Quotes about the road trip

About how they trained in Houston for 2 days before leaving for Monroe, La (one hour from Ruston) this afternoon, JJ said:
"You get more sleep if you do it this way." (HA)

HSB Note: "the players rested from yesterday morning until 6 in the evening. They practiced last night from 7:30 to 10 at Rice Stadium, ate dinner, then attended meetings from 11 p.m. until 1 this morning."


About having their longest practice since training camp when the temperature ahd humidity were both in the 90s, David Farmer said:
"It wasn't easy. There wasn't a dry spot on my body." (HA)


About the heat and humidity, JJ (who coached twice in Houston) said:
"It's definitely more humid here. You get used to it." (HA)


Patek, who grew up 90 minutes away from Houston, said about practicing in Houston:
"I love it. It's home to me. It's bearable. And sweat cools you down." (HA)


Myron Newberry, who is also from Texas, said about practicing in Houston:
"It's going to be like this in Louisiana. And it's not as bad as having two-a-days here. This is going to get us ready for our game." (HA)


Colt said that practicing in Houston was the 2nd-best way to prepare for a game in Louisiana, with the best way:
"We could have practiced in Louisiana." (HA)

HA Note: "But practicing at Rice University allowed the Warriors to unveil several surprise schemes away from Louisiana Tech's spies. Rice also allowed the Warriors full use of the facilities and athletic-training staff."


About practicing at Rice University, JJ said:
"We got to do a lot of things. That's why we went a little long in practice." (HA)

"It was good. We got a lot done." (HSB)

HA Note: "Because the travel roster is limited to 64 — UH has 115 players on the overall roster — the first-string players doubled as scout-team members. That allowed the starting receivers to run routes against the starting cornerbacks.

The starters also took turns serving as coaches. Brennan spent about 10 minutes instructing right wideout C.J. Hawthorne, a converted cornerback, on the correct way to run a corner-fade route. Brennan pointed out that Hawthorne often turned too much, appearing to back-pedal, while tracking the lofting passes. Brennan even ran routes as part of his tutorial lesson."


About the help Colt gave him in practice yesterday, Hawthorne said:
"It's a blessing. That shows that Colt really cares. If Colt didn't care, he wouldn't say anything. He cares enough to want the best for me. He takes time, going through things over and over. I'm thankful." (HA)


About working extra with Hawthorne, Colt said:
"We're trying to make sure we get on the right page. The only difference between him and the other starters is that he doesn't really have the game experience. The more comfortable and confident we can get him to be, the better he will be as a player." (HA)


John Estes practiced yesterday after missing a number of previous practices due to his infection:
"Every time I rest, it gets better. The swelling is going down. I should be able to go, unless it swells up again." (HA)


Timo Paepule missed 3 practices this week because of an injured right arch but said that he's fit for the game:
"I'm fine, I'm good. There's nothing to worry about." (HA)


About how he was the only Warrior to play in their last win at La Tech in 2003, Jason Rivers said:
"I'll always remember it because it was a great game, an emotional game, and the first game that I got a lot of snaps. I hurt my hamstring, but I'll always remember Chad (Owens) making that play for the winning score." (HSB)

Note: Rivers played in that game as a true freshman and caught 4 passes for 82 yards.


Asked what it takes to win on the road, Rivers said:
"The key is being unified as a team and everybody doing their job. All the slack is picked up and there are no gaps. We have a lot to play for." (HSB)


Praising the way Rivers has prepared for this season, JJ said:
"He played well last week, and he was focused all through training camp. He's ready to be The Guy. He's worked hard." (HSB)


About how he was called an hour before Wednesday's charter flight as a replacement John Fonoti, B.J. Fruean said:
"I just grabbed what was in my locker, which wasn't much. I have to go shopping Sunday." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Fruean did not suit up last week. He has made the travel roster before, as a freshman special teams player in 2005."