UH-BSU Quotes from Thursday morning

About facing UH's offense, BSU defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox said:
"If there was some magic defense that automatically shut them down, everybody would be doing it. But there isn't. So you've got to win the one-on-one matchups, you've got to cover and you've got to tackle." (Idaho Statesman)


About how they haven't stopped UH's offense, but they have done well enough to win, senior safety Marty Tadman said:
"I don't know if we've been successful against them, but we know what we need to do to be successful against them." (IS)

IS Note: "That list is long, but it begins with an attitude. Teams often talk about trying to slow the Warriors down or contain them - and rarely do either. The Broncos, instead, want to be the aggressor, attacking Hawaii's receivers and quarterback Colt Brennan. Hawaii turned the ball over three times, including a pivotal fumble by Brennan, in last year's 41-34 Boise State victory."


About how they want to attack UH's offense, CB Orlando Scandrick said:
"It's going to be much harder on someone if someone is attacking you, rather than if someone is sitting back letting you dictate what you want to do." (IS)


About how Colt might throw some bad passes if they get pressure on him, DE Mike Williams said:
"(Brennan's) a really good quarterback. If you put a lot of pressure on him, we'll see what happens. Maybe he might throw some bad passes. We're going to try to throw everything we can at him to try and confuse him." (IS)


About BSU, Colt said:
"Boise's always given us a ton of credit on offense. They're going to say, 'We're going to move the ball on them. We're going to put points on them.' One reason they do well is because they understand that." (IS)


About the type of plays that have to be made in the game, Wilcox said:
"There are going to be times where we've got to win a one-on-one pass rush, win a one-on-one in the slot, win a one-on-one on the edge." (IS)


Telling Colt to leave instead of talk to the reporters waiting for him, JJ said:
"You're out of here." (HSB)


About trying to stay with their routine for this game, JJ said:
"It's a normal week for us. We've stayed plugged in the whole time." (HSB)


About how this is his biggest game so far, Colt said:
"I assume there will be some bigger ones down the line, but this is it now." (HSB)


About trying to stay with their routine this week, JJ said:
"We haven't really done anything different other than realize the importance of this game. We're probably a little more enthusiastic in practice. I'm just getting used to the idea of lining up and playing regardless of who we play." (HSB)


About how the hype for the BSU game doesn't bother him, JJ said:
"The good Lord has blessed me. I don't worry about things." (HA)


About his national interview with Jim Rome, JJ said:
"It was like a normal interview from (KITV's) Robert Kekaula." (HA)


About how he doesn't dwell on records or milestones, JJ said:
"That's the way it's always been for me. It's about the players, not that other stuff. Already this year, I don't remember stuff about games. People ask me, and I don't remember plays. But I remember the look on (quarterback) Tyler Graunke's face when he came off the field against Nevada. I remember the way (defensive tackle) Michael Lafaele plays. Those are the things you remember and appreciate." (HA)


No matter who wins tomorrow, JJ said that this season has:
"been fabulous. It's great to be around the coaches and players. It's wonderful to watch the good Lord touch the hearts of all of the kids on the team. It's been really fun. We have great leadership within the locker room. We really have good kids." (HA)


About how he gets up before sunrise every day, JJ said:
"I can't wait to go to school. I really look forward to it." (HA)


About his close friends Mouse Davis and Jerry Glanville, JJ said:
"We talk every week. I think both are coming to the game. They're very supportive. I appreciate that." (HA)


About how he will be one of their kick returners, Keenan Jones said:
"For sure." (HA)


About how he impressed the coaches with his aggressive running style, Keenan said:
"That's what you have to do. You can't be in there and dance around." (HA)

"I'm a little flashy, but you've got to keep your mindframe straight. You can't go out there and be cocky. This game humbles you. At the same time, you have to be confident. All of the guys on offense are making plays. You want to go out there and do the same." (HA)

HA Note: "Last week against Nevada, there was at least one return that should have resulted in a touchdown but wasn't because of a poor read. The coaches believe that Jones, who can run 40 yards in 4.57 seconds, is quick enough to sprint to daylight."


