Quotes from the local papers

NMSU head coach Hal Mumme said that last year's 49-30 game was:
"pretty much a defensive struggle." (HA)


Mumme jokes that the defensive coordinators:
"just wanted to keep (the offenses) under 1,000 yards." (HA)


About how they pattern themselves after UH, Mumme said that:
"everybody wants to be like Boise State but when we look at our league and when we do things, we try to emulate Hawai'i a lot." (HA)


Asked about their #17 BCS ranking, Colt said:
"Ask me that question five games from now. Right now, it's irrelevant. What's important (is the ranking) after our last (regular-season) game. If we're undefeated, we can talk. Until then, we have to shut up and win." (HA)


About the criticism about their victory margins, Colt said:
"The only people who are saying that are people who are just complaining because we're doing well. The truth of the matter is, a win's a win, no matter what." (HA)

Note: Sadly, the computers and the voters DO take into account victory margins...so a win is not a win in the BCS standings.


About how their 3 losses last year were by a total of 18 points, Colt said:
"What does that say? Does that mean the teams we lost to, just because they were close games, they shouldn't get credit? I think that's a stupid, stupid statement. It has some weight to some degree, but it's a very minute fact when you're comparing how good a team is." (HA)

Note: The criticism isn't that the UH games are close...the criticism in the national media is that the games are close when UH is playing subpar teams. The teams that UH lost to last year (Alabama, BSU, Oregon State) are FAR better than any team that they have played so far this season.


About how Florida won 5 regular-season games by 7 points or less last year, Colt said:
"Yet they blew out the so-called reigning No. 1 team (Ohio State) in the nation (in the BCS title game). It just goes to show (the margin of victory) holds no weight. It means nothing." (HA)

Note: Good lobbying effort/spin by Colt. Unfortunately, the teams that played Florida tough were in general MUCH stronger than the teams that UH played this year. To give a fair comparison: if UH beats Boise State by *1* point this year there will be NO criticism in the national media for the margin of victory. That is the key difference. For example, a 1-point win over a I-AA team would be significantly different than a 1-point win over LSU.


About his availability for the NMSU game, Mouton said:
"As far as all of the runs and cuts, it's going to be a little different because the brace won't allow me to do certain things, but I feel I can play." (HA)

"I'm just trying to get used to being out here again. I feel comfortable, but not 100 percdent. About 85. I know if I play Saturday it's probably going to be limited. It would be good to take advantage of an extra week. I would like to see where I'm at in a game-time situation, but I'm not worried about it." (HSB)


About Mouton, Rich Miano said:
"Playing defensive back is not like playing offensive tackle, where you can wear a brace that limits your mobility. If he's not 100 percent or close to it, we have to make sure he's healthy. We don't want to re-injure that (knee) and have it linger all year long." (HA)

"It's one of those situations you have to be careful with. Is he healthy enough to help you? Is he going to re-injure it? Is the bye week going to help? It's not my call, but it's nice to have him out here because he's a talent and he can help us down the stretch. We just don't know if the stretch starts Saturday or two weeks from now." (HSB)


About how just playing nickelback will be not as taxing on his knee, Mouton said:
"It's a different game between nickel and corner. You have a lot of safety help over the top on nickel." (HA)


About how they just used Mouton at nickelback in practice yesterday, GM said:
"We just put him in some nickel situations and didn't want to push too much the first day." (HSB)


About how he missed his 2nd consecutive day of practice, Dane Porlas said:
"It's good to take a little rest for a day." (HA)


About how medical tests did not find any damage in his knee, Porlas said:
"It's just tight. That's why I was running on the side, to loosen it up." (HA)


About how the fires in San Diego reached as close as 1/2 mile from his parent's home, Briton Forester said:
"I've been living in that same house since the third grade." (HA)


About watching the TV news reports about the fire, Forester said:
"When you see places on fire, that you can recognize, it's kind of a crazy visual." (HA)


About how he doesn't take his kick holding for granted, referring to Romo's playoff losing mistake last year, Tim Grasso said:
"I think everyone takes (holding for kicks) for granted until someone pulls a Tony Romo." (HSB)


About how he'd love to have a long NFL career like Jason Elam, Dan Kelly said:
"I haven't met him yet, but I'd love to pick his brain. It's about consistency, and kicking winning field goals, and he's got three this year. That's MVP of the team." (HSB)


About how Kelly (who is 50-50 this season) broke Elam's record of consecutive extra point conversions in a season (Elam made all 46 in 1989), Grasso said:
"I had no idea. That's sweet though." (HSB)


About his good chemistry with Jake Ingram and Tim Grasso (his roommate at home and the road), Kelly said:
"We just get along, good teammates, good friends. We hang out at Jake's (family house in Mililani). He has a pool. All three of us have the desire to be better than what we are. That alone is probably the best thing for our chemistry." (HSB)


Praising Dan Kelly, JJ said:
"He's been a solid player for us. He's more confident and he's got an NFL leg." (HSB)


About how the conditions were difficult when it counted most in the SJSU game, Grasso said:
"I haven't been worried about it, but I know in that San Jose State game, that last PAT in overtime was really shaky. Every ball, no matter if it was dry when they gave it to us, it got wet." (HSB)


About how Jake Ingram has NFL-worthy long-snapping skills, JJ said:
"Jake can snap it with the best of them, including the pros." (HSB)


Ingram said that Kelly has matured and he has confidence in Grasso, Ingram said:
"He's more relaxed. We just go out there and do our job. Everything's flowing smooth and when it's smooth it just carries on week after week. Tim was an athlete in high school, and you can tell. He has great hands." (HSB)


About how they take extra points seriously, Dennis McKnight said:
"We block hard, we talk about our protection before we go out on the field. And I just think with Tim's great hands, Jake's been consistent with the snaps and Dan's developed trust in them. Those three guys are operating at a good level." (HSB)


About how he approaches extra points and FGs the same way, Kelly said:
"It's all circumstantial. I don't feel the pressure when I step on the field. I feel it off the field. Kicking a 60-yard field goal, kicking a PAT, they're both my job. Basically it's just technique, not trying to do too much, not think about things too much, just go out there and do my job." (HSB)


About how his family's home in San Diego almost had to be evacuated, Dane Porlas said:
"If the fire reached the next freeway, they were going to have to leave." (HSB)


About his family's home in Temecula, Kelly said:
"The fire's a few miles away, but it's not threatening. They evacuated Fallbrook and we're the next town over." (HSB)