Quotes from HF

About how Michigan chose to play Appalachian State instead of them last weekend, HF said:
"at the end of the day, Michigan would have been better off playing us (than Appalachian State)" (HA)

HF said that unlike losing to Appalachian State, losing to UH:
"would have been accepted by their (Michigan's) fans losing to a 23rd-ranked team easier than it would have been to a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) Appalachian State in the long run." (HA)
About how Michigan had offered UH $600k to open the season at Michigan as opposed to the $400k they ended up paying Appalachian State, HF said:
"He (Martin) contacted me first off about the game.” (HA)

HF initially didn’t want to open the season at Michigan:
"to be honest with you but after I talked to (head football coach) June Jones and Johnny (McNamara, associate athletic director) we said, 'let's go do it.' “ (HA)

About wanting to play a Big 10 team, HF said:
"My reasoning for wanting to go back there to play them and also my reason for talking to Indiana (which also didn't work out) was because I had spoken to members of the media on the East Coast and it would be good for our exposure because I knew it would help us in the long run if we were able to prevail." (HA)
Note: HF said that Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr vetoed the game against UH.

About how Appalachian State turned UH down, HF said:
"I knew they had that first (Sept. 1) date open and that was before they signed with Michigan and their (athletic director) told me that when they played their game here it was one of the toughest games they ever played in the history of the school. When they got back to Boone, N.C., it was a tough time getting adjusted. Not only was it a tough game it was also a very physical game so he said he wasn't interested going to play us, which I found somewhat ironic because, then a few weeks later, (they signed) to play Michigan." (HA)

About how he has offers out to several 1-AA teams for their 9/6/08 open date and is talking with Syracuse about their 12/6/08 regular season finale, HF said:
"I also have teams talking to me about 2009 (and) there are a couple I could probably sign tomorrow if I wanted, but I want to get everything in place for 2008 first.” (HA)

About how he tried to have Idaho play at Michigan instead of USC, with UH then taking USC’s home opening game, HF said that Idaho declined and that:
"Pete Carroll (the USC coach) and the boys weren't too excited about that, either, but it never came close because Idaho said 'no.' " (HA)

About how their internal investigation is continuing of academic misconduct and other possible NCAA violations that Ian Sample’s deleted chapters alleged, HF said:
"Through a series of interviews that have included a lot of our coaches, the football program, as well as some selected student-athletes, the review is continuing now (under) our faculty athletic representative (Peter Nicholson), our vice chancellor on campus (Ron Cambra), as well as our compliance coordinator (Bill Bryant). Eventually what they will do is get together, and after they are completed, they will give a report to me." (HSB)

About how there is no timetable for when their report would be completed, HF said:
"Those types of issues, you let them take their time, and you make sure that you check everything out and review it.” (HSB)

Not wanting to talk about what UH would do with an BCS payout, HF said:
"You don't try to jinx yourself in that regard. I've had friends from two BCS bowls call me last Friday ... they said, 'It would be wonderful to have you guys in one of our games.' And I say, 'Guys, get off the phone, I don't even want to talk about it. Don't even go there.' " (HSB)
"Boise's take was about $4.5 million for playing in the Fiesta Bowl ... but I don't even want to think about it." (HSB)

About having Jackie Joyner-Kersee as the keynote speaker at their 8/30 Title IX fundraiser in honor of the late Patsy Mink, HF said:
"Having Jackie Joyner come here was awesome. Jackie's a good friend, I've known her for many, many years, and we were just happy that she was available to be here." (HSB)