Quotes from the UH-Washington game

HA = Honolulu Advertiser
HSB = Honolulu Star-Bulletin
MN = Maui News
AP = Associated Press
CBS = CBSSports.com wire reports
ST = Seattle Times
SPI = Seattle Post-Intelligencer
HN = Everett HeraldNet
_____________________________________

Quotes from the UH Coaches

About the win, JJ said:
"What a win! It hasn't soaked in yet. (The team) was committed to getting a win tonight. They played hard and I can't be more proud of them. It's unbelievable. The (regular season) could not have ended better. I think the turning point in the game was the third TD (to Jason Rivers that was reversed by instant replay). That's when I knew we were going to win." (HSB, CBS, AP, ST)

About how Colt convinced him to change the play on the winning TD, JJ said:
"I had called a run play but Colt said he knew (UW) would be in man and wanted to call a 'go' route, so we went with it." (HA)

"I had called a run play, but Colt said that he knew (UW) would be in man and wanted to call a "go" route, so we went with it." (HSB)


About the win and the undefeated season, George Lumpkin said:
"It feels outstanding, what a relief. We know God has had his hand on this team from the beginning. I believe this team is special." (HSB)


About their undefeated regular season, GM said with tears of joy in his eyes:
“There is no better feeling than 12-0. I am so proud because we were down 21-0 and we held them to seven after that. I’m just really proud of our guys because all season they have believed. Our offense came back, special teams played big, but we had to do it the hard way. Even at the end we gave up those two big passes (as Washington reached the UH 4-yard line with 20 seconds to go), but that is the way it has been. It was a little too dramatic for me.’’ (MN)

About his defense, GM said:
"This was really a good (Washington) offense. I don't care what people think or what their (4-9) record is, (but) our guys made a play at the end, which they have all year long. They've come up with a play to get us out of trouble. You cannot believe how much I admire this total football team." (HSB)

"Players make plays, and these guys made plays." (HSB)

Note: It really is amazing that UW scored 28 points in the first 23 minutes and ZERO in the final 37 minutes.


Quotes from the UH Offense

About how their team's brotherhood is special, Colt said:
"This team is special. These guys are special. They play for each other. I've never been part of such a brotherhood, such camaraderie. It's so special I changed my whole perspective on life." (HA)

About the feeling he had when he stepped to the line of scrimmage with 3 seconds left (praying silently "just don't fumble"), Colt said:
"It's so hard to explain the feelings. Not just for me, but for this team, and for this state." (HA)

During the post-game celebration, Colt yelled about the BCS:
"No doubts, we're going to the BCS. We earned it." (HA)

After the game, Colt said to the crowd at Aloha Stadium:
“We are going to the BCS and a lot of it is due to the support you guys gave us. I can’t thank you guys enough for all the support. We will see you in New Orleans.’’ (MN)

About going to a BCS game and their big 4-game stretch, Colt said:
"We're going to the BCS, can you believe it? It's so exciting how we finished these last four games. I knew our season would really begin with Fresno State and end tonight. And that's exactly what happened." (HSB)

Hoping they get to play USC in the Rose Bowl, Colt said:
"I began my career against USC and I'd love to end it against them. I've got nothing but respect for SC. I'm a big fan of their program. I sure want to play them. We want to stay on the West Coast. I know Hawaii fans would fill that place. Of course, we'll go anywhere they send us. This team has persevered so much this season that I can't even put into words exactly how I feel. We never doubted we could come back." (HSB)

About how their past two wins have captivated an expanding network of fans, Colt said:
"With that, we captivated the state. We gave the people here what they wanted, a place in their hearts for the rest of their lives. But tonight was about stepping away and captivating the nation. There's something so special about the guys in this locker room. We wanted to show the nation how special this place is." (HA)

About how he expected a tough game from UW, Colt said:
"I had a feeling coming into this game it wasn't going to be easy. What's that saying? 'There's nothing scarier than a dying man.' As a team, they weren't in the greatest shape after (losing to in-state rival Washington State) last week. They were coming out here with an all-or-nothing approach. I knew they were coming out here with a strong punch." (HA)

