Quotes from JJ's weekly press conference

About their team's WAC honors, JJ said:
"It (WAC Coach of the Year) is an honor. It comes with winning and is a team thing. I see a lot of Hawaii guys on the list - the kids deserve it - but it comes with winning. It did not surprise me that Colt (Brennan) was the Offensive Player of the Year. He has had a pretty good run for three years and capped it off (with this). (Colt) rolled the dice, took a chance by coming back for his last year and it paid off. Jason Rivers definitely deserved to be on the first team too but we can't get everyone on the first team. I'm glad to see Myron (Newberry) on there as well. Colt lobbied with me for three weeks not to nominate him. I told him I'd do what I can do. We thought David (Veikune) played as well as any defensive lineman we had and he wasn't a starter. He has the motor and makes a lot of plays." (UHAthletics.com)


About their schedule to prepare for the Sugar Bowl, JJ said:
"We are taking some time off the next two weeks because of the last day of classes this week and finals next. We'll continue to lift and run during that time and start back up practicing on December 13th and get about a week in before heading down Christmas night to New Orleans." (UH)


Asked if everything is set in yet, JJ said:
"No it hasn't. It has been pretty much none stop since right after the game (Saturday night)." (UH)


Asked for his reaction to the big celebration on Sunday, JJ said:
"It was awesome. The first time in the BCS had a lot to do with that. But at the same time, there have been a lot of people who have been waiting for this for a long time. I certainly wanted to reap the enjoyment of it." (UH)


Asked if he's achieved the plan he had when he took the UH job, JJ said:
"Well I knew what Hawaii football and value in it. I did know that there was that kind of excitement here. I watched it in the middle `70s in basketball, and I knew football was bigger than basketball here. To answer your question, I didn't imagine fans rushing the field and filling up (the Stan Sheriff Center) for a BCS show like yesterday, but I knew football was big." (UH)


Asked if he knows Mark Richt at Georgia, JJ said:
"Yeah, I've met him. We have a common friend. My equipment guy with the Falcons was at Florida State when Mark was there. They are good friends. I have met him and followed him because he's an offensive guy. We watched him play all the time while we were with the Falcons. I've might have even stolen a few things off his tape that he has done over the years. He's a real class guy. I did see when his team got the 15-yard penalty (against Florida). It's like us doing the Haka. It's worth the 15." (UH)


Asked about his Tim Tebow comment on ESPN yesterday, JJ said:
"I did some national shows today. I may get some more (heat) from that. My intent on what I said was not to demean Tim Tebow in anyway. I said this on ESPN Today The media picks the Heisman Trophy winner. No longer will it go to a guy like it did years ago on a 3-8 team. It just doesn't happen. My point was that my quarterback has been labeled a `system quarterback' for three years. He is the best passer in college history. He is. There is no question about it. Tim Tebow is in a system. The last quarterback who was in that system, if you had asked me about Alex Smith, he was a system quarterback I thought when we were watching him. Talented. But I didn't see him in an NFL passing (system). Colt Brennan plays in an NFL passing game. You can dial it up and see that it is not a system. Tim Tebow's system is a college system. He is a great quarterback who'll probably win a national championship. He's competitive; he's all those things. But a lot of his stuff comes off little dives, fades, things he is not going to do in the National Football League. That's my point. I think Jake Locker (from Washington) is a great athlete. I'd love to be a part of coaching a kid like that. But I said what I said and I mean it. I said this too on national radio today and probably take some heat from it. (his phone rings) Look, here is an 847 area code right now. On ESPN GameDay, they are promoting Tim Tebow to win the Heisman, which he'll probably win. My quarterback is the best player, trust me. But they (ESPN GameDay) said, and we watch at the hotel and listening to it for last six weeks, they said as they were going off the air 'Tim Tebow has accounted for 53 touchdowns in one season, the most in college football history.' I said you guys just told a lie. Last year, my quarterback threw for 58 touchdowns and ran for another (five). I got my point across. You guys ripped me a knew one yesterday, and I'm going to say it again and stand by what I said, my quarterback is the best college football player in America. I did not add Tebow's team has three loses or is not in a BCS game. I wish I had that info, why didn't you call me? The bottom line is I irritated them because they knew I was right. But I did get a whole bunch of emails and calls from Florida State people that said 'Thanks for finally saying that.'" (UH)


Asked about Colt being invited to New York for the Heisman ceremony, JJ said:
"I would be very surprised if he is not among the finalists. Hopefully, my comments yesterday will get him some publicity. I'll be honest with you. It would be a long shot (if Brennan won) because of the (national) media attention giving to other players. He not only deserves to be there, but he deserves to win it. Just look at what he has done." (UH)