Monday, December 31, 2007

Quotes from the Star-Bulletin on 12/31

About UH being in the Sugar Bowl, UH Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw said:
"This has all been very positive, and will help show that in spreading the word about UH, it's not just about athletics, but academics and the entire state as well. It's great that so many fans have come all the way here, and I'm sure they'll notice the Southern and Hawaiian cultural similarities. By bringing our community here, it's a wonderful way to celebrate. The football team's accomplished a lot, and it's reflected by the support of these people. We're going to ride the pride all the way." (HSB)

US Rep Mazie Hirano said about the Warriors:
"I'm a big booster and alumnus, celebrating not only the team's success, but also the 100th anniversary of the university. ... New Orleans has welcomed us with open arms, with people saying, 'Aloha, y'all.' At the ladies function in the French Quarter earlier this morning, Virginia and I had a little taste of what Mardi Gras must be like, tossing green beads into the crowd while in a horse-drawn carriage." (HSB)

Eric Masutomi, VP for planning for foundation donor Outrigger Enterprises Group, said that what happened this football season is:
"wonderful and speaks to longtime, long-suffering fans who've seen the team go from the Rainbows to now the Warriors. It's spectacular. It feels that half the state is out walking about the streets of New Orleans, coming from all strata of Hawaii's communities. I'm beaming from all of this. And Hawaii goods are selling so well, vendors have told me that if they knew Hawaii fans were this rabid, they would've brought more to their stores." (HSB)

Na Koa charter board member Robert Akimaka said about this season:
"It's been the ultimate impossible dream. This follows the two previous impossible dreams, one, beating (Brigham Young University) and the other, beating Illinois in the Holiday Bowl." (HSB)

Asked if he thought the football program could build on their success, Akimaka said:
"I'm an optimist. I have to be. (Coach) June (Jones) has done such an incredible job -- to think big after all these years -- by not only being good at home, but tough and winning on the road as well." (HSB)

Asked if he thought the football program could build on their success, Hannemann said:
"It's all due to an excellent coach, a great crop of athletes and maybe how the stars aligned for us this season. Athletics can be a breadwinner, and the fact that they did it shows it can be done. It was a unique set of challenges to overcome." (HSB)

Praising Colt's leadership, Bess said:
"He's a leader, not just a vocal leader. He proves everything with his actions." (HSB)

About the extreme demands on Colt's time, Dan Morrison said:
"Colt's always been an external thinker, sensitive to those around him. Now he has to deal with being Colt the rock star." (HSB)

About his criticizing of UH's facilities, Colt said:
"The athletic department should be a diamond. I really do hope they improve things, because it's been a long time coming." (HSB)

About how the need to focus on Georgia, David Veikune said:
"It's time to draw down and focus on the game. After two days, (defensive coordinator Greg) McMackin said after that stop messing around and partying." (HSB)

About their focus in practice, Michael Lafaele said:
"Everybody's serious today. A little intensity and kick to our step. We can't wait 'til Tuesday." (HSB)

About how he can't wait for the game, Hercules said:
"It's been a long week; long practices and we are just ready for the game. We have been ready for the game ever since we arrived here in New Orleans. It's been a long week for us and we loved it over here, but it's time to get down to business." (HSB)

About how he loves to kick indoors, Dan Kelly said:
"It's so much easier because you don't have to worry about the elements. Field goals are like a dream. I told Coach (June) Jones I want to be drafted by an NFL team that plays in a dome." (HSB)

About how they might have to use a silent count due to the enhanced noise by being in a dome, Colt said:
"We can only speculate now (on crowd noise). We've put all the silent counts in, all the checks. We have different types of them and we just have to wait to see how loud it is during the game. Obviously it will be nice if we can go on our normal count. Our normal count's easy. But we've done nothing but silent counts the past three weeks and we're very prepared for it." (HSB)

About how they don't expect any communications problems, RGM said:
"We feel Aloha Stadium can be as loud as anywhere in the nation. We played at Boise, where it's loud, we pretty much know how to play when it's loud. We don't have to change too much. I'm sure (the noise) might come into play a little bit. It all depends, you never know until you get there." (HSB)


About how the noise will force Georgia to adjust also, Keoni Steinhoff said:
"They don't play in domes, we don't play in domes. The atmosphere is going to be crazy, more noise. Playing-wise I think it will be an even matchup. There's going to be loud cheering both sides, so it'll be a crazy game. The silent count for this game is going to be a big factor, 75,000 people. This game we're going to have to use it a lot more in the red zone and stuff. It'll be loud. Because when we played the Vandals it was a lot less people and it was very loud. The sound doesn't have anywhere to go. It stays in that building." (HSB)

About how heat could be a factor, as the climate-controlled warmth in the Superdome can dehydrate and fatigue players faster than cold weather, Steinhoff said:
"Yeah, there was a little bit of a fatigue factor (due to the heat) at Idaho. And we had to warm up because it was cold (outside). Throughout the game it got better." (HSB)

About how they should be used to the heat because they have been practicing indoors all week, RGM said:
"Practicing in here in this dome (the Saints practice facility in Metairie) it's been getting a little hot up in here. That helps out a lot. I'm pretty sure it's a little hotter than if we'd be outside, but not much." (HSB)

About how they would learn about the Superdome in their walkthrough today, Lafaele said:
"We're going to go test it out tomorrow at the dome and see how it is. I'm pretty sure we're in pretty good shape for this game." (HSB)

About their walk-through at the Superdome today, Colt said:
"If you know us (offense) our walk-through isn't a normal walk-through; it's a full-on practice, so we do not get the joy of a last practice. I know Coach (June) Jones will run us down and make sure we have everything down and going. We just can't wait for (today) and get down to the Superdome." (HSB)

About how this Sugar Bowl is quite different than the last time they were in a Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Richt said:
"This is a lot different than the last time we were here in 2002. Back then, we were trying to figure out who we were, even as a staff. I was actually a lot more involved in the play-calling. I was also the quarterbacks coach that year as you might remember. It was a lot different for me personally, too. And the responsibility I had every minute, every day. Now, I'm a little bit freer just to look around and enjoy the bowl a little bit more. Bowls are for the wives and kids. Coaches don't get to enjoy it as much." (HSB)


About how he was born (his family left the area when he was 4 or 5) in Levau, LA, a town between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, William Monteilh (Keao's father) said:
"I've been away a long time." (HSB)

About how his team is ready for the game, Mark Richt said:
"I believe we're ready to play. We've taken a very business-like approach to this game, which is good. We had fun when we needed to have fun. And we worked hard when we needed to work hard." (HSB)

About the importance of this game, safety Kelin Johnson said:
"There is so much riding on this game. They are undefeated, the only team without a loss. We take that to heart and we want to be the team that gives them that one loss. This is a wonderful opportunity to be in the Sugar Bowl. I mean, who would ever have thought we would be in a BCS game after losing to Tennessee and South Carolina early on in the season?" (HSB)

HSB Note: "One reason for the first-half struggles was youth. Georgia has four freshmen and five sophomores scheduled to start against the Warriors tomorrow night. They haven't been allowed much free time on the streets of New Orleans. Granted, they went to see the New Orleans Hornets beat the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night, but an early curfew since they arrived the day after Christmas has kept the Bourbon Street distractions to a minimum."

About their experience with West Virginia's spread offense in their Sugar Bowl loss, Richt said:
"We went down 28-0 because West Virginia spread us out. I think what happened was we had not seen that type of offense before and we did not fully understand how fast and talented those guys were. We also turned the ball over three times to their zero. We did make some adjustments and made it a close game." (HSB)

About their respect for UH, QB Matthew Stafford said:
"We're very respectful of what Hawaii has accomplished. This is a very good football team that's more than Colt Brennan and his wide receivers. Their defense has been key in a lot of their wins this year. We're not going to be overconfident just because we're the favorites or are from the SEC." (HSB)

Praising UH, RB Knowshon Moreno said:
"This is a good football team on both sides of the football. We'd like to be able to control the ball on offense to keep Hawaii's offense off the field. The fewer times they have the ball helps our defense. It's a team game. We have to help each other in order to get the win." (HSB)

About how they have to pressure Colt, LB Dannel Ellerbe said:
"We've got to be able to put pressure on their quarterback. If we let Brennan sit back in the pocket it's going to make it hard to get the win." (HSB)

Quotes from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

About how he chose the Superdome without realizing that the Saints' facility had a new indoor practice area and a place for the team to lift weights, Mark Richt said:
"It would have been nice to be at the other one. I kind of jumped the gun there because the last time we were here the Saints didn't have an indoor facility and I didn't want our guys working out in the cold. It would have been more private, plus they had a place where we could have lifted. We haven't lifted all week." (AJC)

Looking forward to facing UH, LB Rennie Curran said:
"This is the biggest game Hawaii has ever played, and we know that we'll get their best shot. But I'm just ready to play. We've been practicing a long time and we've enjoyed being here. But I want to see how we're going to play against their team because they are really good at what they do." (AJC)


Asked about their schedule next year, which includes road trips to Arizona State, South Carolina, LSU, Kentucky, and Auburn, and a non-conference home game with Central Michigan (MAC champion the past 2 seasons), Georgia QB Matthew Stafford said:
"Yeah, I've looked at it, and that is about as tough a schedule as I have ever seen. But right now let's worry about Hawaii. It would be great to win and set us up to play that schedule next year." (AJC)

Quotes from the Advertiser from 12/31

Amazed by the turnout by UH fans, Rich Miano said:
"We thought the turnout would be high if we played in Phoenix or Pasadena, which are easier for Hawai'i folks to get to. But it's an amazing thing how many people have come all this way, to a city most have never been to. It's just great walking down the street seeing all the UH T-shirts in the stores and seeing all these people walking down the street wearing green. I don't think you could have a better experience." (HA)

About the Warriors, US Rep. Mazie Hirano said:
"It's Warrior Fever. The sense of team pride has really drawn our community together." (HA)

About "Paradise City", on the Marriott's 2nd floor that has been made up for the Warriors, Hercules said:
"This is our sanctuary." (HA)

HA Note: "Make a list of the dream frat house, and most of the items can be found in this converted ballroom. There are tables for pool, foosball and air hockey. There are six wide-screen plasma television sets. One is hooked to a Wii console. Two others are connected to Xbox 360 systems. Another is connected to a PlayStation2. A fifth, by a technological miracle, receives Hawai'i programs."