"We knew they were going to come in here and play us tough. They had nothing to lose, so you knew they were going to leave it out there on the field. It's a great feeling. This is why I came back for my senior season, to be with the guys and accomplish something like this." (HSB)

About how Washington played a tough cover 4 defense for most of the game, Colt said:
"They were in an 88 most of the night, which is a cover 4. It looks like cover 2, but the corners sink. Then they went to three roll and at the end of the game they went to man free. That's when we just killed them." (HSB)

About how this win is special, Colt said:
"This is so special. You think something is going to spoil it, or it will be taken away from you. I don't want this feeling to go away. I want to hold on to it for a long time." (HA)

About their undefeated season, Colt said:
"It's a pretty good feeling right now. It's pretty much speechless. I just can't believe we got to this point and we did it." (HA)

"We just wanted a win." (HSB)

"It's just a surreal feeling and it's hard to believe. That's how this season has been, and now the focus goes to whoever we play in that big bowl game." (HSB)

"This was something we dreamed about and to be here and see what we've accomplished, and the perfect record, is just mind blowing." (CBS, AP)

Not worried about the Heisman, Colt said:
"It really doesn't matter when you're 12-0. If they invite me great, if not the joke's on them." (HSB)

About their faith in their team, Colt said:
"The theme of this team has been believe. What better test than to end the season on a game like that." (HA)

About his fumble, Colt said:
"That's how football goes. There's nothing really I could do. I went to look right and the guy came. I probably could've secured it better, I guess, but I didn't see him coming. We fumbled, we made our mistakes, but it's not about the mistakes. It's about how to bounce back and that's what we do." (HA)

About how he wasn't worried even when they were down, Colt said:
"We kept believing. The opportunity presented itself and we took it." (HA)

"We believed the whole time. We knew we were going to win if we kept believing ... I feel speechless. It's an awesome feeling." (CBS, AP)

About why he was down on the ground so long after a sack when they were down 14-0, Colt said:
"I got hit really good in my family jewels." (HA)

About what he thought when it was 21-0 to end the first quarter, Colt said:
"The only thing I could think about was that there was a lot of time left and if we could slowly tug away at the gap then maybe we can put ourselves in a spot to win this game and that's exactly what we did." (CBS, AP)

About their early struggles on offense, Colt said:
"What we were doing earlier was working, but we were fumbling and not executing fully. We went back to what we knew we could do and we threw some touchdowns." (HSB)

About their game-winning TD, Colt said:
"We knew they were playing a lot of man and we knew that we could execute it. Ryan did a good job. He gave me an angle. I threw the ball right there and Ryan got it in. Perfect execution." (HA)

About how he convinced JJ to change the play on the winning TD, Colt said:
"Coach Jones trusted me on that call. I told coach, 'We got 'em,' so I changed it to a pass play because I knew they were going to be in man (to man defense). I've got the most talented receiving corps in the nation. People can't play us man-to-man." (HA, ST)

"Coach Jones trusted me on that last call. I told coach, 'We got 'em,' so I changed it to a pass play. ... I've got the most talented receiving corps in the nation. People can't play us man-to-man." (HSB)

"I saw they were in man free and decided to go for the pass. I told Coach (June Jones) that the play was there for the taking. He agreed with me and the rest is history." (HSB)

About how he knew UW would come back to try to tie the game at the end, Colt said:
"I knew they were going to come back; I sensed it. But our defense has come up big time and time again this season. And they did it again when we needed it most. This is a team. We believed in ourselves all season, and now we're 12-0. On that last play, I just tried to block everything out of my mind and just execute the play. You could feel the crowd lifting us up the entire game. They never stopped believing and neither did we." (HSB)

About Jason Rivers' huge game, Colt said:
"Jason showed up tonight. He's a senior. This is the kind of game he needed for an ending note in this stadium." (HA)

"We just call plays and read it and whoever's open is open. It just so happened to be Jason Rivers was open a lot tonight." (HSB)


Praising their play calling, Jason Rivers said:
"Football is like a chess match. You have to make the right call at the right time. Coach (June) Jones did a good job of that." (HA)

After his 14 catches for 167 yards and 4 TDs, Rivers said:
"I expect nothing less from myself and my teammates. Me being a senior, I wanted to do something special." (HA)

