About why ESPN wanted the Fresno State-BSU game to be set up for a Nov. 28 title game, WAC associate commissioner Jeff Hurd said:
"Every year ESPN looks over the games seeking the best possible and potentially most interesting matchups in the conferences it has contracts with. Sometimes they work out. Sometimes they don't. It is a long season and a lot of things can happen before the end of November." (HA)
HA Note: "The defending Western Athletic Conference champion University of Hawai'i football team has been cast in a spoiler role for 2008. The release of the WAC schedule yesterday sets the stage for what ESPN and the conference apparently hope will be a Nov. 28 championship showdown between Boise State and Fresno State on the blue carpet in Boise. Just as in 2007 when the final conference weekend was an artful pairing of UH and Boise State, the network hopes to have the conference race build to a title finish this year. UH's 39-27 victory over Boise State for the WAC title was seen in 2.65 million households, making it the biggest audience of any ESPN2 game and the largest of 14 Friday night games on the various ESPN properties. That came despite a 9 p.m. (Eastern) and 6 p.m. (Pacific) kickoff."
HA Note: "Last season's planning delivered what was termed the "biggest (football) game in WAC history," a showdown of then-unbeaten 10-0 UH and once-beaten Boise State with the WAC title and a Bowl Championship Series berth on the line. Preseason predictions have Boise State and Fresno State expected to battle for the WAC crown in 2008. Both return sizeable parts of their lineups and both host UH."
Aug. 30 — At Florida
Sept. 6 — Weber State
Sept. 13 — At Oregon State
Sept. 20 — Open
Sept. 27 — San Jose State
Oct. 4 — At Fresno State
Oct. 11 — Louisiana Tech
Oct. 17 — At Boise State (ESPN)
Oct. 25 — Nevada
Nov. 1 — At Utah State
Nov. 8 — At New Mexico State
Nov. 15 — Open
Nov. 22 — Idaho
Nov. 29 — Washington State
Dec. 6 — Cincinnati
Friday, February 29, 2008
Alex Gerke officially joins the Warrior staff
Harley-Davidson enthusiast Alex Gerke talked about how happy he is to join the UH coaching staff:
"I tell you what, you can't beat this place. It's so surreal just to be here. I've always felt this was the Shangri-La of coaching. This is a great place to be a coach. The people here are all outstanding; very friendly, very humble. The community is excellent. The program has great players, and a great tradition. Why am I fortunate to be here? All of the above." (HA)
HA Note: "Last season, Gerke was Weber State's assistant head coach in charge of the offensive line. Among his coaching stops were the University of Utah and Saskatchewan of the Canadian Football League. While he is a skilled offensive line instructor, Gerke has had experience coaching running backs."
About coaching RBs, Gerke said:
"It really comes down to teaching fundamentals, having a good relationship with the players. had running backs in my meetings plenty of times." (HA)
HA Note: "In addition to working with offensive line coach Brian Smith, Gerke will assist offensive coordinator Ron Lee in identifying defensive coverages during games."
Looking forward to filling his role for UH, Gerke said:
"I look forward to it. I want to help make sure we give coach (Greg McMackin) and this football team every possible chance to be successful." (HA)
HA Note: "Gerke drove from Utah to his hometown of Huntington Beach, Calif. Then he caught a flight to Honolulu, arriving yesterday. He already signed most of his employment papers."
About his passion other than football, Gerke said:
"I like to ride my motorcycle, bro." (HA)
About how he owns one Harley-Davidson, Gerke said:
"You only need one." (HA)
About how he often hit the open road on this Harley, riding through Montana, New Mexico, and Arizona, Gerke (who bought his first motorcycle in 1990) said:
"I look forward to meeting the folks in (Hawai'i's) Harley-Davidson community. I know (defensive coordinator) Cal Lee rides, and Mel (deLaura, the conditioning coach) rides. Now we have to make sure Rich (Miano, the associate head coach) trades in his little Honda Shadow and gets a real one." (HA)
About how UH faces his former team (Weber State) on Sept. 6, Alex Gerke said:
"I'm looking forward to that game. It's a good squad and Ron (coach McBride) will have the boys ready. I'm really looking forward to working for an outstanding head coach in Greg McMackin, being part of the University of Hawaii football family and I'm excited to keep what's been built here moving. I've always felt that this was the Shangri-La of coaching. Being here is just surreal." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Alex Gerke officially joined the Warrior staff yesterday, hired as running backs/offensive line coach. Gerke spent the past two seasons as offensive line coach at Weber State, Hawaii's first home opponent Sept. 6."
HSB Note: "An offensive lineman, who played at Utah under McBride, Gerke's coaching resume includes stints with the Utes and Cal Poly. Known for wearing shorts and tank tops on the practice field, Gerke said he couldn't wait to hit the beach this weekend; he left Ogden, Utah, earlier this week, getting out ahead of a huge snowstorm. Gerke has spent many summers in Hawaii, helping at coaching clinics on Oahu and Maui."
About how Gerke loves Hawaii, Mack said:
"He loves coming to Hawaii, and we're happy we can make it a little more permanent. He's exactly what I'm looking for in a coach. Besides his experience, he really cares about players. He's going to really complement our staff and be a great addition." (HSB)
"I tell you what, you can't beat this place. It's so surreal just to be here. I've always felt this was the Shangri-La of coaching. This is a great place to be a coach. The people here are all outstanding; very friendly, very humble. The community is excellent. The program has great players, and a great tradition. Why am I fortunate to be here? All of the above." (HA)
HA Note: "Last season, Gerke was Weber State's assistant head coach in charge of the offensive line. Among his coaching stops were the University of Utah and Saskatchewan of the Canadian Football League. While he is a skilled offensive line instructor, Gerke has had experience coaching running backs."
About coaching RBs, Gerke said:
"It really comes down to teaching fundamentals, having a good relationship with the players. had running backs in my meetings plenty of times." (HA)
HA Note: "In addition to working with offensive line coach Brian Smith, Gerke will assist offensive coordinator Ron Lee in identifying defensive coverages during games."
Looking forward to filling his role for UH, Gerke said:
"I look forward to it. I want to help make sure we give coach (Greg McMackin) and this football team every possible chance to be successful." (HA)
HA Note: "Gerke drove from Utah to his hometown of Huntington Beach, Calif. Then he caught a flight to Honolulu, arriving yesterday. He already signed most of his employment papers."
About his passion other than football, Gerke said:
"I like to ride my motorcycle, bro." (HA)
About how he owns one Harley-Davidson, Gerke said:
"You only need one." (HA)
About how he often hit the open road on this Harley, riding through Montana, New Mexico, and Arizona, Gerke (who bought his first motorcycle in 1990) said:
"I look forward to meeting the folks in (Hawai'i's) Harley-Davidson community. I know (defensive coordinator) Cal Lee rides, and Mel (deLaura, the conditioning coach) rides. Now we have to make sure Rich (Miano, the associate head coach) trades in his little Honda Shadow and gets a real one." (HA)
About how UH faces his former team (Weber State) on Sept. 6, Alex Gerke said:
"I'm looking forward to that game. It's a good squad and Ron (coach McBride) will have the boys ready. I'm really looking forward to working for an outstanding head coach in Greg McMackin, being part of the University of Hawaii football family and I'm excited to keep what's been built here moving. I've always felt that this was the Shangri-La of coaching. Being here is just surreal." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Alex Gerke officially joined the Warrior staff yesterday, hired as running backs/offensive line coach. Gerke spent the past two seasons as offensive line coach at Weber State, Hawaii's first home opponent Sept. 6."
HSB Note: "An offensive lineman, who played at Utah under McBride, Gerke's coaching resume includes stints with the Utes and Cal Poly. Known for wearing shorts and tank tops on the practice field, Gerke said he couldn't wait to hit the beach this weekend; he left Ogden, Utah, earlier this week, getting out ahead of a huge snowstorm. Gerke has spent many summers in Hawaii, helping at coaching clinics on Oahu and Maui."
About how Gerke loves Hawaii, Mack said:
"He loves coming to Hawaii, and we're happy we can make it a little more permanent. He's exactly what I'm looking for in a coach. Besides his experience, he really cares about players. He's going to really complement our staff and be a great addition." (HSB)
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Daniel Smith sues UH and Reinbold
AP Note: "A high school football player is suing the University of Hawai'i for allegedly revoking his scholarship offer after coach June Jones' resignation. Daniel Smith, 17, of Boise, Idaho, also names UH's former defensive line coach, Jeff Reinebold, in the suit. He says Reinebold told him not to speak to any other school when he offered the full scholarship last April, an offer that Smith says was reaffirmed over the next several months. Smith, a defensive back, said he gave up a scholarship from Portland State and declined offers to visit other schools before Reinebold told him in January that all scholarship commitments prior to Jones' resignation had been revoked."
About hearing that his scholarship offer had been revoked, Smith said:
"I was devastated. I committed to Hawai'i more than 10 months ago, and I stuck with that commitment." (AP)
AP Note: "Smith said after receiving the news from Reinebold in January, he sought scholarships at roughly 40 schools, but none was available. Reinebold left UH for Southern Methodist University in February after helping the Warriors go 12-0 in the regular season. At SMU, he will work alongside Jones, the school's new head coach, as wide receivers coach."
AP Note: "The lawsuit "is being handled by the necessary parties," making it inappropriate to comment, said John McNamara, associate athletics director at UH. According to Smith's lawsuit, the university has denied that Smith received a scholarship commitment. Hawai'i assistant coach Ron Lee, who is taking over as offensive coordinator, told Smith's mother, Wanda, that Reinebold did not have the authority to make scholarship commitments, according to the suit."
About how Lee has offered him the chance to try out for the team but he wants a scholarship, Smith said:
"I kept my end of the deal. I want the university to keep its end of the deal." (AP)
About hearing that his scholarship offer had been revoked, Smith said:
"I was devastated. I committed to Hawai'i more than 10 months ago, and I stuck with that commitment." (AP)
AP Note: "Smith said after receiving the news from Reinebold in January, he sought scholarships at roughly 40 schools, but none was available. Reinebold left UH for Southern Methodist University in February after helping the Warriors go 12-0 in the regular season. At SMU, he will work alongside Jones, the school's new head coach, as wide receivers coach."
AP Note: "The lawsuit "is being handled by the necessary parties," making it inappropriate to comment, said John McNamara, associate athletics director at UH. According to Smith's lawsuit, the university has denied that Smith received a scholarship commitment. Hawai'i assistant coach Ron Lee, who is taking over as offensive coordinator, told Smith's mother, Wanda, that Reinebold did not have the authority to make scholarship commitments, according to the suit."
About how Lee has offered him the chance to try out for the team but he wants a scholarship, Smith said:
"I kept my end of the deal. I want the university to keep its end of the deal." (AP)
National TV games will impact PPV
About how the 4 to 7 nationally televised games will impact their PPV contract, John McNamara said:
"We're used to being in this situation. This is an annual situation that we have to live with and find a way to work around it." (HA)
"We're used to being in this situation. This is an annual situation that we have to live with and find a way to work around it." (HA)
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The Warriors success last season brought in big money for UH
About their $930k more in ticket revenue than 2006 despite having 1 less home game in 2007, Clapp said:
"That's just awesome." (HA)
HA Note: "UH took in $930,106 more in ticket revenue in 2007 than it did the previous year despite playing one fewer home game. In 2006, when UH finished 11-3, ticket sales (season and individual) totaled $4.9 million for eight home dates. In 2007, sales reached $5.8 million for seven games."
HA Note: "Football ticket sales annually make up 17 percent to 22 percent of revenue for the UH athletic department, which operates 19 teams on a $26.6 million budget. Single-game ticket sales in 2007 ($2,822,949) soared to nearly double those of just two seasons earlier ($1,426,544) for the same number of dates, while season ticket revenue also was up substantially. Buoyed by back-to-back sellouts against Boise State and Washington to close the regular season, average per-game attendance hit a 23-year high (41,325) in 2007. Not since 1984, when UH averaged 42,915, had football drawn as many."
Happy with how they had a 23-year high for average per-game attendance, Clapp said:
"I'm excited to see that we're going in the right direction and, of course, we have initiatives to continue to promote season ticket opportunities." (HA)
Happy with the attendance last season, Mack said:
"I thought the support was outstanding. The crowds, I thought, were especially good at the end of the year, and it would be great to start out (in 2008) like we ended last season." (HA)
HA Note: "UH sold 22,975 season tickets last year and has set a goal of topping 30,000 for the upcoming season, according to John McNamara, UH associate athletic director. As of yesterday, the athletic department said it had received new deposits from 787 fans requesting more than 2,300 season tickets for 2008."
About the importance of having a lot of people at the games, Mack said:
"Our crowd really inspires and motivates our football team. I really think they were responsible for some of our wins." (HA)
About whether or not they can increase ticket sales even more, Clapp said:
"It would be an overly broad statement to say (the 2007 numbers) are sustainable, but on the other hand, we're gonna keep working each and every year to do the best possible job we can with season tickets." (HA)
"That's just awesome." (HA)
HA Note: "UH took in $930,106 more in ticket revenue in 2007 than it did the previous year despite playing one fewer home game. In 2006, when UH finished 11-3, ticket sales (season and individual) totaled $4.9 million for eight home dates. In 2007, sales reached $5.8 million for seven games."
HA Note: "Football ticket sales annually make up 17 percent to 22 percent of revenue for the UH athletic department, which operates 19 teams on a $26.6 million budget. Single-game ticket sales in 2007 ($2,822,949) soared to nearly double those of just two seasons earlier ($1,426,544) for the same number of dates, while season ticket revenue also was up substantially. Buoyed by back-to-back sellouts against Boise State and Washington to close the regular season, average per-game attendance hit a 23-year high (41,325) in 2007. Not since 1984, when UH averaged 42,915, had football drawn as many."
Happy with how they had a 23-year high for average per-game attendance, Clapp said:
"I'm excited to see that we're going in the right direction and, of course, we have initiatives to continue to promote season ticket opportunities." (HA)
Happy with the attendance last season, Mack said:
"I thought the support was outstanding. The crowds, I thought, were especially good at the end of the year, and it would be great to start out (in 2008) like we ended last season." (HA)
HA Note: "UH sold 22,975 season tickets last year and has set a goal of topping 30,000 for the upcoming season, according to John McNamara, UH associate athletic director. As of yesterday, the athletic department said it had received new deposits from 787 fans requesting more than 2,300 season tickets for 2008."
About the importance of having a lot of people at the games, Mack said:
"Our crowd really inspires and motivates our football team. I really think they were responsible for some of our wins." (HA)
About whether or not they can increase ticket sales even more, Clapp said:
"It would be an overly broad statement to say (the 2007 numbers) are sustainable, but on the other hand, we're gonna keep working each and every year to do the best possible job we can with season tickets." (HA)
AD candidates are starting to be interviewed by UH
HSB Note: "Sources told the Star-Bulletin that Hawaii Bowl executive director Jim Donovan and Hilo Community College chancellor Rockne Freitas were interviewed by the search committee headed by Manoa chancellor Virginia Hinshaw yesterday. Both candidates declined comment. Donovan and Freitas are both former UH associate athletic directors. UH associate athletic director Marilyn Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano said she was scheduled for an interview today. Interim athletic director Carl Clapp is also expected to be interviewed. He also declined comment."
About not wanting to comment on the search, Clapp said:
"I'm not going to comment on the search until its conclusion. I'm going to let the process run its course." (HSB)
About not wanting to comment on the search, Clapp said:
"I'm not going to comment on the search until its conclusion. I'm going to let the process run its course." (HSB)
KKEA and KHNL/KFVE get extra time to negotiate the TV/radio rights
About giving KKEA and KHNL/KFVE extra time to negotiate with UH, Johm McNamara said:
"We're making progress. I think we're just trying to make sure they have the opportunity to put their best and final offers on the table. Once we have that we'll determine if we extend the current agreements or go out to bid and give other interested parties an opportunity." (HSB)
HSB Note: "The window for exclusive negotiation officially ends Friday for the current holders of radio and TV rights for University of Hawaii sports. But UH is willing to keep it open a while longer for KKEA (1420-AM) and KHNL/KFVE (Channels 8 and 5)."
About how they have received a proposal from KKEA but nothing yet from KHNL/KFVE, McNamara said:
"We'll be meeting with (KHNL/KFVE) this week to get an idea where they're at in the process and what their thoughts are." (HSB)
About how he wants to continue to cover UH, KHNL/KFVE GM and VP John Fink said:
"I'm hopeful and optimistic that we'll be able to continue a great relationship." (HSB)
About how they are happy with how things are going under the current contract, Carl Clapp said:
"We very much value both the entities we've been working with." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Internet video streaming won't be part of the current negotiations. ESPN, via the Western Athletic Conference, controls those rights for the next three years, McNamara said. However, Hawaiian Telcom has facilitated Internet video streaming of selected UH sports events because ESPN has declined to do so."
