Quotes from the Associated Press

About how the Sugar Bowl is an opportunity for their defense to finally be respected, Solomon Eliminian said:
"We haven't gotten the respect we deserve. It's a great opportunity to prove to everyone how good the defense really is." (AP)

About UH's D, Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said:
"It's really all you hear about when you watch the news. But when you turn on the tape, you get a different view. ... They play extremely hard and physical and create a lot of turnovers. Hawai'i is 12-0 for a reason." (AP)

Crediting their D for getting them to the Sugar Bowl, Colt said:
"The best thing about our defense is, when we need them to make a play, they've always made the play. When you're a quarterback, that's the defense you want. You want a defense that shows up when the time counts and that's exactly the defense we have." (AP)

About how their D has made big plays and stops this season, Sol said:
"We've made stops when we've had to. We've come up with big plays when we had to. We're confident in every one of our players and we know we can get the job done." (AP)

About his belief in their D, GM said:
"I believe in what we do. I believe in the guys that are here. I have no doubt we will play competitive football." (AP)

About how the D believed in what GM plans, Jacob Patek said:
"Everybody believes in him as a coach and what he's doing. Everybody has bought into the game plan he has." (AP)

About how football is important to Hawaii, GM said:
"In Hawai'i, football is a big thing. So you don't have teach anybody how to hit in Hawai'i. I learned that the first time I was here. They're passionate and they're hitters." (AP)

About the role that their D has, GM said:
"Our role is to get the offense on the football field." (AP)

About how their D almost never gets a chance to rest, Michael Lafaele said:
"They're just so explosive. So many things can happen in three plays, so we're always ready. We're always at the edge of our seat watching them." (AP)