About his first TD, which was initially ruled out of bounds but overturned on replay, Rivers said:
"I knew I was in because when I turned ... I knew I was way inside. Colt (Brennan) did a good job of finding me." (HA)

About how they had set up his 40-yard TD to tie the score, Rivers said:
"We were waiting for that call." (HA)

"They were giving us a lot of stuff underneath. So we took it. But we knew it would open up later, and it did. I just ran straight and Colt got it to me." (HA)

About his huge game in his final game at Aloha Stadium as a Warrior, Rivers said:
"It means a lot. I don't know if I'm ever going to play in front of my family and friends again. It means a lot to go out on this kind of note." (HA)

About how they believed they would come back to win the game, Rivers said:
"It's the same quote we've been saying all year. We believe, we believe. For us that didn't matter. First thing that came to mind when it was 21-0 was we've been in this position before. We've been behind in bad weather, we've had to overcome all kinds of adversity." (HSB)

"The first thing that came to everyone's mind was we've been in this position before. We've been down, we've been in harder positions ... Everybody had confidence and believed in each other. I'm blessed to be part of this team." (HSB)


About the game-winning TD, Ryan Grice-Mullins said:
"Colt trusted me. The team trusted me. Colt put it right there, and I just made the play. I was thinking touchdown all the way. Nobody was going to stop me that close." (HA)

"Basically, I had a flat route and I just had to beat my guy. All the other receivers did a good job running their routes. It make it easier for me to beat my guy." (HA)

So happy they won for the seniors, the team, and the state, RGM said:
"Mostly, I felt good to do it for these seniors. We had a very emotional night last night at the hotel. The seniors said their last speech and everything. Guys shed tears because of the love on this team. It felt good just to get this win, first of all for the seniors, second of all for the team and third of all for this island. All I can say is it's beautiful." (HA)

About how they never gave up, RGM said:
"It just showed what kind of team we have and that we never give up, we never stop." (CBS, AP)


After his 82 yards rushing on 10 carries, Daniel Libre said that his teammates helped him get over the fumble:
"What helped me was my teammates picking me up after the fumble. That helped me come back. It was a crazy ride. I love these guys. They made my job really easy." (HA)

After his 82 yards rusing and 61 yards receiving (on 6 receptions) in the game, Libre said:
"To be honest with you, I had no idea what was coming for me. I didn't even know if I was going to play." (HA)

"I can't even put it into words. My team needed me and I'm happy I could step up." (HSB)

Happy to be at RB instead of slotback, Libre said:
"There's so many good slotbacks on this team. So I'm just glad I got a chance at running back; that's a more natural position for me." (HA)

Hoping to get more reps next year, his senior season, Libre said:
"Tonight was all about the seniors and I wanted to do what I could to help them win this game. And hopefully I can be in the same position next year, getting more reps from the start." (HA)

About going rom Kanawaena to Menlo College to a BCS game soon, Libre said:
"It's been a crazy long road and I'm just happy I could do it with these guys." (HSB)


About how they never gave up in the game, Hercules Satele said:
"We left everything out there. Most teams would have given up. We were down 21 points to Washington. But this team, we never give up. We never stop fighting." (HA)

About his final game at Aloha Stadium, Hercules said:
"This is my last game in Aloha Stadium and what a way to go out. We're 12-0. I'm never going to forget this." (HA)

About how their poor pass protection contributed to their 21-0 deficit, Hercules said:
"We take all the blame. We're here to protect the quarterback, and we didn't do a good job. We had some screw ups and the coaches got on us." (HA)

About how JJ came on the field to lecture the OL during a timeout, Hercules said:
"He just said to pick it up. We all looked at each other and said that's it. We're not going to let this team beat us in our house." (HA)

Not worried what BCS game they go to, Hercules said:
"I don't care where we go, anyplace. This team has been through so much adversity, we deserve to go." (HA)


Quotes from the UH Defense

About how they knew they would win, Michael Lafaele said:
"We knew we'd win. We just had to fight through it. God put his grace on it." (HA)


About how they knew they had time to come back in the game, Adam Leonard said:
"We said at the end of the first quarter, 'It doesn't matter!' Once that's over, it's over. We played three good quarters of football." (HSB)