About the mistakes he made in the past at UH, Keenan said:
"I wouldn't say I'm a model guy. I'm nobody. I'm not a role model, by any means. I try to keep my sense of being when I'm around here, and try to be a good example and not embarrass the program. They teach you that here as well as football. Being a man, for one, and going out there and handling business." (HA)


About practicing despite his injuries, Fale Laeli said:
"It was good to practice. They said 'it's good,' and they said I can play." (HA)


Laeli said that his injuries:
"don't hurt me." (HA)


About how he's ready to play after missing the last 2 games, Pilares said:
"Good to go already, training hard and I'm in better shape than I was. I think I'll be ready. All week we have to practice hard." (HSB)


Pilares watched Hawaii's dramatic 28-26 victory at Nevada with friends at his dorm, while his parents made the trip to Reno.
About how his parents went to the Nevada game while he watched it at his dorm, Pilares said:
"I was kind of sad I couldn't go. They had a good time, but it's all about supporting the team, not just me." (HSB)


About Jason Rivers being held out of practice due to a headache, WR coach Ron Lee said:
"He wanted to practice, but we held him out. He'll play Friday." (HSB)


About how he was close to committing to the Warriors in 2003, BSU QB Taylor Tharp said:
"Really close. When I tripped to Hawaii, Boise had had a commit from Brink, the guy that went to Washington State. My options were limited to Hawaii or possibly Wyoming at the time. I went out there, was really close to committing, didn't commit while I was there and as things unfolded. Pete (Boise State coach Chris Petersen) called me that week and said that Brink had de-committed and ... I jumped in right away. I was very close to being a Warrior." (HSB)


About how he was disappointed to lose that recruiting battle with BSU, especially with Tim Chang ending his Warrior career, JJ said:
"We thought he was going to come. He's our kind of guy, a real accurate passer. Nobody was recruiting him and once we got on him, Boise got on him." (HSB)


Asked if Colt could have taken SJSU's scholarship if Tharp had committed to UH, JJ said:
"Lot of ifs in that question, but it could've happened." (HSB)

HSB Note: "To add to the series of coincidences, former Boise State coach Dan Hawkins is now at Colorado, and his son, Cody, is the CU quarterback. So a guy who grew up in Boise is the Colorado QB, a guy who grew up in Boulder is the Boise QB, and a guy who was at Colorado is the Hawaii QB."


About how things worked out for everyone, Dan Morrison said:
"The game itself is kind of serendipitous. Things happen, one thing leads to another. We're real happy (Brennan's) here and I'm happy for Taylor that he's doing well where he is. He was a very good high school quarterback, threw the ball well, had a real good knowledge of what they were doing. Great kid. We always stayed in touch. When we play each other we always visit. It was nice getting to know him. He's a fine young man and I'm happy for his success. He deserves it." (HSB)


About how he doesn't think about what numbers he could have put up in UH's offense, Tharp said:
"You can always play the different scenario game. You try and figure out if things might have been different," he said. "But I couldn't have asked for the situation I've gotten here. I've been completely blessed to be in a situation where I've been a part of four WAC championships, gotten four rings and have a chance to get a fifth. This has been the perfect situation for me and I wouldn't trade it." (HSB)


About facing UH at Aloha Stadium, Chris Petersen said:
"It's going to be tough because of the travel. We're leaving Wednesday and we'll go through LAX and get there late. It'll be 80 degrees, in a stadium with metal benches and a sold-out crowd. It'll be as loud as Washington was (where BSU lost in September). It's a challenge, but our guys are accustomed to focusing on the job at hand. Last year we beat Oregon State and for three months we had to hear about the BCS. We had business to take care of first, and we did." (Orange County Register)


About the huge increase in sales of Warrior merchandise, associate AD John McNamara said:
"The brand has never been stronger, and fans are reacting to that. They want to be part of the team." (Houston Chronicle)

Houston Chronicle Note: "Royalty revenue from licensed merchandise has increased 69 percent from July 1 thru Monday, compared to the same period last year, said Debbie Kutara, the school's licensing administrator. The $194,465 royalties earned in the 4 1/2 months roughly translates to retail sales of $4.8 million in merchandise."

"Fans are buying all kinds of goods with the Warriors' logo, including T-shirts, hats, rugs, beach chairs and bean bags. Brandon Kop, owner of the largest local licensee of University of Hawaii-branded merchandise, said his sales to retailers from July to September are up 300 percent from the same three months a year ago."