez talked about how his daughter Brandi (7) is a fan of Colt:
"She likes Colt. She says he's her boyfriend." (HA)


Kaena Gascon (14) predicted for UH:
"Win the WAC." (HA)


Happy they got to meet the fans, Soloman Eliminian said:
"I think it's great. It's fun for us to get to know the fans before the season." (HA)


While signing autographs with his injured right hand Tyler Graunke said:
"It's getting a little sore." (HA)


Asked who was the more valuable off-season retention, he or Colt, Bob Nash said:
"I think it's Colt. I'll put the pressure on him." (HA)

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Early Quotes about Samson and Ikaika after Day 1 of the NFL draft

Asked about his shoulder-length hair, Samson said:
"I've been growing it out since I was a little kid." (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)


About run blocking, Samson said:
"The more reps I do, the more feeling I get back because I did it a lot in high school. I want to be the best player out here. ... I'm going to be a rookie, but I'm not going to play like a rookie or practice like a rookie." (SFSS)


About how his personality changes on the field, Samson said:
"I'm a humble guy off the field. Once I step on the field for practice and games, I just turn into a different guy." (SFSS)


About competing for playing time during his rookie year, Samson said:
"I want to be the best player out there. They picked me, so I'm going to bust my buns. I'm not going to be a rookie. I mean, I'm going to be a rookie but I'm not going to play like a rookie or practice like a rookie. I've going to be a vet out there, like I've been in the league. I'm just going to bring everything I've got." (SFSS)


Praising Dolphins' OL coach Hudson Houk, Samson said:
"He's a great coach. He worked me out at my Pro Day. I fell in love with the coach … I love to play center. But if he wants me to move to guard, I'll move to guard." (SFSS)


About Ikaika, Lions GM Matt Millen said:
“His best stuff is coming. He hasn’t played a lot of football, but what he has played has been impressive.” (Detroit Free Press)


Jerry Glanville called Ikaika:
"the most talented defensive lineman I've ever coached." (LA Times)

Spring Training Position Analysis and Galdeira as the Nickel Back

HA Note about the breakdown of special team responsibilities:
"Jeff Reinebold will be in charge of the punt team. George Lumpkin will be in charge of the punt-return unit. Dennis McKnight will handle the place-kicking units, and team with Rich Miano on kickoff returns and kick coverage. McMackin will be in charge of the place-kick defense."


About how they have completed the training portion of Spring Training, JJ said:
"We've done everything we wanted to do." (HA)


Pleased with the progress the team has made learning his system, GM said:
"We made a lot of improvement. I've thrown a lot at these guys, and we still have a lot more to go. But where we are right now, I'm really pleased." (HA)


About the candidates for the starting right wideout spot, WR coach Ron Lee said:
"C.J. did a good job this spring, and Malcolm got better. It's between those two guys at the Z (right wideout)." (HA)


Ron Lee also praised wideout Dylan Linkner, saying that he:
"had a really good spring, too." (HA)


About all of the receivers, Ron Lee singled out a walk on:
"Jon Medeiros could be a surprise." (HA)


GM said that Guyton Galdeira is a good fit at nickel back:
"And we blitz our nickel a lot." (HSB)

"I started working Guyton there and he's been great, and two other guys. Keao (Monteilh), and (Ryan) Perry. They're all the same kind of guys," he added. "Smart guys who can blitz, who can do different techniques. Good athletes." (HSB)


About how he went to Bess for recommendations for their nickel back position:
"He kinda helped make up my mind on that. I asked him, 'Who are the best corners?' Because I like a corner being the nickel back. So he named off the first four guys, and I said, 'OK, I'm looking for a guy who can blitz like a wild man, cover and be technically sound, and is smart, because he's got to play a linebacker technique, corner technique, safety technique.' He said, 'Oh, that's Guyton.'" (HSB)


About his chance at significant playing time, Galdeira said:
"I'm most definitely excited about this, and I've been working hard, ever since the beginning. My only downfall is my height. But (McMackin) sees something in me, so I'm going to work even harder this summer, on my speed, on my jumping ability. Nickel's a pretty big package for Coach, so hopefully I can fill that spot." (HSB)

Friday, April 27, 2007

Quotes from the final regular day of Spring Practice (Week 4 Day 4)

Ferd had a great note in the Advertiser today:
"Of all the marks UH set last year — and there were 28 NCAA records that fell to the Warriors — this was the most remarkable. Milne's inactivity blew away one of the oldest existing NCAA standards — and not just by a little. The previous mark was two punts per game, set by Nevada in 1949, according to an NCAA spokesman." (HA)


Nervous about the draft, Samson Satele said:
"I'm usually a calm person. But I'm telling you, I'm so nervous I can't even sleep at night." (HA)

Note: At least Samson and Ikaika shouldn't have to wait until Sunday to find out if they will be drafted...


About not reading the mock drafts or internet reports, Samson said:
"I took a peek once, and it got me kind of mad. All they do is talk, talk, talk." (HA)

Note: All scouts do is look for negatives in their evaluations, and they do pick over everything.


About how he lifts weights at UH from 9-11 and does running drills from 3-4:30, Samson added:
"I try to do a lot of stretching. That's what we learned when we trained in Houston." (HA)


About how all but a few NFL teams seem to want him to play center, Samson said:
"It doesn't matter to me. I'll play guard, wherever." (HA)


About how he's watched the televised draft every year, Samson said:
"Now it's finally my turn. I can't believe it. It's weird. My heart is beating faster than ever." (HA)


About how he went grocery shopping yesterday to prepare for his draft party, Samson said:
"Regular stuff for a barbecue party. It's going to be a nice family gathering. You know, I've been playing football for 15 years," he added. "The draft is hours away instead of 15 years away. It's amazing that I'm in this position. It brings tears to my eyes when I think about it." (HA)

Note: I am so happy for Samson and his family!


About the draft, Nate Ilaoa said:
"I'm just trying to lay low and relax. There's nothing I can do now. I don't plan on watching a lot, I'm just waiting to see what happens." (HSB)


About how the NFL is looking at him at DE, DT, OT, TE, and OLB, Alama-Francis said:
"Hey, I'll punt if they want me to. The more you can do, the more valuable you are. I'm ready to do whatever they want me to do. I don't have a choice, anyway." (HSB)

Note: My personal preference for Ikaika is DE, that is where I think he can best use his skills and that is a huge need (and huge $$) for NFL teams.


Asked how much of a signing bonus he got from the NFL, Ikaika's Dad Joe laughed and said:
"Such a thing didn't exist. I drove to Green Bay (from Corvallis, Ore.), paying my own way, and I negotiated a $10,000 contract for that first year. I was just excited about the chance to play pro football." (HSB)


About Ikaika, his agent Frank Bauer said:
"The thing about Ikaika is this is a big man who can run. And when you look at former basketball players, they usually don't bring the kind of force he does. On film, he looks like he played football all his life, but he doesn't have any bad habits." (HSB)


About the positive feedback he's been getting lately, Uperesa said:
"The good thing is I'm hearing from a lot of teams. Some of it is agents trying to build up competition between teams. You can't get your hopes too high or too low. I've just got to take it as excitement and nothing else." (HSB)


About Tala Esera, his agent Max Hannemann said:
"A lot of teams are calling, telling him to be ready. He's just excited to know where he will end up. With a wife and three children a lot is riding on it for a lot of people." (HSB)



Asked if he can live up to the legend of himself from the 1999 season, GM laughed and said:
"Now you've got me nervous." (HSB)


About why he left UH (for the highest-paid college assistant coach job in the country), GM said:
"It was just financially, the situation -- June even told me I had to go." (HSB)


Asked why he left Texas Tech, GM said:
"Well, the pros pay a lot, too." (HSB)


About how he can now settle down in UH since he's made his money, GM said:
"Now I can do what I want and be with who I want. And I want to be with June, and my wife and I love Hawaii, so now we can do what we want to do. And that's what I wanted to do in the first place." (HSB)

"My year in Hawaii, I've told June and everybody, was the most magical year of my career. And it was the greatest coaching feeling that I've ever had." (HSB)


About accepting the scholarship offer from UH on his 17th birthday, 6'3" 195-pound CB (40 time is 4.4) Daniel "Deedle" Smith said:
"It made a good birthday present." (HA)


About how he might graduate from high school early (he has a 3.5 GPA and already got a qualifying SAT score) and join the team in January 2008, Smith said:
"Coming in early is an option." (HA)


Smith's friends had told him to "do what feels right" if he got an offer from UH, and Smith said:
"Hawai'i feels right." (HA)


About the unofficial visit with his Mom that Smith took to UH 2 weeks ago, Smith said:
"It felt like I was back home. The coaches were very nice. There was great chemistry among the players. The guys seemed like they were really close. It felt like a family." (HA)

Note: So, UH gets a 6'3" 195-pound CB with 4.4 speed to commit to them as a junior and he PAID HIS OWN WAY for the recruiting visit to UH. Syracuse, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Illinois, Cornell and Holy Cross are interested in Smith.


