Quotes from 12/15

Lucious Henderson, sophomore slotback at Navarror JC in Texas, said that he'll be joining UH after earning his associate degree by July, saying:
"I'm coming back to Hawai'i. I'm coming back home." (HA)

HA Note: "Henderson, who is 5 feet 11 and 185 pounds, took a two-year detour. He signed with UH in February 2006 after amassing more than 6,000 yards in total offense as a McCallum High (Texas) quarterback during his senior season. As a junior, he was a cornerback, intercepting four passes, two of which he returned for touchdowns. But Henderson did not meet the NCAA eligibility requirements to play for UH as a freshman in 2006. He opted to enroll at Navarro, where he played slotback in a spread-option offense."


About how he gained about 10 pounds in the past 2 years, Henderson said:
"I'm beefing up to play at the next level." (HA)

"I think I got a little better, a little stronger, a little faster." (HA)

HA Note: "As a McCallum senior, he ran 40 yards in 4.46 seconds. During training camp in the summer, he sprinted the distance in 4.44 seconds. Henderson said he was told the UH coaches would call after his sophomore season. Thursday night, he received the long-awaited call."

Happy to be able to go to UH, Henderson said:
"This is real big for me. I'm happy to go back there again." (HA)


Happy to be able to see Navarro teammate Erik Robinson and recruiting hosts Bess and RGM again,
"It'll be great to see those guys again." (HA)


Enjoying their final practices in Hawaii, Mike Lafaele said:
"It's my last days here. I'm going to miss this place. Most of my time here has been good. There have been a lot of good memories. This is like my second family. I'm going to miss not coming back here, working out with these guys. I can't believe the Washington game was the last time I would play with these guys in the stadium." (HA)

About how he took a leadership role when they lost Mel Purcell and Ikaika, Lafaele said:
"People were looking up to me. I had to step up and take charge. I couldn't be the guy slacking off and cruising." (HA)

HA Note: "The thing was, Lafaele had precious little free time. He and his wife have three young children. He was particularly busy during the summer. He led the team during weight training and conditioning drills in the morning. In the afternoon, he helped coordinate the on-field workouts. He also was taking four summer-school classes."

About the hard work he put in the summer, Lafaele said:
"I was gone the whole day. It was hard for me, and it was hard on my family. It was a sacrifice. But it paid off. Look at what we did during the season." (HA)

About how he's going to miss UH, Lafaele (Farrington High graduate) said:
"It's just like high school. When I came here, I missed high school a lot. I got over it. I don't know if I'm going to get over this." (HA)

About how he enrolled in 6 classes in the fall semester to try to graduate this semester, Lafaele ended up having to push his graduate date to May, saying:
"It was too much." (HA)

HA Note: "Lafaele is preparing to train on the Mainland in the hope of landing a shot with a National Football League team. He said he plans to take online classes."

About how he'll take online classes to finish his degree, Lafaele said:
"I'm going to take a laptop (computer) with me, if I go up there." (HA)

About how his wife is supportive of what he is doing, Lafaele said:
"My wife is committed to whatever we do. She supports me. If I have to go away for a little bit, she knows it'll help our family in the long run." (HA)

About how he mainly wanted them to work on conditioning during their first 2 practices, JJ said:
"We wanted to run around, get back into moving quick, so we don't get any (muscle) pulls on Monday." (HA)

About how having 2 weeks of practices leading to the Sugar is good, JJ said:
"It's always nice when you have extra time, and you can take as much time as you need to get it done." (HA)

About how he was "rusty" during passing drills yesterday, Colt said:
"But I'm sure next week it'll feel great. That's why I'm excited for full practice to start. That will be a lot more fun than doing these running drills." (HA)

About how his hip flexor limited him, Desmond Thomas said:
"It restricts you. It keeps you from going full speed." (HA)

HA Note: "Thomas said his rehabilitation consisted of "treatment, rest, and prayer." Jacob Patek, the other starting safety, suffered a high-ankle sprain against Washington. Patek appears to have made a full recovery."

Happy to be going back to the Southeast, even though he will not play in the Sugar Bowl due to a knee injury, Le"marcus Gibson (whose Mississippi home was destroyed by Katrina) said:
"It's going to be good to go back home. I'm happy for my team, and happy to be part of this. It's a great experience, a once-in-a-lifetime thing. We're trying to get back next year, too." (HA)


About their 2nd practice day, mainly devoted to conditioning, Mike Lafaele said:
"It's good, kind of get us back in the mood, get our little muscles working." (HSB)


About how he stayed in shape during their 11 days off since Washington, Lafaele said:
"I worked out and did some running with the rest of the D-line." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Starting slotbacks Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins took it easy for another day, letting nagging ailments continue to heal. They'll be back at practice next week."