"We knew we had time. Our defense did a great job of playing three great quarters." (HA)

About how Rankin went rom 104 yards in the first half to 41 in the 2nd half, Adam said:
"We just kept him inside and tried to contain as best we could." (HA)


About deflecting UW's final pass in the end zone, Gerard Lewis said:
"I just tried to make a play." (HA)


About making the INT off the deflection to seal the win, Ryan Mouton said:
"Gerard made a great play to break it up. I saw the ball float in the air. I grabbed it. I wasn't going to let it go." (HA)

"Everybody's giving me the credit, but Gerard made the play. He had the man covered and the ball kicked off his foot. I just happened to be there to catch it." (HA)

About how he was playing safety on that play with backup saety Erik Robinson because Patek and Desmond Thomas (and Keao Monteilh) were out with injury, Mouton said:
"We just communicated with each other all across the field. As a whole defense we communicated and adjusted." (HSB)

About shifting to safety from his CB spot, Mouton said:
"Everyone has to know what everyone does, in case we have to fill in or whatever. We know we can get the job done no matter who's out there." (HSB)

About sliding to the turf instead of trying to score on the INT, Mouton said:
"The game was over. I didn't want to risk anything." (HA)

About coming to UH for a chance to go to a BCS game (I don't think anyone has said that before!), Mouton said:
"This is why I came here, because I knew we had a chance to go to a BCS game. I think with this win, it feels good, they'll put us in there." (HSB)


About how he had to play after their starting safeties were injured during the first UW drive, Erik Robinson said:
"A couple of guys went down and I had some reps this week, so it was my time to step up. I was kind of nervous when I went in, but I just had to settle down and get right." (HSB)


About their slow start in the game, Blaze said:
"We came out flat, we came out real flat. I think we came out too complacent. Then we all talked to each other and asked who wanted it more." (HSB)


About how they deserve to be in the National Championship game, Josh Leonard said:
“Why not? We are the only unbeaten team left in the nation. Now, we have to prove against someone who will get us respect with the rest of the nation.’’ (MN)


Quotes from Washington

About the loss, Tyrone Willingham said:
"It's a real disappointment because our young men played a heck of a football game. It's that old football circumstance that one more play would have won the football game. We just did not make one more play." (HA)

"The truth is we didn't do well enough. I think we played a heck of a game on both sides because that is a very talented offense. They do a lot of things very well." (HA)

"We just didn't make one more play." (HSB)

“This was a real disappointment because our young men played a heck of a football game. It’s that old football circumstance that one more play and we win a football. We just did not make the one more play.” (HN, ST, SPI)

“A play here, a play there." (HN)

"This was a real disappointing loss. Our young men played a heckuva football game. We just didn't make that one more play. But the truth is, we didn't do well enough on both sides of the ball. That's the tale of the tape. And we played against a very talented offense." (HSB)

"This was real disappointing because our young men played a heck of a football game." (CBS, AP)

Asked if UH should get a BCS bid, Willingham said:
"The polls will determine that." (HA)

Praising Jason Rivers, Willingham said:
"He was just good. That last one (Rivers' fourth TD), we tried to stay on top of him, but he just got by us." (HSB)

About Jake Locker and Louis Rankin, Willingham said:
"A lot of growth took place (for Locker this season). He has shown the ability to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country. And Louis has been criticized, but he's proving the critics wrong. He ran hard and makes plays that only a few backs can make. I'm proud of the year he had." (HSB)

Praising Rankin, Willingham said:
"He ran hard. He made plays only a few backs could make and I honestly was very proud of the year he had." (SPI)

"Louis has proved the critics wrong. It was a credit to his hard work and a credit to our offensive line. Our coaches did a nice job of coaching the offense and him so he could be successful." (SPI)

About how their travel delay had no impact on the game, Willingham said:
"Our guys played a heck of a football game. The travel did nothing. The travel was a heck of an opportunity for our guys to do a little more bonding. They sit around, had fun, played cards. It's not the ideal location playing in the airport terminal, but our guys are resourceful, they know how to handle themselves and they made a good situation out of it.'' (ST)

