Quotes from the UH-Nevada game

HA = Honolulu Advertiser
HSB = Honolulu Star-Bulletin
AP = Associated Press
CBS47 = CBS47.com
NA = Nevada Appeal
RGJ = Reno Gazette-Journal
LAT = LA Times
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Quotes from the UH coaches

About their third close victory on the road, JJ said:
"It is tremendous testimony to the kids. They really believe in each other, trust each other." (HA)

About using all 3 QBs in their opening drive, JJ said:
"(Nevada) had two weeks to practice. I just wanted to give them something else to think about for awhile." (HSB)

About how Tyler led their final drive (2:16 left to play, no timeouts, starting on their 12), JJ said:
"Tyler did what he's practiced. We do the two-minute drill all the time (in practice) and he finally got a chance to do it (in a) game. He was patient, took what they gave him and kept moving (the ball) and got it done." (HA)

"Tyler's been practicing two-minute drills for almost four years." (HA)

"Tyler has been practicing the 2-minute drill for almost four years and made it work." (HSB)

"He did what he practiced to do. He's a winner." (HSB)

Proud of Tyler, JJ said:
"He plays well under pressure and he's a competitive kid and I'm just really proud of him." (AP)

"He's a gamer. That's why he's here. He's a competitive kid." (NA)

"I know he's a gamer. He plays under pressure. He's a competitive kid. I'm proud if him." (RGJ)

About putting Colt in for 2 plays, a 7-yard pass for the 2nd play of the game and a 14-yard pass later in the game, JJ said:
"I wanted him to go in there and throw a couple of passes." (HA)

"I just wanted him to get in and throw a couple of passes. I knew the tight passes were throws he could make without getting hit. I knew he wasn't going to get hit on those two passes." (AP)

About keeping Colt out of the game, JJ said:
"It was a big decision, but he had more at stake personally if he did get another [concussion]. He has much more at stake." (AP)

About how their team is more than just Colt, JJ said:
"We're not just Colt Brennan. We have a lot of good players and they all raised their game." (HSB)

"Everybody thought it's just Colt Brennan. We have a lot of great players." (AP)

Praising Dan Kelly, JJ said:
"It was a beautiful thing. Dan seems like the more pressure he's under, the better he kicks. He's got an NFL leg and an NFL mindset and he'll be kicking on Sundays." (HA)

"Every time we put Dan under pressure he has executed. He's a gamer." (HSB)

Praising Nevada's Luke Lippincott (142 yards on 25 carries and 2 TDs), JJ said:
"He's a very north-south guy, a blue collar running back. Every time he's getting hit, he's falling forward." (HA)

"He's a solid, competitive kid." (HA)

About how Lippincott's running style fits Nevada's offense, JJ said:
"It's perfect for what they are trying to do for a back." (HA)

About Lippincott's speed caused them problems in the open field, JJ said:
"On his touchdown, we took a bad angle." (HA)

About their team, JJ said:
"We're a championship football team. We're going to show up next week and the week after." (HSB)

"I'm proud of the guys. We're a championship football team. We're going to show up next week and the week after." (CBS47)

"These kids are champions. The good Lord blessed these kids. I think that was divine intervention. I'm just proud. We're a championship football team." (RGJ)

About how their CBs played man-to-man defense, GM said:
"Our corners really accepted the challenge. There was a lot of pressure on them, and they did a good job." (HA)

"They made good adjustments against us and we had to take chances with a nine-man front." (HSB)

HA Note: "The Warriors also helped contain the Wolf Pack with the 88 scheme in which nine defenders are aligned near the line of scrimmage. In the coverage, the safeties, who usually are aligned 12 yards from the line of scrimmage, play 6 yards off. The plan was to clog the running lanes and dare Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick to throw. Middle linebacker Solomon Elimimian became the "spy" assigned to track Kaepernick, an elusive runner. The drawback is the cornerbacks are required to play man-to-man defense."


Quotes from the UH players

About how he didn't want to come out of the game, Colt (who was 2-2 passing for 21 yards) said:
"When I threw the second pass, I didn't want to come out. The one thing is, if I had taken the shot, there's a good chance I could have gotten another concussion." (HA)

Looking forward to facing BSU next week, Colt said:
"I'm real proud of Tyler and what he did today. Next week, I'll be 100 percent and won't have to worry about getting hit." (HSB)

"That's the great thing. Now that I didn't have to play and didn't take any shots, we all know I'm 100 percent going into next week. I can go out there and put my head down and have fun and play football." (AP)

About how they wanted to make Nevada think that he was going to start the game, Colt said:
"We just wanted to keep it a secret. We didn't want to give Nevada a whole week to prepare knowing that I wasn't going to play. The whole goal was to make it seem like I could play and I might play, and you never really know what could happen as the game goes on. If the game had gone a different direction, maybe I would have got in there more. But because Tyler was playing so well, we decided to let him stick it out." (AP)