About watching Hawaii TV, Timo Paepule said:
"We were watching the 'June Jones Show.' " (HA)

HA Note: "There are six arcade machines. Big-game player? That would be quarterback Colt Brennan, who used the plastic gun to shoot big game on the "Call of the Wild" machine. Defensive end John Fonoti was in a moveable chair, navigating his "car" in a race game. A.J. Martinez missed most of the season because of injuries suffered in a snowboarding accident. But yesterday Martinez was back on the slopes, this time on a virtual snow-jetski. Satele was using one of the two computers, updating his Myspace page.

In one corner, there are Costco-stacked cases of Gatorade. In another corner, there are soda dispensers and a water cooler. There also is a table filled with a menu ranging from protein bars to chips to candy bars. Another table is holding four large boxes of subway sandwiches. The best part? The Sugar Bowl is footing the ball, and the NCAA has signed off on the room."

About their amazing room, Hercules said:
"This is one of the greatest rooms. It has everything you need. You could live here happily." (HA)

Agreeing with Hercules' comment, Timo Paepule said:
"I would sleep here if I could but we have a curfew." (HA)

About his introduction to the room, Hercules said:
"I came here with a bunch of quarters. I saw some of my teammates playing the same game for hours. I asked them, 'What are you doing with all of this money?' They kept pushing the 'start' button. That's when I learned everything is free." (HA)

HA Note: "But the memories, as the commercial goes, are priceless. How else to describe the look on defensive tackle Josh Leonard's face as he guaranteed to roll a strike in game of Wii bowling? Or the unabashed celebration as defensive end Elliott Purcell and offensive lineman Clayton Laurel upset slotback Michael Washington and running back Lorgan Pau in foosball? Purcell and Laurel were paired randomly."

About the foosball win, Purcell said:
"Then we started winning. We're the underdogs. For us to beat them means a lot." (HA)

HA Note: "The game room is part of what has become the UH-New Orleans campus. The Sugar Bowl reserved the entire second floor, which includes several ballrooms, for the Warriors. Bianca Tokumoto, administrative assistant for UH football, then designed the layout. She set aside a ballroom for the trainers, who said the area was three times larger than the team's training room in the UH athletic complex.

Another ballroom was converted into a "locker room," where each player's uniform and equipment are placed. A conference room became video coordinator Lopaka Ornellas' editing room. Two hours after yesterday's practice, he produced separate tapes of the Warriors' offense, defense and special teams. There are meeting rooms for players and coaches. One ballroom is used as a dining hall.

Another became a chapel. After yesterday's practice, pastor Norm Nakanishi, the team's chaplain, led a worship service. Defensive tackle Keala Watson, wideout C.J. Hawthorne, and safeties Jacob Patek and Desmond Thomas were asked to give personal testimonies."

about the service yesterday, pastor Norm Nakanishi said:
"They shared their messages. It was moving. A lot of tears were shed." (HA)

About being together for the Sugar Bowl, Paepule said:
"It's good to be with the guys one last time. You always wonder what it would be like if the players lived side by side. They would be so much closer. That's what we're experiencing now. There are no arguments. It's all fun and games. We're going to hate to leave." (HA)

About having to leave their current setup to go back to UH after the game, Rich Miano said:
"We have better facilities here than we have at the university." (HA)

About how Cal Lee has been set free this season to be able to coach the LBs, Solomon Elimimian said:
"The old Coach Cal has been back this season. He has had more freedom this year and it shows. He's always had a passion for the game, for coaching football but this year it really shows. He (Lee) is a big reason we've flourished as linebackers and as a defense." (HA)

HA Note: "The first year under defensive coordinator Greg McMackin has been a significant change from the two previous seasons under Jerry Glanville, who practiced a firm-grip, hands-on style. Lee was ever the good soldier but often seemed a frustrated one, too. People around the program say Lee was more constrained in his role from the first two years."

About how GM has been good for his brother Cal, Ron Lee said:
"McMackin does a good job of communicating to his coaches and Cal knows what he wants. I don't think Jerry did that. They didn't communicate that well, so he (Cal) was a little uncomfortable at times because he didn't know what the coordinator wanted." (HA)

About the change in defensive coordinators, Cal said:
"when you have a change in people, there can also be a change of personalities." (HA)

About speculation after Glanville's first season that he might go back to high school, Cal said:
"no, you don't look back." (HA)

About GM replacing Glanville, Ron Lee said:
"Cal was more comfortable with Mac." (HA)

About how Cal is enjoying his coaching now, Adam Leonard said:
"I think he (Cal) got more freedom to coach. He has so much football knowledge and he really enjoys teaching us. I think it eased the stress and you could tell it was more enjoyable for him." (HA)

Adam said about Cal this season:
"he's more vocal and able to teach us a lot more on the technique side. That's good because he really knows the game and has a passion for it." (HA)

Sounding quite happy as he walked off the practice field yesterday, Cal said:
"How can you not be happy this year? You get up in the morning and it is a fresh new day and the sun is out. When you're working with young people, have good people around you and are winning, everything is wonderful." (HA)


About how all of their players made their qualifying grades, Takayama said:
"Part of (the reason for the success) is they changed some of the policies. (Now) they send all the students to Sinclair Library instead of the (athletic department), where there are more resources, more computers and tutors to help them out." (HA)


Happy they practiced at the Superdome, Georgia center Fernando Velasco said:
"It has been awesome (practicing there). It is my first time to come to the Superdome. I'm amazed how big it is. The only other dome I have been in is the Georgia Dome (in Atlanta) and this feels bigger than that." (HA)

About how UH could have practiced at the Superdome also, Sugar Bowl spokesman Duane Lewis said:
"Hawai'i did have the option to practice at the Superdome and could have if it chose to." (HA)

HA Note: "Head coach June Jones said he liked the Saints' facilities and, indeed, UH was better able to control access to the facility than had it practiced in the Superdome. But mindful of how big the Warriors' eyes got at Alabama last year and how huge the lumps in their throats were at Michigan State three years ago, there is concern about their ability to adjust to the more imposing Superdome. Once UH settled down at Alabama it played well and had the opportunity to even pull out a victory. You'd hope there doesn't have to be a significant settling in tomorrow or UH could be in trouble.

Jones, who played in the Superdome as a quarterback with the Atlanta Falcons and coached there for Atlanta, Detroit and San Diego, has a wide familiarity with the place. "It is really kind of unbelievable going into that dome," Jones said after the Sugar Bowl pairing was first announced. "Our players have never seen anything like it. It is almost bigger than the (University of) Idaho dome." He was kidding about the Kibbie Dome, of course."

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Quotes about UH's RBs

About their RBs, who had to replace the duo of Nate and Reagan from last year (both were drafted by the NFL), RB coach Wes Suan said:
"They've done a pretty good job so far. They're still coming around on some things, but they're all hard workers." (HA)

About the importance of blocking by their RBs, Suan said:
"It's probably the biggest thing we work on. We throw the ball so much, our backs serve as an extra blocker." (HA)

About how Farmer is regarded as their best blocker, Suan said:
"He's been real steady and consistent. He doesn't get to carry the ball very much, but I don't think that's a big deal to him. He takes pride in his blocking." (HA)

Praising Pilares, Suan said:
"Kealoha is a guy who knows the value of hard work and he's willing to do it to become better." (HA)

About how LWJ is working on his blocking, Suan said:
"Leon's still learning in our system. He's a very, very talented guy who has tremendous speed, but he's working to improve his blocking." (HA)

About Libre, Suan said:
"The guy is a quick study. June (Jones) saw something in him and (Libre) hasn't disappointed. He's a speedy guy once he gets some space." (HA)

Quotes about UH's WRs

Praising UH's WRs, Colt said:
"They make me look good." (HA)

About his chemistry with his WRs, Colt said:
"Me, Rivers, Davone and Ryan, we've been together for three years now, so we're all on the same page." (HA)

Praising RGM, WR coach Ron Lee said:
"He's very workman-like. He finds ways to get open and create opportunities for Colt to get him the ball." (HA)

Praising Bess' work ethic, Colt said:
"Davone is so good because he puts in the work. He's always one of the first guys out (at practice). He loves this game and he plays every game like it's his last." (HA)

Praising Jason Rivers, Colt said:
"He's such a great weapon to have on any football team. The guy is big, strong, fast and has great hands." (HA)