About how Hawaiian Telecom has done their video streaming and will continue to do so, McNamara said:
"They've done it the past three years without an issue. The global piece, the streaming piece, is very important to us. Right now we're still bound by the conference agreement with ESPN on streaming rights." (HSB)
Note: I paid for the Hawaiian Telecom streaming last season and thought that they did an acceptable job. The high bandwidth link didn't work for a few games, but the quality of the low bandwidth stream was at least better than past years.
"We're making progress. I think we're just trying to make sure they have the opportunity to put their best and final offers on the table. Once we have that we'll determine if we extend the current agreements or go out to bid and give other interested parties an opportunity." (HSB)
HSB Note: "The window for exclusive negotiation officially ends Friday for the current holders of radio and TV rights for University of Hawaii sports. But UH is willing to keep it open a while longer for KKEA (1420-AM) and KHNL/KFVE (Channels 8 and 5)."
About how they have received a proposal from KKEA but nothing yet from KHNL/KFVE, McNamara said:
"We'll be meeting with (KHNL/KFVE) this week to get an idea where they're at in the process and what their thoughts are." (HSB)
About how he wants to continue to cover UH, KHNL/KFVE GM and VP John Fink said:
"I'm hopeful and optimistic that we'll be able to continue a great relationship." (HSB)
About how they are happy with how things are going under the current contract, Carl Clapp said:
"We very much value both the entities we've been working with." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Internet video streaming won't be part of the current negotiations. ESPN, via the Western Athletic Conference, controls those rights for the next three years, McNamara said. However, Hawaiian Telcom has facilitated Internet video streaming of selected UH sports events because ESPN has declined to do so."
About how Hawaiian Telecom has done their video streaming and will continue to do so, McNamara said:
"They've done it the past three years without an issue. The global piece, the streaming piece, is very important to us. Right now we're still bound by the conference agreement with ESPN on streaming rights." (HSB)
Note: I paid for the Hawaiian Telecom streaming last season and thought that they did an acceptable job. The high bandwidth link didn't work for a few games, but the quality of the low bandwidth stream was at least better than past years.
Sheraton extends their sponsorship of the Hawaii Bowl
About Sheraton signing a 2-year extension to be the Hawaii Bowl's sponsor (contract goes through 2009), Jim Donovan said:
"We are very excited that Sheraton Hotels and Resorts Hawai'i has agreed to this extension." (HA)
"We are very excited that Sheraton Hotels and Resorts Hawai'i has agreed to this extension." (HA)
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Colt interviewed by the Dallas Morning News
Asked about the possibility that he'll be a backup QB for awhile in the NFL, Colt said:
"I'm just ready for whatever comes my way. At 24, I'm ready to go and play right now. I feel like I'm mentally ready. And the last couple of months have been about getting physically ready. I just know that a lot of kids that are physically ready have trouble getting mentally ready, but I know I'm fine mentally. If I need to sit, though, then that will make me that much better. If that's the case, then that's the case and I'm ready to do it." (DMN)
DMN Note: "There's no questioning his production on the college level, and even though it might help him on the pro level (see: system quarterback), he was quick to credit the offense June Jones ran at Hawaii and will now run down the street from here at SMU."
About how JJ's offense is hard for defenses to stop, Colt said:
"One thing is you don't see that offense a lot. It's hard to gameplan and get ready for his offense, because it's something new, it's something everyone's not used to. I think if he gets the recruits he wants and the support he wants, and it all goes with the recruits, if he gets the right recruits, he'll win right away." (DMN)
About what SMU is getting in JJ, Colt said:
"They're getting a great offense and a coach that prides himself in taking programs that have been dismantled and building them and taking them to a whole new level. I know he's real serious and real adamant about letting those kids know that they can compete and play with the big boys right away. He did a great job at Hawaii, and he'll do similar things at SMU, you could be looking at some great things there (at SMU)." (DMN)
"I'm just ready for whatever comes my way. At 24, I'm ready to go and play right now. I feel like I'm mentally ready. And the last couple of months have been about getting physically ready. I just know that a lot of kids that are physically ready have trouble getting mentally ready, but I know I'm fine mentally. If I need to sit, though, then that will make me that much better. If that's the case, then that's the case and I'm ready to do it." (DMN)
DMN Note: "There's no questioning his production on the college level, and even though it might help him on the pro level (see: system quarterback), he was quick to credit the offense June Jones ran at Hawaii and will now run down the street from here at SMU."
About how JJ's offense is hard for defenses to stop, Colt said:
"One thing is you don't see that offense a lot. It's hard to gameplan and get ready for his offense, because it's something new, it's something everyone's not used to. I think if he gets the recruits he wants and the support he wants, and it all goes with the recruits, if he gets the right recruits, he'll win right away." (DMN)
About what SMU is getting in JJ, Colt said:
"They're getting a great offense and a coach that prides himself in taking programs that have been dismantled and building them and taking them to a whole new level. I know he's real serious and real adamant about letting those kids know that they can compete and play with the big boys right away. He did a great job at Hawaii, and he'll do similar things at SMU, you could be looking at some great things there (at SMU)." (DMN)
KGMB feature on the Under Armour deal
http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/4378/43/
About how the Under Armour uniforms will help them win games, Mack said:
"We feel it's going to help us win games. We feel it's top of the line. And we really feel fortunate to be a part of it." (KGMB)
KGMB Note: "McMackin is sold on Under Armour the new performance apparel that will be signature to his team next season. What was most convincing to him was the technical support the Warriors new uniforms will bring to their game."
About the UA material, Mack said:
"All of their material is something that helps your body temperature. Their shoes are top of the line. I talked to texas tech, it's the lightest shoe in the business. They coordinate everything like the pros." (KGMB)
Mack Note: "Under Armour has reached the NFL, but only a select few when it comes to colleges. Hawaii now joins Auburn, Maryland, South Carolina and Texas Tech as the only schools in the country to be sponsored by the company."
About how they are a good fit with Under Armour, McNamara said:
"I think we mirror their brand. They're an up and comer on the national scene like we are. They feel we wanted to be aggressive with our marketing like they do. And they thought it was a great fit. We're a real unique brand for them." (KGMB)
KGMB Note: "The eight-year deal is worth more than $4.1 million. Besides the products Hawaii receives, the athletics program will bank $1.7 million for it's general fund. Another bonus is the national exposure, that comes with a very popular brand for this generation of athletes."
About how former UH players want to be in the commercials, Mack said:
"Rolo wants to be the quarterback in the 'protect the house' commercial and 'click clack' and all that type of things. We have all kind of former players, you can't use your own players. And we have a lot of players coming out of the woodwork, to get on the commercials." (KGMB)
About how the Under Armour uniforms will help them win games, Mack said:
"We feel it's going to help us win games. We feel it's top of the line. And we really feel fortunate to be a part of it." (KGMB)
KGMB Note: "McMackin is sold on Under Armour the new performance apparel that will be signature to his team next season. What was most convincing to him was the technical support the Warriors new uniforms will bring to their game."
About the UA material, Mack said:
"All of their material is something that helps your body temperature. Their shoes are top of the line. I talked to texas tech, it's the lightest shoe in the business. They coordinate everything like the pros." (KGMB)
Mack Note: "Under Armour has reached the NFL, but only a select few when it comes to colleges. Hawaii now joins Auburn, Maryland, South Carolina and Texas Tech as the only schools in the country to be sponsored by the company."
About how they are a good fit with Under Armour, McNamara said:
"I think we mirror their brand. They're an up and comer on the national scene like we are. They feel we wanted to be aggressive with our marketing like they do. And they thought it was a great fit. We're a real unique brand for them." (KGMB)
KGMB Note: "The eight-year deal is worth more than $4.1 million. Besides the products Hawaii receives, the athletics program will bank $1.7 million for it's general fund. Another bonus is the national exposure, that comes with a very popular brand for this generation of athletes."
About how former UH players want to be in the commercials, Mack said:
"Rolo wants to be the quarterback in the 'protect the house' commercial and 'click clack' and all that type of things. We have all kind of former players, you can't use your own players. And we have a lot of players coming out of the woodwork, to get on the commercials." (KGMB)
Mack's contract details released
About how it would cost him half a year's salary ($550k) to leave UH before his contract expires, Mack said that the termination clause is:
"OK (because) I'm not going to leave for another job." (HA)
HA Note: "The contract, which began Jan. 16, is to run through Jan. 15, 2013, and pays him an annual base salary of $1,100,004."
About how he wanted a contract that bound him and UH for the full term, Mack said:
"I think what is different between the last contract and my contract is that I wanted to make sure I'm committed to being here and they were committed to me. I'm bringing my whole family (to Hawai'i) and I wanted them (UH) to commit to me and I think they have." (HA)
About how the UA deal is a reflection of his commitment, Mack said:
"I mean, that's why it is eight years, because I told them (Under Armour) that's about what I'm thinking — 8 to 10 years." (HA)
HA Note: "Interim athletic director Carl Clapp praised McMackin and associate athletic director John McNamara as the "driving forces" behind getting the eight-year, $4.1 million deal for UH.
McMackin will receive a $50,000 bonus if UH makes a Bowl Championship Series appearance in his reign, $20,000 if the Warriors play in a non-BCS bowl game, $10,000 if UH wins a non-BCS game and $20,000 if UH wins the Western Athletic Conference championship. In addition, he can earn $10,000 for being WAC Coach of the Year and $20,000 if named national coach of the year.
Other provisions would reward him with a $15,000 bonus if season ticket sales reach 32,500 and an additional $15,000 if they hit 40,000. Last year, UH sold 22,975 and the school has set topping 30,000 as the goal for 2008.
In other news, a "non-disparagement" clause in the school's separation agreement with former athletic director Herman Frazier prohibits "current and future administrators, regents and officers" from making "disparaging or negative comments" about him and him about the school."
"OK (because) I'm not going to leave for another job." (HA)
HA Note: "The contract, which began Jan. 16, is to run through Jan. 15, 2013, and pays him an annual base salary of $1,100,004."
About how he wanted a contract that bound him and UH for the full term, Mack said:
"I think what is different between the last contract and my contract is that I wanted to make sure I'm committed to being here and they were committed to me. I'm bringing my whole family (to Hawai'i) and I wanted them (UH) to commit to me and I think they have." (HA)
About how the UA deal is a reflection of his commitment, Mack said:
"I mean, that's why it is eight years, because I told them (Under Armour) that's about what I'm thinking — 8 to 10 years." (HA)
HA Note: "Interim athletic director Carl Clapp praised McMackin and associate athletic director John McNamara as the "driving forces" behind getting the eight-year, $4.1 million deal for UH.
McMackin will receive a $50,000 bonus if UH makes a Bowl Championship Series appearance in his reign, $20,000 if the Warriors play in a non-BCS bowl game, $10,000 if UH wins a non-BCS game and $20,000 if UH wins the Western Athletic Conference championship. In addition, he can earn $10,000 for being WAC Coach of the Year and $20,000 if named national coach of the year.
Other provisions would reward him with a $15,000 bonus if season ticket sales reach 32,500 and an additional $15,000 if they hit 40,000. Last year, UH sold 22,975 and the school has set topping 30,000 as the goal for 2008.
In other news, a "non-disparagement" clause in the school's separation agreement with former athletic director Herman Frazier prohibits "current and future administrators, regents and officers" from making "disparaging or negative comments" about him and him about the school."
UH gets a huge deal with Under Armour
About how UH's deal with Under Armour is comparable to BCS schools, John McNamara said:
"It is commensurate with Auburn, Maryland (who also have Under Armour deals). I'd say it definitely puts us on a par with them." (HA)
About the deal, WAC commissioner Karl Benson said:
"my understanding is this appears to be the richest apparel agreement of any of the WAC schools. I'm sure that last season's football success led to this type of a deal." (HA)
HA Note: "In exchange for becoming the "Outfitter of Hawai'i Football," Maryland-based Under Armour will provide UH with $2,424,000 in uniform and shoe products and also pay UH $1,680,000 in cash, including $1,140,000 in rights fees and a minimum of $540,000 in marketing support as a member of the school's corporate partner program. The contract, which becomes effective in July, will replace the current deal with Nike, which UH said included no cash and less merchandise, the school said.
McNamara said that Nike and Russell Athletic also negotiated with UH and:
"we took the deal that was in our best interests and are moving forward." (HA)
HA Note: "In its first year, UH said it will receive $440,000 in cash, merchandise and marketing support — $125,000 in rights fees, $225,000 in product allowance, $20,000 for coaches' apparel, $10,000 for staff apparel, $10,000 for camp apparel and $50,000 in marketing support."
About selecting Under Armour, McNamara said:
"Under Armour is an aggressive and up-and-coming player on the national scene (and) likewise, we see ourselves that way so the marriage of our two brands is a natural and a win/win relationship for both parties." (HA)
About adding UH to their selected schools, Under Armour chairman and CEO Kevin Plank said:
"We're thrilled to add Hawai'i to the very select list of football programs we're outfitting. We identified UH as a team we wanted to outfit with our state-of-the-art performance apparel, uniforms and footwear and we look forward to giving their (players) an advantage on the field while also using the relationship to showcase our latest innovations in footwear, uniform designs, fabrics and textiles." (HA)
"We're thrilled to add Hawaii to the very select list of football programs we're outfitting. We identified UH as a team we wanted to outfit." (HSB)
HA Note: "Although the deal is strictly for football initially, UH officials said both parties left open the potential that other sports could be included as their sponsorships expire. Heretofore each sport has negotiated its own apparel deals, when possible. UH officials said there will be some changes from the recent uniforms but they wouldn't be "radical." "
Mack said that the new uniforms they wear at Florida could include some green and that he's intrigued with the possibility of having "throwback" uniforms:
"The thing about these guys we're working with is they give you a lot of options." (HA)
About how he's impressed with the "now technology" UA embraces, Mack said:
"Mike Leach (Texas Tech coach) told me their shoes are lighter than the others, we feel their products are going to help us win games. We feel they are top of the line and feel fortunate to be involved with them." (HA)
About how their UA deal will help with recruiting, Mack said:
"Kids keep track of things like this. They know." (HA)
HSB Note: "It is a deal like nothing UH has ever brokered before. Under Armour is known most for its moisture-wicking shirts and "Protect this House" and "Click-Clack" ad campaigns. Auburn, Maryland, South Carolina and Texas Tech are the only schools with deals similar to UH's."
About how the past UH players are excited about the deal, Mack said:
"We've got all kinds of former players lining up to be in the commercials." (HSB)
HSB Note: "UH SIGNS 8-YEAR DEAL WITH UNDER ARMOUR
» Rights Fee: $1,140,000
» Product Allowance: $1,940,000
» Coaches' Apparel: $240,000
» Staff Apparel: $136,000
» Camp Apparel: $108,000
» Marketing Support: $540,000
» Total: $4,104,000"
Remembering what it is like to be early with an exciting relatively new apparel company, Mack said:
"I was at Miami when Nike picked their four teams (and the Hurricanes were one). And it was such a great experience because they took such good care of the players and coaches and university." (HSB)
Asked if UA is the Nike of the new millennium, Mack said:
"I really think it's a similar situation." (HSB)
HSB Note: "UH is in ahead of the crowd. The Warriors and Under Armour announced an eight-year apparel, footwear and marketing agreement yesterday. The deal provides UH with $3 million in product and marketing support, plus more than $1.1 million in total rights fees. Only four other schools -- Auburn, Maryland, South Carolina and Texas Tech -- have similar deals with Under Armour."
About the UA deal, Clapp said:
"This is certainly a landmark deal for UH athletics." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Hawaii's expiring agreement with Nike does not include a rights fee."
About the negotiations, McNamara said:
"It was important to us that it be a full-blown partnership. We met with Nike and Russell, and Under Armour came to the table. We were flattered by the offers from all three, but we felt this one mirrored where we wanted to go as a football program. Going forward. All three offers were much better than what we currently had." (HSB)
HSB Note: "McMackin said conversations he had with Texas Tech coach Mike Leach and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis helped sell him on Under Armour."
About how the players are excited, Mack said:
"This is the trendy thing. I just talked to (linebacker) Blaze (Soares). He's as excited as heck." (HSB)
Excited about the deal, Rocky Savaiigaea said:
"It looks great. Nike's a big-time thing, but Under Armour, that's no joke there. They're giving us a bunch of things. It's not just one shirt, one shorts. The jerseys are nice, they're giving us a bunch of travel gear. It's like we're actually being treated like we should be treated. They're really taking care of us. When we went up to the Sugar Bowl, Georgia had all the top apparel and we didn't." (HSB)
About the new uniform designs, UH media relations director Derek Inouchi said:
"I've seen the mock-ups, and it's a lot different look." (HSB)
HSB Note: "McNamara said the athletic department will keep the rights fees, which range from $125,000 in 2008-09 to $160,000 in 2015-16."
