Recruiting quotes

About how Mack and Cal Lee are visiting Kahuku today, Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said:
"Coach Mack really wants to get to know the (high school) coaches." (HA)

HA Note: "Former UH head coach June Jones had not visited Kahuku in his nine seasons, while coaches from Mainland schools made routine stops, Torres said. Sometimes, coaches weren't even there to recruit, but just to let Kahuku know their schools were always interested if it had a prospect."

About how Mack attended a meeting of OIA principals and ADs and was well-received, OIA executive director Dwight Toyama said:
"He said he plans on going to each school. Before he even talks to the coaches, he wants to get to know the principals and ADs. I think that adds some value." (HA)

HA Note: "Meanwhile, Kahuku All-State linebacker Paipai Falemalu and defensive end Alema Tachibana will make official recruiting visits to the UH campus this weekend, Torres said. This is the final weekend recruits can make official campus visits. The first day high school recruits can sign binding national letters of intent is Feb. 6."

About how the 6'3", 220-pound Paipai has narrowed his choices to Cal, Washington, and Oregon State, Torres said that Falemalu is a good student and:
"is always thinking about his future. He's a coach's dream. He's a good student and a great athlete." (HA)

Tachibana, who 6 feet 3 and 200 pounds, can play linebacker or defensive end, Torres said.
About the 6'3", 200-pound Alema Tachibana can play LB or DE, Torres said:
"Alema is better at the down position. He likes to be in a three-point stance and charge." (HA)

About his choice of college, Leilehua OLB Art Laurel said:
"I'm going to be a Warrior." (HA)

"I have family down here, and I want to be a Warrior. I want to play in front of my friends and family." (HA)

HA Note: "Laurel received interest from Washington, Idaho and Idaho State."

HA Note: "Laurel's older brother, Clayton Laurel, is a UH lineman."

The 6'1", 205-pound Laurel said that he would like:
"to reach at least 235." (HA)

About how it has been hard to gain weight while competing on his basketball team, Laurel said:
"I'm running all of the time. I'm trying to gain weight, but I keep losing it."

HA Note: "Still, pound for pound, Laurel is a physical, tough-hitting linebacker. He was named to The Advertiser 2007 All-State first team. Laurel was a key contributor for the Mules, who upset Saint Louis School, 20-16, in the state championship game."

About their state championship win, Laurel said:
"It was incredible. I had that good feeling. It was unbelievable that we actually won. A lot of people doubted us. They thought Saint Louis would win. But we pulled it off. It felt good. It was a long time since Leilehua won a state championship game." (HA)

About his love for football, Laurel said:
"Since I was in first grade. I always wanted to play football." (HA)

About the name of one of his youth teams, Laurel said:
"We were the Warriors. That was a really good team." (HA)

About how his family has also lived in California, Ohio, and North Carolina, Laurel said his family:
"likes traveling, and doing different things." (HA)

HA Note; "When he was 14, his family moved back to Hawai'i. Laurel, who is Samoan and Filipino, said most of his father's family lives in Hawai'i. His mother's family is from the Mainland."

About having his brother Clayton serving as his host on his recruiting trip, Art Laurel said:
"It was fun. We ate a lot. All of the coaches were good to us. They gave us a tour of the school. It was fun meeting people from out of state, and from other schools on the Islands." (HA)

About the Super Games, Mack said:
"It's a good way to build team chemistry." (HA)

About earning points in the Super Games, Mack said:
"There will be minuses for missing classes and study halls, plusses for good grades and progress in training." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Offseason organized weight training begins Monday, with three sessions a week, under the supervision of strength and conditioning coach Mel deLaura. The fun day is next Wednesday, when the Super Games commence. The teams will compete in a variety of events including basketball, water polo, relays, arm wrestling and shuttle relays."

About the Super Games, Mack said:
"We did this at Texas Tech. Its a fun way to condition and for the players to learn to be part of a team. The guys will enjoy it. I feel like our conditioning is in great hands. (DeLaura) and Tommy (Heffernan) and their staff have added to our fourth-quarter play." (HSB)

HA Note: "To spice up the offseason, head coach Greg McMackin is implementing a Super Games competition. This Friday, there will be a draft to form 10 teams from the UH football players who are on the spring roster. The players will go through conditioning drills and weight-training workouts Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Teams can amass points when members show improvement in the drills and workouts. Points will be awarded — and deducted — for academic performances. Miss a class? Lose 50 points. Each Wednesday, there will be Super Games, in which teams will compete in such activities as arm wrestling, no-rules basketball and water polo. Points will be added from the conditioning program, academic performances and results of Super Games. Right before the start of spring practice, the two teams with the most points will meet in the Super Games championship."

About how QB Trudnowski is waiting to know if he will be able to join the Warriors, Jeremy Bryant said:
"Hes actually supposed to know pretty soon. Hes good. Were both a little under the radar. Andrew because hes a true freshman who came out of nowhere. Me, because I tore my ACL." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Its been nearly 40 years since George Lumpkin went to school and played football at Los Angeles Harbor College. But the Hawaii assistant coachs ties to his alma mater appear to remain strong. Lumpkin still has enough pull to recruit there. The Warriors got a commitment from cornerback Jeramy Bryant over the weekend. And Bryant hopes to be joined by a teammate, quarterback Andrew Trudnowski."

About how they want to recruit a QB, Mack said they:
"want to get a quarterback." (HSB)

HSB Note: "He expects 12 to 15 visitors this weekend, and will have about three to five scholarships remaining to offer. Lumpkin and quarterbacks coach Nick Rolovich were in California yesterday recruiting, reportedly making home visits."

Not planning to fill their final opening right away, Mack said:
"After recruiting, and before spring ball. We will hire one more guy, but Im not in a hurry. It will be an offensive position coach. We can make sure the guy will be a perfect fit." (HSB)

About how DT coach Ikaika Malloe will be their special teams coordinator, Mack said:
"He and I will get together on the philosophy. He has a good philosophy, but we still need to sit down and talk." (HSB)

About being more aggressive in trying to block kicks, Mack said:
"Everything we do is attacking, offensively and defensively. So why not on special teams?" (HSB)

HSB Note: "McMackin will officially announce coordinators and job titles of holdover coaches. Cal Lee, Ron Lee, George Lumpkin and Rich Miano are the holdovers. Cal Lee is expected to be named defensive coordinator, Ron Lee offensive coordinator, George Lumpkin linebackers coach and Rich Miano secondary coach. Lumpkin and Miano will also likely receive assistant or associate head coach titles."

Abou how his mother is from Guam and that will help him adapt to the island lifestyle in Hawaii, Bryant said:
"I think my mom had a lot to do with (committing to UH). She said, Thats your roots. I loved it as soon as I got off the plane." (HSB)

HSB Note: "The 5-foot-9, 177-pound Bryant was joined by two other California JC commitments on Sunday: receiver Mike Tinoco (6-2, 195, Saddleback) and cornerback Chris Black (5-11, 170, College of the Canyons). The incoming recruit class now has six potential cornerbacks. Two-year starters Myron Newberry and Gerard Lewis completed their eligibility with the Sugar Bowl. McMackin said everyone will get a look, but seniors Ryan Mouton and Guyton Galdeira and junior J.P. Davis are the returnees with the most experience."