About Rivers/Bess/RGM, Hawthorne said:
"They're awesome. They all can run routes, catch the ball and make people miss after they catch the ball. I think they're the best group of receivers in the nation." (HA)

Praising Hawthorne, RGM said:
"He's been outstanding. Especially in a system like this, that's hard to do. He's been a big part of our success this season; can't say enough about him." (HA)

About the conditioning level their WRs have to have, Bess said:
"We run so many routes in practice that we're used to playing all game. We're all playmakers and we want to be on the field." (HA)

About being honored as Offensive Unit of the Year by the WAC, Hawthorne said:
"That was really special. We're not about honors and awards, but it definitely felt nice for the WAC to recognize us." (HA)

Quotes about UH's OL

About facing Georgia's DL, OL coach Dennis McKnight said:
"We're expecting a dog fight. We know they'll be ready. They're really athletic and quick." (HA)

Praising Georgia's DL, Hercules said:
"They're very quick and explosive. They've got great motors all around. They've had a lot of sacks in the past few games and we know they can attack the quarterback whenever they want to, so we have to do our best to keep them off Colt (Brennan)." (HA)

Praising Hercules, McKnight said:
"Herc's done a great job all year. He's on the quiet side, but he lets his play speak for him." (HA)

Praising both of their new starting tackles, AhSoon and Steinhoff, Hercules said:
"There's been questions about them about them since they started, but they handled it well and they've been working their butts off every day, trying to prove people wrong." (HA)

Praising first-year starter Larry Sauafea, Hercules said:
"He's improved a lot since the first game. With every snap, every game, he's been getting better and better." (HA)

Praising the job that John Estes did in his first year at C for the Warriors, Hercules said:
"We can't ask more of John. He goes all out on the field and he's a person I trust, playing side-by-side with him for three years now." (HA)

Quotes about the LBs

About their physical DL and LBs, GM said:
"I don't think people really know how physical our front seven is." (HA)

About how their defense plays fast, GM said:
"The biggest thing we want to do is play fast. Those are all guys that we feel can win us ball games. We don't play P.E. football where you just play a guy to play a guy. Those are all guys that we feel, depth-wise, can help us win games." (HA)

About Sol Elimimian, LB coach Cal Lee said:
"He makes the calls in the middle. He's been everywhere for us this season and he's a smart guy. We can tell him what we want and he knows exactly what we're talking about." (HA)

About Adam Leonard, Cal Lee said:
"Adam, he looks like a young Mike Tyson. The only thing about him is he hits harder than Mike Tyson. Adam brings great intensity and love for the game. He loves being out there and he'll do whatever it takes to help the team." (HA)

Praising Brad Kalilimoku, Cal Lee said:
"Brad just never gives up. He has such a Warrior spirit. He's the guy that will do the work that nobody else wants to do." (HA)

About their LBs, Cal Lee said:
"I think I've just been very fortunate to get players like that to begin with. They're good players; they listen to you; they work hard." (HA)

Praising Blaze, Cal Lee said:
"Blaze is just relentless. The guy plays with reckless abandon and more than anything else — passion." (HA)

Quotes about UH's DBs

About how their DBs have made huge plays this season that decided games, Rich Miano said:
"It's one of those things where somebody has to make a play and we've happened to be real fortunate that it's been us. Myron, Gerard, Ryan Mouton, Jacob Patek, they've all made great plays." (HA)

About the success of their secondary, Miano said:
"We've had 19 interceptions, two away from the school record. (Defensive coordinator, Greg) McMackin's schemes, the techniques that we're playing put us in position to make plays, but the players really believing in what we do has made the difference." (HA)

Praising how Desmond Thomas has taken over from Keao Monteilh, Miano said:
"Desmond's done a great job. He's a converted wide receiver so we knew he gets to the ball well. We knew he's tough. He's been a really good addition and a great surprise. We're very happy with him." (HA)

About how Mouton took over at safety when they needed him there, Miano said:
"He's never played safety in practice or in a game. All of a sudden our safeties got hurt on the first series, we put Ryan Mouton back at safety and he's so smart and so instinctive, he could play anywhere." (HA)

About their DBs, Miano said:
"We know that if we're on the field at the end of the game, we believe somebody's going to make a great play." (HA)

Praising their starting CBs, Miano said:
"Gerard has great instincts. He and Myron pulled away from everyone else and have made some amazing plays." (HA)

About how so many defenders have contributed, GM said:
"This team's spirit has been tested numerous times now and each time we've passed. The thing is it hasn't always been one guy. We know we can count on each guy out here." (HA)

Quotes about UH's DL

About how Georgia runs the ball very well, GM said:
"They run the football very well. Georgia's skilled at every position, but those three backs are outstanding. They're the best running backs we've faced." (HA)

About how their DTs are the key to their D, GM said:
"The heart of our defense is our tackles. Everything starts with our big 300-pounders. If they can cause enough disruption, the rest of the guys will have opportunities to make plays." (HA)

Praising Georgia's OL, Michael Lafaele said:
"They're big and they look pretty quick. They're not as sloppy as some of the other teams we've played." (HA)

Feeling that Georgia doesn't respect them, Lafaele said:
"They think we don't belong in this game. I think they're going to come down and try to run the ball down our throats, but we just have to play good football." (HA)

About how they rotate Lafaele/Watson/Laeli/Seti/Savaiigaea/Leonard at their DT spots, GM said:
"If it wasn't for those guys, we couldn't even run this defense. They're the ones pushing the pocket and starting the defense." (HA)

Happy that Veikune got All-WAC recognition, GM said:
"David Veikune is one of our best players and I was glad to see him get all-league. He has seven sacks and he plays half the time. He plays so hard that he gets exhausted." (HA)

About rotating Purcell/Noa/Veikune/Fonoti at the DE spots, GM said:
"We do that because we try to keep them rested and so that they have more energy. It helps their attitude and it definitely helps their endurance." (HA)

Quotes about the money Colt gave up to return for his senior year

About declining to enter the NFL and instead return to UH for his senior season, Colt said:
"You have to do what you have to do. This is what I want to do." (HA)

HA Note: "Several NFL scouts told Brennan he would have been one of the top three quarterbacks in the 2007 draft, behind Louisiana State's JaMarcus Russell and Notre Dame's Brady Quinn. UH head coach June Jones said Brennan would have been selected between the 10th and 20th pick in the first round. Matt Leinart, Brennan's high-school teammate, was the 10th pick in last year's draft. He signed a six-year contract worth up to $51 million."

About the money that Colt gave up, JJ said:
"Colt probably turned down about $25 million. It's a lot of money. It's a huge sacrifice." (HA)

Colt's girlfriend Shakti Stream said that the money:
"could buy you your own island. But it can't buy you the experience of Hawai'i. Hawai'i's really changed him. He's really adapted to the culture and the people. He honestly fell in love with everything about Hawai'i. That has a lot to do with why he's coming back." (HA)

About Colt coming back for his senior season, Jason Rivers said:
"It's a delayed New Year's present. We're his friends first and teammates after that, and we would have supported him no matter what. But I'm so happy he made this decision." (HA)

Quotes from the Advertiser on 12/30

With an 88-page special on the Warriors in the 12/30 Advertiser, there is NO WAY that I can archive all of the quotes. Especially when I have spent 26+ hours traveling in the last few days and need some sleep. So, I'll do the best I can until I fall asleep.

About the 6am wake-up call for their 7:30am practice, JJ said:
"We're on schedule. It's just like normal, isn't it?" (HA)

HA Note: "The Warriors usually prepare by the dawn's early light for home practices. The thing is, the Warriors are in New Orleans getting ready for Tuesday's Sugar Bowl, and they started practice at what was 3:30 a.m. Hawai'i time."

About their early practice time, Kealoha Pilares said:
"It's too early. My girlfriend called to wake me." (HA)

HA Note: "The players boarded three buses at 7 a.m. Central time for the 15-minute drive from the hotel to the New Orleans Saints' practice facility in Metairie, La. Many slept on the bus ride. Many sleep-walked the chilly 60 yards from the parking lot to the facility's entrance."

About being tired at the start of practice, Tyler said:
"I'm a little tired. We have to take care of business. Then we can go back to sleep." (HA)

HA Note: "The first two nights in New Orleans, Jones did not impose a curfew. Since Friday, the evenings have been filled with meetings and video sessions."

About their busy schedule preparing for the game, GM said:
"We're tuned in right now. We're on game schedule. We met until 10:30 (Friday) night, and bed check was at 11. We're keeping them pretty busy, which keeps the coaches pretty busy." (HA)

HA Note: "Quarterback Colt Brennan said the early practices are "not bad." Brennan left Honolulu last Sunday to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas with his family at his grandmother's house in Aspen, Colo. He rejoined the team Wednesday."

About how his days in Colorado before going to New Orleans helped him adjust to the different time, Colt said:
"The extra days helped get me acclimated. I haven't been on Hawai'i time for a while." (HA)

About the practice time, Tyler said:
"We can't complain. We came out here to play football. We didn't come out here to have fun or to sleep all day. We've got to do what we've got to do. It's still hard (to awaken early), but we have to suck it up." (HA)

Praising Jason Rivers, JJ said:
"Jason is going to make it in the NFL." (HA)

HA Note: "In a briefing with the Fox television crew, Jones emphasized how left wideout Jason Rivers is one of the smartest receivers he has ever coached. Later, Jones praised Rivers' ability to recognize defenses and find openings."

