Interview with Ikaika

Noting that his Dad was a backup QB behind Bart Starr for the Packers, Ikaika was asked if he grew up as a big Packers fan and if he had memories of visiting Lambeau Field, and he responded:
"Actually, no. I didn’t really get into football until college. My dad, he’s a very quiet person, very humble. He wouldn’t say much. But as I started playing, then more stories, he’d tell me and I’d ask more questions about it. I’ve learned a lot from him ever since I started playing football and that’s helped me out to be the player I am today." (Detroit Free Press)


Noting that his high school team won a Hawaii state title and he walked on to the UH basketball team, Ikaika was asked what position he played and he said:
"I was a three position, which is like a small forward/shooting guard type. I was a little bit lighter than I am now. I was about 200 pounds, so I could jump a little bit higher. But I put on the weight and now I’m a football player?" (DFP)


Asked if he was the best basketball player in the locker room, Ikaika said:
"I would like to say that. I’ve dunked on Corey Smith a couple times (nudging Smith sitting next to him). I don’t know what kind of talent this locker room’s got but I’ll take anybody one-on-one." (DFP)


Asked if he ever played pickup games at the gym with his teammates, Ikaika said:
"I’m kind of young yet, but I’ll tell you what, wherever the games are in the off-season I’m going to try to get in as many as I can. Stay in good shape with cardio, but of course be smart with it because I know football is No. 1." (DFP)


About how he 7 tackles and a sack of his current teammate Drew Stanton when UH played Michigan State in 2005, Ikaika was asked if he talked about that with Drew and said:
"I always talk about it. But he talks about how they whooped on us that game. But I told him how we beat them the year before that. So it goes back and forth. You can use it as locker-room talk. I keep reminding him how I sacked him that day." (DFP)


Asked what he missed the most about growing up in Hawaii, Ikaika said:
"The weather. I actually like cold weather." (DFP)


Asked why, Ikaika said:
"It’s different from Hawaii, that’s why. You don’t get to see snow. I understand why people want light in the winter because it’s always dark here. Geez, depressed people, I tell you. Depressed people everywhere in this place." (DFP)


Asked if he owned gloves or a winter coach before this year, Ikaika said:
"Heck no! I had a tank top, flip flops and shorts. I was walking around the other day in a tank top and everyone was like, “What are you doing?” It’s what I wear, man. But I wasn’t wearing it too long. I put a sweater on. I bought my first coat when I was here, that I did, that I did." (DFP)