About how his family moved to Charlottee last summer, Smith said:
"I love it here. I'm going to love it in Hawai'i, too." (HA)


About how it wasn't a hard decision to not enter the NFL draft after last season, Rivers said:
"After being out so long and coming back and having something special with the guys, it's something you can't pass up another opportunity for. I gave it a thought, a brief thought. I didn't think long about it. More people were telling me they heard I was going out. But I knew I was coming back before the (2006) season ended." (HA)


About how yesterday was his first day of Spring Practice because JJ wanted the younger guys to get the repetitions, Rivers said:
"I'm OK with it. The younger guys need to learn." (HA)

Note: Plus, since JJ moved Bess and Grice-Mullins to wideout so that younger players could get experience at slot, JJ needed to reduce the reps of other wideouts to give Bess and Grice-Mullins time. Instead of taking away reps from a young player who is trying to learn the wideout position, it made sense to have Rivers sit out since he didn't need the work.


About working on his speed through sprinting, distance running, and resistance training, even running sprints with a parachute attached to his back, Rivers said:
"I want to be a leader. I hope my teammates think of me as one." (HA)

Note: A 5th year senior who had such a huge end of the season...I think Rivers is looked up to.


Praising Kealoha Pilares, RB coach Wes Suan said:
"He's a guy who shows a lot of intelligence. He's turning up all his learning senses. He's receptive and can decipher all the information and put it into the physical. It all makes sense to him." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Freshman Kealoha Pilares -- known as a shifty and explosive runner as a prep star -- has also made good progress as a blocker. Running backs coach Wes Suan said that improves the 5-foot-10, 187-pound Damien product's chances for meaningful playing time in the fall. ... Jason Laumoli, Khevin Peoples, David Farmer and Alonzo Chopp also got a lot of reps yesterday."


About being the #1 RB right now, Pilares said:
"Just being in there with Colt (Brennan) and Davone (Bess) and Jason (Rivers) feels great. I watched them last year." (HA)


About how he has only been used as a rusher now, Pilares said:
"Whenever I go in there, the defense knows I'm running the ball. I want to work on my blocking." (HA)

"It's coming along. I'm watching film. Every day coach (Wes Suan) is telling me certain things to help me. I won't be a Reagan, who can knock down people. I have to get in the way of people, basically." (HA)


About working on the inside-out blocking technique and the cut block technique for bigger defenders, Pilares said:
"I'm going to work on a lot of things this summer." (HA)

Note: Ultimately, Pilares' ability to block will determine his playing time.


Speedy 5'11" 202-pound Peoples talked about how he needs to work on his blocking:
"I'm working on the blocking coverages based on what the defenses show us. I pretty much have it down 100 percent -- you just have to put it into action on the field. We throw the ball most of the time in the game, so we have to be able to protect Colt (quarterback Brennan)." (HSB)


About how Famer is the most reliable blocker, Suan said:
"It's knowing what you're doing, and not so much having to demolish a guy, but just knowing what you're doing so you can protect the quarterback. With no doubt, Dave Farmer is doing that the best, technique and assignment-wise." (HSB)


Famer, who is a walk-on from Santa Cruz, is pushing hard for playing time:
"This year I'm really trying to make a push to be the starter. I'm staying out here all summer. I've always been on top of my stuff and ready to go in, whatever the coaches need, whatever they ask me. I'm trying to be the man this year. I'm never really satisfied." (HSB)


Praising 6' 245-pound walk-on Chopp, Suan said:
"The other guy I've been pleasantly surprised with is Alonzo Chopp. He's been here for a while, but he's starting to really get the idea of technique and assignment. If you continually do what's right, eventually the coaches see he's getting the job done and he's deserving of (repetitions)." (HSB)


About the other RB candidates like Reyo and Cox, Suan said:
"It's tough to get everybody opportunities. They have to be very observant during practice, and small successes lead to big successes -- a chance to be evaluated and see where they end up in the pecking order. It's so hard to tell now (who might start and play in the fall). But what usually happens is someone steps up. In Coach's (June Jones) offense, for the running back to get on the field it's to help with the protection." (HSB)


About how Timo Paepule and Rustin Saole now lead their haka, Paepule said:
"These are my brothers, so whatever they want. Colt came up to me, said, 'Hey, we gotta do it, you or Rustin. Davone (Bess), too. We're carrying on the tradition. I don't have Maori . I respect the New Zealand people. We're using their haka, and we don't mean to disrespect them in any way. It's just something we picked up from the older guys before us and it pumps us up." (HSB)


JJ said that the Spring Ohana Festival will include some contact, excluding:
"Colt and the first group." (HSB)

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Quotes from Spring Practice Week 4 Day 3

About Graunke's injury, Siave Seti said:
"It was one of those situations where the motions were all fast. I was playing my drills. I was trying to get through. Unfortunately, my hand was up and it hit Graunke's hand. It was a freak thing. I really felt bad after I saw my picture in The Honolulu Advertiser the next day. Football accidents do happen. Unfortunately, this happened to one of our great players. I'm so sorry. I want to apologize to Graunke." (HA)

"It was just one of those plays, everything was going so fast. I just happened to put my hand up, I was doing the drill, and hit Tyler on the throwing arm. I really feel bad because he's a really good quarterback. I'm really sorry about that and I wanted to apologize to my whole team and apologize to Graunke." (HSB)

HSB Note: "He said defensive coordinator Greg McMackin and Brennan offered some words of encouragement, though he hadn't yet had a chance to talk to Graunke."


About reducing his weight from 320 to 280 when he moved to RB last season, Seti said:
"I did a lot of dieting and running." (HA)


Now up to 290 as a defensive left tackle, Seti said:
"I'm back to eating a lot of vegetables and meat." (HA)


About putting on a wristband with "Shana" marked in black ink to honor Shana Leaupepe, Seti said:
"That was my best friend." (HA)


About how Shana (a LB at NMSU) was killed last July, Seti said:
"He got shot down the street from my house. We used to live in the same area. He lived with my uncle. He was my best friend. He wasn't involved with any gang. It was just a random shooting. He was a humble guy, a hard worker. I think about him every day." (HA)


Considering Sauafea, Tuoti-Mariner, and Kia all to be #1 centers, JJ said:
"We'll go into the fall and sort it out." (HA)


About how he learned from Samson, Kia said:
"I worked a lot with Sam." (HA)


About how many UH offensive linemen work at center before being moved to other positions, Kia said:
"Everything is a lot smoother when you learn the center position. You know what everybody is supposed to do." (HA)


About Kia, JJ said:
"He's doing OK, but he has a way to go at center." (HA)


About the attention he's gotten ever since his big hit on Kepo'o last week, LB Joshua Rice said:
"Everybody has been coming up and saying, 'Good hit.' " But that's in the past." (HA)


About how he leads the crowd at UH softball games, with the football player contingent growing from 6 to 40 players cheering for the softball team, Funaki said:
"It was kind of mellow. We were like, 'Let's hoist this up.' I was trying to teach the guys some of the cheers we used to do back in Kahuku." (HA)


About being the top backup to Colt in practice now that Graunke is hurt, Funaki said:
"You always have to be ready, whether I'm two, three or four. Whenever they need me hopefully I can be ready. I feel I'm getting more comfortable, getting more used to seeing what the defense gives you and being able to react to it." (HSB)

"Just like Coach was saying, I just have to make sure I'm ready because that could happen at any time, in practice or in a game later on in the season. I just have to make sure I'm ready, or whoever is behind (Brennan), so things can keep rolling." (HSB)


About getting more reps in Spring Practice because Colt's workload has been cut back and Graunke is hurt, Funaki said:
"Experience is the best teacher. They're always teaching us stuff in the classroom, showing us video on what to do. But getting out there and making mistakes definitely helps you to learn how to not make the same mistakes. I'm learning and getting more experience. The longer I stay here, the more I see, and the more I see the more I'm able to anticipate things." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Graunke was injured during a drill late in Monday's practice when his throwing hand hit defensive lineman Siave Seti while following through on a pass. An MRI of Graunke's right hand showed there wasn't a break and he'll treat it by resting it for a few weeks."


About how Bess (a QB in high school) played QB for some passing drills, QB coach Dan Morrison said:
"He's been lobbying for a double pass the last two years. He's actually a pretty good thrower." (HSB)

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Quotes from Spring Practice Week 4 Day 2

About the schedule, Associate AD John McNamara said:
"We definitely plan to have at least seven home games. And the last time I talked to Herman, I know he's still working on a 13-game schedule." (HSB)

Note: HSB reports that deposits have been made for 18,802 season tickets, compared with 18,215 season tickets last season. Frazier has said that UH has had talks with Northern Arizona for its 9/1 game (which Northern Colorado has been led to believe is scheduled for it to play in Hawaii).