About how he ran a 4.45 40-yard dash in team testing last April, Rivers said:
"I keep hearing people tell me that's good for my size. I never want to stop trying to get better." (HA)

About how he wants to break the 4.4 barrier, Rivers said:
"If I can get a high 4.3, I'll be happy with that." (HA)

JJ said that a fast 40 time is:
"key for Jason. Hopefully, he'll run in the 4.4s. He's very smart. He's a good ballplayer." (HA)

About how he doesn't worry about getting hit when the ball is thrown to him in traffic, Rivers said:
"You can't think about getting hit. You have to focus on making the catch." (HA)

About how he ran a similar offense in high school (St. Louis), Rivers said:
"I've had a lot of repetition after years and years in this offense. I think I have an understanding where I need to be and knowing where the open spots are going to be in the defense. That's the key. To find the open spot within your route." (HA)

About how he has perfected the art of catching the ball with his hands, Rivers said:
"I learned that in high school. For the longest time, I never wore gloves. I caught everything without gloves. My junior year of high school, I started wearing gloves. It helped. With gloves, it's even easier to catch the ball." (HA)

About how he cannot play in the Sugar Bowl, Keao Monteilh said:
"The doctor said it's not really the best choice to play. The doctor said it's not 100 percent. It's 75, 80 percent. The doctor said there's no rush. I've got another year to play. They told me not to worry about it, and have fun in New Orleans." (HA)

About Colt's development in their offense, JJ said:
"Colt led the nation in passing as a sophomore and he really didn't know what he was doing. He could always make all the throws, but now he knows so much more about defenses and decision-making." (HA)

When Colt decided to stay with the Warriors, he said:
"I've been a part of something special these last few years ... I like the person I'm becoming in Hawai'i." (HA)

About Colt coming back for his senior year, Bess said:
"It meant a lot and I'm just happy that he got what he wanted and that was the season we had this year. Now we got one more to go." (HA)

About Colt's accuracy, Bess said:
"He's a great passer. His accuracy is off-the-chart; it gives receivers the opportunity to catch a lot of balls. We don't have to worry about making circus catches or diving for balls because he's so accurate, he puts it right on you." (HA)

About how last year's success made them hungrier this year, Colt said:
"It was pretty amazing what we accomplished last year, but we came out hungrier this season. Once we got that taste of winning, we didn't want to let it get away." (HA)

About how his WAC Offensive Player of the Year award really belonged to the team, Colt said:
"It was a great honor, but it was thanks in large part, to the year we had. I didn't play in two games and we still got the job done. That's what I'm most proud of." (HA)

About their comeback wins, Bess said:
"It showed that this team don't give up. We've been fortunate to come out of this undefeated, but our biggest game is ahead of us. We had a lot of confidence even when we were losing late, but with him leading us, we know we can win." (HA)

About how he'd prefer a Sugar Bowl win over the Heisman Trophy, Colt said:
"With all of the negative talk by so many analysts, and everybody out there so quick to try and dog us, if we go out and beat Georgia and have a great game and win that bowl game, it'll be bigger than the Heisman Trophy." (HA)

Praising Colt, Georgia coach Mark Richt said:
"If he (Brennan) was inserted into certain (SEC) teams that might have struggled at the position, he would have won them a championship. The guy is a great quarterback.'' (HA)

About why Colt is special and how that goes beyond just stats, Richt said:
"Sometimes, you might have a guy who throws it 60 times a game, and yeah, he'll get big yards and touchdowns. But you watch (Brennan), and he's pin-point accurate, tough as can be, and he knows exactly what to do with the ball in that system.'' (HA)

A little envious at how many times Colt gets to throw the ball, Georgia QB Matthew Stafford said:
"It is definitely pretty cool. It's definitely got to be a fun one for a quarterback to play in. I watched the Boise State and San Jose games, and they have a lot of fun and play with energy.'' (HA)

Praising Colt, Georgia safety Kelin Johnson said:
"He's just an unbelievable player. He's a great thrower and he can read defenses.'' (HA)

About how UH's OL makes Colt more dangerous, Johnson said:
"He has a lot of time in the pocket, and that says a lot about his offensive line. They let him sit back there and he can do whatever he wants.'' (HA)

Transcript of Colt's Sugar Bowl press conference

Asked how their 4-WR offense will benefit from a strong showing against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, Colt said:
"Obviously when we match up against SEC talent, you can't get any better talent in college football. Everybody knows how good Georgia's defense is. Everybody respects Georgia's defense. So I think if this offense does have success that it would do a lot for the offense, and just how people look at the offense." (HA)

Asked if he is aware how other non-BCS teams are watching UH, Colt said:
"No, I don't think so. Somehow, some way, everything we've done this season, after all of those close wins, nothing ever sank in. Even now, as we're sitting here, it feels like a normal travel week. Like nothing really has (sunk) in. We know that we're at the show. I just think that when we walk on that field, you know, and it's game time, we're going to be like, 'All right, we have to figure out how to get over this.' That's the key. If we can get over the fact that we're here and the game that it is, I think we can be all right. But we've gotta get over that." (HA)


Asked if BSU's BCS victory last year helped them, Colt said:
"I truly agree with that. I think by Boise winning last year it gave credibility to allowing a mid-major (to) enter in the BCS picture. And I think that because they won that game is why everybody said, 'OK, we'll give Hawai'i the shot this year.' I really do." (HA)

Asked if this game is the "final chance" for him to prove himself, Colt said:
"Yeah, without a doubt. With all of the things, I've looked back and it's crazy how much success I've had. I realize that you're only as good as your last game, and my last game happens to be the Sugar Bowl against one of the best teams in the country. It is what it is, but this game has a huge impact on how I'll be remembered, and how my career will be looked at." (HA)


Asked how he would like to be remembered, Colt said:
"Basically, as a player, I just want to be remembered for being that really awesome Hawai'i quarterback that ... it wasn't the numbers, it was the way he played the game. I think if you watch the film, if you watch the way I play the game, I'm not a kid that loves to throw the ball (to) just get rid of it. (The coaches are) yelling at me half the time 'To stop running the ball, get down, slide.' If we can do a trick play and have fun with it, if I can scramble around and have fun, I will. I'm a football player — not a quarterback, a football player. And as a person, (I want to be remembered) as a real person, not fake. I don't want to be remembered for being somebody (who) was fake. I want to be remembered for someone (who) was real, and told it how it was, who was a good person at heart. And that's all that mattered." (HA)


Asked about Georgia QB Matthew Stafford, Colt said:
"I actually like Matthew. I watched him some last year. This year he's had a great year. He's a great play-action quarterback — big, physical kid. I've got a lot of respect for his game. He's a great QB." (HA)

Asked if he asked Tim Tebow for a scouting report on Georgia during the Heisman festivities, Colt said:
"We did talk. That was really funny watching me and Tim Tebow talk. You talk about all of the system-quarterback stuff, me and him cannot relate on anything we talked about. All he talked about were (defensive) fronts and linebackers, and I'm like, 'Dude, I throw the ball.' All I talked about (was): 'Where's the safety at?' And he's like, 'I don't pay attention to that.' I'm like, 'How are you making these reads then?' It was different. All he kept talking about were eight-man fronts and what the D-end's doing. I don't look at those guys ever. I'm looking down at the corners and the free safeties. We talked a little bit. We had fun with it. He said (Georgia's defense) was the best defense he played all year. And they gave him the most trouble (this) year. Obviously that's a great opportunity for me considering I was in the Heisman (race) with Tim, and if I came out and had success with Georgia, I think, it would validate a lot of things for me." (HA)

Asked about Tebow's advice about facing Georgia, Colt said:
"He said: 'Just get rid of it because they're coming.' He said they're a very physical, very fast defense. They're Georgia. They live up to their reputation. They're just as good as they are almost any year." (HA)


Asked about the comparisons to Troy, a passing team Georgia played this year, Colt said:
"We watched a lot of Troy. Obviously when we watch film, the only thing we can watch is open-set teams that play them with a lot of receivers. We did, and we got some ideas, and they did throw the ball very (well) against Georgia." (HA)


Asked about the appeal of the Sugar Bowl, Colt said:
"Without a doubt, I'd love to watch this game. I don't think anybody has really watched us, really sat down and watched us play football. They may have watched some highlights, they may have seen some clips, but to watch a football team week in and week out, that's when you really understand a football team. I just think this is going to be the game that can define so much for us. ... We're the underdog. We're that Cinderella story, possibly. I think that's what it's all about.

I think what's great — my life, everything I've gone through — people keep referring to me as a 'role model.' ... I'm a convicted felon (for a trespassing incident in Colorado four years ago). It's real tough. But the way the world is going, I'm real. There are so many kids out there, when you go in there ... and you talk to kids, they say, 'Don't do drugs. Don't drink alcohol.' Well, some of these kids have already made those mistakes in life. You're telling those kids: 'Give up. You've already screwed up.' Well, that's not what life's about.

