Quotes from 12/20

About how their practices have been going well, Colt said:
"We're just taking our time now, we're not in any hurry. The offense has been doing well and I know the defense has been putting in some new stuff. We're just setting up the game plan right now." (HSB)

About how Bess and RGM have been held out so far to let them recover from the pounding they took this season, Colt said:
"I haven't had the first-team receivers at all yet. I'm just waiting for the first-team guys to come back so we can have a normal practice." (HSB)

About his practice plans for Bess and RGM, WR coach Ron Lee said:
"I'm hoping they have three or four good practices with Colt before we leave (Tuesday) for New Orleans, for the sake of timing." (HSB)


About how Colt's jersey should be retired, Solomon Elimimian said:
"His number should be retired, for what he's done for the state of Hawaii and what he's done for the football team. Not just wins and losses, but how he's touched people outside of football. He's such a giving person, with such a big heart. He'll never tell a teammate no. He's so humble, he reaches kids. He's such a good person, his heart. People ask Colt for a lot of things, and there's a lot of stress on him, but he never says no." (HSB)

"I feel like this '07 team is going to be remembered for a long time. And Colt Brennan is going to be remembered forever. He's done so much for us, that's the least we can do for him." (HSB)

About the autograph demands, including people waiting outside of his finals with bags of things for him to sign, Colt said:
"I've been trying to avoid it, but you gotta do it. Obviously they want the autographs because you've done something good. It can only strengthen my arm." (HSB)

About how Colt's and Tim Chang's jerseys will be retired some day, JJ said:
"Colt's always been a team guy. It's not my decision. But I'm sure his number and Timmy's (Chang) will be retired someday. I don't know when, but I'm sure it will happen. You're talking about two guys maybe with records that won't be broken." (HSB)

HSB Note: "There is no current Hawaii player with No. 14, which Chang wore from 2000 to 2004."


About how they will discuss retiring numbers after the Sugar Bowl, HF said:
"We have not discussed it yet, but it's been brought up to me by a few people." (HSB)

About how they should retire even more numbers than just Colt's, Blaze said:
"He did some great things in Hawaii. I don't see why not. Without Colt Brennan we wouldn't have gotten as far as we did. I think he deserves it. But I think his wide receivers do, too. If you retire his number, I think you have to retire the wide receivers' too." (HSB)


About his honeymoon stay with his wife Rachel at the Ko Olina time-share resort, Jason Rivers said:
"They had a little Polynesian show (Tuesday night), and we were slow-dancing in the moonlight. It was kind of beautiful." (HA)

HA Note: "Jason, the University of Hawai'i's starting left wideout, had to awaken at 4:45 a.m. three times this week to make the start of the Warriors' two-hour practices in preparation for the Sugar Bowl. But he made it back to Ko Olina by late morning to enjoy the rest of a peaceful retreat."

About their honeymoon stay at Ko Olina, Rachel said:
"That was nice. It was unexpected. We did a bunch of things — sailing, snorkeling, dancing under the stars. It was fun to get away." (HA)

Quite happy right now, Jason said:
"Life's wonderful." (HA)

HA Note: "Indeed, Jason is finally enjoying the good life. His last UH game is the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl. He is expected to be selected in the National Football League draft in April. And Rachel is four months pregnant."


JJ said that Jason Rivers, who did not play in 2005 due to an ankle injury and academic problems, has:
"grown up the last two years. He had a tough go (in 2005). We had to sit on him with his classes. He just became more accountable after he was away from football. He realized life is too short to be missing out." (HA)

About Rivers, his teammate since freshman year at St. Louis, Timo Paepule said:
"I love that guy. He's really grown and matured. One thing about Jason is he's had a rough life. A lot of people don't know that. That's something personal for him. To see how he grew up and how he changed his life, that's something. He's really spiritual now." (HA)

Even though she and Jason used to frequent clubs, Rachel tried to:
"keep the church in there. I was raised in the church. He knew that was important to me." (HA)

Rachel said that when they first started dating:
"he tried to impress me. He came with me to church a couple of times." (HA)

About how Jason became more involved in the church, took Bible studies, and eventually was baptized, Rachel said:
"Now he's completely different. He doesn't care to go out anymore. His goals now are to focus on football and his family." (HA)

About how he proposed after they had dated for 6 months, Rachel said:
"We're very compatible. She brought me to church and introduced me to God again. That was one of the biggest things she could have done for me. She's given me more peace. Everything is good. I have somebody to go home to every night." (HA)

About how Jason has tried to quit his biggest vice, Timo laughed and said:
"He doesn't swear too much. That's the hardest part. He's doing a lot better. He gave up a lot of stuff. Now he's on his way to bigger and better things. I can't wait to see him in the pros. He'll always be a brother to me. I'm proud of the guy." (HA)

About how they were supposed to find out the sex of their baby on December 28, but the team leaves on December 25 so the appointment was moved up to Christmas Eve, Rachel said:
"We both cannot wait." (HA)


About how there have been non-licensed products sold about the Warriors, Carolyn Tanaka, UH VP for external affairs and university relations, said that includes:
"some with designs that some people may find offensive." (HA)

Tanaka points out that UH does not receive any money to support UH and help underwrite scholarships from the non-licensed products:
"We don't receive any (revenue) from non-licensed items." (HA)

HA Note: "Tanaka said the school has 147 licensed vendors who pay UH an 8 percent wholesale rights fee. From July through November, UH received $195,000 in royalties compared with $115,000 the same period in 2006. Royalties are expected to go much higher since sales of UH items began to take off in November as UH made its run for a perfect regular season."