Proud of Tyler, Colt said:
"I can't be more proud for him because this is the first big win of his career. He's sat around the last three years just watching and being humble and being a great team player. For him to get this opportunity and do what he did, I couldn't be more proud of him." (AP)


About how they believed they would score on their last drive, Tyler said:
"And, you know what? We believed every second." (HA)

"Everybody has to believe. You have to believe until the very last second. That's the only way we win." (HA)

"We're Hawai'i. We're Warriors, baby. We play to the last second. I knew we were going to win." (HA)

About his play on the final drive, Tyler said:
"I just tried to get it out, be accurate, get first downs, and stop the clock. I just had to get it done." (HSB)

About how Colt helped him during the game, Tyler said:
"Colt was there for me (on the sideline) calming me down. I owed it to him." (HA)

About how he talked with Colt before going out for their game-winning drive, Tyler said:
"Colt told me to stay calm. But I knew we already won this game a week ago with all of the work we put in practice. Coach Jones trusts me, too, and that's huge. I knew we were only down by one, so we just had to get it close." (HA)

Praising his WRs, Tyler said:
"They made clutch catches; they sacrificed their bodies." (HA)

About how he didn't sleep the night before the game, Tyler said:
"I got a couple hours of sleep, but it wouldn't have mattered even if I didn't get a wink. I don't feel (tired) on game day." (HSB)

About his play in the game, Tyler said:
"Whenever I get called upon I just do what I can to help my team win. I prepared myself all season for situations like this." (HSB)

About how he would have been the starter if Colt had gone to the NFL, Tyler said:
"It would have been nice if I was the starter all year, but it doesn't matter at all. Right now I'm focused on this year and doing my job." (HSB)

About how he prepared as if he would start the game, Tyler said:
"I was ready the whole week because I knew concussions are a touchy thing. My second year, Colt came in and I've been behind him ever since. I knew I was going to get my shot and next year would be my year." (AP)

About the win, Tyler said:
"That was a total team victory right there. We never won in Reno, and I really wanted to step up and prove to my team (he could do it) and help them rally." (HSB)

"That was a total team victory right there," Graunke said. "We never won in Reno, and I really wanted to step up and prove to my team and help them rally." (CBS47)


About how their team never gets much respect from the mainland, Dan Kelly said:
"Yeah, we get absolutely get almost no respect from anyone on the mainland. But we're just playing football, having fun." (AP)

About his game-winning kick, Dan Kelly said:
"Never a doubt. I knew I had it." (HA)

"I knew it had a very good shot. I've hit some deep balls, and that one and the 54-yarder against Utah State felt the best, as far as getting my foot into the ball, as any I've ever had." (HA)

About the 2 timeouts that Nevada called to try to ice him, Kelly said:
"A kick is a kick, whether it's a PAT, or 45-yarder, it's what we train for. The only kickers who miss after getting iced are the ones who think about getting iced. You've got to keep the mindset that it's just another kick. You can train for that kind of pressure if you have the right mindset." (HA)

About why pressure doesn't affect his kicking, Kelly said:
"There's a certain thing about me. I don't know what it is. I don't feel the pressure until after or before the kick." (HA)

"I don't feel the pressure and it's a great gift that God gave me." (HSB)

Note: HA reports that this was the first game-winning kick of Kelly's life!

About how Nevada made him make the FG twice, Kelly was much happier with his second kick and said:
"The first one was really ugly. It was a hooker. It looks better for ESPN if the kick is nice." (HA)

About how Colt talked with him before the game-winning kick, Kelly said:
"He just told me he believed in me. Just like we have faith in Colt and the rest of our teammates, they have faith in me. It's a family and we're all brothers." (HA)

So happy to have come through for his teammates, Kelly said:
"I thrive on helping my teammates. It's a great feeling to do something that everyone else benefits from. I did my job just like everyone else did tonight." (HA)

Thanking Nevada coach Chris Ault for calling the timeouts, Kelly said:
"When you don't ice someone, you only have 24 seconds to make the kick. He gave me another 60 seconds to think about it. . . . So, thank you. I don't even know the guy's name, but whoever coaches Nevada, thank you." (LAT)

"When you don't ice someone, you only have 24 seconds to make the kick. He gave me another 60 seconds to think about it. Unless you're a total head case, thinking about it shouldn't be that difficult of a task because it's only a 45 yarder. So, thank you. I don't even know the guy's name, but whoever coaches Nevada, 'Thank you."' (AP)

About the 45-yard distance, Kelly said:
"I knew it was in my range," Kelly said. I saw 45 and I was like, '45 is doable.' The way I was hitting them in warmups, I could hit them from about 64 going in that direction." (AP)

After saying that getting a smile and a hug from JJ after the game was "incredible", Kelly said:
"I'm going to hold on to that more than the win." (AP)


