Quotes from the Spring Practice Day 2

About how 3 of their candidates at RB are former HA All-State players of the year (BJ Batts, Jayson Rego, Kealoha Pilares), JJ said:
"That's impressive. That shows we've got some good players." (HA)


About the competition at RB (13 RBs in Spring Camp, Leon Wright-Jackson coming in the summer), JJ said:
"The one who is the best is going to play." (HA)


About adding 19 pounds to his 5'9" frame to now weigh 209, Rego said:
"I had to put on some weight. The game is a lot faster. The guys are a lot bigger." (HA)


Not regretting turning down Mainland opportunities to attend UH, Rego said:
"This is where I wanted to play." (HA)


About how he asked to be released from his commitment to the Air Force and then contacted RM said a chance to come to UH, Pilares said:
"Military life wasn't for me. Hawai'i was nice enough to give me another chance and to play at home, where I really want to play. I'm very happy. It's all good." (HA)


About his situation at Alcorn State, Batts said:
"It was kind of a tricky situation. They told me I was going to be on scholarship, and I found out I wasn't going to be on scholarship." (HA)


About how he called Cal Lee after getting his Associates degree from Golden West JC, Batts said:
"He was my high school coach. I told him I really wanted to play." (HA)

HA Notes: "Batts weighed 202 — 38 pounds heavier than his high school weight — when he reported to UH in January. During team testing, he ran 40 yards in 5.15 seconds. Through intensive workouts, he has lost weight, and he expects to be fit for training camp.

Of the three, Pilares has shown the most potential. In team testing, he ran 40 yards in 4.5 seconds, fastest among the running backs, and had a broad jump of 9 feet 5."


About how college requires a higher level of commitment in order to compete, Pilares said:
"It's a different game out here. There are faster and bigger guys. You have to lift weights. In high school, you can get away without lifting. I don't think you can do it at this level." (HA)


About helping out during Spring Practice despite planning to transfer at the end of the semester, QB Will Brogan said:
"It's a win-win situation. I get to help them out, and I still get to condition." (HA)


About paying his college expenses (he is a walk-on) and not having much of a chance for playing time, Brogan said:
"You combine the two and it makes it a little rough. If you can compete somewhere else where you're not paying as much, it's a lot better." (HA)


Not regretting coming to UH, Brogan said:
"I had a great time. I have no regrets about Hawai'i. I loved everything. But it's time to move on. You've got to do what's best for you. I know this is best for me. I'm going to miss the offense, and the teammates, definitely." (HA)


About trying to adjust to the UH offense after a year away from playing football, Kiran Kepo'o said:
"I'm just trying to get back into it right now. Hopefully, within this week I'll just familiarize myself with practice and everything. I'm not really too worried right now, I'm just gradually trying to get it back. I now have some time." (HSB)

Note: Kepo'o last game was a win with Iolani in the 2005 Div II State Championship. He "grayshirted" with UH, so he delayed when he joined UH.


About how he needs to learn and be patient because he's behind Colt, Graunke, and Funaki right now, Kepo'o said:
"I just have to gradually work my way up and learn step by step. I just have to be patient with everything." (HSB)


About his goals for this Spring, Graunke said:
"(The offense) has been instilled in my brain for the last three years, it's a matter of putting it on the field and showing Coach I'm not going to make mistakes that young guys make. I don't feel like I'm a young guy any more. I need to step up and try to take a veteran role. Even though I don't start, I feel like I can make a difference. I'll be ready for anything." (HSB)


Empathizing with what Kepo'o is going through now, Graunke said:
"It's crazy how fast the game was and how much was thrown at me. And it's crazy how over time it seems so much better. The game speed slows down, everything is easier to read. I always tell him to keep positive and stay focused and not make the same mistake twice. Coach understands if a new guy makes a mistake, but if he makes it twice then that's just saying he's not paying attention to trying to get better. I've made all the mistakes Kiran's made and plenty more -- that's just how it goes being the young guys." (HSB)


About Kepo'o, JJ said:
"This is his first spring, and it's always hard when you first jump into it. But by the fall he'll feel a lot more comfortable with what we're doing, so we'll be able to evaluate him. I don't really evaluate quarterbacks when they first come out." (HSB)


About playing UNC on Sept. 1, JJ said:
"I'm glad we're able to get a (home) game that week." (HA)


About playing at Aloha Stadium on Sept. 1, UNC spokesman Scott Buck said:
"I think it's a great opportunity. It's exposure. It's beneficial for the school here. As you saw in the story, the players are very excited about that possibility. I know Hawai'i has sort of been resurrected recently. They've got a good thing going. Our players are excited to be a part of that for a game." (HA)


About GM, Adam Leonard said:
"He's a real nice guy, you can tell that. He knows his football. He told us his philosophy, and what he wants to accomplish as a coach. I like what he has to say." (HA)


Jake Patek described GM as:
"a real cool guy, down to earth." (HA)


About the blitzing 4-3 defense that GM uses, Patek said:
"His defensive package seems pretty good. He's going to take all of the good things we did last year and add a little different flavor." (HA)

HA Notes that after GM was DC at UH in 1999: "he was Texas Tech's associate head coach and defensive coordinator for three years.

From 2003 through 2005, he was the San Francisco 49ers' associate head coach. He remained on the 49ers' payroll last year. He turned down other coaching jobs to undergo reconstructive surgery on his right knee.

He recuperated in Lubbock, Texas, where he owns a home. His daughter and grandchildren also live in Lubbock.

He began teaching a class on coaching principles.

McMackin has an extensive — and impressive — resume as a defensive coordinator.

He was defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, helping to set four franchise team records, and at Miami and Navy. His Miami defense was ranked as the nation's best." (HA)