"The travel was a great opportunity for our guys to do a little more bonding. It didn't make a difference because I think our team played well." (SPI)

Asked about their defense, Willingham said:
"The truth is we didn't do well enough. That was the tale of the tape. We didn't do well enough offensively, we didn't do well enough defensively, even though I think we played a heck of a football game on both sides because that is a very talented offense. They do a lot of things very well.'' (ST)

"It was the yards after catch -- it was the thing that really triggered everything. When they have the ability to catch it and run for 20 yards. ... You can't do that. You can't allow them to do that because that is when they are at their best." (SPI)

About how they missed too many tackles, Willingham said at halftime:
"We knew this was an explosive offense, what we had to do was tackle, tackle, tackle ... don't give up the big runs after the catch. Unfortunately we have allowed that to happen.'' (ST)

Happy with their running game, Willingham said at halftime:
"We've got to keep our defense off the field and the best way to do that is for the offense to stay on the field and score.'' (ST)

Unhappy with how UH successfully challenged calls by the refs, Willingham said:
"To play a game like they played and to have some things surrounding that kind of shape the football game, that (makes me) angry, because things shouldn't be like that." (HA)

About UH's early turnovers, Willingham said:
"Anytime (the other team) turns the ball over like that, you have opportunities to put points up." (HA)

About the first down they lost when Locker was ruled to have passed the line of scrimmage before throwing the ball, Willingham said:
"I couldn't see it but it was probably fitting for all the calls we had tonight." (HA, ST, SPI)

“Honestly I couldn’t see it. But it was probably fitting for all of the calls that we had all night.” (HN)

At halftime, Willingham complained about the refs:
"my biggest complaint is they are screwing it up. This is a hell of a football game and it is not being done the way it needs to be done.'' (ST)

After the game, Willingham was still upset about the refs:
"You hate to have a football game where your team plays the way we played and have things surrounding that kind of shape this football game. That's angry x the game shouldn't be like that." (SPI)


About how they knew that the refs were going to favor Hawaii, offensive coordinator Tim Lappano said:
"We knew that was coming. We all knew that was coming." (ST)

"We knew it coming in. We expected that. It's all WAC. You knew that coming in." (SPI)

About how they made a lot of progress during this 4-9 season, Lappano said:
"I think we've made a lot of progress. This program's a lot better now that it was when we got here. It is. I know there aren't enough wins yet, but I think we've done some pretty good things. … We played a good football team in here. Some people thought we were going to get blown out of there, and we played out tails off for the most part.'' (ST)


About how UH deserves to go to a BCS game, RB coach Trent Miles (who coached at UH under Bob Wagner and Fred VonAppen said:
"Of course they deserve to go. They went 12-0. You can only play who they give you. They did everything they were asked to do. You can't take that away from them." (HA)


About the rumors that Willingham's job is in jeopardy, QB Jake Locker said:
"We're all behind him. We all have a lot of respect for him." (HSB, ST)

About the first down called back because he was flagged for passing beyond the line of scrimmage, Locker said:
"A lot of people thought I didn't, but that's what he saw and he made the call and you can't change that." (CBS, AP)

About how he thought they could score on their final drive, Locker said:
"I was fully confident we could get down the field and score when we started the drive." (HA)

About the INT in the end zone, Locker said:
"He got (his hands) on it, but I didn't throw it far enough to the outside. I saw it bounce off his foot and all of a sudden it was going the other way. But we really didn't lose the game on that one play." (HSB)

"It was just bad luck. It's just kind of how the year has gone." (SPI)


About how he dropped their final pass into the end zone that was deflected to Mouton, senior WR Marcel Reece said:
"It was a close call, you know. I tried to go up and get it and I thought I had it in my hands, but I don't know where it went. It's always disappointing to not hold onto the ball. I always say that no matter what the defender does, I've got to come down with that ball. I was in the end zone and I didn't make the catch. I'm the playmaker on this team and I didn't make the play. It hurts. That one will stick with me for a long time." (HSB)

“I just wish I could have delivered for my team. My teammates deserved it, my coaching staff deserved it, I myself deserved and the fans did too. I apologize to everybody in Seattle for that one.” (HN)