About how he won't be able to participate in any Spring Practices because of his injury, Graunke said:
"I'm probably done." (HA)

"It's a little better than (Monday). But it's still pretty fat, and I don't have much movement in my wrist or thumb. I hurt my hand before, but never this bad. It's only bone, so it'll heal. I wouldn't be surprised if something was broken. But I don't think it's very serious." (HA)

"Even if it's not broken, it wouldn't make sense to throw. I can't do things I normally do." (HSB)

Note: MRI results won't be known until today.


About Graunke's injury, Colt said:
"The way he went down was uncalled for. It should have never happened. Somebody got hurt, and it was so easy to avoid. This sucks. But knowing Tyler, even if he had a broken hand, I wouldn't be surprised if he showed up for practice. He's a tough guy." (HA)


Not expecting Graunke's injury to keep him out long, QB coach Dan Morrison said:
"He's been through his share of things. It makes him stronger out the other end. Some handle that well, some give up. That's not his nature. He gets stronger because of it. Critical element is maturity. How they handle leadership and intangibles. The learning process. His maturity has really grown." (HSB)


Asked if he imagined that he'd become a highly regarded NFL prospect one day, Ikaika Alama-Francis said:
"Are you nuts? Are you crazy? Me? In this position right now? It was unheard of." (HA)

HA Note: "In the spring of 2003, he auditioned for the football team. At the time, he weighed 210 pounds and managed to bench press 225 pounds one time. In his first one-on-one drill, he was floored by Isa'ako Sopoaga, now a San Francisco 49er defensive tackle. After watching all of that, head coach June Jones predicted that Alama-Francis would develop into an NFL player. Jones' vision is close to materializing."


About the first NFL team that brought him in for in-person interviews, Alama-Francis said:
"The first time I went, I'm going down this escalator in the airport. I saw a guy holding up a sign with my name on it. I looked around, then I realized: 'Hey, that's me.' He picked me up in a limo. We were driving down Pittsburgh. It's a beautiful city." (HA)


About how teams are looking at him as either a DE or LB (and KC is looking at him as a TE), Alama-Francis said:
"I don't know where I'm going to play. It's a good problem to have. The more you can do, the more valuable you are." (HA)


About why he won't watch the TV broadcast of the draft, Alama-Francis said:
"It's too nerve-wracking. I can't do. I can't watch it." (HA)


About how NFL scouts are now agreeing with JJ's prediction about his draft status, Alama-Francis said:
"I owe June so much for saying that. He saw that potential. He had that eye. You may think he's crazy with some of his decisions, but they come true. I'm glad he had that eye for me." (HA)


When J. David Miller wanted to write a book about the new Arena Football League, Arena League co-creator Mouse Davis told him to try out for a team and he played 2 seasons, even catching a TD pass:
"I was known as 'George' Miller. Like George Plimpton." (HSB)


About how he's known JJ and his mentor Mouse Davis for 20 years, Miller said:
"He's a very talented guy." (HSB)


Miller, how lives in Florida and is researching a book about UH football, said:
"I was interviewing Chad Owens for the book in my living room the other night." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Miller said he decided to write a book about UH after watching the Warriors go 11-3 last year, breaking offensive records with a variation of the run-and-shoot attack Jones and Davis showed him two decades ago."


About Miller's book on UH football, JJ said:
"We've known him a long time. I think it's going to be a positive thing for the program." (HSB)


About his planned 200-page coffee table book about UH football, Miller said:
"It's a combination of everything. All the best things that Hawaii, football and redemption have to offer. Redemption is a major theme. Redemption comes up again, again and again. From Pisa to Davone, Colt, June's car crash. Mouse Davis taking another lap around the track, Jerry Glanville coming back." (HSB)


In the foreward to his book, Miller talked about watching his girls play 4-square and having one fall down and call for a "do-over":
"Herein is the story of the biggest do-over in the history of college football, engineered by men whose careers personify the meaning of do-over, and a quarterback whose personal do-over offers hope to generations of children to come." (HSB)


About how Bess Publishing has contracted to produce Miller's book, Benjamin Bess said:
"The idea was a no-brainer. There hasn't been one (on UH football) since the (Bob) Wagner book. The June Jones era has a great track record. We hope we can produce a book as good as the program has been. There's a lot of depth there, a lot of good stories." (HSB)


About how the book is nearly done, Bess said:
"the meat of it has been written." (HSB)

Note: Bess said that the first printing would be for at least 10,000 books and would cost about $25.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Quotes from Spring Practice, Week 4 Day 1

About his injured right (throwing) hand, Graunke said:
"It's not feeling so good, it hurts a lot. It's just a bummer stuff like that happens. If it's got to happen, it's not a bad time for it. But I'm going to fall behind on throwing and lifting." (HSB)

"It still hurts. It feels the same as when it happened. It's not good at all. I can move my fingers a lot more than this morning, but I can't make a fist and I can't shake a hand or do the things you need to do to throw a ball." (HA)


About what happened when his right hand followed through and hit Siave Seti's right hand, Graunke said:
"It instantly got black and blue and it was numb and stuff.

Note: The injured area is between the thumb and index finger.


Graunke said that X-rays on his hand were:
"inconclusive." (HA, HSB)


Graunke sasid that the doctor did not:
"see a certain break, but he saw something. He wasn't sure if it was a bad picture of the X-ray." (HA)

Note: Graunke will get an MRI today.


Graunke said that his hand is:
"not really black and blue (anymore). It's swollen, but not that severely swollen." (HA)


About how he'll be better before Fall camp opens in August, JJ said:
"This won't be a problem. It won't affect the season." (HA)


About Graunke's injury, JJ said:
"It just wasn't pretty on the tape. And Tyler's one of our toughest kids. So if he says it hurts, it's probably bad." (HSB)

"It's too bad he hurt his hand. Tyler is having a good spring. He was working hard. But he's a tough guy. He'll be all right." (HA)

HA noted that Colt had left practice to attend class so Graunke was scheduled to take all of the repetitions with the first team.


About how Graunke's body fat was 10% it was last year as compared to 6% when he reported his first UH camp, JJ said:
"He was a little heavy last year. I think it was too much partying." (HA)


About how eating too much at McDonald's and Jack-In-The-Box resulted in his weight gain, Graunke said:
"I was a little fat last year. I had a little belly. My diet wasn't very good. I had to improve my diet." (HA)


Graunke said that he now eats a lot of salads and:
"a lot of meat. I'm going grocery shopping instead of eating fast food every meal. I've been working out a lot. I'm doing a lot of running." (HA)


Graunke went from 202 last year to 182 now (7% body fat) and said he hopes to add:
"five or eight pounds of muscle" (HA)


Praising Graunke, JJ said that he is one of their:
"two starting quarterbacks. He's a very good quarterback. He's going to get his chance, obviously, when Colt gets out of here. He'll put up a lot of wins for us, too." (HA)


About how they had the same 5 people start on the OL last season, DM said:
"The biggest thing we had going for us last year was we were lucky. We had the same five guys start every game and nobody got hurt." (HSB)


Planning to set the starting OL at the end of Spring Practice, DM said:
"I think when we leave spring ball they should know who's going to be No. 1 coming in and it's your job to keep." (HSB)


Experimenting with different combinations at OL this Spring, DM said:
"We're still experimenting with guys playing left or right, see who feels comfortable and can fit in and play multiple positions. The last couple of days we had (Steinhoff) play left tackle and Keith play right. They're kind of back and forth and bouncing around." (HSB)

HSB note: "Two juniors -- Keoni Steinhoff and Keith Ah-Soon -- have been first in the rotation at the tackle spots. The center spot has rotated, with Lafu Tuioti-Mariner, Aaron Kia and Larry Sauafea seeing action. Sauafea has been one of the team's more versatile linemen, playing both guard spots as well as center."