About how his players were focused during these first 2 practices, JJ said:
"For two days with no pads, there's a lot of intensity." (HSB)

About Georgia's 3 freshmen offensive lineman and freshman RB Moreno, Lafaele said:
"We don't take them lightly, although they're young. We're just going to go out there and play how we play, every week. We're not too concerned about what they do, but more about what we do." (HSB)


About how their DL will have to play their best game of the season for them to have a chance vs. Georgia, Lafaele said:
"Our D-line's going to have to be physical in there. More physical than they've ever been. If this guy (Moreno) gets started and gets into the secondary, he can break tackles and run away from everybody. They're playing like veterans. I watched the running back, and he's special physically, also as a blocker. He looks like one of those 5-11 guys who goes about, 205, 210. Just a stud." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Moreno rushed for 1,237 yards (second only to Herschel Walker among UGA freshmen) and 12 touchdowns."

About "Turtle" Lafaele, JJ said:
"He's probably our most spiritual leader, from January on. He led the offseason training and has been the leader on the field for us. A real great kid and player for us." (HSB)


Feeling a lot better after their 11 days off, Lafalele said:
"Everything's good, everything's ready. Just trying to get back into the groove. Pretty much focused on school these last two weeks, today was the last day to turn in papers and stuff." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Lafaele's wife, Teri, is going to New Orleans. She's taking vacation from her job as an assistant manager at the Demo clothing store at Pearlridge. Their three young children will stay with relatives."

About how he and his wife and spending a lot of time with their kids now, Lafaele said:
"We're trying to spend as much time as we can with them now. My son's birthday is the 22nd. So we'll have a couple of family dinners before we go. She's really excited about it. We took the kids to the last bowl game and it's just too much of a hassle for us. This is just me and my wife, kind of like a honeymoon." (HSB)

About how his high ankle sprain feels a lot better now, Jake Patek said:
"It gets better and better. It's a walk by faith; just go out there and play on it. It feels great, it's not hindering me in any way." (HSB)


Crediting some divine intervention for his speedy recovery, Patek said:
"Everybody keeps telling me, 'high ankle sprain, you shouldn't be back already. They're trying to tell me I didn't have a sprain. (But) if I didn't have a sprain I would have played in the game. The Lord healed me." (HSB)


About how he hasn't received medical clearance to play yet due to his shoulder injury, Monteilh said:
"Coach Jones thinks I have a great chance to play (in the Sugar Bowl). He told me be out here Monday and start running around. So I will. He said, 'You gonna let a doctor tell you what to do?' I guess not." (HSB)


About how he cannot suit up until January because he's grayshirting, but he can participate in conditioning drills, Miah Ostrowski said:
"I wish I was part of this team. It's the first time in history (to a BCS bowl game) and you don't know when it will happen again. Kind of bogus, but I want to be out here to support the team." (HSB)


Still thinking of playing basketball for UH, Miah said:
"I might, but this is what's paying my schooling." (HSB)


About his inspiration for his song about the Warriors, Ryan Parker said:
I was ultimately inspired to write the song while watching the (Bowl Championship Series) selection show on Sunday. (It) showed the people of Hawaii gathered to celebrate the season and the BCS appearance. Seeing how excited everyone was about the team and the show of support on display literally moved me to tears. It was then that the words of the song just came to me. I love it when that happens. ... I was really happy with the way it came out even before I recorded it. I was truly proud to be able to write about the Hawaii Warriors." (HSB)

About how he's been playing guitar, writing songs, and singing for about 20 years, Parker said:
"Music sort of runs in my family, as my grandfather played bluegrass music with Bill Monroe. ... My main goal with music is for the songs I write to be able to touch people in some way." (HSB)

Due to the reaction he's gotten from Hawaii fans, Parker feels visiting Hawaii:
"is even more of a dream vacation spot now that I have had the honor of corresponding with so many kind people from Hawaii!" (HSB)

About how it would be easier for him to get to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl, Parker said:
"It is tough for me to get away a lot, having two young children, but I would absolutely love to be there to help cheer Hawaii on to a Sugar Bowl victory. I am sure the atmosphere will be electric. If I manage to do it, I will definitely try to find the hotel of the Hawaii fans so I can play the song prior to game time and get everyone even more fired up than I am sure they already will be." (HSB)


About his "Warriors Cry" song about the Warriors, Willie K said:
"We wrote it as a tribute to the boys for their undefeated season. It's inspired by the team's ha'a." (HSB)