Life's about making (the most of) second chances, making the best out of things. That's what this football team is. It's real. Just like my story, this football team is real. We've come back from 21. We've come back from deficits that people would never have come back from. That's why I'm excited about (the game). I think the nation is going to love to watch and experience this football game." (HA)


Asked about how they play games well past the East Coast's bedtime, Colt said:
"Everybody keeps asking us about our ranking. We say, 'We're just grateful to be here.' We understand it's tough to watch us play. And that's just kind of the way it is. The only thing we can say back to that is: 'Hey, we live in Hawai'i.' " (HA)

Asked about the cultural diversity between the Bulldogs and Warriors, Colt said:
"It is a great clash of cultures. I'm just grateful we're in Louisiana because these LSU fans don't like Georgia too much. We've been treated like the cat's meow around here. They've been awesome to us. It's been fun watching all of the LSU fans cheering us on. And, obviously, we're cheering them on. It is a clash of cultures, but that's what's cool, though. That's what college football is all about." (HA)


Asked if he imagined that he woudl one day live in Hawaii, Colt said:
"Growing up as a kid, I loved football. I loved hunting. My grandfather had a ranch in Colorado, so I kind of had this western thing going. I used to beg my dad to move to Omaha, Neb., so I could go pheasant hunting (and) play football out there in the Midwest. But growing up in California, at 18, when I was going to the beach and snowboarding (in Colorado) every day, he was like, 'Do you want to go to Omaha now?' I'm like, 'No, not at all.' I never imagined I'd end up in Hawai'i. To end up out there, and to experience what I've experienced, I'm thankful for it. I'm grateful I got to have that opportunity and experience." (HA)

Asked how his WRs have contributed to the success of the offense, Colt said:
"I say this, hands down, all of the time, they're the best receiving corps in the nation. And that's biased, I know. There may be some great single receivers out there. There may be some great guys. But what they do collectively as a unit, they're selfless, and not only that, they're Division I athletes. That's what everyone keeps misinterpreting. Hawai'i in the past was a great offense with good athletes. But we have great athletes now. And that's why, I think, it's been the difference in why my numbers have been as good as they are. It's because of the receivers around me." (HA)


Asked about critics who dismiss their offense, Colt said:
"(They imply) it feels like we're cheating or something. ... You just line up and play. People are going to say what they're going to say. We love throwing the ball and scoring a lot of points. That's what we like to do." (HA)

Asked about facing defenses geared to stop their passing attack, Colt said:
"It can be tough. The thing is, we do a great job, and we don't get a lot of credit. But the last two weeks our run game has been unbelievable. Our ability to run the ball, that was the difference last year with Nate (Ilaoa) and Reagan (Mauia). Our run game has developed this year. For instance, we ended the Boise game with 12 or 13 runs. We ran the ball all the way down the field to end the game. That's been the difference the end of the year. We've gotten the run game so good that now defenses are playing us honest because they have to. When a defense plays us honest, it's our advantage completely." (HA)

Asked why he spoke out about UH's deteriorating facilities, Colt said:
"When I got to Hawai'i at first, I looked around and I saw the facilities and everything, and I said, 'OK, we're not a Top-25 football program, and this is Hawai'i, so let's move on.' Well, through the success ... and watching nothing be done — no changes, no attempts to make things better — if anything it got worse as my time went there. It was kind of disturbing to the fact where I found myself ... we had no soap in our locker rooms; where half of our facilities are condemned, we can't use it. It just came to a point that something needed to be said.

The only reason I said it was because I was the one people liked. So I figured I'd be the guy who stands up and takes the heat. I'm glad I did. I think that's the best thing I ever did. Even though we got hardly any change out of it, it's changed the way everybody's looking at the school, what everybody wants to do with the school. Everybody wants to make a difference now and make it a better place. And not only that the respect I got from my players, the janitors — the people (who) really matter — that was what was worth it." (HA)

Asked if JJ thanked him for speaking out, Colt said:
"On the side." (HA)

Asked about overcoming adversity, Colt said:
"Lou Holtz once said, 'You show me a championship football team, I'll show you a team that overcame adversity.' That's what life's about. Life's not fair. I hate how we teach our kids, if you work really hard and you go to school, everything's going to be great and you're going to get what you want. No, life isn't fair. And that's what I've learned. Life's not fair. It's about experiencing tough times. Sometimes because you made a mistake ... you've got to overcome tough times. And that's what I've learned. I'm going to experience many more tough times. I'm not perfect. But this is what it's all about: trying to be perfect, trying to do things right. That's the fight. I think that's what I learned the most. That whole situation in Colorado has kind of left me numb for a long time. It's hard to feel now, which is a good thing and a bad thing, because it's easy to block out negativity, it's easy to block out the bad things, but it's harder to enjoy the good things."

Asked about the Sugar Bowl experience, Colt said:
"Basically, ever since these two days I've been here, I keep telling myself, 'Wow, this is it.' I'm so glad we got here. Like I said earlier, it's tough to gain that 'America, Division I college football experience,' and we're gaining it. We really haven't had a chance to gain it. And we're in it right now. You feel really grateful that you got to experience it, especially when you're at a school that isn't used to experiencing it." (HA)

Asked about wearing a lavalava, Colt said:
"First of all, it's comfortable. A lot of guys out in Hawai'i throw on a lavalava and a T-shirt and they're out the door. Coming from California I had jackets and sweatshirts. All you can wear in Hawai'i is a T-shirt and shorts. Lavalava is cool because you can wear it to formal events, as well. It's a real comfortable thing. It's something that grows on you. I do it every once in a while to have fun." (HA)


Asked about the difference between so-called big schools and mid-majors, Colt said:
"I think the gap is definitely beginning to shrink. ... When I look back at our first game at Alabama last year. It wasn't the Xs and Os that beat us. We read the papers, and we felt we weren't supposed to win. We walked in there, 93,000 people, and we're in Alabama. We're not supposed to win this game, right? We go out and we're playing, and we're playing hard. But we're fumbling and we're making mistakes. We have jitters.

I think now, what we realized is that, beating some of the teams we beat last year, we don't care who we play. We'll play whoever lines up in front of us. We'll stick to what we know, and we'll make it about the game. That's what everybody's learning right now. As long as you can get over the fact that you're playing Michigan or the big program that's supposed to win, you have a chance to win. Because it is about the game itself, and who beats you on that football field. I think that's what people are starting to realize." (HA)

Quotes about UH's offense

About UH's offense, Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said:
"To be successful in any offense, you need to have players, and Hawaii has great players at every position. They have a great quarterback in Colt Brennan, some smooth receivers, and what we think has not been talked about enough is their talented offensive line. They understand their scheme very well, which makes it tough to get to the quarterback. They get rid of the ball quickly, presenting us with a major challenge." (AJC)

About how their offensive players have to think quickly and read defenses well, RGM said:
"You can't be a dummy in our offense. The most important thing is that all of our routes are reads. You have to know all the defenses real well. ... If we are playing together there are very few teams that stop us." (AJC)

About how they have to minimize the YAC UH gets, Martinez said:
"We have been telling our kids that it is important when they make a 10-yard gain that it stays a 10-yard gain. We have to minimize the yards that are made after the catch, because they will get their yards. It is a rhythm offense, and we need to do what we can to disrupt their flow." (AJC)

Looking forward to facing UH, DE Marcus Howard said:
"We know Hawaii is going to come out and throw the ball 50 times. They pass nearly 90 percent of the time. This is the type of game a defensive line dreams of." (AJC)

AP feature on the Warriors as "Team Diversity"

About how they share their culture with others, Michael Lafaele said:
"That's something that's part of us. Growing up, that's our culture. We just want to share it with everybody else." (AP)

About their diversity, Hercules said:
"We're probably the most diverse team you'll ever see. When you see us on Tuesday, you'll see hair coming out from under our helmets, every sort of tattoo you'll ever see, all different shapes and sizes on the football field. It's very different for everybody else, but for us, it's just natural. We don't look at each other and say like, 'Oh, you're from a different place.' We just treat each other the same." (AP)

About how he didn't fit in right away, Sol Elimimian said:
"A big culture shock. I struggled my first year with it. I kind of wanted to go home." (AP)

About how he adapted quickly after being embraced by teammates, Sol said:
"Most teams have black and white. We have all different ethnicities. That's been a strength. Right now, we don't look at color, skin or background. We just look at it as he's a part of us." (HA)

About Hawaii's unique culture, Colt said:
"If you have never been to Hawai'i before, the first thing you realize is that the Hawaiian people have a different way about things. It's a culture that doesn't care what your skin color is, what language you speak, or where you are from." (AP)

About the ha'a, Lafaele said:
"We're not trying to scare them or instill any fear in them. It's just a way for us to get ready for battle." (AP)

"It's just to show that we have no fear. It's getting ready for war. It's pretty exciting." (AP)

About New Orleans, Lafaele said:
"It's a culture shock for me, and I'm pretty sure it is for the people down here to see us with our lavalavas and long hair. It's different, totally different. It's been a good experience for me." (AP)

About UH's unique culture, Georgia safety Kelin Johnson said:
"That's their culture, and I respect that. I've never been exposed to it before. It's awesome to see someone out of their surroundings and having fun. That's what it's all about." (AP)

About how they accept all of their teammates, no matter what their background is, Hercules said:
"It just comes natural. People came to me with open arms, inviting me to their houses and out to dinners. That's the way it is any time a new person comes in. People just take you in." (AP)

AP Note: "Brennan, a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, never could have imagined his career turning out like this. On the cover of the Hawaii media guide, he's wearing a lavalava."