About the competition for the 3 open starting spots on the OL, Keith Ah-Soon said:
"Everybody's trying to fight for a spot, there's some good competition going on. John Estes and Hercules Satele are pretty much locked. At the two tackles and in the middle, everybody's trying their best, everybody's trying to improve. ... Everybody's getting a chance to get in there and show what they've got." (HSB)


John Estes, who earned his starting G spot as a Freshman last Spring, said:
"Last year I got better as the season went along, and even this spring I'm getting better and I know these guys are getting better each and every day." (HSB)


About adjusting to playing center, Aaron Kia said:
"It's completely new to me. It's not easy since I never played center. It's kind of hard, but I hope I get it down before fall." (HSB)


About this year's OL, I'm not sure who said this but I'll assume it was DM:
"It's going to be more of a 15-round fight this year, where last year those guys (the seniors) were knocking people out early. It's going to be different, but the bottom line is as long as we get the job done they don't ask how pretty it is. I know we've got quality kids that want to do well. They're a tight-knit group. They want to protect Colt, they want to have a great offense again and they've got a lot of pride and they're going to get it done." (HSB)


About how he entered UH as a WR, Desmond Thomas said:
"When I came here, playing receiver was my passion. But things happen. You have to go with the flow." (HA)


About switching Thomas from WR to safety at Thomas' request, JJ said:
"Just looking at our receivers, I thought he had a better chance of getting onto the field (as a safety). He played free safety in high school. He was a big hitter. He works hard. I thought he would do well there." (HA)


About all of the other candidates at safety he has to compete with for playing time, Thomas said:
"I had to work my way up the depth chart. There's a lot of competition. It's not going to be easy when you're competing at the highest level." (HA)

Note: At the start of Spring Practice there were 12 players competing at safety. Patek earned one starting spot, and last week there were 4 players competing for the other starting spot.


JJ said that Thomas is now:
"on top of the depth chart right now." (HA)


Praising Thomas, GM said:
"He goes to the football. He's really good at knowing where the ball is. He's a fierce competitor." (HA)


Defensive secondary coach RM said that Thomas:
"made a whole lot of plays last week. He's conscientious." (HA)


Knowing that his first team spot is not set in stone, Thomas said:
"I'm grateful for the opportunity I have right now. But it could turn around tomorrow. I'm trying to live for today." (HA)


RM said that the battle between Thomas, Porlas, and Monteilh:
"will continue. We're looking for a guy, when the lights go on, is going to play well. We're not going to know until that first game because they've never been there when the lights go on. Some guys think better in games. Some guys shy away. We've still got to continue to evaluate that position. It's going to come down to who makes the fewest mistakes, who makes the most plays, who's technically the soundest, who tackles the best. There are so many variables. We want to make sure the decision is based on the performances in practice. The reason those three guys are playing so well is they're all competing to be that guy." (HA)


Thomas said that the key to competing for the starting spot:
"is to have a positive attitude. I always spoke positively that one day I would start, one day I would be a player. I'm working hard to fulfill that goal." (HA)


About how Patek's mother Gay cooked spaghetti for some of their teammates, CJ Hawthorne (who appears to be leading the competition for a starting wideout spot) said:
"It was great. I'm loving wideout and spaghetti. Life is great." (HA)

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Quotes from the Spring Practice Week 3 Day 5

About the amazing deal they got (demanded) from UH (3x bigger check than USC and Oregon State got!), Charleston Southern AD Hank Small said:
"They were motivated — and so were we." (HA)

HA Note: "Charleston Southern will receive roundtrip airfare for 75 people, 45 hotel rooms for three nights, bus transportation, $15,000 for incidentals and a $125,000 post-game check. Moreover, the Buccaneers will also get a second game here in 2011 to recruit to and be guaranteed the same terms or better, according to the contract."

"UH's lone I-AA opponent last season, Eastern Illinois, received 110 roundtrip fares, hotel rooms and a $30,000 check. Meanwhile, Oregon State got 120 roundtrip fares, 70 hotel rooms for three nights and $40,000 while Purdue received 125 roundtrip fares, 85 hotel rooms for four nights and $50,000. In 2005, two-time defending national champion Southern California received airfare for 175, 95 hotel rooms and $40,000. USC is scheduled to receive similar terms but $50,000 in 2010."


About accepting scholarship offer from UH, 5'11" 197 pound safety Le'Marcus Gibson said:
"I'm looking forward to it. I feel very blessed." (HA)


About how he was living in Gulport, Mississippi which was directly hit by Katrina, Gibson said:
"The day after we left Gulfport, it hit. The day we left, the winds were blowing hard. Getting out of town was crazy because traffic was backed up so bad. Everyone was trying to evacuate." (HA)


About returning to Gulport a few weeks later, Gibson said:
"Everything was torn apart. There were apartment buildings gone. Nothing was left behind but the stairwell. A lot of houses near the beach got flooded." (HA


About how his apartment (he lived with his cousin Harrison Central High football coach Nekemia Rich) was destroyed by Katrina, Gibson said:
"We lost our apartment. We lost a lot of clothes and memorabilia. But you can't cry about that. There were some people living here all of their lives. They lost everything. Their life savings. All of their valuables. There were some people who are retired who lost their homes. I mean, what else have you got? We didn't lose anything that couldn't be replaced. We have the mindframe that we're very fortunate to basically be alive. We're young. We can bounce back. There are so many who aren't so fortunate. The entire Gulf Coast is trying to get past this. It's not going to happen overnight. It's going to take a couple of years to get over the devastation." (HA)


About how he took Gibson in after accepting the coaching job in Gulfport, Rich said:
"He needed someone like myself to be around him for a little guidance. It's more of a big brother thing. Staying with me would benefit him a whole lot, not just athletically but academically." (HA)


About how Gibson went from a 2.5 GPA as a sophomore transfer to now an honor student, Rich said:
"He really got it together. Some of the teachers come up and brag about him, how they enjoyed having him in their class." (HA)


About how it was his dream to play for UH, Gibson remembers telling Rich:
"It might be a long shot, but I want to send my tapes to Hawai'i and see what happens." (HA)

Note: "Gibson was recruited by Houston, Buffalo and Louisiana Tech. But he harbored a dream of playing for UH. Gibson said UH wideout C.J. Hawthorne is a family friend. Because of that, Gibson always took the Warriors when he played the NCAA football video game. From that, he became a UH fan."


About how Gibson made it through Katrina's devastation (they lived on a part of the high school campus that was turned into a shelter for the past 1.5 years) and now will be on scholarship with UH in January, Rich said:
"Some of the things you go through make you stronger. He worked hard. This is a good reward." (HA)


About his big hit on Kepo'o (the full-contact practice allowed for hitting the backup QBs Kepo'o and Funaki), LB Joshua Rice said:
"I was expecting him to try to put a move on me, but I just went right through him. When you have hits like that, it feels sweet. Feels like you go right through him and you stand up and everyone's just going crazy." (HSB)

About the importance of the scrimmages, Rice said:
"The whole spring you're just working hard trying to get the plays down and then out here you just have to put what you practice into use and let loose. The scrimmages are a big deal to get your face out there and people get to notice you and get more reps." (HSB)


About Las Vegas-raised Rice's hit, RM said:
"What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." (HA)


Kepo'o, who had a chipped tooth from the scrimmage, said about the hitting:
"It woke me up a little bit, like it's not high school any more. It was a little different. It was good to get that first hit, kind of brought back those memories from back in high school." (HSB)

"Welcome to the college level. When coach told me it was live, I was, 'Oh, shoot.' It's different from high school. They've got better hitters. Usually the defense doesn't get to hit the quarterback. It was a great opportunity for them. Unfortunately, I was the guy they got to hit. But it was good for me to get used to the speed. It was good to play real football again." (HA)

About how the starters were held out of the scrimmage and the backups fighting for spots on the roster played, JJ said:
"We have to make a lot of decisions on about 30 players who'll be coming back in the fall, so we're trying to give everybody a chance to make it. They know we've been giving them opportunities. You have to give them all a chance and make sure we don't miss on someone who can play." (HSB)

"We're trying to give guys a chance to show what they can do." (HA)

HSB Note: "Along with Rice, safety Dane Porlas was in on a couple of hard hits. Receiver Dylan Linkner turned in the biggest gain for the offense, catching a pass over the middle and finding running room down the right side."