"It is commensurate with Auburn, Maryland (who also have Under Armour deals). I'd say it definitely puts us on a par with them." (HA)
About the deal, WAC commissioner Karl Benson said:
"my understanding is this appears to be the richest apparel agreement of any of the WAC schools. I'm sure that last season's football success led to this type of a deal." (HA)
HA Note: "In exchange for becoming the "Outfitter of Hawai'i Football," Maryland-based Under Armour will provide UH with $2,424,000 in uniform and shoe products and also pay UH $1,680,000 in cash, including $1,140,000 in rights fees and a minimum of $540,000 in marketing support as a member of the school's corporate partner program. The contract, which becomes effective in July, will replace the current deal with Nike, which UH said included no cash and less merchandise, the school said.
McNamara said that Nike and Russell Athletic also negotiated with UH and:
"we took the deal that was in our best interests and are moving forward." (HA)
HA Note: "In its first year, UH said it will receive $440,000 in cash, merchandise and marketing support — $125,000 in rights fees, $225,000 in product allowance, $20,000 for coaches' apparel, $10,000 for staff apparel, $10,000 for camp apparel and $50,000 in marketing support."
About selecting Under Armour, McNamara said:
"Under Armour is an aggressive and up-and-coming player on the national scene (and) likewise, we see ourselves that way so the marriage of our two brands is a natural and a win/win relationship for both parties." (HA)
About adding UH to their selected schools, Under Armour chairman and CEO Kevin Plank said:
"We're thrilled to add Hawai'i to the very select list of football programs we're outfitting. We identified UH as a team we wanted to outfit with our state-of-the-art performance apparel, uniforms and footwear and we look forward to giving their (players) an advantage on the field while also using the relationship to showcase our latest innovations in footwear, uniform designs, fabrics and textiles." (HA)
"We're thrilled to add Hawaii to the very select list of football programs we're outfitting. We identified UH as a team we wanted to outfit." (HSB)
HA Note: "Although the deal is strictly for football initially, UH officials said both parties left open the potential that other sports could be included as their sponsorships expire. Heretofore each sport has negotiated its own apparel deals, when possible. UH officials said there will be some changes from the recent uniforms but they wouldn't be "radical." "
Mack said that the new uniforms they wear at Florida could include some green and that he's intrigued with the possibility of having "throwback" uniforms:
"The thing about these guys we're working with is they give you a lot of options." (HA)
About how he's impressed with the "now technology" UA embraces, Mack said:
"Mike Leach (Texas Tech coach) told me their shoes are lighter than the others, we feel their products are going to help us win games. We feel they are top of the line and feel fortunate to be involved with them." (HA)
About how their UA deal will help with recruiting, Mack said:
"Kids keep track of things like this. They know." (HA)
HSB Note: "It is a deal like nothing UH has ever brokered before. Under Armour is known most for its moisture-wicking shirts and "Protect this House" and "Click-Clack" ad campaigns. Auburn, Maryland, South Carolina and Texas Tech are the only schools with deals similar to UH's."
About how the past UH players are excited about the deal, Mack said:
"We've got all kinds of former players lining up to be in the commercials." (HSB)
HSB Note: "UH SIGNS 8-YEAR DEAL WITH UNDER ARMOUR
» Rights Fee: $1,140,000
» Product Allowance: $1,940,000
» Coaches' Apparel: $240,000
» Staff Apparel: $136,000
» Camp Apparel: $108,000
» Marketing Support: $540,000
» Total: $4,104,000"
Remembering what it is like to be early with an exciting relatively new apparel company, Mack said:
"I was at Miami when Nike picked their four teams (and the Hurricanes were one). And it was such a great experience because they took such good care of the players and coaches and university." (HSB)
Asked if UA is the Nike of the new millennium, Mack said:
"I really think it's a similar situation." (HSB)
HSB Note: "UH is in ahead of the crowd. The Warriors and Under Armour announced an eight-year apparel, footwear and marketing agreement yesterday. The deal provides UH with $3 million in product and marketing support, plus more than $1.1 million in total rights fees. Only four other schools -- Auburn, Maryland, South Carolina and Texas Tech -- have similar deals with Under Armour."
About the UA deal, Clapp said:
"This is certainly a landmark deal for UH athletics." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Hawaii's expiring agreement with Nike does not include a rights fee."
About the negotiations, McNamara said:
"It was important to us that it be a full-blown partnership. We met with Nike and Russell, and Under Armour came to the table. We were flattered by the offers from all three, but we felt this one mirrored where we wanted to go as a football program. Going forward. All three offers were much better than what we currently had." (HSB)
HSB Note: "McMackin said conversations he had with Texas Tech coach Mike Leach and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis helped sell him on Under Armour."
About how the players are excited, Mack said:
"This is the trendy thing. I just talked to (linebacker) Blaze (Soares). He's as excited as heck." (HSB)
Excited about the deal, Rocky Savaiigaea said:
"It looks great. Nike's a big-time thing, but Under Armour, that's no joke there. They're giving us a bunch of things. It's not just one shirt, one shorts. The jerseys are nice, they're giving us a bunch of travel gear. It's like we're actually being treated like we should be treated. They're really taking care of us. When we went up to the Sugar Bowl, Georgia had all the top apparel and we didn't." (HSB)
About the new uniform designs, UH media relations director Derek Inouchi said:
"I've seen the mock-ups, and it's a lot different look." (HSB)
HSB Note: "McNamara said the athletic department will keep the rights fees, which range from $125,000 in 2008-09 to $160,000 in 2015-16."
Monday, February 25, 2008
Mack and JJ: Best of Friends
About bringing some Hawaii style to SMU, JJ said:
"I wear (aloha shirts) up there actually. We instituted aloha fridays." (KHNL)
About how JJ is in Hawaii now to help Mack and the UH program, Mack said:
"We're best friends, and he's best friends with Hawaii." (KHNL)
KHNL Note: "McMackin and Jones have known and worked with each other for more than 20 years. From Oregon, to the USFL, to the 1999 and 2007 warriors -- two of the program's biggest years under Jones."
Praising Mack, JJ said:
"He's a good football coach, good person, good man. I'm excited for him to lead this program." (KHNL)
Praising JJ, Mack said:
"He's just a special guy. He's been a good friend of mine forever. He supports me in anything I do, and I support him in anything he does." (KHNL)
Asked who would win if UH played SMU, Mack said:
"We're gonna kick their ass. You know that." (KHNL)
JJ made a surprising prediction:
"Uh, U.H. It's hard to come over here and win, I know that." (KHNL)
About facing SMU, Mack said:
"I don't think you can shut down the run and shoot. But I just believe in our guys, and i'm sure he feels the same way." (KHNL)
KHNL Note: "Jones says the Mustangs have openings in their schedule in the 2009, 2012 and 2013 seasons. But ultimately, scheduling is not up to the coaches -- it's up to the athletics director."
"I wear (aloha shirts) up there actually. We instituted aloha fridays." (KHNL)
About how JJ is in Hawaii now to help Mack and the UH program, Mack said:
"We're best friends, and he's best friends with Hawaii." (KHNL)
KHNL Note: "McMackin and Jones have known and worked with each other for more than 20 years. From Oregon, to the USFL, to the 1999 and 2007 warriors -- two of the program's biggest years under Jones."
Praising Mack, JJ said:
"He's a good football coach, good person, good man. I'm excited for him to lead this program." (KHNL)
Praising JJ, Mack said:
"He's just a special guy. He's been a good friend of mine forever. He supports me in anything I do, and I support him in anything he does." (KHNL)
Asked who would win if UH played SMU, Mack said:
"We're gonna kick their ass. You know that." (KHNL)
JJ made a surprising prediction:
"Uh, U.H. It's hard to come over here and win, I know that." (KHNL)
About facing SMU, Mack said:
"I don't think you can shut down the run and shoot. But I just believe in our guys, and i'm sure he feels the same way." (KHNL)
KHNL Note: "Jones says the Mustangs have openings in their schedule in the 2009, 2012 and 2013 seasons. But ultimately, scheduling is not up to the coaches -- it's up to the athletics director."
Colt--perfection at the combine
About how he accomplished his goals at the combine, Colt said:
"I think I answered a lot of questions this week. I came here with two things to do. Weigh in heavy and throw the ball well. I did both." (HSB)
"The two things that I came here to do were to show up heavier and throw well. I weighed in a lot heavier than people thought, and I threw the ball really well." (HA)
HA Note: "During yesterday's drills, held on FieldTurf and coordinated by NFL coaches, Brennan showed his arm strength with two 45-yard completions. The first was an arc on a streak pattern. The second came on a post-corner pattern in which California's DeSean Jackson sprinted 10 yards, ran diagonally to the left for 5 yards, then cut to the right. Brennan lofted a pass that found Jackson's handprints.
After that play, the coaches gave Brennan the job of yelling the "break," essentially making him an honorary captain.
In UH's four-wide offense, Brennan was mostly in the shotgun, aligned 5 yards from the line of scrimmage. Yesterday, he had to simulate taking snaps from the center, then retreating in three-, five- and seven-step dropbacks."
About dropping back and passing, Colt (who took snaps under center in high school, prep school, and the University of Colorado) said:
"To use the old cliche, it was like riding a bicycle again. It wasn't that difficult." (HA)
HSB Note: "Two veteran NFL scouts who were present told the Star-Bulletin yesterday that Brennan helped himself with the most impressive display of passing accuracy at this year's combine."
Praising Colt, one NFL scout that has worked at more than 10 NFL combines said:
"It was very good. By far the most accurate. He showed very good timing. It was one of the best performances I've seen in that. You could tell he'd thrown a million passes in college. Chad Henne (of Michigan) has a stronger arm, but some of his throws are wild." (HSB)
"The people who doubted his arm strength probably don't now." (HSB)
About how he was relaxed during the throwing drills at the combine, Colt said:
"I knew I just had to show up and throw. It seemed easier than what I trained for. It was fun. I had (receiver teammates) Ryan (Grice-Mullins) and Davone (Bess) in my group, so there was good chemistry." (HSB)
About how he just threw 1 pass each to Bess and RGM, Colt said:
"That's just the way it worked out. It felt natural and I didn't have any nervousness." (HSB)
HA Note: "Brennan lasered passes on down-and-out patterns of 5, 7 and 15 yards. He also was true on intermediate passes across the middle. On one play, he was randomly paired with former UH teammate Davone Bess. The play was a 5-and-out, the Warriors' money play in short-yardage situations the past two years."
About throwing a short out pass to Bess, Colt said:
"I definitely was smiling when I saw Davone out there." (HA)
About the pass he caught from Colt, Bess said:
"That's our play." (HA)
HA Note: "Brennan completed the pass easily to Bess. During the 75-minute workout, all but two of Brennan's passes received perfect grades."
About how he threw several deep outs and two long passes, Colt said:
"I was happy I got to throw those out routes, those were important for me. The first over-the-top was well thrown and the second was just where I wanted it." (HSB)
Asked how he felt about his performance at the combine, Colt said:
"I was really happy. There are so many misconceptions, so many untruths out there, about what I am as a quarterback, and what I can do. It's mostly those Internet sites. Their perception is heard, and it's like 'telephone.' People around the country hear these things and assume them. I'm pretty confident the coaches and the general managers — the ones who make the decisions — do their homework. They know what everything is about." (HA)
HA Note: "Two of the top quarterbacks, Matt Ryan of Boston College and Andre Woodson of Kentucky, opted to attend the combine but not participate in drills. Despite having a good practice week at the Senior Bowl — he was named a team captain and starter — Brennan did not play well in the all-star game. He felt he needed to compete in yesterday's drills to turn the public perception. Brennan said he studied videos of past combine passing drills. Under the guidance of quarterback tutor Tom Craft, Brennan spent hours working on a variety of throws. As it turned out, his workouts in California were more demanding than yesterday's drills. The routes were shorter, and the dome provided windless conditions."
About how he was confident in the throwing drills at the combine, Colt said:
"I felt confident. I wanted more reps and more throws to show everybody I came here to make a statement. Things went well, and I felt I did better than what was expected." (HA)
HA Note: "Brennan said the hip pointer, suffered in the Senior Bowl, has not been bothersome. He wore black compression tights to keep his hips and hamstrings warm. Brennan said he will rest the next two days, then begin training for the April 1 Pro Day in Carson, Calif. His four starting receivers last season — Bess, Ryan Grice-Mullins, Jason Rivers and C.J. Hawthorne — will participate in the Pro Day."
Looking forward to Pro Day, Colt said:
"If I can take what I did here, and have a great Pro Day, a lot of positive things will start to happen." (HA)
HSB Note: "Another scout said he would be surprised if any of the four former UH players at the combine -- Brennan, Bess, Grice-Mullins and receiver Jason Rivers -- were not drafted in April."
About the Warriors at the combine, the second NFL scout said:
"If I was a betting man I would say yes. I say they all get drafted. Ryan helped himself the most. He worked out pretty dang good. Colt helped himself from the Senior Bowl." (HSB)
"They all caught the ball pretty well." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Grice-Mullins was timed between 4.48 and 4.59 in the 40, Rivers between 4.51 and 4.70. The ranges on Bess went from "mid 4.6" to 4.80, the scouts said. Grice-Mullins did 17 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, while Bess did 12. Rivers did not participate."
Easing up on his criticism of Colt, Mike Maycock said:
"Coming out of the Senior Bowl, I wasn't impressed. He gained 15, 18 pounds, and that was helpful. He's kind of sneaky athletic, and he makes some plays. I want to get the tapes of this and watch them." (HA)
HA Note: "A solid performance in the passing drills is helpful in improving a prospect's stock, said Jeff Foster, president of the National Invitational Camp (the official name of the combine). Foster said a committee of between six and 15 members decides which players to invite. Foster said Brennan was a unanimous recommendation.
Foster said the most important duty for an invited player is to undergo medical examinations from NFL teams. That is followed by face-to-face interviews with representatives of each team. Foster said 1,900 team officials, including medical staff, attended this combine."
Foster said that the NFL prefers for invited players to take place in position drills, as the drills:
"were created and conducted by current NFL coaches. They're no different than what the quarterbacks did at their own colleges when they warmed up every day." (HA)
"When you're talking about position-specific skills, which are the skill drills, I'd say they're vital." (HA)
"I think I answered a lot of questions this week. I came here with two things to do. Weigh in heavy and throw the ball well. I did both." (HSB)
"The two things that I came here to do were to show up heavier and throw well. I weighed in a lot heavier than people thought, and I threw the ball really well." (HA)
HA Note: "During yesterday's drills, held on FieldTurf and coordinated by NFL coaches, Brennan showed his arm strength with two 45-yard completions. The first was an arc on a streak pattern. The second came on a post-corner pattern in which California's DeSean Jackson sprinted 10 yards, ran diagonally to the left for 5 yards, then cut to the right. Brennan lofted a pass that found Jackson's handprints.
After that play, the coaches gave Brennan the job of yelling the "break," essentially making him an honorary captain.
In UH's four-wide offense, Brennan was mostly in the shotgun, aligned 5 yards from the line of scrimmage. Yesterday, he had to simulate taking snaps from the center, then retreating in three-, five- and seven-step dropbacks."
About dropping back and passing, Colt (who took snaps under center in high school, prep school, and the University of Colorado) said:
"To use the old cliche, it was like riding a bicycle again. It wasn't that difficult." (HA)
HSB Note: "Two veteran NFL scouts who were present told the Star-Bulletin yesterday that Brennan helped himself with the most impressive display of passing accuracy at this year's combine."
Praising Colt, one NFL scout that has worked at more than 10 NFL combines said:
"It was very good. By far the most accurate. He showed very good timing. It was one of the best performances I've seen in that. You could tell he'd thrown a million passes in college. Chad Henne (of Michigan) has a stronger arm, but some of his throws are wild." (HSB)
"The people who doubted his arm strength probably don't now." (HSB)
About how he was relaxed during the throwing drills at the combine, Colt said:
"I knew I just had to show up and throw. It seemed easier than what I trained for. It was fun. I had (receiver teammates) Ryan (Grice-Mullins) and Davone (Bess) in my group, so there was good chemistry." (HSB)
About how he just threw 1 pass each to Bess and RGM, Colt said:
"That's just the way it worked out. It felt natural and I didn't have any nervousness." (HSB)
HA Note: "Brennan lasered passes on down-and-out patterns of 5, 7 and 15 yards. He also was true on intermediate passes across the middle. On one play, he was randomly paired with former UH teammate Davone Bess. The play was a 5-and-out, the Warriors' money play in short-yardage situations the past two years."
About throwing a short out pass to Bess, Colt said:
"I definitely was smiling when I saw Davone out there." (HA)
About the pass he caught from Colt, Bess said:
"That's our play." (HA)
HA Note: "Brennan completed the pass easily to Bess. During the 75-minute workout, all but two of Brennan's passes received perfect grades."
