Quotes from the Advertiser on 12/29

About wearing a lavalava (sarong-like Samoan attire) that each senior and defensive lineman received from the parents of Amani Purcell, Jake Patek said:
"I love this." (HA)

HA Note: "Purcell was continuing a practice started by his brother, former UH defensive lineman Melila Purcell III. Patek's lavalava was black, and inscribed with "WAC champs." Patek and defensive tackle Michael Lafaele, who also spoke at the news conference, agreed to both wear their lavalava over shorts."

About his lavalava, Patek said:
"That's what I'm going to do for the rest of my life: wear my lavalava around." (HA)

Asked if he would wear that in his hometown of Victoria, Texas, Patek said:
"If people ask, 'What's wrong with you?' I'm going to say, 'Hey, I'm from Hawai'i.' " (HA)

HA Note: "Patek, whose girlfriend is a Castle High School graduate, has embraced Polynesian culture. Patek, quarterback Colt Brennan and slotbacks Ryan Grice-Mullins and Davone Bess are among the Mainland-raised Warriors who took Samoan classes as part of their second-language requirements."

About how he loves Hawaii, Patek said:
"I love it out there (in Hawai'i). I love the family atmosphere. They took me in and made me one of them. Now I'm representing Hawai'i." (HA)

HA note: "Purcell said he is proud to see teammates, including Houston-raised cornerback Gerard Lewis, wear a lavalava. Lafaele wore his lavalava during a shopping trip in downtown New Orleans Thursday. But it is Patek who has captivated teammates as the least likely to wear a lavalava."

About his teammates wearing their lavalavas, Purcell (born and raised in American Samoa) said:
"It shows how much respect and love he has, not only for our culture, but for the team. He's trying to blend in, and that's good." (HA)

About how GM said that he felt left out with no lavalava, Purcell said:
"I've got one for coach Mac." (HA)

HA Note: "McMackin is not concerned about critics. When he was the defensive coordinator at Texas Tech, he wore slippers during every Friday practice, a tradition started when he coached at UH in 1999. The Warriors are 21-4 when McMackin wears slippers during the practice the day before a game."

About how the Texas Tech people didn't understand why he was wearing slippers, GM said with a smile:
"Those cowboys (in Texas) didn't understand why I wasn't wearing boots." (HA)

Praising their DL, Colt said:
"There's no doubt our defensive line is one of the best defensive lines in the country. It's the depth and physicalness of them. We know if we can have success against them, we can have success against anybody." (HA)

About UH's DL, Georgit RT Chester Adams said:
"They have guys who can make plays." (HA)

HA Note: "What's more, two of their statistical leaders are reserves. Defensive end David Veikune topped the Western Athletic Conference with seven sacks. Josh Leonard, a third-string defensive tackle, is the WAC leader with three fumble recoveries."

About their aggressive pash rush, Veikune said:
"It's technique and scheme. With our defense, anyone can step in. With a lot of teams, if you're second string, you don't get to make plays. In this defense, most everyone gets to play and contribute." (HA)

HA Note: "In replacing Jerry Glanville, who became Portland State's head coach, McMackin switched the Warriors' base scheme from a 3-4 alignment to a 4-3. Overall, the Warriors have six personnel packages, and have run 140 different defensive schemes. Despite constant changes — Veikune, for instance, rotates every third play — and the shuttling of the different groups, the Warriors' defense has not been penalized for delay of game or having too many players on the field."

About their varied defense, GM said:
"These guys are really smart. Because they're really into it, and they know their roles, they do what they're supposed to do. I'll call 'nickel' or 'stack,' and they're all out there when they're supposed to be." (HA)

About how he basically ran the same defense when he was the coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks, GM said:
"(The Seahawks) had more time (to learn plays) because they didn't have school. We're using three-fourths of what they were using, which is outstanding. We've been able to do things that really haven't been done in college." (HA)

About how he had the #1 defense in college football when he was the coordinator at Miami, a team with future All-Pros Warren Sapp and Ray Lewis, GM said:
"We don't have superstars like that. This team has accomplished more and plays just as hard. We have a great bunch of guys. I've never been with a team that plays with so much heart." (HA)

About how OL Matgisila "Sila" Lefiti is making use of the extra practices they have had by playing in a bowl game, giving him a better chance to compete for extended playing time in spring practice, JJ said:
"He'll get a good look." (HA)

HA Note: "Lefiti, a 2007 graduate of Mater Dei High School in California, was caught in the twilight zone of eligibility. He met the NCAA requirements to play as a freshman, but his SAT score fell below UH's recommended minimum. Jones met four times with UH academic officials, lobbying for Lefiti. Finally, a compromise was reached. Lefiti would be allowed to enroll at UH, but he could not practice or play during the fall semester. He would be allowed to participate in the 2008 spring practice if his grade-point average was 2.7 or higher during the fall."

About how he lobbied hard for Lefiti, JJ said:
"Sila's a great kid, so you go to bat for him. He's diligent. He's accountable. He's done everything we've asked him to do." (HA)

About how Lefiti earned a 3.5 GPA, with 3 As and 3 Bs, JJ said:
"He proved he could do his studies." (HA)

About earning his grades, Lefiti said:
"I fought my way through academically. It was tough, but I stuck through it. I had good mentors." (HA)

HA Note: "Because the fall semester had ended, Jones was allowed to add Lefiti to the Sugar Bowl roster. Lefiti is the center on the scout team that competes against the first-team defense."

About how Lefiti can participate in practices for the Sugar Bowl because he earned good grades, JJ said:
"This is a good reward for doing good school work." (HA)

About how his high school team in Texas beat QB Stafford in the Texas high school football playoffs in 2003, Newberry said:
"He threw a touchdown on the first play of the game, like 70 yards. I was like, 'Whoa, here we go.' " (HA)

About Stafford, Newberry said:
"I remember he was a big ol' sophomore. Now he's even bigger." (HA)

About how his brother Abe never won the WAC or made it to a mainland bowl game, Solomon Elimimian said:
"We joke around and he'll say, 'Man, I wish we'd won the WAC and gone to the Sugar Bowl.' He knows this is a good team and wishes he was in the same situation, but he's happy for us." (HA)

"We've seen a lot of ex-Warriors at the games and we understand that we play for Hawai'i and all the former players. Just like he (Abraham) plays through me, we play for all of them." (HA)