About living up to the number worn by previous UH players, Paul Harmon (who is wearing Alama-Francis' 91) said:
"You have to make that number. You have to make people remember it and talk about you. It's a lot of legacy; I have big shoes to fill." (HSB)

"I came to practice and there it was and I automatically knew I had some big shoes to fill because Ikaika's a really good defensive end, a really good player and a really good person. I was pleased because I really look up to him." (HSB)


About wearing Samson Satele's 64, Ray Hisatake said:
"Having this number meant a lot to me. They gave me this number and I knew I had to live up to it. We all know Samson was a great athlete and was a great player for UH, so wearing this number makes me want to work harder." (HSB)

About adjusting to offensive tackle, Hisatake said:
"I'm getting the stuff down really quick. It's new and exciting. The adjustment is still pretty difficult because as a D-lineman you're always taught to attack, attack, attack, and go to the ball. On offense you have to sit and be patient." (HSB)


Daniel Otineru, who has Tala Esera's number and Dane Uperesa's jocker, said:
"Right on top of my locker there's a sign that says, 'Dane Uperesa' on it. So you're reminded about that every day. I don't try to think about it too much when I'm on the field." (HSB)


Francis Maka, who has Mel Purcell's number said:
"I saw (Purcell) a few days ago, but I never got a chance to talk to him. I was a little intimidated, I was just sitting over to the side." (HSB)


About wearing Leonard Peters' 42 (Peters had that number for SIX years), Guyton Galdeira said:
"I was really shocked. I was just trying out for the team and they gave me this number." (HSB)

"(The players) have little jokes, that I have long hair just like (Peters)." (HSB)


About how his knee felt good yesterday, Jason Ferguson said:
"Days like this. I wake up, I was just hyped." (HSB)

"Another day of my life. Another day. Still working. Still being optimistic." (HSB)


About how he's missed two football seasons, with a 2nd surgery on his knee coming a year after the first surgery, and is still recovering from the 2nd surgery, Ferguson said:
"I mean, I can't really say it's been working yet, but why not? You know what I mean? I've been doing everything. I've been doing that, I've been doing shiatsu. I've been doing literally, dog, everything in my power, everything in my power to get back on this football field. I have my own ice machine at the house. Load it with ice, dog, and it's good for 5 hours; ice it, 30 minutes at a time." (HSB)


Asked when he got his ice machine, Ferguson said:
"Actually I had it from my first ACL in high school." (HSB)


About how hard it has been for him to not be able to play, Ferguson said:
"I ain't going lie, man. There's days where I'm like, 'Do I even want to do this?' Because it's hard, the last three and a half, four years of my life, bro, I've been having to watch other people play football. And not even during games, but in practice every day. So it's like, it hits you some days. 'Do I even want to play any more?' But in the end, like, it's not in me to be ... those words, I can't even imagine them coming out of my mouth." (HSB)


Noting that he'll at least get his degree, Ferguson said:
"I'm getting my degree. I'm a eat! That's my quote. Put that in there. He said, 'No matter what he does in his life, he's going to eat.' There's going to be plenty of food on my plate." (HSB)

Friday, April 20, 2007

Quotes from the Spring Practice Week 3 Day 4

About how his Dad has been serving as his trainer since he was a kid, for example putting weights on his back when he was 9 while he did push-ups, David Veikune said:

"My dad has been training me since I was little. He put on little plates, not too heavy for a kid. He wanted to make sure I would be strong. He did it to prevent injuries. He felt if I got strong, I wouldn't be injury prone. He was right." (HA)

HA Note: Veikune is now one of the strongest Warriors. In testing last month, Veikune, who is 6 feet 3 and 260 pounds, bench pressed a team-high 455 pounds. He also benched 225 pounds 35 times, second to linebacker R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane's 37 reps, and was one of six Warriors to squat-lift 500 pounds."


About bench-pressing 400 pounds while a junior at Campbell High School, Veikune said:
"If you bench 400, you get a '400 Bench' T-shirt. I really wanted one." (HA)


Veikune credits his quickness to:
"small legs. I don't have the Poly-huge legs." (HA)

Note: Veikune is Tongan and Irish. Last month he was timed at 4.75 in the 40, which was faster than 2 QBs, 3 WRs, 9 RBs, 6 DBs, and 11 LBs. 4.75 is a crazy time for a DT/DE!

HA Note: "Veikune's blend of strength and quickness fits defensive coordinator Greg McMackin's high-pressure schemes. Veikune can play end or tackle in the 4-3 alignment. He is the No. 1 nose tackle in the 3-3-5 Okie package. McMackin said he considers Veikune to be a "No. 1 guy" at the three positions."


About going to Colorado out of high school and redshirting there, Veikune said:
"I wanted to try something different. That's why I tried the Mainland. It was freezing. I really missed home." (HA)

Note: I've been to Boulder in the Winter and it can be brutally cold...


Veikune went to Fresno City College after Colorado and then joined UH, saying:
"My junior college coach had a lot of other schools he could have led me to. I told him the only place I wanted to go to was Hawai'i. I got in touch with (UH assistant coach) Rich Miano. I talked to him one day, and the next day he offered me a scholarship. It was like a dream. I'm really happy to be here." (HA)


About how the starters at left and right tackle aren't set yet, DM said:
"I would have to say, right now, at this instant, it's too close to call. How's that for politics?" (HA)

"Right now they're just getting to know who to block. Now that they've got that down, we have to get them into the techniques of how to block. There's no way we're going to replace Dane, Tala and Sam, and just go 'business as usual. We're going to have three guys replace them who are going to be scrappers, fighters. They're not going to be as pretty or clean all of the time, but they realize the importance of taking care of No. 15 (quarterback Colt Brennan) and taking care of our running backs. They'll get the job done somehow." (HA)

HA Note: "McKnight said Keoni Steinhoff, Laupepa Letuli and Ray Hisatake are probably the top candidates at left tackle. Mc-Knight said Steinhoff and Keith Ah Soon are ahead at right tackle. Adrian Thomas yesterday practiced extensively at right tackle against the first-team defense."


About taking Lafaele's place (Lafaele has a hand injury) this Spring, Siave Seti said:
"I'm just trying to do whatever I can to contribute to my team. I'm just substituting for Mike. Mike's a great player and I'm just his assistant for now." (HSB)


About how the new 4-3 defense fits Seti much better than the 3-4 (where he was undersized for a nose tackle at 6' 280 pounds), JR said:
"I think the change has given him new life. He's got real good quickness and he's tough. Mike being hurt has been a blessing for him, because it's given him an opportunity to get reps, which he really needs." (HSB)


Not worried that Lafaele is missing Spring Practice, JR said:
"I'm not worried about Michael. I know he'll come back in shape and I know he won't have any challenge processing the information once we get back for training camp." (HSB)


About playing DT in the UH 4-3 defense, Seti said:
"Instead of just rushing up the field, you have to get your keys down. In order to play in this system you have to learn the way the offensive linemen react to the rush." (HSB)


Knowing that he'll get playing time if he's part of the 2nd unit, Seti said:
"Like Coach McMackin says, it's about eight defensive linemen, and I want to be part of the eight." (HSB)


About needing to play at least 2 full units on the DL, Seti said:
"As hard as we demand that our guys play, we can't expect we'll be able to play only four guys and survive. We have to play 10 to 12 in a game. "The good thing about the group is they're unselfish and they understand that we're not asking them to play six or 10 plays in a row, but we're asking them to play four as hard as they can." (HSB)

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Quotes from the Spring Practice Week 3 Day 3

About accepting a scholarship offer to UH, 6' 170 pound CB Deyon McElroy said:
"It's a good school and a good football program." (HA)

Note: McElroy and CB Kenny Graham will both join UH in January. He took recruiting trips to Syracuse and Wyoming.


About taking back his verbal commitment to Wyoming in January, McElroy said:
"I talked to my parents, and I felt (Wyoming) wasn't for me." (HA)


About how he called former high school teammate Ryan Grice-Mullins for advice when UH contacted him, McElroy said:
"He's one of my close friends. He said Hawai'i is a good place." (HA)


About McElroy, who was 1st team All-Foothill Conference last season, Chaffey heach coach Carl Beach said:

"He's one of our better football players. We play a lot of man (man-to-man coverage), and he does a nice job in man coverage. Everyone wants a corner who can be a cover guy. He's that corner." (HA)

Note: McElroy can run 40 yards in under 4.5 seconds and made 6 interceptions and broke up 20 passes in 10 games last season.


About how McElroy can bulk up with some time in the weight room, Beach said:

"He's not real thick right now. That's something they can work out." (HA)


About how JJ holds up a card before each defensive play, RM said:
"June wants the defense to read the card and execute the play. Ryan (Perry) made June's' All-Card team. June was very impressed by Ryan's ability to read a card and make the right play. If you can do that, June will be real high on you." (HA)


Praising Perry (who was Top Defensive Scout last season and is now 2nd team nickelback), JJ said:

"If everybody studied as much as Ryan Perry, we would not make any errors. He studies the game and knows what's going on." (HA)


About being born with Erb's Palsy, a nerve condition that doesn't allow him full use of his right arm, Perry said:
"I compensated and learned to deal with it." (HA)


About playing on the scout team during his redshirt season last season, Perry said:
"It helped me a lot. I had the chance to play against Colt (Brennan) and Davone (Bess) and (Jason) Rivers all day long. It was awesome to play against the best." (HA)


About increasing his weight to 180 pounds during his redshirt season, Perry said:
"I think the extra weight gave me the strength to push off better." (HA)

Note: Perry had the fastest pro-agility shuttle (3.99 seconds) during team testing. Perry's father Rod was an NFL CB.