About Hawaii's culture, Colt said:
"At first, you may seem like an outcast when you get there. But once you acclimate yourself to the culture, you get pulled right in. It's the melting pot of the Pacific. The people find a way to bring everyone together." (AP)

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)

Feature on Bess from the SF Chronicle

About the 7-on-7 games he played in while he was incarcerated, Bess said:
"It was a chance to get out in public." (SFC)

SFC Note: "He did not know that Keith Bhonapha was there filming Bess' game activity. A graduate assistant coach at Hawaii who was on vacation back home in the Bay Area, Bhonapha had agreed to help Bess at the request of John Beam, who had coached Bess and Bhonapha at Oakland's Skyline High. Bhonapha respected Beam because he had suspended Bhonapha for his entire junior football season when he got into some trouble. Bhonapha calls the suspension the best thing that could have happened to him. Beam and Bhonapha gave Bess a chance. Three years later, Bess is a third-team Associated Press All-America receiver for an undefeated, No. 10-ranked Hawaii team that will play Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Tuesday.

Bhonapha was convinced Bess was basically a good kid, who had had no previous brushes with the law before being arrested for possession of stolen weapons on July 9, 2003, just days after his graduation from Skyline. According to Bess, a few friends called him up asking for a ride, so he borrowed a friend's car, drove to Lafayette and picked them up, knowing nothing of their intentions until they loaded some stolen goods into the car. When they were stopped by police soon thereafter and the stolen goods were found, Bess was hit hardest because he was driving. Just 17 at the time, Bess spent about a month in jail before being sentenced to 15 months at the juvenile detention center officially known as the Orin Allen Rehabilitation Facility and commonly known as the Byron Boys Ranch, an unassuming-looking building that has chickens, horses and goats outside and is near virtually nothing."

About how he had to change his himself and his life after his arrest, Bess said:
"I was put in a situation where I had to man up." (SFC)

SFC Note: "Chinell Carpenter, Bess' mother and a single parent, provided the support system to get Bess through the ordeal. She made the 90-minute trip from East Oakland to Byron every week for the one-hour visiting allotment, then immediately hit the road for the 90-minute drive back home."

About driving to visit Bess each week, his Mom Chinell Carpenter said:
"I've been in five car accidents and none of that was worse than going there." (SFC)

About how he thought he'd have to go to a JC and then hope for a scholarship after a few years, Bess said:
"But God blessed me and I was lucky enough to take a shortcut." (SFC)

SFC Note: "The shortcut began that day at Pittsburg High, but it was initiated before that by Beam, who had ignored Bess' early letters for assistance, waiting for him to take responsibility for his actions. When Bess finally did that, Beam immersed himself in helping Bess. That led him to Bhonapha, who knew his boss, Hawaii coach June Jones, had given other kids a second chance, including quarterback Colt Brennan, who had been arrested on assault charges while he was a freshman at Colorado.

The problem was, there was no film of Bess. He had been a wide receiver as a junior at Skyline, but he was switched to quarterback as a senior, helping the team go undefeated in 2002. He did not play football in 2003 while housed in Byron, leaving Jones with nothing to go on. So Bhonapha packed up his camcorder and recorded Bess at that 7-on-7 game in Pittsburg. The video was grainy, but Bess displayed so much athletic skill, that it, along with some hard selling by Bhonapha and Beam, convinced Jones to take on Bess. Bess was released on Sept. 1, 2004 - two months early for good behavior but not soon enough to start school in the fall - and departed for Hawaii to enroll in the winter term."

About how it was good for Bess to get away from the Bay Area, Bhohapha said:
"I think it was the best thing for him, getting so far away from the Bay Area. The first year he didn't even go home." (SFC)

SFC Note: "Now Bess and Brennan hold the Division I record for most touchdown passes by a quarterback-receiver combination (39), and Bess' 41 touchdown receptions overall are just nine short of the NCAA record. Bess has 286 catches, the most in Division I history over a three-year period, and he's a shoo-in to break the career record of 316 if he returns for his senior season. That's a big if, because he might turn pro instead. Bess probably would be drafted from the second to fourth rounds and could move up considerably with good workouts for the pro scouts."

About how Hawaii has been the perfect place for Bess, Beam (now AD and assistant football coach at Laney College) said:
"Hawaii has been the perfect place for him. The island has accepted him, and he has accepted the island." (SFC)

About how Bess isn't sure when he'll get to go back to Oakland, especially when his Christmas plans were cancelled for the Sugar Bowl, Carpenter said:
"I'm more comfortable knowing he's there." (SFC)

SFC Note: "She has been to Hawaii for three of Bess' games, loves it there, and she is traveling to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl. No one is more excited than Carpenter, who has been there for Bess every step of the way and has trouble believing what has transpired."

Knowing what Bess and she went through, Carpenter said:
"You never see the light at the end of the tunnel until you're there at the end. While you're in the tunnel, it's depressing." (SFC)

About how Bess has been a great role model, Beam said:
"We were supposed to go out to dinner after the Washington game, but he said he had to speak to a Pop Warner group. I said, 'Go do it.' " (SFC)

About how he's spoken to kids at detention homes in Hawaii on several occasions, Bess said:
"That's one of the things I vowed to myself I would do. I am a living example of what redemption is." (SFC)

Other 12/30 quotes

About how they underestimated the demand for tickets from UH fans, HF talked about their 13,500 tickets they got from the Sugar Bowl (after he gave 4000 back):
"They were gone in a day and a half. I had to go back to the Sugar Bowl and beg for more. I could have sold 25,000 if I had them." (AJC)

About how so many UH fans are coming to the game, HF said:
"They hope and I hope it's not a once-in-a-lifetime thing. But just in case, they are coming. In fact, everyone's coming. The governor's coming. The mayor's coming. I hope the last person leaving Honolulu will turn out the light." (AJC)

About how UH fans have gone to great lengths to go to the game, Karl Benson said:
"This has become a statewide event. I've heard of people who have taken out loans on their cars and taken out second mortgages on their homes in order to come to New Orleans. They are treating this as the biggest event in the state of Hawaii since, well, statehood." (AJC)

About how JJ changed things for UH, Vili said:
"June was the first coach who brought the whole island together. It brings out who we really are. It shows what true Polynesian warriors are all about." (NOLA)

About how UH had no identity with Hawaii when he took over, JJ said:
"We were the University of Hawaii. But there was basically no identity with Hawaii." (NOLA)

About how UH has changed, Colt said:
"Hawaii is the melting pot of the Pacific. It's the gathering place for all to come together. We have to be the most diverse team in college football." (NOLA)

About how the infusion of Polynesian players has changed the Warriors, Ron Lee said:
"The Polynesian kids mature at an early age, and they really love physical contact. And our fans just love to see them displaying their physicality." (NOLA)

About how the Warriors reflect Hawaii, fan Francis Kaikuna said:
"They reflect the pride we have in our state. Hawaii is embracing of so many cultures. They're all out there on the field. It's very special to see." (NOLA)

Longtime treasurer for Na Koa, Ben Yee, said about UH:
"Fans love a winner. But they love the atmosphere at the games as well. It brings unity to all of us." (NOLA)

About the Warriors, Robert Kekaula said:
"We're living on a rock in the middle of the Pacific. We have had a lifelong inferiority complex. I mean everybody thinks of Hawaii as paradise, but nobody takes us very seriously. Well, they have to take Hawaii football seriously." (NOLA)

About why they do the ha'a, Hercules said:
"This isn't something we're doing for the tourists. It is our way of showing pride in our heritage and the unity of our team." (NOLA)

NOLA Note: "The ha'a came about three years ago when Jones asked Kanalu Young, an associate professor of Hawaiian studies, to speak to the team and to assist the program with developing an identity that would reflect the nickname Warriors. Young gave the team a Hawaiian phrase, "eo na toa e" which translates to "Warriors respond to the call of battle," and he told them that the ha'a is a "physical protocol connected to the highest spiritual order." The players, most prominently native Hawaiians Brad Kalilimoku, Guyton Galdeira and Keala Watson, came up with the choreography as well as the words to the chant, whose meaning is kept within the team."

About the ha'a, Galdeira said:
"Every culture has its own way of preparing itself for battle. And we kept the words among ourselves because in every family circle of trust there are words only meant for each other. Mainly they show that while we are whole warriors, we also have deep love for one another." (NOLA)

About changing from the haka to the ha'a, Watson said:
"The haka and ha'a really represent two different cultures. We wanted to do something that was really more of our own." (NOLA)

About the ha'a, Vili said:
"They are acting out the ritual of warriors preparing to die and asking for the spirit needed to go into battle. In football terms, it shows that the Polynesian football player is never scared and never intimidated. It also shows the loyalty the Polynesian people have for each other. We give from the heart because that is our culture." (NOLA)

About how wonderful this moment is for the Warriors, Vili said:
"What a wonderful time this is. Our Warriors have a great opportunity to represent our island state. I don't know what the score will be, but I can tell you they will play with all of their hearts." (NOLA)

About being in the Sugar Bowl, Colt said:
“Nothing has sunk in yet." (NYT)

NYT Note: "It was hard to find a more chaotic scene than the Hawaii football team’s frolicking in a vast game room, only a few blocks from Bourbon Street. Players competed in Nintendo Wii games on the five big-screen plasma televisions adorning the walls. A pair of 300-pound linemen howled over a game of air hockey — all the spoils of Hawaii’s berth in the Sugar Bowl."