“It’s always disappointing when you’re not able to hold onto a pass as a receiver. That’s our job. No matter where the ball is or what the defender does, the receiver has to catch the ball and then run after it. No matter how many plays I’ve made all year, that one’s going to stay with me forever. It hurts. It hurts when you’re looked on as a leader and a playmaker on the team and you don’t make a play the last play of the game.” (HN)

"I was in the end zone, I didn't score the touchdown, and we lost a game we shouldn't have lost. I had my hands on it and I don't know what happened after that. No matter how many plays I made all year, that is one that will stick with me forever.'' (ST)

"I apologize to the city of Seattle for that one'' (ST)

HN Note: "Willingham and offensive coordinator Tim Lappano indicated after the game that the Huskies would have gone for two points and the win had they scored at the end of the game."


About the loss, Rankin (who finished with 145 rushing yards) said:
“It was disappointing that we couldn’t finish up with a win like we wanted to. We moved the ball pretty good but we just didn’t finish.” (HN)


Blaming the refs, safety Nate Williams said:
"You can't play against two teams. We can't play against Hawai'i and the referees." (HA)

About how they keep losing games in the 4th quarter, Nate Williams said:
"It (happens) over and over and over and over." (SPI)


Asked where UH would finish in the Pac-10, Roy Lewis said:
"probably last. To really be honest. They're a good team for the conference that they are in, but the Pac-10, I think there are just too many heavy hitters. Once teams get their number and have the right plays called, that system, like all systems, can be broken. You can find glitches in the system. They run their system very well, don't get me wrong, but there are some glitches that can be put out there." (ST)


Quotes from Others

Asked if the Athletic Department will keep the BCS money, Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw said:
"We're going to talk about it." (HA)


UH President David McClain said that while:
"they are UH's team, the state's team, they come under the Manoa chancellor's office." (HA)


Happy about the win and the BCS spot, HF said:
"I'm so happy for our student-athletes and for June and his coaching staff. You know, we captured the imagination of the entire state. Everybody screamed about our schedule. We don't want to talk about our schedule anymore. All we want to talk about now is we're going to the BCS." (HSB)

About how there is no doubt that they will be in a BCS bowl, HF said:
“This one was for all the marbles. Last week was to stay in the race and for the WAC championship. Of course, now this gets us there with the big boys and very few people have that opportunity.’’ (MN)

“Absolutely, especially with number one (Missouri) and two (West Virginia) going down and then also with the number 11 (Boston College) going down. After number 11 went down, I was worried about Arizona State against Arizona and maybe them jumping us on strength of schedule, but we will pick up more strength-of-schedule points as well because of the win over Washington. It looks like it will be the Sugar Bowl against LSU, who clinched their spot there today – that is unless they move up into the national championship game. I have talked to a few Sugar Bowl officials and I will be waiting for their call (today).’’ (MN)

About the BCS gathering at the Stan Sheriff Center today, HF said:
"This will be an incredible atmosphere with members of the football team, cheerleaders, pep band and enthusiastic fns participating. We want to show the nation the fantastic support that our Warriors receive from the entire Hawai'i ohana." (HA)

About playing 2 I-AA teams, HF said:
“We took some heat for playing two I-AA (now Football Championship Subdivision) teams, but that was the only option we had. All I’m going to say is it worked out for the best.’’ (MN)


About how Saturday was his 56th birthday and he was hoping for a UH win, Karl Benson said:
"I think you know what I'd like to see for my birthday." (HA)

About UH's win, Benson said:
"What a great comeback. You know, I said this was a team of destiny a month ago. I saw the San Jose State game and the Nevada game, and to see this game, what a great finish for a great team. It validates our league in such a big way. Unfortunately, we've got to turn our attention to one more game and hope they can do it again. This is a team that has proved they can do it. We're going to another BCS game." (HSB)


About showing UH's BCS celebration at the Stan Sheriff Center during their BCS announcement broadcast, Fox spokesman Dan Bell said:
"They are an exciting team that we want America to get to know better, and what better way than when you have a prime-time BCS selection show? Not only are they a tremendous story, they have one of the best players in the country in Colt Brennan, one of the most exciting offenses and best teams in the country." (HA)