Praising Perry, RM said:
"He's a student of the game like no one else on this team." (HA)


About his right foot injury, Brashton Satele (who hasn't been healthy for an extended time since joining in August 2005 said:

"It's just bad luck. That's OK. I'm going to fight through this and come back stronger. That's what I'm going to work on." (HA)


About how he always preferred WR over CB, CJ Hawthorne (who started 5 games at CB last season) said:

"I'd always hint to the (coaches). Say, 'coach I might like to go back to receiver.' " (HSB)

"I feel excited just to be back on offense. That's what I got recruited as, that's what I've been doing my whole life, that's the spot where I have confidence." (HSB)


About the difficulty in learning the run-and-shoot, CJ said:
"Sometimes it can be frustrating. This is by far the most complex offensive system I've ever been in. It takes a lot of thinking. ... (But) I'm definitely getting it down." (HSB)


About the difference between playing WR and CB, CJ said:
"On defense you have to learn to react instead of being the one who's dictating. On defense you have to have a lot more poise and be able to withstand a lot of little things. On offense you just have that confidence where you know what you're going to do and you know I'm dictating." (HSB)

Note: CJ also hopes to return kicks this season.


About how CJ wanted to play WR, WR coach Ron Lee said:
"He did want to play receiver but he knew we were looking for corners last year. Even now, if we needed him at corner he'd go back. But I think he's found a home." (HSB)


About CJ's development, Ron Lee said:
"Last time (Hawthorne) was with us (the receivers), he was only there one week and then he went to defense, but he was already progressing . By the time we get done with spring I think he's going to be one of the better ones we've ever had. So fast and quick and he's eager to learn. Malcolm has done a great job too. I feel really good about the outside. ... If they keep working hard, they have a chance to be as good." (HSB)


Praising CJ's work at WR this spring, JJ said:
"I think he's an upgrade for us. He's had a great spring and is starting to get a feel for it and he's going to make a lot of plays for us." (HSB)


About getting more reps yesterday because Colt was taking care of school work, Tyler Graunke said:
"I'm the next one in line so I got a little more action than I do usually. I have to be prepared to step up whenever I'm called. Everything's slowing down for me. A couple years ago the game was going too fast in making my reads, but it's all coming together." (HSB)


About how he and his RB coach Chris Snyder are watching UH practice this week and are taking notes and learning from the UH coaches, Liberty High School (Columbus, Ohio) head coach Steve Hale said:
"They've just got great guys, the players, the coaches. They've really worked with us to try to help us understand everything." (HSB)

Note: Hale and Snyder plan to install the run-and-shoot offense at their school this season. They have also watched practices at nearby Ohio State, but they wanted to come to UH after watching the UH offense on TV. It is always good to support these types of things because forming relationships leads to recruiting, publicity, etc. It is also good when high schools want to run the same system, as players can be evaluated better for your school and are trained in the offense (see CJ's comments above about having to adjust to the run-and-shoot).

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Quotes from Spring Practice, Week 3 Day 2

About how he is paying his own tuition, fees, and housing now because UH did not have an available scholarship this Spring (he'll go on scholarship in August), Francis Maka said:
"You have to pay the price sometimes. It'll pay off in the end." (HA)


Praising Maka, JR said:
"He's got the explosiveness, the ability to get — what we call — short-quickness that all great pass-rushers have. Players who have the ability to snap their hips" — turn quickly — "are rare, and he has that ability." (HA)


Praising Maka, JJ said:
"He's coming on. He's going to be a real player. He's had a good camp. He's what we're looking for in a pass-rusher. He's quick and fast and works really hard." (HA)
Note: Maka is now the 2nd-team right DE and a starter in the "Okie" 3-3-5 defensive package.


Maka was raised in the Bay Area but:
"I love it here." (HA)


About wearing the same 98 that Purcell wore last season, Maka said:
"It's a pretty big number to fill. I watched his films. He's awesome." (HA)

Note: Maka wore 98 when he played at San Mateo College. His surname means "rock" in Tongan.


About the 12 people they have competing at RB, RB coach Wes Suan said:
"We have a lot of good guys, it makes them more competitive." (HSB)

"We've got a lot of numbers and a lot of good candidates to replace Nate and Reagan. We've got a lot of potential there." (HSB)


About how he has a chance at playing time, Mario Cox said:
"I see it as a fresh start in that everybody has an equal opportunity to get on the field." (HSB)


About his redshirt year this past year, Cox said:
"It was tough. I didn't really want to waste a year. I was just trying to keep my body in good shape to come out here and start the season. It started last fall." (HSB)


Praising Cox, JJ said:
"He's applied himself a lot better as a student and athlete. He's made all the workouts. ... Way better shape than last year, not even close. He's given himself a chance to make it." (HSB)


Praising Pilares along with Cox, JJ said:
"We're sorting them out. Mario's done some good things. Pilares is a good player and we have players coming in who are pretty good." (HSB)


Going from 250 to 240 now, hoping to get down to 230 pounds, Cox said:
"I knew I had to come in and get my weight down to be able to play at a good speed." (HSB)

"I wanted to work on my strength and keep my agility up. I wanted to keep my strength up because the linemen in college are pretty big so I wanted to be able to fight those guys off. What I want to do is just make sure my technique is down to I can be accountable and be reliable to my coach and my team." (HSB)


About his improvement in the classroom since he used his redshirt year to focus on Academics, Cox said:
"My freshman year I wasn't really aware about how all the tests go. Now it's pretty easy. I know I have to stay on top of my syllabus." (HSB)


About adjusting to weakside outside LB, Adam Leonard said:
"I'm making those early mistakes, but learning from it. I'm feeling real good about playing outside. I think it's kind of a good change for me. I get the opportunity to learn a new position and get some versatility. So I'm enjoying it." (HSB)


About how being on the weakside at LB in the 4-3 is different when he was inside in the 3-4:
"You get the opportunity to roam and put yourself in position to make plays. We've got two gaps and that's it. If they do this, it's this gap, if they go the other way, it's the other gap. It's easy to read and almost makes it look like a blitz, how fast we hit the holes. There's a lot of different stuff we can do from the 4-3, and the nickel package we got, so I'm just thankful for the opportunity to step up and make more plays." (HSB)


About how Pisa Tinoisamoa made a similar switch at UH to outside LB and had 20 tackles vs. Alabama, Leonard said:
"I heard he had 20 tackles against Alabama. I'm hoping I can do something like that one game." (HSB)


Happy that the NCAA eliminated the time-running changes they had last year, JJ said:
"I knew last year it didn't make much sense, so I'm glad somebody else realized it." (HSB)

Note: Just imagine what the UH offense would have done last season if each game had the 14 or more players it would have had without those rules...


Praising former CB Keao Monteilh, who is now at safety, CB Gerald Lewis said:
"He's doing well. We just want the best players on the field." (HSB)


About joining the UH football team in the Fall, Saddleback sophomore punter Tim Grasso said:
"I like the Hawai'i coaching staff. Hawai'i is a good place to be. The program is great." (HA)

HA reports that in 2005 Grasso punted for Dixie State College and ranked 5th nationally with a 42.2 yards per punt average. Because of long-snapping problems at Saddleback in 2006 Grasso had a 40 yard per punt average. As a senior at Davis High School in Utah, Grasso was an All-State receiver for his 5A state championship-winning team in 2004. His nickname is T-Grass.


About how he will attend Mike McCabe's One-on-One Kicking Camp in Alabama this summer, Grasso said:
"I'll be there six to eight weeks." (HA)

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Quotes from Spring Practice, Week 3 Day 1

About bulking up from 225 to 250 pounds, Victor Clore said:
"I've just been training hard with all the guys out here. Working out, trying to put on weight. I just want to help out any way I can, get on the field." (HSB)


About how he fits the 4-3 defense better, Clore said:
"In the 3-4 it's more difficult because you have to take on more guys and you have to be around 280 (pounds)." (HSB)


About how Clore fits the DE needs for the 4-3 defense but was undersized in the 3-4, JR said:
"The 4-3 helps him because from a physique standpoint he's more suited for this. He was gonna be a real undersized end in the 3-4. In the 4-3 you're more up the field and you're looking almost for outside linebacker type bodies. It really does give a chance for guys like him who are athletes to be on the field." (HSB)

"Now he has the chance to be an every-down guy at the end position." (HSB)


About how Clore's improvement is earning him playing time, JR said:
"Greg asked us to evaluate the players at the end of each week of spring practice and on Victor's report I wrote we need to give him reps. He needs playing time, the opportunity to learn by doing. It's not Ikaika coming off the basketball court, but it's about as close as you can get. When you're out there with high socks and gloves and a towel, and all of a sudden you gotta line up and be a man, it's a different deal." (HSB)


Praising Clore, JJ said:
"Last year watching him on scout team, we knew he had a chance to be a player. He's shown that so far in spring ball. He has a good motor and does what he's supposed to do." (HSB)


About intercepting Colt's first pass of team drills, Gerald Lewis said:
"Colt throws it straight and on a line. He's just out here to get us better and we're here to get him better." (HSB)


About how GM's schemes allows CBs to have more opportunities for interceptions, Lewis said:
"It's different because there's more zone. We can read the quarterback more instead of playing man all the time. We get a chance to make plays on the ball." (HSB)


About making the play of the day (leaping to tip the ball and then diving to catch it), Adam Leonard said:
"I was just tracking the ball and my eyes got wide. I told myself I can't mess up on this opportunity." (HSB)


Confused when he received congratulations before yesterday's Spring Practice, Keao Monteilh said:
"For what? I thought he thought I went to Merrie Monarch or something." (HA)

"I had the butterflies in the beginning. I had fun. I love it out there." (HA)
HA Note: "The move completed a remarkable comeback for Monteilh. During final-examination week in December 2005, Monteilh suffered from appendicitis. His grades dropped while he recovered.