Feeling that Colt has helped his NFL draft status, JJ said:
“I think this year he’s done the things that the N.F.L. guys wanted to see. He’s competing and winning games, coming from behind. When bad things happened to him this year, he raised his game another level when he got the ball back. I don’t think he’s hurt himself at all. I think he’s helped himself.” (NYT)

About how Colt loves to spend time with his teammates, Solomon Elimimian said:
“I feel like the most joy on his face was just being with the guys. The greatest joy he had was being with us as a team." (NYT)

About how being on probation helped prepare him for the NFL, Colt said:
“I look back now, and I can’t imagine a better training ground for the N.F.L. than being on probation during college. I mean, I think the things that I had to handle will be a lot of the responsibilities that a quarterback has to handle when he’s in the N.F.L, being responsible and being a role model.” (NYT)

About the special relationship with the Warriors and the people of Hawaii, Terry Brennan said:
“The relationship with the state and the fans over there has been special. It’s funny. If he’d gone to U.S.C. or U.C.L.A., who knows? They probably wouldn’t know who he was walking down the street.” (NYT)

After going over Colt's negatives (too light, sidearm motion, inflated numbers due to the offense), draft analyst Gil Brandt said why he likes Colt:
“All he’s done is won football games." (NYT)

Confused by Colt's detractors, Dick Tomey said:
“He’s as good of a quarterback as I’ve seen. He gets rid of the ball so fast and is the most accurate passer that I’ve ever seen. I just can’t imagine that anyone doesn’t believe he can play at the next level.” (NYT)

About why money isn't important to him, Colt said:
“Money is not my drive at all. And living out in Hawaii, I realized that I can be happy without money. Basically, I just want to go play football.” (NYT)

NYT Note: "Brennan said he was more concerned about landing in the right situation than about being a top pick. Although he wants a team to believe in him and invest in him, Brennan said, money isn’t his motivating factor.

Brennan said that his half-sister’s grandfather, Boyd L. Jefferies, had started a large brokerage firm in Los Angeles, Jefferies & Company Inc., that left his family financially secure. Both his parents are successful in business as well."

Quotes from the Star-Bulletin on 12/30

Impressed with how Colt handles all of the attention and demands placed upon him, Dan Morrison said:
"He's an amazing guy. All the success we've had this season, starts with that man down there. We wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for him." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Even after the 45-minute session was done, a few local print media and broadcasters followed him out to the curb in front of the Marriott as he tried to make his getaway in a media van. Several players were already safely inside as Brennan tried to open the locked door. He started jumping up and down, yelling, "Let me in! Let me in!" But his fellow teammates wouldn't help him as he sprinted to the empty van in front of them. It did little good as one local print reporter ran after him like a defensive end in search of a sack."


About how he has made the best of his second chance, Colt said:
"I'm a convicted felon. But life's about second chances and making the best of them," the Heisman Trophy finalist said. "That's what this team is. It's real. Just like my story, this football team is real. We've come back from 21 down. I think the nation is going to love to watch and experience this football team." (HSB)

About how they are the underdogs and they are a reflection on how UH has to recruit, Colt said:
"We're the underdog, we're that Cinderella story. The way Hawaii recruits is it looks to those kind of kids. Adam Leonard (knee injury in high school), Davone Bess, Ryan Grice-Mullins. Imagine trying to get a scholarship when you're 1-22 in high school. And he did, and look at the career he's had." (HSB)

About how their offense is designed to beat any defense, Colt said:
"We kill zone or man -- it doesn't really matter what anyone tries to do. If you sit back in zone, we just throw it underneath and try to make them miss. If they go man, we've got the kind of vertical game that will make a defense pay for it with big plays all over the field." (HSB)

About people who wonder why they are in a BCS game, Bess said:
"A lot of people are asking, 'Why are we even here?' We can play at this level." (HSB)

About how their players have to be able to think quickly, RGM said:
"You can't be a dummy in our offense. The most important thing is that all or our routes are reads." (HSB)

About how most college football fans don't know much about them, Colt said:
"I don't think anyone has sat down and really watched us." (HSB)

About how the difference between the SEC and WAC doesn't matter when the game begins, Bess said:
"This is the first year Hawaii's on the map (in college football). None of that matters -- when the lights come on, that's when you find out." (HSB)

About how he loves to play in big games, Jason Rivers said:
"These are the kind of games I live for. We are aware of the magnitude of the game, but we have so much fun. There's so much love coming from the state, we don't feel any pressure." (HSB)

Asked what he hopes that his legacy will be at UH, Colt said:
"I want to be remembered for being that really awesome Hawaii quarterback, that it wasn't the numbers, it was how he played the game. I want to be remembered as someone real who told it like it was." (HSB)

About the 7am practice time yesterday, John Estes said:
"We're still on Hawaii time, and some of us are still used to sleeping at 12 or 1 (a.m.) A lot of us went to sleep at 3. (Coach June Jones) does everything for a reason." (HSB)

Asked if anyone missed their first night of 11pm curfew, Jeff Reinbold said:
"I'm Sgt. Schultz from 'Hogan's Heroes.' I know nothing." (HSB)

HSB Note: "UH spokesman Gregg Takayama officially reported what Jones told the Star-Bulletin a couple of weeks ago: The Warriors have no academically ineligible players for Tuesday's game.
All of the 100-plus players earned at least a C average while taking at least 6 credits in the fall semester. A total of 66 players (55 percent of team members) earned a 2.8 grade-point average, while 50 (42 percent) were at 3.0 or above. Takayama said moving study halls from lower campus to Sinclair Library was a positive move."

About UH's offense, Georgia defensive coordinator Martinez said:
"We know they're going to get their yards. But what we don't want to do is allow a 10-yard pass play to become 40 or 50 yards because we didn't make a tackle in space. You have to pressure the quarterback or he's going to pick you apart." (HSB)

About how UH's offense has seen all of the variations of pass defenses, Dan Morrison said:
"The one thing about this offense, because we throw so much, they've seen virtually every zone dog blitz coverage disguise known to mankind. There's a certain knowledge base that they have that it doesn't take them long to sort of sort it out and start to make some adjustments. And June really helps them with that from the sidelines, too." (HSB)

About how he loves UH's offense, Colt said:
"I love this offense. Because the only way it can be stopped is if we don't execute it. And that's the truth, man. We've seen everything there is to see." (HSB)

About UH's offense, Martinez said:
"To be successful in any offense, you need to have players, and Hawaii has great players at every position. They have a great quarterback in Colt Brennan, some smooth receivers and what we think has not been talked about enough is their talented offensive line. They understand their scheme very well, which makes it tough to get to the quarterback. They get rid of the ball quickly, presenting us with a major challenge." (HSB)

Looking forward to pass rushing all game vs. UH, Marcus Howard said:
"We know Hawaii is going to come out and throw the ball nearly 50 times. I mean, they pass 90 percent of the time. This is the type of game that the defensive line dreams of, you know, getting a great pass rush and trying to disrupt the quarterback." (HSB)

About UH's offense, CB Asher Allen said:
"Basically Hawaii has been efficient as they have been for the past three years. This is nothing really new. The run-and-shoot offense, when run correctly, is really dangerous. We just have to try our best to make sure that when they do catch the ball, they pick up a minimal gain. We need to get deflections and stuff like that to disrupt their offensive flow." (HSB)

About how they have to minimize the YAC UH gets, Martinez said:
"We have been telling our kids that it is important when they make a 10-yard gain that it stays a 10-yard gain. We have to minimize the yards that are made after the catch, because they will get their yards. It is a rhythm offense and we need to do what we can to disrupt their flow. We have to do a good job on third down and put them in a lot of long-yardage situations. They are so efficient on first and second down that they do not allow themselves to be put into third-and-long situations. We have played what we think is a very good schedule and have been challenged with the spread offense. We need to set the tempo and give our offense some good field position." (HSB)

Saturday, December 29, 2007

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)

Quotes from the Star-Bulletin on 12/29

About how JJ had practice start at around 7:30am, the day after their first 11pm bed check, Blaze said:
“I think he was just making sure everyone was in their room for curfew." (HSB)

Asked if this was back to normal since they practice in the morning at home, Blaze said:
“Back home it’s 3 a.m. I don’t think this is normal.” (HSB)

About how they work against Colt in practice, GM said:
"I've had the opportunity to defend a lot of great quarterbacks, whatever. The great ones. John Elway. Warren Moon. Dan Marino. But he's the most accurate, or right in there with those guys, and he's got a good arm. It has really helped us get better as a defense. We're 19th in pass efficiency because in practice he forces us to be on people. Colt Brennan's a big-time player and I think he's underestimated, really." (HSB)

About how Colt will be successful in the NFL, former NFL defensive coordinator GM said:
"I see him going very high because he can do what the good ones do. He's got it, whatever it is. He's got accuracy and that's so important. Plus he's mobile in the pocket. He hasn't been as mobile this year because he's been hurt with that ankle." (HSB)

About how Colt has been able to handle the extreme spotlight on him and all of the demands on his time, GM said:
"He's a rock star in Hawaii. I think he's handled himself unbelievably. He has a lot of pressure on him. He has a lot of decisions he's going to have to make. He's a loose kind of guy and he's getting a lot of great advice from (UH head coach) June (Jones). He cares about people. He really cares about the people in Hawaii. He is into this team. That's why he came back. He wanted all this to happen and it has happened. And that's pretty special. To be honest, this is really a special group of guys." (HSB)

About how NY Times reporter Pete Thamel interviewed him, graduate assistant Brian Kajiyama said:
"Colt recommended me to him, so that demonstrated that players see me as more than just someone who hangs around." (HSB)

About interviewing Brian K, Thamel said:
"He's a good interview. He's funny and bright." (HSB)