About how he threw several deep outs and two long passes, Colt said:
"I was happy I got to throw those out routes, those were important for me. The first over-the-top was well thrown and the second was just where I wanted it." (HSB)
Asked how he felt about his performance at the combine, Colt said:
"I was really happy. There are so many misconceptions, so many untruths out there, about what I am as a quarterback, and what I can do. It's mostly those Internet sites. Their perception is heard, and it's like 'telephone.' People around the country hear these things and assume them. I'm pretty confident the coaches and the general managers — the ones who make the decisions — do their homework. They know what everything is about." (HA)
HA Note: "Two of the top quarterbacks, Matt Ryan of Boston College and Andre Woodson of Kentucky, opted to attend the combine but not participate in drills. Despite having a good practice week at the Senior Bowl — he was named a team captain and starter — Brennan did not play well in the all-star game. He felt he needed to compete in yesterday's drills to turn the public perception. Brennan said he studied videos of past combine passing drills. Under the guidance of quarterback tutor Tom Craft, Brennan spent hours working on a variety of throws. As it turned out, his workouts in California were more demanding than yesterday's drills. The routes were shorter, and the dome provided windless conditions."
About how he was confident in the throwing drills at the combine, Colt said:
"I felt confident. I wanted more reps and more throws to show everybody I came here to make a statement. Things went well, and I felt I did better than what was expected." (HA)
HA Note: "Brennan said the hip pointer, suffered in the Senior Bowl, has not been bothersome. He wore black compression tights to keep his hips and hamstrings warm. Brennan said he will rest the next two days, then begin training for the April 1 Pro Day in Carson, Calif. His four starting receivers last season — Bess, Ryan Grice-Mullins, Jason Rivers and C.J. Hawthorne — will participate in the Pro Day."
Looking forward to Pro Day, Colt said:
"If I can take what I did here, and have a great Pro Day, a lot of positive things will start to happen." (HA)
HSB Note: "Another scout said he would be surprised if any of the four former UH players at the combine -- Brennan, Bess, Grice-Mullins and receiver Jason Rivers -- were not drafted in April."
About the Warriors at the combine, the second NFL scout said:
"If I was a betting man I would say yes. I say they all get drafted. Ryan helped himself the most. He worked out pretty dang good. Colt helped himself from the Senior Bowl." (HSB)
"They all caught the ball pretty well." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Grice-Mullins was timed between 4.48 and 4.59 in the 40, Rivers between 4.51 and 4.70. The ranges on Bess went from "mid 4.6" to 4.80, the scouts said. Grice-Mullins did 17 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, while Bess did 12. Rivers did not participate."
Easing up on his criticism of Colt, Mike Maycock said:
"Coming out of the Senior Bowl, I wasn't impressed. He gained 15, 18 pounds, and that was helpful. He's kind of sneaky athletic, and he makes some plays. I want to get the tapes of this and watch them." (HA)
HA Note: "A solid performance in the passing drills is helpful in improving a prospect's stock, said Jeff Foster, president of the National Invitational Camp (the official name of the combine). Foster said a committee of between six and 15 members decides which players to invite. Foster said Brennan was a unanimous recommendation.
Foster said the most important duty for an invited player is to undergo medical examinations from NFL teams. That is followed by face-to-face interviews with representatives of each team. Foster said 1,900 team officials, including medical staff, attended this combine."
Foster said that the NFL prefers for invited players to take place in position drills, as the drills:
"were created and conducted by current NFL coaches. They're no different than what the quarterbacks did at their own colleges when they warmed up every day." (HA)
"When you're talking about position-specific skills, which are the skill drills, I'd say they're vital." (HA)
RGM impressed at the combine
HA Note: "Yesterday, he was told he ran 40 yards in 4.46 seconds. Although that time would have qualified as one of the 10 fastest among wideouts, it was not posted on the NFL's Web site."
About the 4.46 time, RGM said:
"it wasn't my best time. I can do better. I wish I had timed better. You know how I am. I'm always trying to do the best." (HA)
HA Note: "He ran the 20-yard shuttle in 4.16 seconds, fourth-best among the wideouts. On Saturday, he bench pressed 225 pounds 17 times. He was particularly sharp in the field drills yesterday, catching seven of the eight passes thrown in his direction."
About the pass that he didn't catch, RGM said:
"I dropped one, but that was a little out of my reach." (HA)
About how he caught every pass with his hands, RGM said:
"Not with the body. Coach taught us from day one to catch everything with our hands. That helped a lot." (HA)
TV football analyst Mike Maycock praised RGM:
"Grice-Mullins is a good player." (HA)
HA Note: "Slotback Davone Bess, who also decided not to return to UH for his senior season, did well in the pass-catching drills. In the "gauntlet" drill, Bess had to sprint between two rows of quarterbacks. On his first attempt, he caught all seven 10-yard passes, earning loud applause from the players."
About the "gauntlet" drill, Bess said:
"That was fun." (HA)
HA Note: "He also made two over-the-shoulder catches on long passes. But Bess ran a disappointing time in the 40-yard dash. He was electronically timed at 4.62 seconds, and hand-timed at 4.57 seconds."
Concerned about Bess' 40-yard time, Maycock said:
"Bess didn't run very well. I thought he'd be more explosive." (HA)
Upset with his 40-yard time, Bess said:
"My 40 killed me. I've never been the type who can just run and go. I'll have to work on it some more." (HA)
HA Note: "Wideout Jason Rivers said he "wasn't happy" with his time in the 40-yard dash. He ran his first sprint in 4.55 seconds; the second attempt was slower."
About why he ran slower than normal, Rivers said:
"I felt slow for some reason." (HA)
HA Note: "During team testing at UH last spring, Rivers ran the 40 in 4.45 seconds. He consistently ran under 4.5 seconds while training in Colorado the past month. He had hoped to run in the low 4.4s, which likely would have elevated him into a second-round prospect. Now Rivers, like Bess and Grice-Mullins, will focus on the April 1 Pro Day in Carson, Calif.
Each college team is allowed to have its version of a combine for former players. Because of the distance from the Mainland, UH receives permission to stage the combine on the West Coast. UH's Pro Day is a day earlier than USC's combine, which is expected to draw dozens of NFL scouts."
About getting ready for Pro Day, RGM said:
"I'm going back to California, train and get ready to run again." (HA)
About the 4.46 time, RGM said:
"it wasn't my best time. I can do better. I wish I had timed better. You know how I am. I'm always trying to do the best." (HA)
HA Note: "He ran the 20-yard shuttle in 4.16 seconds, fourth-best among the wideouts. On Saturday, he bench pressed 225 pounds 17 times. He was particularly sharp in the field drills yesterday, catching seven of the eight passes thrown in his direction."
About the pass that he didn't catch, RGM said:
"I dropped one, but that was a little out of my reach." (HA)
About how he caught every pass with his hands, RGM said:
"Not with the body. Coach taught us from day one to catch everything with our hands. That helped a lot." (HA)
TV football analyst Mike Maycock praised RGM:
"Grice-Mullins is a good player." (HA)
HA Note: "Slotback Davone Bess, who also decided not to return to UH for his senior season, did well in the pass-catching drills. In the "gauntlet" drill, Bess had to sprint between two rows of quarterbacks. On his first attempt, he caught all seven 10-yard passes, earning loud applause from the players."
About the "gauntlet" drill, Bess said:
"That was fun." (HA)
HA Note: "He also made two over-the-shoulder catches on long passes. But Bess ran a disappointing time in the 40-yard dash. He was electronically timed at 4.62 seconds, and hand-timed at 4.57 seconds."
Concerned about Bess' 40-yard time, Maycock said:
"Bess didn't run very well. I thought he'd be more explosive." (HA)
Upset with his 40-yard time, Bess said:
"My 40 killed me. I've never been the type who can just run and go. I'll have to work on it some more." (HA)
HA Note: "Wideout Jason Rivers said he "wasn't happy" with his time in the 40-yard dash. He ran his first sprint in 4.55 seconds; the second attempt was slower."
About why he ran slower than normal, Rivers said:
"I felt slow for some reason." (HA)
HA Note: "During team testing at UH last spring, Rivers ran the 40 in 4.45 seconds. He consistently ran under 4.5 seconds while training in Colorado the past month. He had hoped to run in the low 4.4s, which likely would have elevated him into a second-round prospect. Now Rivers, like Bess and Grice-Mullins, will focus on the April 1 Pro Day in Carson, Calif.
Each college team is allowed to have its version of a combine for former players. Because of the distance from the Mainland, UH receives permission to stage the combine on the West Coast. UH's Pro Day is a day earlier than USC's combine, which is expected to draw dozens of NFL scouts."
About getting ready for Pro Day, RGM said:
"I'm going back to California, train and get ready to run again." (HA)
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Combine notes for the Warriors
HA Note: "Yesterday at the National Football League Scouting Combine, quarterback Colt Brennan and receivers Jason Rivers, Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins took the Wonderlic, a 50-question quiz that measures personality and intelligence. There was a time limit of 12 minutes."
About the Wonderlic, Bess said:
"It was intense." (HA)
HA Note: "Each answered at least 30 questions, which is considered to be a good amount considering the time restrictions."
Colt said that he felt he did well:
"But you never really know because they don't give you any feedback." (HA)
About the wonderlic, Rivers said:
"It was OK." (HA)
HA Note: "Rivers and Brennan did not participate in the weight-lifting sessions. Rivers said he will lift during the April 1 Pro Day in Carson, Calif. Brennan said he wanted to focus on today's passing drills. He said he was told quarterbacks are not judged on sprints or weight-lifting."
About how the passing drills are the most important for QBs at the combine, Colt said:
"It's on-field decisions that matter the most." (HA)
About benching 225 pounds 17 times, RGM said:
"I'm kind of disappointed with that. I think I could have done more." (HA)
About how he benched 225 pounds 14 times, but one of his lifts was disallowed, Bess said:
"Put it down at 14." (HA)
About how he had not had more than 9 reps until he started training in Arizona last month, Bess said:
"I'm stronger and more confident." (HA)
HA Note: "The receivers face a key workout today in the 40-yard dash, what has become the standard measurement for speed. Rivers, who has run the 40 in 4.45 seconds, hopes to run in the low 4.4s. If he can break 4.4, he might elevate into a first-day prospect. The first two rounds of the NFL draft will be held April 26; the final five April 27. Rivers said he will wear Nike Mercurial Vapor cleats. Each shoe weighs about 6 ounces."
About Rivers' 6-ounce cleats, agent Leo Goes said:
"They're light as a feather." (HA)
HA Note: "Grice-Mullins and Bess also chose light cleats. The RCA Dome has the same type of FieldTurf as Aloha Stadium."
About the importance of his 40-yard time today, Bess said:
"The knock right now is my top-end speed. I have to show them I can run." (HA)
HA Note; "Bess said he had past problems with his start. He believed he was ascending from his stance too quickly."
About trying to correct his previous start problems, Bess said:
"The key is to start low and drive through." (HA)
HA Note: "He said better technique might shave a tenth of a second. His goal is to run the 40 in under 4.6 seconds. Bess and Brennan have been asked to participate in individual workouts for NFL teams. Bess said he has spoken with the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos. The Bengals are seeking an inside receiver who can return kicks."
About how the Bengals want a slot WR who can return kicks, Bess said:
"I'm here. I'm on the market." (HA)
About the Wonderlic, Bess said:
"It was intense." (HA)
HA Note: "Each answered at least 30 questions, which is considered to be a good amount considering the time restrictions."
Colt said that he felt he did well:
"But you never really know because they don't give you any feedback." (HA)
About the wonderlic, Rivers said:
"It was OK." (HA)
HA Note: "Rivers and Brennan did not participate in the weight-lifting sessions. Rivers said he will lift during the April 1 Pro Day in Carson, Calif. Brennan said he wanted to focus on today's passing drills. He said he was told quarterbacks are not judged on sprints or weight-lifting."
About how the passing drills are the most important for QBs at the combine, Colt said:
"It's on-field decisions that matter the most." (HA)
About benching 225 pounds 17 times, RGM said:
"I'm kind of disappointed with that. I think I could have done more." (HA)
About how he benched 225 pounds 14 times, but one of his lifts was disallowed, Bess said:
"Put it down at 14." (HA)
About how he had not had more than 9 reps until he started training in Arizona last month, Bess said:
"I'm stronger and more confident." (HA)
HA Note: "The receivers face a key workout today in the 40-yard dash, what has become the standard measurement for speed. Rivers, who has run the 40 in 4.45 seconds, hopes to run in the low 4.4s. If he can break 4.4, he might elevate into a first-day prospect. The first two rounds of the NFL draft will be held April 26; the final five April 27. Rivers said he will wear Nike Mercurial Vapor cleats. Each shoe weighs about 6 ounces."
About Rivers' 6-ounce cleats, agent Leo Goes said:
"They're light as a feather." (HA)
HA Note: "Grice-Mullins and Bess also chose light cleats. The RCA Dome has the same type of FieldTurf as Aloha Stadium."
About the importance of his 40-yard time today, Bess said:
"The knock right now is my top-end speed. I have to show them I can run." (HA)
HA Note; "Bess said he had past problems with his start. He believed he was ascending from his stance too quickly."
About trying to correct his previous start problems, Bess said:
"The key is to start low and drive through." (HA)
HA Note: "He said better technique might shave a tenth of a second. His goal is to run the 40 in under 4.6 seconds. Bess and Brennan have been asked to participate in individual workouts for NFL teams. Bess said he has spoken with the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos. The Bengals are seeking an inside receiver who can return kicks."
About how the Bengals want a slot WR who can return kicks, Bess said:
"I'm here. I'm on the market." (HA)
Colt gets a chance to impress at the combine today
About the biggest question about him by NFL scouts and critics, Colt said:
"They want to know: Can I throw the rock?" (HA)
HA Note: "Brennan will get his opportunity when he competes in passing drills today at the NFL Scouting Combine in the RCA Dome."
Looking forward to seeing Colt throw, Chiefs head coach Herman Edwards said:
"I've watched him a lot in the (telecasts of the) late-night Hawai'i games. I'm interested to watch him throw out here with all of these eyes on him." (HA)
HA Note: "Since the blowout loss to Georgia in the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl, Brennan has been the target of criticism from so-called NFL draft analysts. There were concerns about his weight, especially after Brennan, who is 6 feet 2 1/3, was 185 pounds when he reported to last month's Senior Bowl in Alabama. He blamed the 6-pound weight loss on a stomach flu."
Colt said that things are easier in the shotgun because:
"you have a head start because you don't have to worry about dropping back. After I get the snap, I can set my feet and wait for routes to develop. I can step into my throws." (HA)
About taking snaps under center, Colt said:
"I have to read (defenses) while I'm dropping back, and make sure my feet are planted. If the routes are taking more time to develop, I have to throw off my back foot." (HA)
HA Note: "Brennan took snaps under center at Mater Dei High School, Worcester Prep Academy, and the University of Colorado. He was named an all-star at each of those schools."
About how it isn't hard for him to take snaps under center, Colt said:
"It's not that it's hard to do. It's just that I haven't done it in a while."
HA Note: "Brennan proved the technique was not a problem during the Senior Bowl practices. The NFL sponsors that all-star game, and dozens of scouts were able to have face-to-face interviews with Brennan. None questioned his passing accuracy. Brennan earned the respect of his teammates (he was voted as the South's captain) and coaches (he was named a starting quarterback)."
HA Note: "At the Senior Bowl, most of the evaluations were made during the practices. After the final practice, most of the scouts left. Unfortunately for Brennan, he played poorly in the game. Despite receiving positive assessments from NFL officials, Brennan was roasted by draft analysts. In an online column, the Chicago Tribune's Dan Pompei said an unnamed NFL official indicated Brennan came across as a "jackass" in interviews at the Senior Bowl. Brennan, who gave away leftover Senior Bowl memorabilia to fans after the game, was stunned to hear that."
About the Chicago Tribune reporter's criticism of him, Colt said:
"I'm the easiest guy to go after right now because of all of the records and the system I came from. That's the way it is. It's not going to stop now. ... It's a quarterback-campaign race right now. People are going to attack your character." (HA)
Praising Colt, Titans coach Jeff Fisher said:
"I'm very impressed with him." (HA)
Fisher said that Colt has the tools to be a:
"pretty good NFL quarterback." (HA)
HA Note: "At UH, Brennan complete better than 45 percent of his long passes (at least 20 yards in the air from the line of scrimmage). A success ratio of better than 33 percent on long passes is considered to be good. Brennan can accurately throw 65 yards. Mike Martz, the South's coach in the Senior Bowl, suggested ways Brennan could push off his back (right) foot when making passes. That was a problem for most of last season, when Brennan played despite a sprained right ankle."
About how his ankle injury vs. Idaho resulted in a lot of INTs, Colt said:
"The game (against Idaho), when I threw a lot of picks, I was suffering from the ankle injury. It's fine now." (HA)
About his throwing motion, Colt said:
"people think I have a sidearm release. But when you watch films of me, you'll see (the right arm) does come up high. It's just that in our offense, there were so many underneath routes. It was easier for me to get the ball out by throwing it in between people. I spoke to an NFL guy, and he said, 'That's exactly what you should be doing.' " (HA)
About Colt being typecast as a "system" QB, Herman Edwards said:
"Everybody plays in a system. It's a matter of taking advantage of that system." (HA)
HA Note: "The acknowledged top quarterback, Matt Ryan of Boston College, is not expected to compete in passing drills today. He has been advised that the participation only would hurt his stock."
