Random Warrior Quotes

About how it was announced in a team meeting yesterday that he, Saole, and Ingram were awarded scholarships, Keoni Steinhoff said:
"It was exciting. I called my parents. I'm really happy. It's going to be a good year." (HA)

"A couple of schools looked at me (out of high school), but no scholarship offers. This is really exciting. My parents were the first ones I called." (HSB)

Note: Keoni is a junior who is projected as a starter this year, so he's definitely earned his scholarship!


So happy for the 3 walk-ons that earned scholarships, Colt said:
"That's awesome. I'm glad. Being a former walk-on, too, I've got a lot of pride in guys who walk on. It says a lot about a football player if he's a walk-on who starts. That says a lot about his character and his determination. He's a guy who really deserves it. I'm glad he got a scholarship." (HA)


Senior Rustin Saole, whose wife (UH track-and-field athlete Ku'ulei Saole) gave birth to their first child 7 weeks ago, said:
"I'm really happy. God's good. God's really good. In the meeting, they announced it to the team, and I was like, 'Whoa.' I wanted to cry. I have a baby, a wife. I have my whole family. And now this. It's a real blessing." (HA)


GM said that Saole is
"deserving. He did a great job in the spring. He'll really contribute this year. It's a great thing that June (Jones) does to reward the guys who work hard." (HA)


Jake Ingram was supposed to receive a scholarship last January but UH miscalculated the number of available scholarships, said about his extra wait:
"They gave it to me for this semester, which is just fine. I'm really happy. Now I get a (monthly) check." (HA)


One condition for receiving the scholarship is that Jake will not be permitted to be used at any position except for long-snapper, which he had trouble accepting at first but now says:
"Now it's fine. I'll miss the action, but I'm going to focus on long-snapping. It'll help me in the long run." (HA)


About his dreadlocks, Colt said:
"I got bullied into it by all my teammates. With all the media hype, every time I open the paper, I see my face on it. This was just one of those opportunities where I could let everybody know I'm not getting too caught up in the hype. I've still got no problem humiliating myself." (HSB)

"It hurts when I put my helmet on." (HSB)


About their preseason national ranking, JJ said:
"We need to forget about all that stuff now. It's time to worry about what we're doing, and not what somebody's saying about us or what's going on around us. ... We're 0-0 right now." (HSB)


About their preseason national ranking, RGM said:
"We're not going to lie and say it doesn't feel good. But as you know and everybody knows we're still 0-0 right now." (HSB)


About being used as a pass blocker in practice yesterday, LWJ said:
"Pass-blocking comes first, running comes next. I don't mind that at all. I want to learn. Whatever the team needs from me, I'll do that first." (HA)


About how he has to wait for the clearance from his physical exam before he'll run the 220s, LWJ said:
"When everything is cleared up, I'll run my 220s, just like everybody else did." (HA)


About how he practiced as a punt returner yesterday, RGM said:
"I did it in high school, but I haven't done it since I've been here." (HA)


About how JJ prefers not to use underclassman starters as punt returners, RBM said:
"You know how coach Jones is. But why not practice? Why not be ready so you don't have to get ready." (HA)

Note: With the other slot starter, the junior Bess, returning punts, I don't see how JJ could have prevented RGM from at least practicing returning.


About how he learned a lot from Mike McCabe's kicking camp this summer, punter Tim Grasso said:
"He broke down every aspect of punting." (HA)


About how he might not get to punt much if UH's offense is just as successful this season, Grasso said:
"I'd rather be on a great team and not punt very much than be on a losing team and punt every game." (HSB)

HA Note: "At Dixie State College in 2005, Grasso averaged 42.2 yards per punt. At Saddleback last year, he averaged 40 yards per punt. This season's goal is to average 4.5 seconds in hang time.

Last year, Grasso punted 91 times — 75 more than Kurt Milne attempted for UH in 2006.

Grasso, who is in line for a scholarship, took out student loans to pay for this fall's tuition, room and board."


About JJ's statement that he could be the best player who ever played offensive line here, John Estes said:
"I'm glad he thinks highly of me, but I was trying to stay low key. I wanted to fly under the radar." (HA)


About playing center, Estes (who didn't practice there in spring training this year but did so in 2005 and he played center for 3 years in high school) said:
"There's a lot more to worry about at center, like making the calls. The whole offensive line is relying on you not to bust. I have to communicate to everyone. If we're not on the same page, then that's when busts and stuff happen." (HA)

"With every center and every quarterback it's different. Sam snaps the ball different than I do. We've just got to get used to each other. (Brennan's) voice, too. I'm somewhat used to it from playing guard last year." (HSB)


About how he was an All-Northern California center in high school, where his QB was Willie Tuitama (currently Arizona's starting QB), Estes said:
"We probably did 75 percent shotgun." (HSB)


About how he's studied a ton of tape to learn UH's blocking schemes and audibles, Estes said:
"At first it's complicated. My head was swimming when I first came here, even last year. First couple games I busted a couple times. That's learning. Even now, I'll make a mistake here and there. That's no big deal, as long as you don't make them in the games." (HSB)


About how he practiced with Estes during the informal practices this summer, Colt said:
"We have to get it in game scenarios, like in practice. One thing is I have a lot of confidence in John, a lot of trust. I was happy he made the move to center. We have a whole month to work on things." (HA)

"As far as me and John Estes, we have a great relationship. He started on the O-line last year, so I have a lot of confidence in him. Right now it's all preliminary -- we're just walking through. As we move into camp we'll improve our relationships with all our linemen and running backs so that they're happy to block for us. John's a very humble and hungry kid. I'm really happy that he's at the center position. As practice progresses throughout the summer we're going to become closer." (HSB)


Strong safety B.J. Fruean met the requirements to practice.
About how he met the requirements to practice, 3rd year sophomore B.J. Fruean said:
"I did my part." (HA)


About how he had to serve an academic redshirt last year after playing in 2005, Fruean said:
"It was hard to sit out. Since I wasn't on the active roster, I couldn't do anything." (HA)


About how he kept active by adding other workouts, including boxing, mixed-martial arts and basketball, Fruean (who now weighs 230) said:
"I gained mass, but I didn't lose speed. I'm happy to be back. I'm ready to contend." (HA)


About how he was forced to say goodbye during the first night of training camp due to his medical retirement, Jason Ferguson said:
"It wasn't easy. When everyone was bunking up and getting settled, I was going to my car to go home. That was a weird feeling. I was here four years. I went from being a starter to not having a locker. It tests your inner strength. That's life." (HA)


About how he'll serve as a student assistant (and remains on scholarship), Ferguson said:
"I got through that night, and now I'm good. I'll be here every day helping out, doing my part." (HA)


About serving as video coordinator this season and being able to graduate in December (after just 3.5 years at UH), Paul Harmon (who played on the offensive and defensive lines):
"Summer school helps." (HA)


About how he and Victor Clore showed up with closely cropped bleached hair with green stars dyed in, Blaze Soares said:
"We were just playing around and we were like, 'Let's just put stars on top.' Everybody liked it -- even the coaches." (HSB)