About how GM doesn't blitz the safeties or commit them to run support as much as Glanville did, Jake Patek said:
"Last year every snap was pretty much cover 3. But Coach Mack likes to have all four secondary players back together." (HSB)

About how GM told him that he wasn't going to be left on 1-on-1 D all the time, Myron Newberry said:
"Coach McMackin preached playing as a team, and that's what we did, all season. When he came in, he said I did a good job last year, but he was going to get me some help, I wasn't going to be on an island all the time." (HSB)

About how the CBs can be more aggressive when they have safety help nearby, Desmond Thomas said:
"If they know help is up top, I wouldn't say they take more chances, but they can be more aggressive. If we play according to the rules (of the scheme) and the playbook, we're in sync and we can make plays." (HSB)

About how they CBs may be short but they have played really well this year, Patek said:
"Our corners aren't that big, but they play big. They're not going to let a height disadvantage bring their play down. They're playing with a chip on their shoulder but they're not going to let it get to them." (HSB)

About how they often left the CBs 1-on-1 during their final 4 games of the season, Desmond Thomas said:
"We know we can play nine in the box sometimes and they can hold their own." (HSB)

About how Georgia QB Matthew Stafford will hurt their D if he gets a lot of 1-on-1 chances with WRs on DBs, GM said:
"If you try to load up on the run he can certainly hurt you with the pass." (HSB)

Patek said that it is all about:
"doing what we need to win each game." (HSB)

Asked if he's looking forward to playing indoors, Colt said:
"I love it. I don't know what it is. The ball has a way of cutting through the air that you can't get when you play outside. I know our guys can't wait to run on that fast track. We're going to have an outstanding time throwing the football around in there. We're going to have some fun." (HSB)

Asked if Georgia has an advantage of practicing at the Superdome while they practice at the Saints' facility, JJ said:
"No. We'll get in there on Monday during our walk-through. That's all we'll need." (HSB)

Praising UH's defense, Georgia offensive coordinator Bobo said:
"Colt Brennan and the receivers are 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. Hawaii is 12-0 for a reason. In several games this year they have had to come back and win, and while the offense scored, the defense made the stops needed. They will play with a tremendous amount of pride, just like we will and we look forward to the challenge. However, it's like any other game you play, it's going to come down to how we execute offensively. We need to take care of the ball while also taking advantage of our opportunities when we have a chance to make some plays." (HSB)

Asked if the long layoff will hurt their offense, which had been on a roll, Bobo said:
"The key for us is execution when it comes to offensive continuity. Time off definitely concerns you. But Coach (Mark) Richt has done a good job of planning our practices. We were able to get a number of practices in at our campus in Athens. We've had three very competitive practices so far here in New Orleans. You want to practice against speed and you want to practice good-on-good and we've done that a lot here at Georgia. I just don't think rust sets in because we are competing on a daily basis. Anytime we step on the field we are ready to compete and have some fun." (HSB)

Looking forward to playing again, Moreno said:
"I can't wait to get back on the field. We know Hawaii is going to play hard and physical football. We have to do the same. Our goal is to move the football on the ground consistently. And be balanced by throwing the football when we need to. We've had a great season, but we want to close out with a win this year to set us up for next season." (HSB)

About how the key for their offense is to stay out of third-and-long, Georgia QB Stafford said:
"They do some strange things on third down. The only team that blitzes as much as them is Georgia Tech, and they come after you on every down. I think if we can stay out of those third-down situations by moving the ball on the first two downs, we should be all right. They have a great offense, but their defense is good, too." (HSB)

About how their offense has to stay aggressive because UH can score quickly, Stafford said:
"We can't get complacent and just try to do one phase of the offense. One of the reasons we were so successful this year was our offensive balance. If the long ball is there, we have to take it. They force a lot of turnovers, so we have to take care of the football as well." (HSB)

Quotes from the Associated Press

Praising his WRs, the "Dreadheads", Colt said:
"Hands down, they're the best receiving corps in the nation. That's biased, I know. But they are." (AP)

AP Note: "Jason Rivers, Ryan Grice-Mullins, Davone Bess and C.J. Hawthorne, who all have dreadlocks that flow from the bottom of their helmets, make up the Dreadheads and have combined for 340 receptions for 4,273 yards and 43 touchdowns."

About their WR group, Bess said:
"We each have a different dimension. Together, it pretty much completes the whole package of being a receiver." (AP)

Crediting his WRs for his big numbers, Colt said:
"I think that's why my numbers have been as good as they are, is because the receivers around me. Their best attribute is their ability to play together." (AP)

Praising UH's WRs, Georgia DE Marcus Howard said:
"They're the best set of wide receivers since I've been in college football." (AP)

About how they don't fight over who gets the ball, RGM said:
"There's definitely no selfish souls on this team. We're just happy to be out there." (AP)

AP Note: "Rivers, who was married two weeks ago, said since the team passes 60 times a game, the receivers all know they'll have their fare share. At 6-foot-2, Rivers is considered the most prototypical NFL receiver of the group, but rarely garners the attention his counterparts do. However, coach June Jones tends to go to Rivers in big games. In Hawai'i's regular season finale against Washington on Dec. 1, Rivers caught 14 passes for 167 yards and four touchdowns. In last year's Hawai'i Bowl against Arizona State, Rivers had 14 catches for a bowl-record 308 yards and two TDs."

Rivers said that playing in their pass-heavy offense has been a:
"receiver's dream." (AP)

About how they have the option to change routes at the line, depending on how the defender plays them, Bess said:
"I think our offense is kind of like organized street ball. It's fun. At any given moment, you could be getting the ball." (AP)

About how they feel that no defense can stop *all* of them, Hawthorne said:
"Any threat you can think of, we pretty much have that threat." (AP)

About how he hasn't faced a group of WRs like UH's all season, CB Asher Allen said:
"They're explosive and this is the best tandem we've seen all year." (AP)

About how they plan to be physical and make the WRs pay on each play, Allen said:
"They just can't catch the ball and run out of bounds or fall down without any kind of punishment. You have to get your hands on them. If they're able to run free, it's going to be a long day." (AP)

About the dreadlocks on their WRs, RGM said:
"I don't think anyone is cutting them any time soon. We have fun with it and our fans back home love them." (AP)

Friday, December 28, 2007

Quotes from Georgia

About not having a curfew for the first few nights, JJ said:
"This is a great group of kids. I know we are not going to do anything we're going to be ashamed of. It's OK with me to let them experience something that they may never have a chance to again." (CLE)

"This is a great group of kids and I am not worried we are going to do anything we would be ashamed of. It's OK with me to let them experience something they may never get to experience again." (rivals.com)

About the Super Bowl atmosphere that is around them, JJ said:
"I tried to share with the team that this is the big time and the city of New Orleans is a great place to visit. A Super Bowl atmosphere surrounds us." (rivals.com)

About how they need to get used to the atmosphere, Colt said:
"We just got to get over the fact that we're on this big stage I think, once we're over that, we'll be fine." (rivals.com)

About how Georgia would be "stupid" if they don't give the ball a lot to Moreno, JJ said:
"They've got a Barry Sanders, maybe a tougher Barry Sanders, running the ball. He's one of the best I've seen, and he's 18 years old. That's amazing." (CLE)

About why he wanted to practice at the Saints' practice facility, JJ said:
"I think it will help them when their draft day comes. There is also something about being able to practice good when people are watching you, the pressure of doing that." (CLE)

About the Saints' practice facility, Colt said:
"This is cool. This is obviously the next level, a place where a lot of us are trying to get. To be here, to see it, is really neat." (rivals.com)

As he watched UH's practice with the head coach of the Saints, Saints executive VP and GM Mickey Loomis said with a straight face:
"We're not really here scouting. We're just allowing them to use the facilities." (rivals.com)

About what he expects from Georgia's D, Colt said:
"I think with the athletes they have, the speed they have, their philosophy is going to be to blitz, bring the pressure, man-up and knock us off our timing and just rattle us. It's a good game plan, but we'll be prepared for it." (rivals.com)

About being an underdog for the first time this season, Colt said:
"We understand what's going to be waiting for us in that dome. But we're excited to be here and we want to live up to that opportunity." (rivals.com)

About his feelings as he watched the UH-Washington game, Georgia TE Tripp Chandler said:
"When they went down by 21, I was like, 'Man, I guess they weren't as good as everyone said they were.' But then the fashion that they came back showed something that they hadn't been talking about and that was the poise that their team showed and just how they stuck together. That just really shows our team that even if we get up on them in the beginning, that doesn't mean anything. They can come back on us just as quick, especially with that high-powered offense that they have." (CLE)

About how they learned from their unsuccessful comebacks last year, JJ said:
"The difference this year is that we learned from last year how to win. We had the ball in our hands four times this year, had to have a drive to win the game, and Colt did it every time and Tyler did it another time. That's really special. That's the difference of being a good team and a great team." (CLE)

About how they cannot get comfortable even if they have a lead on UH, Georgia center Fernando Velasco said:
"For us, that poses a challenge that we can never let up on them. If we get ahead, we can never let up. We've got to keep fighting, because they for sure are gonna keep fighting as well." (CLE)

About how their players believe, which makes them hard to beat, JJ said:
"We've done it -- we've scored 28 points in two and a half minutes, we've come from behind, we've done what we had to do. Once you do that, the players believe they can do it. And once you have that belief, anything's possible." (CLE)