Quotes from 12/26

About how he's not interested in the SMU opening, even though they are interested in him, JJ said:
"I have not heard from them, I'm not gonna hear from them." (HA)

Asked if he had talked to SMU or was interested, JJ said:
"No." (HA)

Turning the conversation to the Sugar Bowl, JJ said:
"I'm just interested in the University of Georgia." (HA)

HA Note: "The Dallas Morning News, citing a source with knowledge of the Mustangs' search, reported SMU is "interested in Hawai'i coach June Jones as its new football coach." The paper said SMU athletic director Steve Orsini has raised "around $10 million for the new coach and staff." SMU fired Phil Bennett Oct. 28. Bennett was 18-52 in six seasons at the school, including three while a member of the Western Athletic Conference. SMU has had two non-losing seasons since 1989."

About how the SMU reports are like the UCLA reports, JJ said:
"It (the SMU report) is kinda like the same thing with UCLA." (HA)

About how the Sugar Bowl will have an atmosphere similar to the Super Bowl, JJ said:
"I think it will be very similar. Especially with LSU being there, too, in the same hotel (for the national championship game Jan. 7). It's going to be a Super Bowl atmosphere." (HSB)

"It's going to be something our kids have never seen. It's going to be like Super Bowl atmosphere. I hope the first two days, they'll get settled in. And then we'll get going." (KITV)

Not worried about the distractions or how they will not practice in the Superdome until the day before the game, JJ said:
"I'm not worried about these guys. These guys have been focused all year." (KITV)

About the UH fans waiting for them inside and outside the airport, Solomon Elimimian said:
"I'm just surprised how many people came out to support us. It's fun but it's time to refocus. It's about business. It's about doing something that's never been done before." (HSB)

About doing the charter flights for UH, Blaine Miyasato, VP of customer service for Hawaiian Airlines, said:
"We really consider this not just an honor to be a part of this, but a real responsibility taking the team to a location and for an event that is just once in a lifetime. Everybody is just really amped about this." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Hawaiian Airlines added a green "H" logo to both sides of the 767-300 wide-body aircraft and dubbed it the "Warriors Express." For some players it was the first time they were able to take their family to a road game. Shaela Lolotai, 21, wife of linebacker Mana Lolotai, said 11 wives and about seven children of players were traveling with the team."

About going with the team with her 15-month-old daughter, Shaela Lolotai (wife of Mana Lolotai) said:
"It's a nice treat for us. I'm excited for the wives." (HSB)

Mana Lolotai was happy his wife can finally see how the team travels.
"This is kind of like our Christmas gift. We were so excited about the trip," he said.

Pete Gallardo filled his Warriors T-shirt with player autographs as he waited for his flight to New Orleans, which was delayed about 3 hours, and said:
"This happened to work out really good for us." (HSB)

With dozens of signatures on the back of his T-shirt, signed while he was wearing it, Gallardo (who had just flown in from Kauai) said:
"I'm working on the whole team, I gotta tell you." (HSB)

About buying Sugar Bowl tickets for 4 of his employees but leaving his wife and children at home, Gallardo said:
"We had to split hairs to leave on Christmas Day, but it's a chance of a lifetime." (HSB)

Not looking forward to the long flight, Blaze said:
"I'm looking forward to the game, but not the plane ride." (HA)

About their 7-hour, 55-minute, non-stop flight (equal to 4 UH practices), Malcolm Lane said:
"It's tough to get used to long flights. Those flights were crazy. It's hard to keep occupied on long flights." (HA)

HA Note: "But UH and the airline tried to accommodate yesterday's travel party of players, coaches, administrators, staff and family members. Some of the Warriors, including Heisman Trophy finalist Colt Brennan and All-America third-team slotback Davone Bess, departed Sunday to spend the holidays with family on the Mainland. They will rejoin the team today in New Orleans, site of the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl. The rest met in the Stan Stan Sheriff Center parking lot yesterday afternoon for the bus ride to the airport. UH Manoa chancellor Virginia Hinshaw and her husband, Bill, greeted the players. The Hinshaws were included in the travel party."

About traveling with the team to New Orleans, Hinshaw said:
"It's a wonderful adventure for everybody." (HA)

Laughing as she credited her hat for having UH never lose while she was chancellor, Hinshaw said:
"It's the hat. It's kind of a good-luck charm." (HA)

About his 2 boxes filled with T-shirts that he put on the truck loaded with football equipment, Jason Rivers said:
"Secret Santa." (HA)

HA Note: "And he would have been, except the T-shirts bear his image on the side, and "Rivers" and No. 84 on the back. Nearly every UH football senior has distributed personalized T-shirts to teammates."

As he looked for a size-L shirt, Daniel Libre said:
"It's a dream come true." (HA)

After getting a Rivers shirt, Jett Jasper said:
"This completes the collection." (HA)

About Rivers' shirt, Tim Grasso said:
"It's a cherry on top. (Rivers is) one of the best players on the team. To finally get a shirt is great. My dad's his biggest fan. Every time my dad sees him, he says, 'That's Jason Rivers! That's Jason Rivers!' I'm like, 'Yeah, dad, calm down.' " (HA)

In charge of overseeing the entire travel party, Carl Clapp said:
"Four words: personal responsibility and accountability. It's a big group. But they'll take care of themselves." (HA)

HA Note: "The five buses had staggered arrivals at the airport, where some fans, Hawaiian Airlines workers, and reporters awaited. After taking the escalator to the second floor and going through security screening, the Warriors were greeted by a band and hula dancers. Each player received a white towel and green beads with a medallion of an "H" logo."

Excited about the Sugar Bowl, Rivers said:
"I'm excited. It was high-level practices all week. Everybody's pumped. Nobody geared down. Everybody's ready to go. This game means a lot. I was born and raised in Hawai'i. This game has meaning to me and the program. It's going to be an awesome experience." (HA)

Waiting outside the airport to cheer for the Warriors as they arrived, Warriors fan Tony Arakaki said:
"Since I can't go, I got to show support, do my part to cheer them on." (KITV)

Waiting outside the airport to cheer for the Warriors as they arrived, Warriors fan Gary Shishido said:
"I just wanted to see some of the players as they leave. Just tell them thank you for all that they've done and how nice and accommodating they've been to all the fans of Hawaii." (KITV)

Waiting outside the airport to cheer for the Warriors as they arrived, Warriors fan Cecilia Febrero said:
"I would like to wish them all the luck and blessings on New Years Day. I hope they show the BCS that we deserve to be there." (KITV)