UH-SJSU quotes from the papers Thursday morning

About how Colt's ankle injury has really improved, JJ said:
"I think he's the best the last three days that he's been since he hurt (the ankle). We've got a bye the following week, so hopefully he'll get in there and do his own thing." (HSB)


About how his ankle injury has disrupted him game, Colt said:
"It would help my rhythm if I could consistently stay in there and get back on track." (HSB)

HSB Note: "He's been able to do that all week, and it paid off yesterday, as Brennan not only looked good running with the ball, but he was deadly accurate on his long ball. On three consecutive plays, he hit receivers between the numbers on passes of at least 40 yards."


About how his ankle is feeling better and he'll have the bye week to rest it after SJSU, Colt said:
"My ankle is feeling better now than ever. With the bye week coming up I can really push it." (HSB)


About being focused on the team, not individual goals, Colt said:
"It's just impossible to think that the (individual) standard I set last year is what I'm looking for this year. I said I'm coming back to win football games and I've been doing that and that's what we're going to continue to do. Whatever the stats are at the end of the year won't matter if we are undefeated." (HSB)


Happy to be facing the more difficult half of their schedule, Colt said:
"For us, we're excited because the last four, five, six weeks or so we've been having to get ready for opponents that we are supposed to really beat handily. Well finally we can really get up and be really excited about an opponent that's good enough to beat us if we don't show up." (HSB)


About how his teammates chanted his name at the end of practice yesterday as he attempted a 45-yard FG (he made it), Dan Kelly said:
"It's a nice change of pace to the 'you suck' and 'you're going to miss this' that I usually get from them. Maybe they're trying to kill me with kindness, make me stronger. It was fun. I get more nervous in front of these guys than anyone else. It just makes it easier for me when game day rolls around." (HA)

HA Note: "For instance, Utah State's Peter Caldwell, the Western Athletic Conference's most accurate kicker, has attempted only two of his 12 field-goal tries from beyond 40 yards. He made a 47-yarder, but missed from 45 yards. Boise State's Kyle Brotzman missed his only attempt from beyond 40 yards. In contrast, four of Kelly's seven field goal attempts were longer than 40 yards. Last week, he converted a 54-yard field goal."


About how he doesn't get many easy FG attempts, Kelly said:
"With this offense, you're not going to get close field goals. We're not that kind of team. The only time we'll kick a field goal is if it's fourth-and-long. Usually that means we're backed up and it has to be a long field goal. We have the type of offense that will go for it if it's fourth-and-7." (HA)


About how his range is 60 yards, Kelly said:
"Anything longer than that and my trajectory starts going down." (HA)

HA Note: "Still, Kelly said UH is the "best school you want to go to if you're a kicker" with aspirations to play professionally. He said the high-scoring offense provides numerous kickoff opportunities to show off a strong leg."


About his goals for kickoffs, Kelly said:
"My goal is 50 percent touchbacks. I'm not nearly where I want to be right now." (HA)


Expecting to be healthy enough to start vs. SJSU, Michael Lafaele said:
"I'm ready to go." (HA)


About how going against Hercules Satele is great preparation for him, Lafaele said:
"Herc is the best guard in the league. He's tough. It's hard to get off blocks. He's a quick guy, too." (HA)


About Lafaele, Hercules said:
"Mike is a beast. He's the best d-lineman in the league. Our o-line is better because we have to go against him in practice." (HA)


About how he plays nose tackle in their Oky defense, Amani Purcell said:
"The coaches asked me if I would play down, and I said, 'If you want me to.' " (HA)


About using Amani in at NT in that scheme, GM said:
"Amani is perfect because he has the bulk to play inside, but he's also quick. He's smart. He picks up everything. He has all of the measurables." (HA)


About how they stunt to overcome double-teams in their Oky defense, Jeff Reinbold said:
"He really helps our stunt game. When he's in there he has great quickness on the guard." (HA)