In March 2006, Monteilh was dismissed from the team because of his academic problems, but he was allowed to attend classes. At the end of the 2006 spring semester, UH coach June Jones did not renew Monteilh's scholarship. But Jones told Monteilh the scholarship would be restored if he continued to receive good grades.

Monteilh rejoined the team last September. He opted to redshirt, allowing him time to improve his grades and physical condition. He also decided to move from cornerback, where he was a part-time starter in 2004 and 2005, to safety."


About elevating Monteilh to #1 left safety, GM (who posted his first depth chart yesterday) said:
"Keao is really doing things right and playing hard. Rich (Miano, the defensive secondary coach) and I felt he deserved a shot with the first unit. We'll keep evaluating things, but as of today, he's No. 1." (HA)


About the hard work he has put in, Monteilh said:
"I worked with (conditioning) coach Mel (deLaura) on my speed and my strength. increased his maximum bench press from 275 pounds to 345. Before, my 40 time was, maybe, forever." (HA)
Note: Monteilh added 15 pounds (he now weighs 193) and increased his max bench press from 275 to 345. His 40 time is 4.59, 13th fastest at UH.


About Monteilh, Coach Mel deLaura said:
"He did what he was supposed to do. He wasn't off doing other things." (HA)


About his study buddy, 2.5-year-old son Kanoa, Monteilh said:
"Sometimes I bring him to class. He's in my English and Hawaiian classes. He's a true Kanoa from Manoa." (HA)


Feeling that Brad Kalilimoku is also a 1st-team LB, GM said:
"Brad will roll with the linebackers. We feel he qualifies as a first-unit linebacker." (HA)


About how Ryan Keomaka is right behind Lewis and Newberry at CB, GM said:
"We think we have three No. 1 corners." (HA)


About moving up the depth chart, Keomaka said:
"I'm stepping up on the ladder." (HA)


About how he's gone from 150 to 172 at UH, Keomaka said:
"I'm 172, baby. All steel. I'm eating iron in the weight room." (HA)


About being the nickelback, Guyton Galdeira said:
"I was told I had a handicap; I'm vertically challenged. 5-8 with cleats." (HA)


About Galdeira as nickelback, GM said:
"As long as he can jump, we don't care about those other things. He's really technically sound. He's perfect for a nickelback." (HA)


About his role at speed LB in the 3-3-5 defense installed yesterday (blitz, pass defend, run stop), Galdeira said:
"It's a pretty big role. I guess coach (McMackin) sees something in me." (HA)


About the schedule, Herman Frazier said:
"I am having conversations with prospective football opponents, but there is no information to report at this time." (HSB, HA)


About how they will release a schedule soon that will NOT include UH, Mississippi State associate AD Mike Nemeth said:
"we're hoping to announce a schedule today or tomorrow ... and it will be without Hawai'i." (HA)

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Quote about the Final Day of Spring Practice

About how plans for their final day (April 28) of Spring Practice at Aloha Stadium will not include a scrimmage, JJ said:

"It will be more of a fan day." (HSB)

Note: UH is negotiating with Aloha Stadium management to pay a lower rent than it did last time it ended Spring Practice at the stadium. Apparently Stadium management charges a ton, which is why for the last few years UH had their final day of Spring Practice at the grass football and soccer fields.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Quotes after the Sixth Day of Spring Practice

Giving high praise about UH's linebackers, GM said that they are the best group:
"I've ever been around." (HA)

"anywhere I've been. Ray (Lewis) was outstanding. But these guys could have played there as a group. As a group, playing together, they're really talented." (HA)

Note: GM has coached Ray Lewis, Julian Peterson, Jeff Ulbrich and Derrick Smith. GM praised Cal Lee, who is now in charge of all of the LBs.


Praising his coaches, Blaze Soares said:
"Coach McMackin is an excellent coach. He explains everything into great detail. Then you have coach Lee, who explains it even better. We've been picking it up pretty good." (HA)


About using all of the terminology that he used at UH in 1999, GM said:
"Coach McMackin is an excellent coach. He explains everything into great detail. Then you have coach Lee, who explains it even better. We've been picking it up pretty good." (HA)


About how UH has a defensive playbook now (they didn't have one under Glanville), GM said:
"Now we have a playbook. It's thick, like a dictionary. It shows us all of the details we need to know." (HA)


About how this team is different than the 0-12 team he and JJ took over in 1999, GM said:
"I have nothing but great things to say about that '99 team. We came so far and they played with such heart. At the end, they were a really good football team. But when we started (the 1999 season), they had to learn how to win. These guys (on the 2007 team) are winners now. We don't have to deal with that." (HA)


About his defensive philosophy, GM said:
"We want speed on the field." (HA)
HA Note: "The past four practices, Amani Purcell and David Veikune were used as defensive ends. In the nickel defense, those two will be used as defensive tackles while Karl Noa and Francis Maka will be the rush ends."


About how they have used the same 1st team on defense all week, GM indicated that the competition for starting spots is still open:
"that was just a starting point for guys who sort of played last year." (HA)

"We're grading our players every day because we want to get the best guys on the field. We're really being precise in evaluating them, and they know that. We're straight up with them. We're going to evaluate up to the first game." (HA)


About how he is currently with the 1st team at safety, Dane Porlas said:
"I have to make the best of my opportunity. I have to try to fight for (the starting job) no matter what." (HSB)


About their situation at safety, defensive backs coach RM said:
"It's good to know you've got one veteran who's played a whole bunch of football (in Patek). Dane has made some plays in the past and has been around the system to know what he's doing. We do enough package-wise where I think all those guys are going to help us in some way. (HSB)

Note: UH has Patek, Porlas, Keao Monteilh, Desmond Thomas, and highly rated JC transfer Erik Robinson (not at Spring Practice) as safety options in the Fall.


About replacing Leonard Peters this season, Patek said:
"Leonard's shoes are big shoes to fill, but we have guys that want to get out there and be on the field. There's great competition out there at the safety positions right now." (HSB)


About working to improve during the offseason, Porlas said:
"I've got enough experience to try to get ready for this year. I was just in the weight room all the time, working hard, doing anything extra I could." (HSB)

Note: Porlas started vs. Fresno State during his freshman year and had a game-clinching interception vs. SJSU. He also was with the 1st team in practice last season when Peters had to sit out due to injury. In their first practice in pads (Monday), Porlas had an interception over the middle when they started the 7-on-7 period.


About Monteilh, who has been converted to safety after starting 5 games in 2005 for UH at CB, RM said:
"We do so many different things, safeties have to be athletes. (Monteilh) has good coverage skills and he's very instinctive. He's gotten faster and I credit that to (strength coach) Mel deLaura. I tell our guys when Keao came here he was a skinny little corner who wasn't that fast. He's faster now at 195 pounds than he was when he was 160, because he's put on good weight, so he's gotten stronger and faster." (HSB)


Feeling they have made good progress after their first 6 sessions (9 more to go), JJ said:
"I see a lot of positive things. We got a lot done, but we've got a long way to go still. We're still trying to get a snap from center half the time." (HSB)


About the problems with center snaps during practice yesterday, JJ said:
"You have new centers, you have to live through the growing pains for a while. We go through it all the time." (HSB)

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Quotes about Ray Hisatake

About how he's been gaining weight since he reported to UH at 320 pounds, 6'4" Hisatake said:
"I'm about 330, 335 now. It's good weight for me. I can still move, and I'm getting bigger and stronger. I feel good." (HA)


Praising Hisatake (who played DT before JJ suggested the switch to OT), JJ said:
"Hisatake is doing very well for someone who has played the position for only five days." (HA)


About switching from defensive tackle to offensive left tackle, Hisatake said:
"I told them I don't mind moving. If the team needs me to play tackle, I'll play tackle. I'm doing it for the team. A team wouldn't work unless there's cooperation and a strong unit within itself. I'm giving it a shot." (HA)