About the passing drills at the combine, Colt said:
"It's an unpredictable environment. You don't know if you're going first or fourth. You're working with some receivers for the first time. ... That can be tough. But for a guy like me, a guy who has a lot to prove, it's a good opportunity to showcase my skills. And it's a good way to show how I respond. If I throw a bad ball, (NFL officials) want to see how I respond." (HA)
HA Note: "Brennan said he has worked with a trainer to improve his lower-body strength. Tom Craft, offensive coordinator of Mount San Antonio College, has served as Brennan's quarterback tutor."
Praising Colt, the Titans' Fisher said:
"I've kind of followed Colt from afar. I'm impressed with what he's done. (During today's passing drills) he needs to do what he's been doing — throw with accuracy. That's it. He has good footwork, good technique." (HA)
"They want to know: Can I throw the rock?" (HA)
HA Note: "Brennan will get his opportunity when he competes in passing drills today at the NFL Scouting Combine in the RCA Dome."
Looking forward to seeing Colt throw, Chiefs head coach Herman Edwards said:
"I've watched him a lot in the (telecasts of the) late-night Hawai'i games. I'm interested to watch him throw out here with all of these eyes on him." (HA)
HA Note: "Since the blowout loss to Georgia in the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl, Brennan has been the target of criticism from so-called NFL draft analysts. There were concerns about his weight, especially after Brennan, who is 6 feet 2 1/3, was 185 pounds when he reported to last month's Senior Bowl in Alabama. He blamed the 6-pound weight loss on a stomach flu."
Colt said that things are easier in the shotgun because:
"you have a head start because you don't have to worry about dropping back. After I get the snap, I can set my feet and wait for routes to develop. I can step into my throws." (HA)
About taking snaps under center, Colt said:
"I have to read (defenses) while I'm dropping back, and make sure my feet are planted. If the routes are taking more time to develop, I have to throw off my back foot." (HA)
HA Note: "Brennan took snaps under center at Mater Dei High School, Worcester Prep Academy, and the University of Colorado. He was named an all-star at each of those schools."
About how it isn't hard for him to take snaps under center, Colt said:
"It's not that it's hard to do. It's just that I haven't done it in a while."
HA Note: "Brennan proved the technique was not a problem during the Senior Bowl practices. The NFL sponsors that all-star game, and dozens of scouts were able to have face-to-face interviews with Brennan. None questioned his passing accuracy. Brennan earned the respect of his teammates (he was voted as the South's captain) and coaches (he was named a starting quarterback)."
HA Note: "At the Senior Bowl, most of the evaluations were made during the practices. After the final practice, most of the scouts left. Unfortunately for Brennan, he played poorly in the game. Despite receiving positive assessments from NFL officials, Brennan was roasted by draft analysts. In an online column, the Chicago Tribune's Dan Pompei said an unnamed NFL official indicated Brennan came across as a "jackass" in interviews at the Senior Bowl. Brennan, who gave away leftover Senior Bowl memorabilia to fans after the game, was stunned to hear that."
About the Chicago Tribune reporter's criticism of him, Colt said:
"I'm the easiest guy to go after right now because of all of the records and the system I came from. That's the way it is. It's not going to stop now. ... It's a quarterback-campaign race right now. People are going to attack your character." (HA)
Praising Colt, Titans coach Jeff Fisher said:
"I'm very impressed with him." (HA)
Fisher said that Colt has the tools to be a:
"pretty good NFL quarterback." (HA)
HA Note: "At UH, Brennan complete better than 45 percent of his long passes (at least 20 yards in the air from the line of scrimmage). A success ratio of better than 33 percent on long passes is considered to be good. Brennan can accurately throw 65 yards. Mike Martz, the South's coach in the Senior Bowl, suggested ways Brennan could push off his back (right) foot when making passes. That was a problem for most of last season, when Brennan played despite a sprained right ankle."
About how his ankle injury vs. Idaho resulted in a lot of INTs, Colt said:
"The game (against Idaho), when I threw a lot of picks, I was suffering from the ankle injury. It's fine now." (HA)
About his throwing motion, Colt said:
"people think I have a sidearm release. But when you watch films of me, you'll see (the right arm) does come up high. It's just that in our offense, there were so many underneath routes. It was easier for me to get the ball out by throwing it in between people. I spoke to an NFL guy, and he said, 'That's exactly what you should be doing.' " (HA)
About Colt being typecast as a "system" QB, Herman Edwards said:
"Everybody plays in a system. It's a matter of taking advantage of that system." (HA)
HA Note: "The acknowledged top quarterback, Matt Ryan of Boston College, is not expected to compete in passing drills today. He has been advised that the participation only would hurt his stock."
About the passing drills at the combine, Colt said:
"It's an unpredictable environment. You don't know if you're going first or fourth. You're working with some receivers for the first time. ... That can be tough. But for a guy like me, a guy who has a lot to prove, it's a good opportunity to showcase my skills. And it's a good way to show how I respond. If I throw a bad ball, (NFL officials) want to see how I respond." (HA)
HA Note: "Brennan said he has worked with a trainer to improve his lower-body strength. Tom Craft, offensive coordinator of Mount San Antonio College, has served as Brennan's quarterback tutor."
Praising Colt, the Titans' Fisher said:
"I've kind of followed Colt from afar. I'm impressed with what he's done. (During today's passing drills) he needs to do what he's been doing — throw with accuracy. That's it. He has good footwork, good technique." (HA)
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Quotes from the local papers about the combine
About weighing in at 207 at the combine, Colt said:
"I'm happy with that." (HA)
HA Note: "Brennan also was officially listed as standing 6 feet 2 1/3. There were concerns when Brennan weighed 185 pounds at last month's Senior Bowl. Brennan said a stomach flu caused him to lose "five or six pounds" in the days leading to the Senior Bowl workouts. Brennan said he went on a high-protein diet in which he took supplements and, at a minimum, ate three specially prepared meals and three snacks each day."
About his eating schedule before the combine, Colt said:
"As long as I eat what I've been given, I can do whatever I want to gain extra weight. I made a couple of trips to In-N-Out Burger here and there. Now I'm trying to convert everything to muscle, and get as big as I can." (HA)
About Colt, James Harris (Jaguars VP of player personnel) said:
"He's an NFL-type quarterback. We want to see if he can adjust to a more NFL-style offense." (HA)
Harris said that Colt's arm is strong enough to:
"make all of the throws." (HA)
Harris talked about what their primary focus on Colt is for the combine:
"We want to see how he does when he's under center and dropping back and reading." (HA)
NY Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said about Colt:
"We want to study him." (HA)
HA Note: "With several hundred media attending, the ballroom was set up like a Lollapalooza concert. There were two stages, with rows of tables in between. Quarterbacks Matt Ryan of Boston College, Erik Ainge of Tennessee and Brian Brohm of Louisville gave their interviews from the podium. Brennan, wearing a gray NFL-issued sweatshirt, chose to conduct his interview at a round table. Brennan answered questions about his legal problems in Colorado, being pigeon-holed as a system" quarterback, and whether Krispy Kreme was part of his diet."
About life, Colt said:
"I think life is really two things: what you're given and what you do with it." (HA)
Rivers said that the NFL requested that he get an MRI on his lower back:
"They're going to do it at one of the hospitals here." (HA)
HA Note: "Rivers was held out of UH's game against Idaho Sept. 29 because of lower-back tightness. Rivers said the injury did not cause further problems, and that he feels he is healthy."
About why the NFL asked for the MRI, Rivers said:
"They want me to take the MRI as a follow-up." (HA)
About measuring at 6'1", 200-pounds, Rivers said:
"It's exactly where I want to be." (HA)
HA Note: "Rivers said he will focus on the running drills tomorrow. He will not participate in the lifting events today."
About seeing the snow, Bess said:
"I was excited, man. I've never been in snow before. This is actually pretty tight." (HA)
About his reaction when he grabbed some snow, Bess said:
"I put my hand in some snow, but my fingers felt like they were going to fall off. It was so cold." (HA)
About how he will do both the weight-lifting and sprints at the combine, Bess said about doing the 225-pound reps:
"I feel confident I can do a good amount. If a team is evaluating me, they'll say, 'OK, he did everything.' A lot of receivers here are not going to bench press." (HA)
About hiw weight gain, Colt told Rivals.com:
"I told a lot of people ... I wasn't joking around when I told them I got sick down there at the Senior Bowl. I started putting weight back on right away, and I've probably put on a good, solid 15 pounds in the month. ... I still think I can get bigger." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Brennan has been getting mixed reviews regarding his interviews. Some scouts say his willingness to speak out is a plus. One veteran scout said Brennan's explanation regarding a dorm incident with a co-ed that got him kicked out at Colorado left his team's management types shaking their heads. "They felt he portrayed himself as the victim too much," the scout said. Others like the fact that Brennan is willing to speak his mind on a variety of subjects."
"I'm happy with that." (HA)
HA Note: "Brennan also was officially listed as standing 6 feet 2 1/3. There were concerns when Brennan weighed 185 pounds at last month's Senior Bowl. Brennan said a stomach flu caused him to lose "five or six pounds" in the days leading to the Senior Bowl workouts. Brennan said he went on a high-protein diet in which he took supplements and, at a minimum, ate three specially prepared meals and three snacks each day."
About his eating schedule before the combine, Colt said:
"As long as I eat what I've been given, I can do whatever I want to gain extra weight. I made a couple of trips to In-N-Out Burger here and there. Now I'm trying to convert everything to muscle, and get as big as I can." (HA)
About Colt, James Harris (Jaguars VP of player personnel) said:
"He's an NFL-type quarterback. We want to see if he can adjust to a more NFL-style offense." (HA)
Harris said that Colt's arm is strong enough to:
"make all of the throws." (HA)
Harris talked about what their primary focus on Colt is for the combine:
"We want to see how he does when he's under center and dropping back and reading." (HA)
NY Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said about Colt:
"We want to study him." (HA)
HA Note: "With several hundred media attending, the ballroom was set up like a Lollapalooza concert. There were two stages, with rows of tables in between. Quarterbacks Matt Ryan of Boston College, Erik Ainge of Tennessee and Brian Brohm of Louisville gave their interviews from the podium. Brennan, wearing a gray NFL-issued sweatshirt, chose to conduct his interview at a round table. Brennan answered questions about his legal problems in Colorado, being pigeon-holed as a system" quarterback, and whether Krispy Kreme was part of his diet."
About life, Colt said:
"I think life is really two things: what you're given and what you do with it." (HA)
Rivers said that the NFL requested that he get an MRI on his lower back:
"They're going to do it at one of the hospitals here." (HA)
HA Note: "Rivers was held out of UH's game against Idaho Sept. 29 because of lower-back tightness. Rivers said the injury did not cause further problems, and that he feels he is healthy."
About why the NFL asked for the MRI, Rivers said:
"They want me to take the MRI as a follow-up." (HA)
About measuring at 6'1", 200-pounds, Rivers said:
"It's exactly where I want to be." (HA)
HA Note: "Rivers said he will focus on the running drills tomorrow. He will not participate in the lifting events today."
About seeing the snow, Bess said:
"I was excited, man. I've never been in snow before. This is actually pretty tight." (HA)
About his reaction when he grabbed some snow, Bess said:
"I put my hand in some snow, but my fingers felt like they were going to fall off. It was so cold." (HA)
About how he will do both the weight-lifting and sprints at the combine, Bess said about doing the 225-pound reps:
"I feel confident I can do a good amount. If a team is evaluating me, they'll say, 'OK, he did everything.' A lot of receivers here are not going to bench press." (HA)
About hiw weight gain, Colt told Rivals.com:
"I told a lot of people ... I wasn't joking around when I told them I got sick down there at the Senior Bowl. I started putting weight back on right away, and I've probably put on a good, solid 15 pounds in the month. ... I still think I can get bigger." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Brennan has been getting mixed reviews regarding his interviews. Some scouts say his willingness to speak out is a plus. One veteran scout said Brennan's explanation regarding a dorm incident with a co-ed that got him kicked out at Colorado left his team's management types shaking their heads. "They felt he portrayed himself as the victim too much," the scout said. Others like the fact that Brennan is willing to speak his mind on a variety of subjects."
Samson praised in the Miami Herald
About how it is possible to get fast-learning rookies for the OL, 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz said:
''It's happening more lately. I think that's a whole different world up front. The physical aspect of the game, some guys adapt to it so much sooner than others. And if they have enough skill and background, some of those guys are just more ready physically and ready for it sooner than other guys.'' (MH)
MH Note: "The Dolphins learned that last year as they watched center Samson Satele morph into a solid prospect for the future. It is believed Parcells likes Satele's potential, as he provides a strong nucleus to build around."
About how he was very impressed with Samson's progress last season, and how he expect Samson to get even better next year, former Miami OL coach Hudson Houck said:
''He can be a tremendous player. He could be a good player at center or guard, either one. I think they did a good job ofdrafting that guy. He's got a great attitude. We put him in a very tough situation. Playing center as a rookie is a hard job. He made a lot of strides this year, but I think he'll really make even more next year.'' (MH)
''It's happening more lately. I think that's a whole different world up front. The physical aspect of the game, some guys adapt to it so much sooner than others. And if they have enough skill and background, some of those guys are just more ready physically and ready for it sooner than other guys.'' (MH)
MH Note: "The Dolphins learned that last year as they watched center Samson Satele morph into a solid prospect for the future. It is believed Parcells likes Satele's potential, as he provides a strong nucleus to build around."
About how he was very impressed with Samson's progress last season, and how he expect Samson to get even better next year, former Miami OL coach Hudson Houck said:
''He can be a tremendous player. He could be a good player at center or guard, either one. I think they did a good job ofdrafting that guy. He's got a great attitude. We put him in a very tough situation. Playing center as a rookie is a hard job. He made a lot of strides this year, but I think he'll really make even more next year.'' (MH)
Colt's NFL Combine Transcript
About the weight he lost before the Senior Bowl, Colt said:
"I told a lot of people I was really not joking around when I got sick down there before the Senior Bowl. I was able to get some of my weight back right away and then I probably put on a solid 15 pounds in the last month. I'm at where I'm comfortable now but I know I can gain some more weight and get bigger." (NFL)
Asked how he gained the weight, Colt said:
"They put you on a strong supplement and they put you on a specific diet. They send like three meals to your house and three snacks. And they give you supplements, my agent and trainer. Basically just a lot of food. If I knock out my supplements and my meals I can do whatever I want, so I made a couple runs to In 'N Out. Basically ate as much as I could and I was able to work out every day and was just in a very specific environment and I was able to gain a lot of weight." (NFL)
Asked how much weight he gained, Colt said:
"I got sick right before the Senior Bowl so I weighed in down there at 185 and today I was 207 so that's 22 pounds. I got the stomach flu right before I got down there in Mobile, so I lost about five or six pounds just from not eating for four or five days." (NFL)
About the criticism he has been getting, Colt said:
"All the criticism I've gotten in the last couple weeks or whatever, especially since the bowl game, it's actually put me at ease. My whole life it seems like everyone said I wasn't going to be able to do it. When I went to Mater Dei High School out of Irvine, Calif. they said I'd be too small, I didn't start as a freshman, but by my senior year I started and we went to the CIF semis. Tried to get into a college, couldn't find one, went to a prep school, walked on at Colorado, bounced back to a JC, walked on at Hawaii. I could never get a break. Everyone kept saying 'Too small, not good enough' and I had a great career at Hawaii. To hear the criticism now it almost gets me at ease like I'm going to have a great success in the next league. I'm just excited to get to a team and prove I can do it." (NFL)
Asked if he's worried about running slow due to his extra weight, Colt said:
"I kind of had this hip problem at the Senior Bowl and that's something that helped me keep the weight on. I was rehabbing my hip and was only to get so much training and running. I'm not going to be running here at the combine. I will be running everything at the pro day a month from now, on April 1. That's one thing that helped me keep the weight on, that I wasn't training to run for the combine." (NFL)
About the teams that ask him about the incident in Colorado, Colt said:
"Everything that transpired after that, bouncing back to Saddleback and being an honor student, on honor roll. I was on probation for three years, was sentenced for four and got off a year early for good behavior. It's one thing to be a college kid to go on and have success, but for me to have success at Hawaii and to have those strict restrictions on probation and never mess up once and to get through that painlessly goes to show I'm ready to handle - it's a good learning ground for what the NFL is like, and being an NFL quarterback, the responsibilities, and I think the last three years really proved I'm ready to handle the responsibilities of an NFL quarterback. That thing, that situation, is coming back as a positive right now for me."
