Quotes about UH being ranked #24 in the USA Today preseason poll and other pre-camp topics

About how UH got its first preseason national ranking in its history, Colt said:
"Nice. That's really awesome. These things are based on what you did last year. It's nice for our team to be recognized. It's exciting." (HA)

"I can't wait to get started." (HA)


Reflecting on going from the frustrating 5-7 2005 season to this preseason ranking, RGM said:
"To go to 11-3 the next year and then be ranked, that means a lot. It shows how we built up this program. I'm proud of that." (HA)


Na Koa VP Ben Yee was excited about the preseason ranking:
"Honestly, this is what I've dreamed of happening with this program. This is the biggest ever. The hype is on. It was pretty big in 1992, but this is magnified." (HSB)


New Warrior DE Josh Leonard talked about how they are all sleeping in the dance studios:
"It's rough, but this is camp. Camp isn't supposed to be easy." (HA)

HA Note: "They are staying in the two connecting dance studios on the second floor of the school's athletic complex. There are cots, but no school-issued blankets. Showers and restrooms are located a floor below."


About his team-high 40 reps in the 225-pound bench press in yesterday's testing, OLB R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane said:
"I was training hard this offseason to get my body in shape. It just paid off." (HA)


Slotback Aaron Bain (5'9", 190-pounds) led the receivers with 30 reps of 225 pounds, after doing 29 reps last March, saying:
"I would have been disappointed if I got less than 29. I always want to do at least one better." (HA)


About how he did a max bench-press of 395 pounds but didn't lift 405 pounds, Bain said:
"I'm going to keep working at it. I'm pretty short. I have to make up for it in strength and speed." (HA)


Michael Lafaele, who was excused from completing the 220s (10 sprints of 220 yards, with time limits and rest intervales based on position) because of reporting to camp in mid-season shape, said:
"Everybody dreads the 220s. I really worked at it this summer to get into shape." (HA)


About excusing 35 players, Mel deLaura was in charge of the summer conditioning program and said:
"It wasn't an incentive or anything. I just felt they were in good condition." (HA)


About how he and DE Victor Clore bleached their hair and dyed in green stars, LB Blaze Soares said:
"We used green stencils. We wanted to support our school colors." (HA)


About the bags of li hing-flavored treats he brought, Soares said:
"Gotta have snacks." (HA)


About putting his mattress on the studio's lanai, DT Siave Seti said:
"It's really hot in there. I have to stay outside. I'm a watchdog. I have to watch everybody else." (HA)


About preferring to sleep without the box springs, Seti said:
"Springs are bad for your back." (HA)


About the midnight pillow fight, a Warrior tradition, Josh Leonard said:
"I heard playing dead is the best thing." (HA)


About putting his cot near the exit, DE Francis Maka said:
"I'll be the first one out that door." (HA)


About how he will emphasize tackling every day in camp, GM said:
"We will work on tackling every day. Technique-wise, we're going to be sound." (HA)

HA Note: "McMackin said he will stress open-field tackling in the competition at free safety. Keao Monteilh and Desmond Thomas will rotate with the first team. McMackin said he also will evaluate Erik Robinson and Le'Marcus Gibson at free safety.

Jacob Patek is entering as the No. 1 strong safety. Kealoha Porlas is the top backup. Erik Pedersen, who moved back to linebacker in the spring, and Tyson Kafentzis, a starting outside linebacker who requested a move, also will compete at free safety."


About the open competition for starting spots, GM said:
"We need to get the best 11 guys on the field. That's our job: to evaluate. We still have a long time before our first game. We still have some time to evaluate." (HA)


About how Newberry and Lewis will enter camp as the starting CBs, GM said:
"That's our starting point," McMackin said. "I've got full confidence in both of them." (HA)

HA Note: "The competition will intensify as early as next week when juniors Ryan Mouton, Calvin Roberts and Keenan Jones might join the team. Mouton and Roberts are junior-college transfers awaiting certification of their transcripts. Jones needs to complete work in a summer-school class that ends next Friday."

Newberry and Lewis are both about 5 feet 8, but McMackin said their height will not be factors in the Warriors' zone-dog schemes.
Not worried about how Newberry and Lewis are both 5'8", GM said that in 1999 UH's starting CBs were:
"Shawndel Tucker, who was shorter than them, and Quincy LeJay, who was 5-9 and slower than them. I've never been concerned about height as long as the guy can jump." (HA)

HA Note: "In team testing last March, Newberry had a vertical jump of 34 inches. Lewis' vertical jump was 30 inches. Both ran the pro-agility shuttle in 4.19 seconds, tied for 13th on the team."


About how their defense this year will make the CB's height less of an issue, GM said:
"We're going to do different things in the secondary. They're not going to be as manned up." (HA)


About how the 6' Patek will match up against a tall WR at times, GM said:
"He can do it all. He has very good skills." (HA)

Note: Patek was timed at 4.55 seconds in the 40-yard dash, 4.13 seconds in the pro-agility shuttle, and has a verticle jump of 30.5 inches.


Concerned about the players they lost, especially because of their leadership, JJ said:
"We're excited about the team we have coming back. We lost some really good players, since we had five guys drafted and seven others signed (by pro teams). You lose that many and sometimes you're very concerned. We have some players returning who can replace those players. The thing that concerns me most is the leadership of some of the ones we lost, those things in the locker room, those intangible things that sometimes are the difference between winning and losing." (HSB)


About how Graunke is a highly capable backup QB, JJ said:
"Our backup quarterback, Tyler Graunke, is a very good player. His (completion percentage) stats were actually better than Colt." (HSB)