Hisatake described the difference in the 2 positions, when he played DT:
"I was lunging forward. As an o-lineman, I have to be patient, keep my hands inside (the frame of an opponent) and let them come to you." (HA)


About Hisatake's quick development at LT, JJ said:
"He's ready now, and we haven't even played a game. It's hard to say if he's up to where everybody else is, but athletically he certainly is." (HA)


About how his Japanese great-grandfather married a Samoan woman, Hisatake said:
"He married a full-blooded Samoan woman." (HA)


Hisatake, who is 7/8 Samoan (he grandfather and father married Samoan women), Hisatake said:
"A lot of recruiters asked my coach (at San Mateo): 'Are Japanese people really that big?' My coach laughed and said, 'He's Polynesian, as well.' " (HA)


About his extended family in Hawaii (he's related to Joe Hisatake, a Damien RB from the late 60s), Hisatake said:
"I have yet to meet them." (HA)


Staying in Hawaii this summer, Hisatake said:
"I love it here. I'm going to compete all spring and summer and see where it takes me." (HA)

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Quotes from the Warrior Quaterbacks For Charity Announcement

About meeting the past UH QBs, Colt said:
"To see the impact they have on the community is cool. One thing that's evident about all of them is they're all successful and happy. Hopefully we can add to the tradition and heritage that the players before us have established." (HSB)

Note: The press conference yesterday was to announce the charity and its August 20 fundraising dinner. Ticket information can be found at WarriorQuarterbacks.com


About breaking 80 when golfing at Waialae Country Club with Ellroy Chong a little more than a month after his nearly fatal auto accident, JJ said:
"It was one of the most memorable physical achievements of my lifetime, I remember it was March 27, because I wrote it down. I actually played a round of golf with him, and I broke 80. I couldn't even bend over, couldn't reach down to pick up the ball." (HSB)


About how the staples holding his body together ripped apart with every golf swing, JJ said:
"It was some of the worst pain I ever felt. But after something like (the accident), you have to get back to what you used to do." (HSB)

Note: Chong, also a former UH QB, has been a physical therapist for more than 30 years and was the taskmaster pushing JJ through his rehab period for months.


About JJ's recovery, Chong said:
"I felt he'd coach again, because his faculties were there. I wasn't sure how he would respond physically, and I'm sure he's hurting to this day. His neck, his hip, his shoulder, his knee, his wrist, his elbow. There were so many different injuries." (HSB)


About how he received physical therapy from Chong for more than a year, JJ said:
"He pushed me like an athlete, every day. He set aside time for me. He's one of the most giving people that you will ever meet." (HSB)


About how JJ will nver be fully recovered from the accident, Chong said:
"He knows it's important for him to stretch and exercise daily. I do play golf with him occasionally, so I know he's doing well. I can't say he's 100 percent recovered, but he's doing well." (HSB)


About how he's helped the UH program ever since JJ became coach in 1999, Chong said:
"When June came back (as coach in 1999), anything he asks, I'm right there for him. I try to support him and the university. He's one of the most giving people that you will ever meet. He's a real special person." (HSB)

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Quotes from Spring Practice, Week 2 Day 1

About how JJ is having him take snaps under center, Colt said:
"I grew up playing under center and I know I can do it really well. Coach Jones said he would give me some work this spring at it and see how things went and maybe put in a package that would work this fall." (HSB)

"Right now we're fresh into it and today was the first time going live with it and we did all right. I think it worked out pretty good, we completed some passes. It'll take some time to get used to, but it won't be a big deal by any means and I think I'll have it within a week or so. It is different for sure. ... There's a lot things we have to work on, it's not just dropping back and throwing it. Now I'm handing the ball off differently, different steps. But all that stuff, I think I can handle it pretty easily." (HSB)


About how JJ tries out different things each Spring Practice, Colt said:
"He's got some ideas. He's trying to run through everything to see what works — what he likes and what he doesn't like." (HA)


About running pass patterns, OL/TE Cameron Allen-Jones said:
"It's my first day actually being in there with the team learning the plays and stuff. I'm just trying to get used to it. ... It's real different, I just have to get used to running routes." (HSB)


About Cameron being used as a TE, Bess said:
"Not too many big linemen can catch the way he can. He's got big, bear-claw hands. Coach thinks Cameron could be a really good candidate for that job and he's shown he's got some good hands and good ability. I think he shows a lot of potential and it's fun just to try something different." (HSB)


About Cameron being used as a TE, Colt said:
"It was surprising to see him out there at first. Coach Jones loves doing things like that. In my experience, he's pretty smart doing that. He was successful with Reagan (Mauia as a running back). And it looks like he's right about Cameron. Cameron can catch the football. He's pretty good. He's got some good hands." (HA)


About playing safety during pass drills yesterday, Colt said:
"Coach Jones kept it fun and tried to give us things to do. The focus is on the younger guys this spring, so the older guys didn't have a lot of work." (HA)


About playing defense on the scout-team, Colt said:
"He knows I like doing that stuff. I used to play linebacker a long time ago. I wanted to play there, but he wanted me back at safety." (HA)


About being in charge of all the LBs now instead of just coaching the inside LBs last season, Cal Lee said:
"It's a minor adjustment." (HSB)


About his LBs (current starters are Eliminian, Leonard, and Soares), Cal Lee said:
"The thing is they're all good football players. We didn't lose anyone to graduation so everybody comes back and if we just keep getting better from last year to this year, it makes us a better ballclub." (HSB)


Happy to be working as a DE, Amani Purcell said:
"It's nice to play with my hand down again." (HA)

HA Note: "At Penn State, Purcell was the top backup at both defensive end positions in the 4-3 scheme. Last year, he struggled to make the transition to outside linebacker in UH defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville's 3-4 defense."


About how UH's 4-3 scheme is similar to Penn State's defensive scheme, Purcell said:
"I was tripping out when (McMackin) was going through the slides. I saw some of the plays I already knew." (HA)


About how responsibility as an outside LB in the 3-4 defense last year, Purcell said:
"It's a soft-read position. You're not sure if you're going forward or backward or whatever until the play develops." (HA)


About how he bulked up during the offseason to prepare to be a DE in the 3-4 defense, Purcell said:
"I gained about 25, 30 pounds. I knew I had to get bigger to play as an end (in the 3-4). I was eating a lot of Polynesian and Samoan food — corned beef, taro, chicken." (HA)


About how his father (a manager of a tuna factory in American Samoa) sends him 8 cases of tuna every couple of weeks, Purcell said:
"(Tuna) is in my system already. I love eating it with rice and ketchup." (HA)


Happy UH switched to the 4-3 D, sad that he had to undo his bulking up, Purcell said:
"I was excited, but at the same time I was bummed out because I gained all of this weight and now I had to lose it." (HA)

"I'm slowly losing the weight. I'm getting rid of the fat." (HA)

Note: Purcell got up to 285 pounds, but his goal is to weight 265-270 when the August training camp opens.


About how he has almost recovered from the torn PCL in his right knee, Purcell said:

"It's better. I did a lot of rehab. It's not going to be a problem." (HA)


About how things were different yesterday because it was their first day in pads, JJ said:

"When you put on the shoulder pads, you always do a little bit more." (HA)


About how Michael Washington and Aaron Bain, plus the others looking for playing time at slot, have a chance to show what they can do during Spring Practice because Bess and Grice-Mullins are working at wideout, Ron Lee said:
"It's a critical spring for Michael and Aaron. They have to step up and make plays, especially on (7-on-7) and elevens. It's game-tempo, that's when they have to step up their performance. We all have to get better if we're going to be a good football team." (HSB)

"Now they get their chance this spring to fight for positions and position themselves on the depth chart. That's going to make us better as a team, if everyone focuses on their assignments and getting better." (HSB)


About his big chance during Spring Practice, Michael Washington said:
"Everything feels good, the offense is basically in my head so it's a matter of me of ballin' out right now. The plays, reading defenses, that's all locked down." (HSB)


About Washington and Bain, Bess said:
"They know what they're doing so when they get in there it's just a matter of them making plays. They're there mentally, they just have to make plays." (HSB)


About his opportunity this Spring to compete for playing time, Greg Salas said:
"I'm looking forward to it big time. Right now it's kind of up for someone to step up and take it." (HSB)


About how the 11 remaining practices left are key for the veterans also, Ron Lee said:
"It's always a good reminder even though you've got a lot of returnees, you have to pay attention to detail and execution. The older guys have to really focus on getting better. There's a lot of room to get better and not be happy with the past. This is a whole new season and how they approach this season is critical. They have to really look at this spring as important to set the tempo for how they're going to be for the year." (HSB)