About their faith in Tyler, Bess said:
"We have so much faith in Tyler. It goes back to practice. He works so hard." (HA)

About how they remained calm during their final drive, Bess said:
"Everybody was all poised. Nobody panicked." (HA)


About how they believed Kelly would make the kick, Desmond Thomas said:
"We were all on the sideline praying. All things are possible when you believe, and we believe in Dan and everyone on the team." (HSB)

About stopping Brandon Fragger on 3rd down with 3 minutes left in the game and UH out of timeouts, Desmond Thomas said:
"It's my job to make that play. I figured they were going to run the ball. They had been doing that all night." (HSB)


About facing Nevada's power running game, Adam Leonard said:
"We knew they were going to pound it up the middle all night long. This is third game for us like this. It's nothing to us now." (HSB)

About how they made the big plays when they were needed, Adam said:
"We made some mistakes that we need to correct, but like all season, we stepped up when it counted. This will make watching film (today) and (tomorrow) a lot easier." (HSB)


About how they wanted to win for punter (and kick holder) Tim Grasso, who grandfather Tony died on Tuesday, RGM said:
"We wanted to win it for Tim." (HA)

"That's what this year is about. Not just winning, but playing for each other. We love each other. We're brothers. That's why I have tears in my eyes. We did it for each other." (HA)


About Grasso's loss, Kelly said:
"Tim is such a great guy, and he's been through a hardship." (HA)


About his grandfather passing on Tuesday, Grasso attended a wake on Wednesday and rejoined the team on Thursday, wearing a T on his left sleeve during the game on Friday and said:
"It was so emotional for me. I wanted this so much." (HA)

Quotes from Nevada

About the game, Nevada coach Chris Ault said:
"It was a good ball game." (HA)

"It was a heck of a ball game. Hat's off to Hawaii, they did a nice job. We had opportunities to win it. I thought our defense played well. They gave us the ball in the fourth quarter. Our offense couldn't hold the ball and they were able to capitalize." (RGJ)

About the loss, Ault said:
"We had our chances. We just didn't get it done." (HSB, HA)

"We couldn't hold the ball at the end and gave them another chance. They were able to move the ball and convert." (HSB)

"We had our chances, our offense just could not move the ball at the end when we needed it. They were able to move the ball and convert." (CBS47)

Praising UH, Ault said:
"They played with some energy out there." (HA)

Praising UH's D, Ault said:
"Everyone is always talking about that offense, but they are a good solid defense." (HSB)

About Colt not playing, Ault said:
"Their system is not going to change. It was no issue who started, or even if Brennan played or not. He might have the stronger arm, but it really didn't matter. They can score from anywhere on the field and score quickly." (HSB)

Praising his D, Ault said:
"We had some breakdowns, but we played with a lot of energy. They have a lot of weapons, especially with those receivers." (HSB)

Asked if holding high-scoring UH to 28 points is a victory, Ault said:
"We don't talk about holding a team to a certain number of points. We just needed to find a way to score more than they did." (HSB)

Asked if UH is a BCS team, Ault said:
"Yes. They definitely are." (HSB)


About how Lippincott scored their first TD on a 22-yard screen pass, QB Colin Kaepernick said:
"It was a screen pass, a good call at the time because they kept blitzing us. Our linemen made some good blocks downfield." (HA)

About RBs Lippincott and Brandon Fragger, Kaepernick said:
"They ran very hard tonight." (HA)

Blaming himself for the loss, Kaepernick said:
"I keep replaying plays in my head that I should have made. I didn't play well in the first half and just didn't finish the game. There are so many different plays to look at ... touchdowns that should have been made. It was a heartbreaker. We were ready to play." (HSB)

About how UH disguised their blitzes and confused Nevada in the first half, Kaepernick said:
"I replayed the plays that I could have made to help the team. I'll take the blame for this one. The first half I didn't play well and the second half I played OK. They disguised their blitzes (early). In the second half, we made adjustments. Things worked out better for us." (NA)

Praising the Warriors, Kaepernick said:
"They're a good team. They can play. That's why they're undefeated and where they are today." (HSB)


About how it was tough running against UH's D but his OL opened holes for him, Lippincott said:
"We showed them what kind of team we are." (HA)

About how they need to be able to finish games, Lippincott said:
"We're playing good, but we can't get to that last inch ... or whatever." (HA)


About how he thought he had recovered Bess' fumble late in the 3rd quarter, Paul Pratt said:
"That's football. I thought I got the ball out, but it's a game of inch." (HSB)

About the loss, Pratt said:
"Words can't describe it. Us seniors don't have another chance against Hawaii. That was it." (HSB)


About the loss, Matt Hines said:
"I'd rather lose by 50 points than like that by two. It was a tough game. We should have come out on top. A lot of guys were yelling and screaming in there (the locker room), but we have two more games left and a chance to go 7-5. We don't need to keep our heads down. We played a good game." (HSB)