Asked what the Colorado incident taught him, Colt said:
"It basically taught me life is not fair. I'm the one who is at fault for putting myself in that situation, but there were a lot of things that transpired after I got in trouble that wasn't right, that wasn't fair. I had to go through a lot of tough times and it made me a lot tougher internally. It made me realize life is not fair, you have to make life what it is. I was able to go on and have some success and experience some great things because of the mental way I changed. I think it's really helped me for the lifestyle you're about to enter, going into the NFL." (NFL)
Asked what wasn't fair, if he was referring to Colorado letting him go, Colt said:
"No, no, not that. I was asked to leave the school and everything, but the way the media handled me. When I first got in trouble, when I first got found guilty, I lost scholarships because the media misreported everything that happened down there. I wasn't given a very fair opportunity by the media. Then some other things I went through, the way the trial process went through. I passed polygraph tests, I had people testify, for everything I got found guilty of there was also strong evidence to find me not guilty of it, but I was still found guilty of things. Just the way things went and the whole way the process was, it wasn't fair, it wasn't easy. But that's life." (NFL)
About maintaining his innocence, Colt said:
"I was accused of some crimes a jury found me not guilty of. For instance, the trespass and burglary charges that stuck - Trespass for entering a room unlawfully, yet three people testified they witnessed me invited into the room. Burglary charge for not leaving the room when asked to leave, yet I passed a polygraph test that I was never asked to leave the room. At the same time it's not like what I did that night was innocent. I was drunk and I put myself in a bad situation. I've learned from that and I take
full responsibility from that." (NFL)
Asked what he can gain out of the combine, Colt said:
"I think I can throw really well. I think that's something I'm really excited to do on Sunday, to get out there and prove I have a good arm. I've really been working a lot from underneath the center and doing a lot from dropback, and doing what I didn't do that much in college. I think if I can go out and throw really well, some of these negatives are going to bounce back as positives. Senior Bowl week I was elected as a captain and got to start, and I was around guys who had been playing in an underneath system their whole college career, and I jumped right into it and was having a great week of practice. If I can go out and have success on Sunday and throw the ball really well, then I think it's going to show a lot of positives that 'Look, already he's showing he can progress through this type of offense and any system, really.' " (NFL)
Asked if he wants to go to a passing team, Colt said:
"I love throwing the ball. I'd love to go to a team that wants to throw the football. Really, I'm just excited for an opportunity to go anywhere, and looking for a coaching staff that's really looking to me, to invest time in me and sees me as a guy that could be their potential starter sometime down the road. I'm not so much focused on the offense, just the opportunity and who thinks I can be their guy." (NFL)
Asked about a team like New England, Colt said:
"It's an opportunity. I want to go somewhere where I can be a quarterback and start soon and get going. I'm not getting any younger. At the same time, if I had the opportunity to go do that, I could obviously learn from a guy like Tom Brady and in a lot of ways that made me a lot better quarterback and I'd just have to wait for my opportunity to come. I've learned these past couple years that it's all in God's hands and you have to learn and take what you're given. If that's what I'm given I'm going to make the best of it. Hopefully my opportunity will come and I can prove myself at the next level." (NFL)
Asked about his hip injury, Colt said:
"It was actually at the Senior Bowl. It wasn't a big thing, but I had this strain in my hip and it caused my groin to kind of get sore. Basically being down there, they didn't have treatment really for me so I pushed through it and the next week I was down during the quarterback challenge and Super Bowl events, so I went about two weeks without treatment and came back and had about two and a half weeks to get here, so I went through the rehab and got it going and it's almost 100 percent. I did all the physicals today and the doctors said it looked great, looks fine but I don't have the training really that most guys have had to run well at the combine. So I'm going to reserve my right to run at my pro day and make sure I'm 100 percent for the throwing." (NFL)
Asked where his pro day is, Colt said:
"It's actually at the Home Depot Center the day before SC. A lot of guys will show up for USC's pro day so we kind of piggy back them and jump into their facilities." (NFL)
Asked about the criticism of him being a system QB, Colt said:
"Obviously there's going to be those criticisms. As I get involved in the interview process people get a better understanding. I think those types of criticisms come from the media and other people, but when I do the interview process coaches have a lot of respect for Coach Jones and the offense he ran and what we did there. They just want to make sure I can take what I learned there and transition it into a new offense, that I'm not one minded in the way I play the football game, which I'm not." (NFL)
Asked who he is like in the NFL, Colt said:
"I've always thought I was pretty original, the way I played but I've always looked at a lot of guys and wanted to mimic their strengths. I love the way Tom Brady leads, watching Peyton Manning the last couple years I think it's unbelievable how smart he is, the knowledge of the game he has but growing up as a kid the one guy I tried to mimic the most was Brett Favre, just the have fun go out there and play football type of mentality. I love that and that's the way I play the game." (NFL)
Asked if his arm strength was reduced because of his groin injury, Colt said:
"I know that a lot of people did question my arm strength, and it's funny to me because I thought I had five great practices, I just didn't have a great game. One thing I had to get used to is in shotgun I could just catch the ball, jump up around and step into every throw. Now there's a rhythm to everything and
there's a timing. You have to sit on your back foot. You have to do things a bit different and I wasn't that comfortable with it yet. So that's what I've been doing as much of these last four weeks. Hopefully when I get out there Sunday I can prove I really have gotten a lot better since the Senior Bowl. Hopefully I'll show them my arm is just fine, strength wise." (NFL)
Asked about questions about the Colorado incident, Colt said:
"People have been hitting me with that at the Senior Bowl. One thing I had before CU was I was known as a really good guy and having great character. The testimonials of people coming in, girls I had known for a long time came in and said 'He's a great guy.' I think that after that Colorado situation and the success I had and the way things went down, the way Hawaii responded to me, I think my character stands for itself in my actions. That situation was what it was. I can't change anything. I can only hope to change the way people look at me. My actions speak for themselves. Hopefully if I get an opportunity to play in the NFL, I'll have just as much success character wise off the field that I had at Hawaii." (NFL)
Asked if he wanted to forum to talk about the incident, Colt said:
"I've got no problem talking about it. This stuff seems a lot easier, because when I was coming out of Colorado and Saddleback I was really having to defend myself. Now it seems like people are more open minded to hear the story and maybe hear a little more about everything. The coaches and everybody has sat me down, I've gone through this many times, and it hasn't been an issue, it hasn't been a problem. I've gotten good responses from everyone." (NFL)
Asked what he'll do on draft day, Colt said:
"My sister lives in Colorado, I was thinking about maybe going up there and hanging out in Colorado. She lives in Snowmass, beautiful place. Maybe do some fishing and hang out and relax and wait for the phone call to come in, hopefully." (NFL)
Asked what kind of fishing he'll do, Colt said:
"Fly fishing. Trout." (NFL)
Asked what would have happened if he had his full career in Colorado and if he would have been just as successful, Colt said:
"Maybe not. You can't predict that. I think life is two things, what you're given and what you do with it. I really think I've learned a lot from my lessons in Colorado and I've been able to do a lot and go out and accomplish a lot, but who knows. I really don't know. It's all speculation. I'm just glad I ended up where I did and I'm here today." (NFL)
Asked why he is so open about the Colorado incident, Colt said:
"I've got nothing to hide. From day one I was never given a fair opportunity to defend myself and even though I have only myself to blame for putting myself in that situation there's a lot of that's still unsaid and a lot of misinterpretations of what happened out there and I'd like to clear everything and let everyone get a fair opportunity of looking at me and the type of person I am." (NFL)
"I told a lot of people I was really not joking around when I got sick down there before the Senior Bowl. I was able to get some of my weight back right away and then I probably put on a solid 15 pounds in the last month. I'm at where I'm comfortable now but I know I can gain some more weight and get bigger." (NFL)
Asked how he gained the weight, Colt said:
"They put you on a strong supplement and they put you on a specific diet. They send like three meals to your house and three snacks. And they give you supplements, my agent and trainer. Basically just a lot of food. If I knock out my supplements and my meals I can do whatever I want, so I made a couple runs to In 'N Out. Basically ate as much as I could and I was able to work out every day and was just in a very specific environment and I was able to gain a lot of weight." (NFL)
Asked how much weight he gained, Colt said:
"I got sick right before the Senior Bowl so I weighed in down there at 185 and today I was 207 so that's 22 pounds. I got the stomach flu right before I got down there in Mobile, so I lost about five or six pounds just from not eating for four or five days." (NFL)
About the criticism he has been getting, Colt said:
"All the criticism I've gotten in the last couple weeks or whatever, especially since the bowl game, it's actually put me at ease. My whole life it seems like everyone said I wasn't going to be able to do it. When I went to Mater Dei High School out of Irvine, Calif. they said I'd be too small, I didn't start as a freshman, but by my senior year I started and we went to the CIF semis. Tried to get into a college, couldn't find one, went to a prep school, walked on at Colorado, bounced back to a JC, walked on at Hawaii. I could never get a break. Everyone kept saying 'Too small, not good enough' and I had a great career at Hawaii. To hear the criticism now it almost gets me at ease like I'm going to have a great success in the next league. I'm just excited to get to a team and prove I can do it." (NFL)
Asked if he's worried about running slow due to his extra weight, Colt said:
"I kind of had this hip problem at the Senior Bowl and that's something that helped me keep the weight on. I was rehabbing my hip and was only to get so much training and running. I'm not going to be running here at the combine. I will be running everything at the pro day a month from now, on April 1. That's one thing that helped me keep the weight on, that I wasn't training to run for the combine." (NFL)
About the teams that ask him about the incident in Colorado, Colt said:
"Everything that transpired after that, bouncing back to Saddleback and being an honor student, on honor roll. I was on probation for three years, was sentenced for four and got off a year early for good behavior. It's one thing to be a college kid to go on and have success, but for me to have success at Hawaii and to have those strict restrictions on probation and never mess up once and to get through that painlessly goes to show I'm ready to handle - it's a good learning ground for what the NFL is like, and being an NFL quarterback, the responsibilities, and I think the last three years really proved I'm ready to handle the responsibilities of an NFL quarterback. That thing, that situation, is coming back as a positive right now for me."
Asked what the Colorado incident taught him, Colt said:
"It basically taught me life is not fair. I'm the one who is at fault for putting myself in that situation, but there were a lot of things that transpired after I got in trouble that wasn't right, that wasn't fair. I had to go through a lot of tough times and it made me a lot tougher internally. It made me realize life is not fair, you have to make life what it is. I was able to go on and have some success and experience some great things because of the mental way I changed. I think it's really helped me for the lifestyle you're about to enter, going into the NFL." (NFL)
Asked what wasn't fair, if he was referring to Colorado letting him go, Colt said:
"No, no, not that. I was asked to leave the school and everything, but the way the media handled me. When I first got in trouble, when I first got found guilty, I lost scholarships because the media misreported everything that happened down there. I wasn't given a very fair opportunity by the media. Then some other things I went through, the way the trial process went through. I passed polygraph tests, I had people testify, for everything I got found guilty of there was also strong evidence to find me not guilty of it, but I was still found guilty of things. Just the way things went and the whole way the process was, it wasn't fair, it wasn't easy. But that's life." (NFL)
About maintaining his innocence, Colt said:
"I was accused of some crimes a jury found me not guilty of. For instance, the trespass and burglary charges that stuck - Trespass for entering a room unlawfully, yet three people testified they witnessed me invited into the room. Burglary charge for not leaving the room when asked to leave, yet I passed a polygraph test that I was never asked to leave the room. At the same time it's not like what I did that night was innocent. I was drunk and I put myself in a bad situation. I've learned from that and I take
full responsibility from that." (NFL)
Asked what he can gain out of the combine, Colt said:
"I think I can throw really well. I think that's something I'm really excited to do on Sunday, to get out there and prove I have a good arm. I've really been working a lot from underneath the center and doing a lot from dropback, and doing what I didn't do that much in college. I think if I can go out and throw really well, some of these negatives are going to bounce back as positives. Senior Bowl week I was elected as a captain and got to start, and I was around guys who had been playing in an underneath system their whole college career, and I jumped right into it and was having a great week of practice. If I can go out and have success on Sunday and throw the ball really well, then I think it's going to show a lot of positives that 'Look, already he's showing he can progress through this type of offense and any system, really.' " (NFL)
Asked if he wants to go to a passing team, Colt said:
"I love throwing the ball. I'd love to go to a team that wants to throw the football. Really, I'm just excited for an opportunity to go anywhere, and looking for a coaching staff that's really looking to me, to invest time in me and sees me as a guy that could be their potential starter sometime down the road. I'm not so much focused on the offense, just the opportunity and who thinks I can be their guy." (NFL)
Asked about a team like New England, Colt said:
"It's an opportunity. I want to go somewhere where I can be a quarterback and start soon and get going. I'm not getting any younger. At the same time, if I had the opportunity to go do that, I could obviously learn from a guy like Tom Brady and in a lot of ways that made me a lot better quarterback and I'd just have to wait for my opportunity to come. I've learned these past couple years that it's all in God's hands and you have to learn and take what you're given. If that's what I'm given I'm going to make the best of it. Hopefully my opportunity will come and I can prove myself at the next level." (NFL)
Asked about his hip injury, Colt said:
"It was actually at the Senior Bowl. It wasn't a big thing, but I had this strain in my hip and it caused my groin to kind of get sore. Basically being down there, they didn't have treatment really for me so I pushed through it and the next week I was down during the quarterback challenge and Super Bowl events, so I went about two weeks without treatment and came back and had about two and a half weeks to get here, so I went through the rehab and got it going and it's almost 100 percent. I did all the physicals today and the doctors said it looked great, looks fine but I don't have the training really that most guys have had to run well at the combine. So I'm going to reserve my right to run at my pro day and make sure I'm 100 percent for the throwing." (NFL)
Asked where his pro day is, Colt said:
"It's actually at the Home Depot Center the day before SC. A lot of guys will show up for USC's pro day so we kind of piggy back them and jump into their facilities." (NFL)
Asked about the criticism of him being a system QB, Colt said:
"Obviously there's going to be those criticisms. As I get involved in the interview process people get a better understanding. I think those types of criticisms come from the media and other people, but when I do the interview process coaches have a lot of respect for Coach Jones and the offense he ran and what we did there. They just want to make sure I can take what I learned there and transition it into a new offense, that I'm not one minded in the way I play the football game, which I'm not." (NFL)
Asked who he is like in the NFL, Colt said:
"I've always thought I was pretty original, the way I played but I've always looked at a lot of guys and wanted to mimic their strengths. I love the way Tom Brady leads, watching Peyton Manning the last couple years I think it's unbelievable how smart he is, the knowledge of the game he has but growing up as a kid the one guy I tried to mimic the most was Brett Favre, just the have fun go out there and play football type of mentality. I love that and that's the way I play the game." (NFL)
Asked if his arm strength was reduced because of his groin injury, Colt said:
"I know that a lot of people did question my arm strength, and it's funny to me because I thought I had five great practices, I just didn't have a great game. One thing I had to get used to is in shotgun I could just catch the ball, jump up around and step into every throw. Now there's a rhythm to everything and
there's a timing. You have to sit on your back foot. You have to do things a bit different and I wasn't that comfortable with it yet. So that's what I've been doing as much of these last four weeks. Hopefully when I get out there Sunday I can prove I really have gotten a lot better since the Senior Bowl. Hopefully I'll show them my arm is just fine, strength wise." (NFL)
Asked about questions about the Colorado incident, Colt said:
"People have been hitting me with that at the Senior Bowl. One thing I had before CU was I was known as a really good guy and having great character. The testimonials of people coming in, girls I had known for a long time came in and said 'He's a great guy.' I think that after that Colorado situation and the success I had and the way things went down, the way Hawaii responded to me, I think my character stands for itself in my actions. That situation was what it was. I can't change anything. I can only hope to change the way people look at me. My actions speak for themselves. Hopefully if I get an opportunity to play in the NFL, I'll have just as much success character wise off the field that I had at Hawaii." (NFL)
Asked if he wanted to forum to talk about the incident, Colt said:
"I've got no problem talking about it. This stuff seems a lot easier, because when I was coming out of Colorado and Saddleback I was really having to defend myself. Now it seems like people are more open minded to hear the story and maybe hear a little more about everything. The coaches and everybody has sat me down, I've gone through this many times, and it hasn't been an issue, it hasn't been a problem. I've gotten good responses from everyone." (NFL)
Asked what he'll do on draft day, Colt said:
"My sister lives in Colorado, I was thinking about maybe going up there and hanging out in Colorado. She lives in Snowmass, beautiful place. Maybe do some fishing and hang out and relax and wait for the phone call to come in, hopefully." (NFL)
Asked what kind of fishing he'll do, Colt said:
"Fly fishing. Trout." (NFL)
Asked what would have happened if he had his full career in Colorado and if he would have been just as successful, Colt said:
"Maybe not. You can't predict that. I think life is two things, what you're given and what you do with it. I really think I've learned a lot from my lessons in Colorado and I've been able to do a lot and go out and accomplish a lot, but who knows. I really don't know. It's all speculation. I'm just glad I ended up where I did and I'm here today." (NFL)
Asked why he is so open about the Colorado incident, Colt said:
"I've got nothing to hide. From day one I was never given a fair opportunity to defend myself and even though I have only myself to blame for putting myself in that situation there's a lot of that's still unsaid and a lot of misinterpretations of what happened out there and I'd like to clear everything and let everyone get a fair opportunity of looking at me and the type of person I am." (NFL)
Quotes from the combine
Putting down Colt again, Mel Kiper said:
"That Sugar Bowl showed that he's got to put on some weight. He's got to get a little stronger and all that, maintain that weight right around 200 pounds, not be at 185-190. That's the big thing, and the delivery is all over the place. The arm strength is decent. He's borderline arm strength, but he's okay, and he doesn't have the great arm – good enough arm. He's a guy you would say is definitely good enough. … He competes hard and there's an awful lot to like about Colt Brennan. In the fifth or sixth round he'll be a nice choice for somebody, but I think the days of thinking second or third round pretty much ended at the Sugar Bowl." (Miami Herald)
About his doubters, Colt said:
"My whole life it seems like everyone said I wasn't going to be able to do it. When I went to Mater Dei High School in Irvine, Calif., they said I'd be too small. ... I tried to get into a college, couldn't find one. I went to a prep school, walked on at Colorado, bounced back to a junior college, walked on at Hawaii -- never could get a break. Everyone kept saying, 'too small, not good enough,' and I had a good career at Hawaii. So you hear the criticism now, it almost puts me at ease, like I'm going to have great success in the next league. So I'm just excited to get to a team and prove that I can do it." (NFL.com)
Asked about leaving Colorado, Colt said:
"I was accused of some crimes a jury found me not guilty of. For instance, the trespass and burglary charges that stuck - Trespass for entering a room unlawfully, yet three people testified they witnessed me invited into the room. Burglary charge for not leaving the room when asked to leave, yet I passed a polygraph test that I was never asked to leave the room. At the same time it's not like what I did that night was innocent. I was drunk and I put myself in a bad situation. I've learned from that and I take full responsibility from that." (49ers.com)
"I'm the one who's at fault for putting myself in that situation, but there were a lot of things that transpired after I got into trouble that just weren't right. It wasn't fair. I had to go through a lot of tough times. It made me a lot tougher internally. It made me realize that life is not fair. You've got to make life what it is. I was able to go on and have some success and experience some great things because of the way I changed. I think it's really helped me prepare for the lifestyle I'm going into in the NFL." (NFL.com)
Asked what he learned from the situation and how he's changed, Colt said:
"It basically taught me life is not fair. I'm the one who is at fault for putting myself in that situation, but there were a lot of things that transpired after I got in trouble that wasn't right, that wasn't fair. I had to go through a lot of tough times and it made me a lot tougher internally. It made me realize life is not fair, you have to make life what it is. I was able to go on and have some success and experience some great things because of the mental way I changed. I think it's really helped me for the lifestyle you're about to enter, going into the NFL." (49ers.com)
Taking responsibility for the incident, Colt said:
"It's not like what I did that night was innocent. I was drunk, and I put myself in a bad situation. I've learned from that, I take full responsibility for that." (NFL.com)
KFFL Notes from the combine:
"Of the skill position players, I was able to get a few questions answered by University of Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan, who fielded a slew of questions about his past legal troubles from others in attendance. I targeted my questions toward his time working with the San Francisco 49ers coaching staff during the Senior Bowl week and, specifically, his footwork.
