Quotes about UH anticipating the opener

Anticipating the opener, which all Warrior fans can relate to, Colt said:
"Let's play some football! I'm ready to get going. I'm tired of waiting." (HA)

"I just love to play. I'm glad the offseason is over. I just want to play." (HA)


JJ said that the number of practices they have had from the start of training camp has been the same as last year but:
"It really feels like we've been training for a long time. It seems like it's been forever." (HA)


About how they are ready to play, after going through all of the offseason controversies, RGM said:
"The whole summer, the talk was about the schedule and all kinds of stuff. All of that was out of our hands. What we do on the field is the only thing we can control. What we do in this game is in our hands." (HA)


About their goals, GM said:
"Our goal is to win the WAC championship. That's what we're striving for." (HA)


About losing 5 defensive starters, 2 to the NFL, GM said:
"Losing players is devastating. We've stayed pretty positive and gone on. This defense — and this whole team — will take on its own personality. Of course, it depends when the lights go on. But we've got a lot of expectations." (HA)

HA Note: "In last year's 3-4 defense, ends Melila Purcell III and Ikaika Alama-Francis were essentially defensive tackles. In McMackin's 4-3 schemes, the ends are pass rushers. Last year's defense mirrored the Pittsburgh Steelers'; this year's schemes are comparable to the Seattle Seahawks'."


About how his players adjusted to his defense, GM said:
"They picked it up pretty fast." (HA)

HA Note: "They also were rejuvenated with McMackin's fresh-start approach. McMackin wiped clean the depth chart in the spring. That opened the way for cornerback Keenan Jones, who was suspended and stripped of his scholarship after missing several mandatory meetings, to ascend the depth chart. It also allowed linebacker Blaze Soares to break into the lineup."


About Blaze, who played just 6 downs vs. Oregon State and hit the QB 4 times, GM said:
"Blaze is a player." (HA)


Praising their WRs, and about how he felt that his offense would attract this level of WRs, JJ said:
"This is the fastest group of receivers we've ever had. When we started here (in 1999) we felt the offense would attract this type of skill." (HA)


Not worried about the pressure for him to perform, Pilares said:
"All of the pressure, I have to put it away and focus, and do what I have to do. I can't wait to come out of that (inflatable) helmet, with all of the smoke, and playing in front of the more than 100 fans at Damien. It's going to be exciting." (HA)


About all of Colt's autograph and media requests, JJ said:
"He's handling it well." (HA)


About how Colt measures up well with the skill and composure of Warren Moon, Jim Kelly, and Ryan Leaf (who brought up his name?), JJ said:
"Colt is a combination of all of the best things about all of those guys. He knows how to do all of those things." (HA)


About how UNC will try to make a statement in their game, Colt said:
"They had a rough year last year, so you have to think they've got a lot to prove and are really trying to come out here and make a statement. You don't know what kind of team is going to walk out here. ... If you just don't take them serious enough and a couple of things bounce their way and before you know it you find yourself in a real tough ballgame." (HSB)


Hoping to get a lot of their players some experience in this game, JJ said:
"I want them to come out of this game with a lot of confidence, like Davone (Bess) has, like Colt has." (HSB)


About their previous season openers vs. 1-AA teams, JJ said:
"We're one out of three on these." (HSB)

HSB Note: "UH's record is actually 3-2 in openers against them in Jones' eight years leading the Warriors."