Brennan said he injured his hip during the week and wasn't quite right. He was able to push through the pain, eventually being named the starting quarterback of the South team for the week. He credited 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz for helping him with his footwork and allowing him to use his legs more in his throwing motion."
"Of other notables, I was impressed with the candor of the aforementioned Brennan, who wasn't afraid to answer anything about his past troubles."
"Time for a few quick-hit items of note:
* Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan seemed almost timid during his time with the media. He didn't seem to have that aura of confidence about him that most quarterbacks need - the level of confidence that borders on flat-out arrogance (see Colt Brennan).
* University of California-Berkeley wide receiver DeSean Jackson isn't quite as tall as Cal wants you to believe. Listed at 6-foot through the school's official Web site, Jackson measured just 5-foot-9. Is World Wrestling Entertainment in charge of keeping tabs at Cal?
* Brennan put on 22 pounds since the Senior Bowl, now weighing a still slight 207 pounds. He credited it to being on a diet, taking supplements and enjoying trips to the fast food chain "In-N-Out Burger." Way to win them over, Colt!"
Scout.com combine notes:
"12:16 p.m. - After a controversial week in Mobile where he weighed in at just 185 pounds, Hawaii QB Colt Brennan measured in at an impressive 6-foot-2, 207 pounds today in Indianapolis. He was on a strict weight-gain program and has been working hard taking snaps under center and his five and seven step drop back. Brennan was open and honest with the media regarding his past and stated, "I have nothing to hide."
11:44 a.m. - Hawaii wide receiver Ryan Grice-Mullen said that one of his selling points to NFL teams is the fact that he's been playing since he was a freshman, so he has plenty of game experience. When it comes to rating himself on a scale of 1 to 10 at reading defenses, he said he thinks he's a 9 or a 10. He said at Hawaii, there could be five different routes out of one play, so he had to be able to make the right decisions based on what he saw from the defense.
Chicago Tribune ranks the QBs at the combine...they have Colt TENTH.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/cs-080219-nfl-combine-quarterbacks-ranking,0,997268.story
Chicago Tribune ranks the WRs at the combine...they have Bess 21st, RGM 24th, and Rivers 29th.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/cs-080219-nfl-combine-wide-receivers-ranking,0,5984886.story?page=2
"That Sugar Bowl showed that he's got to put on some weight. He's got to get a little stronger and all that, maintain that weight right around 200 pounds, not be at 185-190. That's the big thing, and the delivery is all over the place. The arm strength is decent. He's borderline arm strength, but he's okay, and he doesn't have the great arm – good enough arm. He's a guy you would say is definitely good enough. … He competes hard and there's an awful lot to like about Colt Brennan. In the fifth or sixth round he'll be a nice choice for somebody, but I think the days of thinking second or third round pretty much ended at the Sugar Bowl." (Miami Herald)
About his doubters, Colt said:
"My whole life it seems like everyone said I wasn't going to be able to do it. When I went to Mater Dei High School in Irvine, Calif., they said I'd be too small. ... I tried to get into a college, couldn't find one. I went to a prep school, walked on at Colorado, bounced back to a junior college, walked on at Hawaii -- never could get a break. Everyone kept saying, 'too small, not good enough,' and I had a good career at Hawaii. So you hear the criticism now, it almost puts me at ease, like I'm going to have great success in the next league. So I'm just excited to get to a team and prove that I can do it." (NFL.com)
Asked about leaving Colorado, Colt said:
"I was accused of some crimes a jury found me not guilty of. For instance, the trespass and burglary charges that stuck - Trespass for entering a room unlawfully, yet three people testified they witnessed me invited into the room. Burglary charge for not leaving the room when asked to leave, yet I passed a polygraph test that I was never asked to leave the room. At the same time it's not like what I did that night was innocent. I was drunk and I put myself in a bad situation. I've learned from that and I take full responsibility from that." (49ers.com)
"I'm the one who's at fault for putting myself in that situation, but there were a lot of things that transpired after I got into trouble that just weren't right. It wasn't fair. I had to go through a lot of tough times. It made me a lot tougher internally. It made me realize that life is not fair. You've got to make life what it is. I was able to go on and have some success and experience some great things because of the way I changed. I think it's really helped me prepare for the lifestyle I'm going into in the NFL." (NFL.com)
Asked what he learned from the situation and how he's changed, Colt said:
"It basically taught me life is not fair. I'm the one who is at fault for putting myself in that situation, but there were a lot of things that transpired after I got in trouble that wasn't right, that wasn't fair. I had to go through a lot of tough times and it made me a lot tougher internally. It made me realize life is not fair, you have to make life what it is. I was able to go on and have some success and experience some great things because of the mental way I changed. I think it's really helped me for the lifestyle you're about to enter, going into the NFL." (49ers.com)
Taking responsibility for the incident, Colt said:
"It's not like what I did that night was innocent. I was drunk, and I put myself in a bad situation. I've learned from that, I take full responsibility for that." (NFL.com)
KFFL Notes from the combine:
"Of the skill position players, I was able to get a few questions answered by University of Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan, who fielded a slew of questions about his past legal troubles from others in attendance. I targeted my questions toward his time working with the San Francisco 49ers coaching staff during the Senior Bowl week and, specifically, his footwork.
Brennan said he injured his hip during the week and wasn't quite right. He was able to push through the pain, eventually being named the starting quarterback of the South team for the week. He credited 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz for helping him with his footwork and allowing him to use his legs more in his throwing motion."
"Of other notables, I was impressed with the candor of the aforementioned Brennan, who wasn't afraid to answer anything about his past troubles."
"Time for a few quick-hit items of note:
* Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan seemed almost timid during his time with the media. He didn't seem to have that aura of confidence about him that most quarterbacks need - the level of confidence that borders on flat-out arrogance (see Colt Brennan).
* University of California-Berkeley wide receiver DeSean Jackson isn't quite as tall as Cal wants you to believe. Listed at 6-foot through the school's official Web site, Jackson measured just 5-foot-9. Is World Wrestling Entertainment in charge of keeping tabs at Cal?
* Brennan put on 22 pounds since the Senior Bowl, now weighing a still slight 207 pounds. He credited it to being on a diet, taking supplements and enjoying trips to the fast food chain "In-N-Out Burger." Way to win them over, Colt!"
Scout.com combine notes:
"12:16 p.m. - After a controversial week in Mobile where he weighed in at just 185 pounds, Hawaii QB Colt Brennan measured in at an impressive 6-foot-2, 207 pounds today in Indianapolis. He was on a strict weight-gain program and has been working hard taking snaps under center and his five and seven step drop back. Brennan was open and honest with the media regarding his past and stated, "I have nothing to hide."
11:44 a.m. - Hawaii wide receiver Ryan Grice-Mullen said that one of his selling points to NFL teams is the fact that he's been playing since he was a freshman, so he has plenty of game experience. When it comes to rating himself on a scale of 1 to 10 at reading defenses, he said he thinks he's a 9 or a 10. He said at Hawaii, there could be five different routes out of one play, so he had to be able to make the right decisions based on what he saw from the defense.
Chicago Tribune ranks the QBs at the combine...they have Colt TENTH.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/cs-080219-nfl-combine-quarterbacks-ranking,0,997268.story
Chicago Tribune ranks the WRs at the combine...they have Bess 21st, RGM 24th, and Rivers 29th.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/cs-080219-nfl-combine-wide-receivers-ranking,0,5984886.story?page=2
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Warriors arrive at the combine
About how it was cold when they arrived in Indianapolis for the combine, RGM said:
"It's cold, bro. It's like 17 (degrees). It's definitely not 80 degrees, like Hawai'i." (HA)
About how it is cold, Colt said:
"Whoever decides to come here, better pack some warm clothes. It's definitely chilly." (HA)
RGM said that he has sprinted well in workouts, but:
"those are just workouts." (HA)
"I know how fast I can run. I'm not going to say anything. I'm going to wait, and let everybody see for themselves." (HA)
HA Note: "Bess has been praised for his first-step quickness and sure hands."
About how the importance of his 40-yard time, Bess said:
"I have to run a good 40. That's the only knock right now. I have to run a good 40, and put it in God's hands after that." (HA)
"I'm not really a 40 dude. When I'm on the field, I like to think nobody can catch me. But I'm not the guy who can stand on a line, and just get up and go." (HA)
HA Note: "Bess said he has worked on improving his lower-body strength. He has been doing one-legged squats and leg presses."
HA Note: "Brennan said he has been told the NFL is interested in two areas: his weight and passing skills. Because of a stomach-flu-like ailment, the 6-foot-2 1/2 Brennan dropped to 185 pounds. He has told friends he now weighs 200."
About how he'll participate only in the passing drills, Colt said:
"That's what they want to see." (HA)
HA Note: "Brennan said he suffered a hip-pointer in the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl. That led to tightness in his hamstring. Because of those injuries, he was not able to properly train for the sprints. He said he is 100 percent physically. He plans to run the 40-yard dash and pro-shuttle runs at UH's Pro Day April 1 in Carson, Calif."
"It's cold, bro. It's like 17 (degrees). It's definitely not 80 degrees, like Hawai'i." (HA)
About how it is cold, Colt said:
"Whoever decides to come here, better pack some warm clothes. It's definitely chilly." (HA)
RGM said that he has sprinted well in workouts, but:
"those are just workouts." (HA)
"I know how fast I can run. I'm not going to say anything. I'm going to wait, and let everybody see for themselves." (HA)
HA Note: "Bess has been praised for his first-step quickness and sure hands."
About how the importance of his 40-yard time, Bess said:
"I have to run a good 40. That's the only knock right now. I have to run a good 40, and put it in God's hands after that." (HA)
"I'm not really a 40 dude. When I'm on the field, I like to think nobody can catch me. But I'm not the guy who can stand on a line, and just get up and go." (HA)
HA Note: "Bess said he has worked on improving his lower-body strength. He has been doing one-legged squats and leg presses."
HA Note: "Brennan said he has been told the NFL is interested in two areas: his weight and passing skills. Because of a stomach-flu-like ailment, the 6-foot-2 1/2 Brennan dropped to 185 pounds. He has told friends he now weighs 200."
About how he'll participate only in the passing drills, Colt said:
"That's what they want to see." (HA)
HA Note: "Brennan said he suffered a hip-pointer in the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl. That led to tightness in his hamstring. Because of those injuries, he was not able to properly train for the sprints. He said he is 100 percent physically. He plans to run the 40-yard dash and pro-shuttle runs at UH's Pro Day April 1 in Carson, Calif."
Bess prepares for the combine
About how he'll do all of the tests at the combine, unlike many prospects who will just do a few of them, Bess said:
"I have to let my work ethic speak for itself. I'm not into the predraft hype, I've always been under the radar. I'm just going to do my best." (HSB)
HSB Note: "The third-team AP All-American is marketing himself as a receiver and a punt returner, although his experience is somewhat limited in the latter. He will participate in return drills at the combine. Bess was listed at 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds by UH last year. His height might come out shorter when he's measured at the combine. But that's not considered a problem by scouts, who see a new demand for shorter, quick receivers."
About Bess, one NFL scout said:
"He's intriguing, because he fits the mold of a Wes Welker (of the Patriots), and other teams will be looking for that kind of player. I'm very curious about him." (HSB)
HSB Note: "If more teams emulate the Patriots' offense, which often uses three and four receivers, a player with Bess' experience as a slotback becomes valuable."
Told about the scout's comment, Bess said:
"To be compared to someone of (Welker's) caliber, that's definitely a compliment." (HSB)
HSB Note: "He's also been compared to Carolina Panthers All-Pro Steve Smith."
About Bess, who received a 2nd round advisory from the NFL evaluation committee, Bess' agent Kenny Zuckerman said:
"He plays fast, he runs great routes, he has great hands and he gets great yards after the catch." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Bess admits he won't set any records in the 40 ("I'm not a track guy"), but he will likely score high in agility drills."
HSB Note: "Also, while he shined in the community as much as on the field in his three years at Hawaii, Bess knows he will be asked again and again about his time in a correctional facility after high school and before his enrollment at UH."
Prepared for the questions about his problem before UH, Bess said:
"We did a lot of preparation for the interviews." (HSB)
"I have to let my work ethic speak for itself. I'm not into the predraft hype, I've always been under the radar. I'm just going to do my best." (HSB)
HSB Note: "The third-team AP All-American is marketing himself as a receiver and a punt returner, although his experience is somewhat limited in the latter. He will participate in return drills at the combine. Bess was listed at 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds by UH last year. His height might come out shorter when he's measured at the combine. But that's not considered a problem by scouts, who see a new demand for shorter, quick receivers."
About Bess, one NFL scout said:
"He's intriguing, because he fits the mold of a Wes Welker (of the Patriots), and other teams will be looking for that kind of player. I'm very curious about him." (HSB)
HSB Note: "If more teams emulate the Patriots' offense, which often uses three and four receivers, a player with Bess' experience as a slotback becomes valuable."
Told about the scout's comment, Bess said:
"To be compared to someone of (Welker's) caliber, that's definitely a compliment." (HSB)
HSB Note: "He's also been compared to Carolina Panthers All-Pro Steve Smith."
About Bess, who received a 2nd round advisory from the NFL evaluation committee, Bess' agent Kenny Zuckerman said:
"He plays fast, he runs great routes, he has great hands and he gets great yards after the catch." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Bess admits he won't set any records in the 40 ("I'm not a track guy"), but he will likely score high in agility drills."
HSB Note: "Also, while he shined in the community as much as on the field in his three years at Hawaii, Bess knows he will be asked again and again about his time in a correctional facility after high school and before his enrollment at UH."
Prepared for the questions about his problem before UH, Bess said:
"We did a lot of preparation for the interviews." (HSB)
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Funaki #1 QB now, Mike Washington shows leadership
About being the #1 QB on the team now, Inoke said:
"It's good pressure. It definitely has me on my horse, working a lot harder than I ever have before." (HA)
HA Note: "Funaki, who will be a junior in the fall, was the No. 3 quarterback behind starter Colt Brennan and Tyler Graunke last season. Brennan completed his NCAA eligibility at the end of the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl, and Graunke is suspended from team activities after breaking team-oriented rules. Funaki, who will turn 25 next month, is on track to enter the March 31 start of spring practice as the No. 1 quarterback. He is at the top of the depth chart for the first time since December 2001, when he led Kahuku High to the state football championship. After serving a church mission in the Dominican Republic, Funaki rejoined the Warriors as a 22-year-old freshman in 2005. He redshirted that season, then spent the next two years as the No. 3 quarterback."
About how he has more motivation now, Inoke said:
"Before, I worked hard, but a lot of times you feel you're in the back, and it's hard to get out of that situation. There's definitely more motivation now. The best thing I can do is work hard, don't hold back, give it my all. It'll help elevate the level of play for everyone else." (HA)
HA Note: "Funaki acknowledged that his easy-going demeanor might be misinterpreted. He is a youth leader in the Mormon church. He also has a playful side, sometimes roller-skating between the athletic complex and the practice field."
About how he wants the job without a doubt, Inoke said:
"I definitely want the job. Nobody wants something handed to them. You want to have the spot because the coaches have trust in you, and they know you can do the job. That's why I'm working very hard." (HA)
HA Note: "Funaki, who is 5 feet 11, said he weighs between 200 and 205 pounds — his range during last season. But he said he is in better shape."
About how he's in better shape than he was last season, Inoke said:
"I'm putting in that little extra when I work out. When I run, I try to do a little bit more. Everybody looks to the quarterback. Even if he doesn't want to be the leader, he's the guy the team looks to. I want to set an example." (HA)
HA Note: "Funaki said he receives special tutoring from Vince Passas, Saint Louis School's noted offensive coordinator. Passas, a former Crusader standout, has tutored quarterbacks Tim Chang, Jason Gesser and Darnell Arceneaux."
About how Passas has been helping him, Inoke said:
"He's been a big help, with all of the little fundamentals. At Kahuku, we were like this [he motions as if to hand off] and not into the other stuff. I never had a coach tell me, 'Oh, get that elbow up, follow through,' or 'get some rub to get better rotation.' " (HA)
About how his goal is to reduce his time in the 40-yard dash, Inoke said:
"I've never been able to break 4.7 (seconds) in my life. If I can get somewhere in the 4.6, that will be good for me. If I can do that, I'll bring it down more. Baby steps." (HA)
HA Note: "For three seasons, Michael Washington had the misfortune of sharing the same position as two of the Warriors' best receivers, slotbacks Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins. In 2005, Washington and Bess were first-year Warriors, and Grice-Mullins was a second-year freshman. Bess and Grice-Mullins seized starting jobs that year. Washington was not good enough to beat out either player but was too good to redshirt. After last season, Bess and Grice-Mullins decided to relinquish their senior seasons and apply for the 2008 National Football League draft in April. That opened the way for Washington. Now Washington has emerged as a leader, organizing passing drills for the receivers three times a week. The coaches named Washington as one of 10 workout captains."
About leading their workouts, Mike Washington said:
"This is my senior year. I'm trying as hard as I can. Me and Yoda (slotback Aaron Bain) want to instill what we've learned to the younger players." (HA)
Washington said that he deferred to Bess and RGM the past 3 years but is taking over now because:
"I don't want this season to be a three-and-out." (HA)
"It's good pressure. It definitely has me on my horse, working a lot harder than I ever have before." (HA)
HA Note: "Funaki, who will be a junior in the fall, was the No. 3 quarterback behind starter Colt Brennan and Tyler Graunke last season. Brennan completed his NCAA eligibility at the end of the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl, and Graunke is suspended from team activities after breaking team-oriented rules. Funaki, who will turn 25 next month, is on track to enter the March 31 start of spring practice as the No. 1 quarterback. He is at the top of the depth chart for the first time since December 2001, when he led Kahuku High to the state football championship. After serving a church mission in the Dominican Republic, Funaki rejoined the Warriors as a 22-year-old freshman in 2005. He redshirted that season, then spent the next two years as the No. 3 quarterback."
About how he has more motivation now, Inoke said:
"Before, I worked hard, but a lot of times you feel you're in the back, and it's hard to get out of that situation. There's definitely more motivation now. The best thing I can do is work hard, don't hold back, give it my all. It'll help elevate the level of play for everyone else." (HA)
HA Note: "Funaki acknowledged that his easy-going demeanor might be misinterpreted. He is a youth leader in the Mormon church. He also has a playful side, sometimes roller-skating between the athletic complex and the practice field."
About how he wants the job without a doubt, Inoke said:
"I definitely want the job. Nobody wants something handed to them. You want to have the spot because the coaches have trust in you, and they know you can do the job. That's why I'm working very hard." (HA)
HA Note: "Funaki, who is 5 feet 11, said he weighs between 200 and 205 pounds — his range during last season. But he said he is in better shape."
About how he's in better shape than he was last season, Inoke said:
"I'm putting in that little extra when I work out. When I run, I try to do a little bit more. Everybody looks to the quarterback. Even if he doesn't want to be the leader, he's the guy the team looks to. I want to set an example." (HA)
HA Note: "Funaki said he receives special tutoring from Vince Passas, Saint Louis School's noted offensive coordinator. Passas, a former Crusader standout, has tutored quarterbacks Tim Chang, Jason Gesser and Darnell Arceneaux."
About how Passas has been helping him, Inoke said:
"He's been a big help, with all of the little fundamentals. At Kahuku, we were like this [he motions as if to hand off] and not into the other stuff. I never had a coach tell me, 'Oh, get that elbow up, follow through,' or 'get some rub to get better rotation.' " (HA)
About how his goal is to reduce his time in the 40-yard dash, Inoke said:
"I've never been able to break 4.7 (seconds) in my life. If I can get somewhere in the 4.6, that will be good for me. If I can do that, I'll bring it down more. Baby steps." (HA)
HA Note: "For three seasons, Michael Washington had the misfortune of sharing the same position as two of the Warriors' best receivers, slotbacks Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins. In 2005, Washington and Bess were first-year Warriors, and Grice-Mullins was a second-year freshman. Bess and Grice-Mullins seized starting jobs that year. Washington was not good enough to beat out either player but was too good to redshirt. After last season, Bess and Grice-Mullins decided to relinquish their senior seasons and apply for the 2008 National Football League draft in April. That opened the way for Washington. Now Washington has emerged as a leader, organizing passing drills for the receivers three times a week. The coaches named Washington as one of 10 workout captains."
About leading their workouts, Mike Washington said:
"This is my senior year. I'm trying as hard as I can. Me and Yoda (slotback Aaron Bain) want to instill what we've learned to the younger players." (HA)
Washington said that he deferred to Bess and RGM the past 3 years but is taking over now because:
"I don't want this season to be a three-and-out." (HA)
Colt gets to answer his critics
About how he always responds to his critics, Colt said:
"Whenever I get criticized, I always seem to prove them wrong in the end." (HSB)
About how he's been trying to gain weight before the combine, Colt said:
"Basically, calories. I'm being encouraged to eat a lot. I eat healthy three times a day, and then a lot of In-N-Out (burgers) and a lot of Philly cheesesteaks." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Meals are delivered to Brennan by the Sunfare Diet company. Snacking is encouraged very much."
About what he's been snacking on, Colt said:
"A lot of trans-fatty food." (HSB)
HSB Note: "The 6-foot-2 Brennan weighed in at 186 pounds at the Senior Bowl last month. He said a flu caused him to lose weight. Yesterday, Brennan said he was sick again recently, but this time he didn't lose weight. He declined to disclose his weight, for fear of "jinxing" himself at the weigh-in in Indianapolis. Brennan's diet isn't conducive to speed, so he'll hold off on running the 40 until UH's Pro Day on April 1 in Carson, Calif. He also doesn't plan any other time drills or to bench press. Brennan will participate in the quarterback drills. Brennan started last season around 200 pounds. He said off-field demands contributed to a gradual weight loss during the Warriors' 12-1 season during which the team -- and Brennan in particular -- was often in the national spotlight."
About how he lost weight during the season due to all the demands on his time, Colt said:
"I was put into a tough situation. I had to make up three incomplete classes, plus three classes last fall to graduate. All the media and public demands, no one will ever understand." (HSB)
About how morning practice, interviews, and classes affected his diet, Colt said:
"I didn't eat before practice, and by the time my interviews were done there wasn't any (training table) breakfast left, or I had to go to class. Sometimes my first meal wasn't until 2 or 3 p.m." (HSB)
About his critics who say he should have been keeping his weight up, Colt said:
"They say I obviously wasn't thinking long-term. That's true, because we were just trying to get through each week, one at a time." (HSB)
About his critics that have been dropping him in their draft analysis, Colt said:
"You can look at all your Mel Kipers, but they don't matter. Feedback I'm getting from GMs and coaches tells a lot different story. Pro Day and the Combine are huge for me. They can make me a first-day pick." (HSB)
HSB Note: "An NFL scout who considered Brennan a late first-round pick for last year's draft said "the fifth round is a very real possibility" if Brennan doesn't show something before the draft."
About how Colt's stock dropped this season, the NFL scout said:
"After the Senior Bowl his stock definitely dropped. There's no 185-pound quarterbacks playing. There's also a little bit of an arm-strength question and he has to make the transition (to dropping back)." (HSB)
Comparing Colt to a QB who placed 3rd in the Heisman voting and played 10 seasons in the NFL, the scout said:
"He's almost like a Jake Plummer. Similar in size. He's not fast, but quick and has a lot of agility and makes plays." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Plummer was drafted in the second round and started for the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos. He was named a Pro Bowl alternate twice."
"Whenever I get criticized, I always seem to prove them wrong in the end." (HSB)
About how he's been trying to gain weight before the combine, Colt said:
"Basically, calories. I'm being encouraged to eat a lot. I eat healthy three times a day, and then a lot of In-N-Out (burgers) and a lot of Philly cheesesteaks." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Meals are delivered to Brennan by the Sunfare Diet company. Snacking is encouraged very much."
About what he's been snacking on, Colt said:
"A lot of trans-fatty food." (HSB)
HSB Note: "The 6-foot-2 Brennan weighed in at 186 pounds at the Senior Bowl last month. He said a flu caused him to lose weight. Yesterday, Brennan said he was sick again recently, but this time he didn't lose weight. He declined to disclose his weight, for fear of "jinxing" himself at the weigh-in in Indianapolis. Brennan's diet isn't conducive to speed, so he'll hold off on running the 40 until UH's Pro Day on April 1 in Carson, Calif. He also doesn't plan any other time drills or to bench press. Brennan will participate in the quarterback drills. Brennan started last season around 200 pounds. He said off-field demands contributed to a gradual weight loss during the Warriors' 12-1 season during which the team -- and Brennan in particular -- was often in the national spotlight."
About how he lost weight during the season due to all the demands on his time, Colt said:
"I was put into a tough situation. I had to make up three incomplete classes, plus three classes last fall to graduate. All the media and public demands, no one will ever understand." (HSB)
About how morning practice, interviews, and classes affected his diet, Colt said:
"I didn't eat before practice, and by the time my interviews were done there wasn't any (training table) breakfast left, or I had to go to class. Sometimes my first meal wasn't until 2 or 3 p.m." (HSB)
About his critics who say he should have been keeping his weight up, Colt said:
"They say I obviously wasn't thinking long-term. That's true, because we were just trying to get through each week, one at a time." (HSB)
About his critics that have been dropping him in their draft analysis, Colt said:
"You can look at all your Mel Kipers, but they don't matter. Feedback I'm getting from GMs and coaches tells a lot different story. Pro Day and the Combine are huge for me. They can make me a first-day pick." (HSB)
HSB Note: "An NFL scout who considered Brennan a late first-round pick for last year's draft said "the fifth round is a very real possibility" if Brennan doesn't show something before the draft."
About how Colt's stock dropped this season, the NFL scout said:
"After the Senior Bowl his stock definitely dropped. There's no 185-pound quarterbacks playing. There's also a little bit of an arm-strength question and he has to make the transition (to dropping back)." (HSB)
Comparing Colt to a QB who placed 3rd in the Heisman voting and played 10 seasons in the NFL, the scout said:
"He's almost like a Jake Plummer. Similar in size. He's not fast, but quick and has a lot of agility and makes plays." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Plummer was drafted in the second round and started for the Arizona Cardinals and Denver Broncos. He was named a Pro Bowl alternate twice."
Quotes from Clapp and McNamara
Clapp and McNamara were at Aloha Stadium yesterday:
"to keep the communication lines open." (HSB)
About the big issues of traffic and parking, McNamara said:
"We want to make sure we're addressing the issues that have been expressed to us by fans. We want to continue improving the fan experience by evaluating how to make it better. The stadium (officials) has done a lot and we want to make sure those efforts continue." (HSB)
About all of the new season-ticket sales, Clapp said:
"I don't know if I'd call it a surprise because we made sure we'd offer opportunities for people to support us. I'm ecstatic about what we've seen so far." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Clapp said the issue of the $400,008 owed by former football coach June Jones to the school is a personnel matter being handed by the UH Human Resources Department. The amount is for "liquidated damages" for leaving six months before his contract expired."
About the negotiations with JJ, Clapp said:
"I'm sure everyone involved will do the right thing." (HSB)
HSB Note: "McNamara said there had been "unofficial interest" shown by another entity regarding the television rights to broadcast UH sports. The current contracts for both TV (KFVE) and radio (KKEA 1420-AM) expire July 31. KFVE and KKEA were given the first shot at negotiating the extension of their respective contracts. KKEA has submitted its proposal, KFVE has until Feb. 29."
HSB Note: "Clapp said discussion continues on the pay-per-view situation but "we're just chatting," he said."
Asked about the suggestion of a reduction of the PPV price for season-ticket holders, Clapp said:
"I'm not aware of any changes." (HSB)
"to keep the communication lines open." (HSB)
About the big issues of traffic and parking, McNamara said:
"We want to make sure we're addressing the issues that have been expressed to us by fans. We want to continue improving the fan experience by evaluating how to make it better. The stadium (officials) has done a lot and we want to make sure those efforts continue." (HSB)
About all of the new season-ticket sales, Clapp said:
"I don't know if I'd call it a surprise because we made sure we'd offer opportunities for people to support us. I'm ecstatic about what we've seen so far." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Clapp said the issue of the $400,008 owed by former football coach June Jones to the school is a personnel matter being handed by the UH Human Resources Department. The amount is for "liquidated damages" for leaving six months before his contract expired."
About the negotiations with JJ, Clapp said:
"I'm sure everyone involved will do the right thing." (HSB)
HSB Note: "McNamara said there had been "unofficial interest" shown by another entity regarding the television rights to broadcast UH sports. The current contracts for both TV (KFVE) and radio (KKEA 1420-AM) expire July 31. KFVE and KKEA were given the first shot at negotiating the extension of their respective contracts. KKEA has submitted its proposal, KFVE has until Feb. 29."
HSB Note: "Clapp said discussion continues on the pay-per-view situation but "we're just chatting," he said."
Asked about the suggestion of a reduction of the PPV price for season-ticket holders, Clapp said:
"I'm not aware of any changes." (HSB)
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Jason Rivers preps for the combine
About the importance of Rivers' 40-yard time at the combine, Rivers' agent Leo Goeas said:
"If he breaks into the 4.3s, that changes things. He's right at the brink, in the low 4.4s." (HSB)
About how he hasn't gone under 4.4 yet, Rivers (who is training in Colorado) said:
"I'm not quite there, but I'm trying. Since the Shrine Game, I've been running and lifting every day. It's cold here, but all our workouts are indoors. I've been working a lot on running mechanics." (HSB)
About how Rivers will do the 40-yard time at the combine and his bench press at UH's Pro Day, Goeas said:
"The main thing is how he runs." (HSB)
About how he's prepared for the NFL, 6'2", 190-pound Rivers said:
"I just need to do what I do. Catch the ball, run good routes." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Known for initiating contact with defensive backs, Rivers displayed toughness at the Sugar Bowl by coming back into the game after being knocked out by a hit in the first half. He finished with 10 catches for 105 yards in a game Hawaii lost to Georgia 41-10."
Not worrying about who drafts him, Rivers said:
"I don't really care what team picks me. The Patriots and Colts are the exceptions, but everyone else in the league throws the ball about the same amount." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Rivers, UH slotbacks Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins and quarterback Colt Brennan arrive in Indianapolis tomorrow. On Thursday they'll undergo physical exams. On Saturday they get tested in the 40 and other speed, agility and strength tests. Colorado linebacker Jordon Dizon (Waimea High alum) will also be at the combine."
About how Rivers has the most interest from NFL scouts of the UH WRs, an NFL scout said:
"He's the one (of the Hawaii receivers) who has the most going for him. Guys who have watched him enough feel good about him. Even if he runs in the 4.4s, that's good for him and he'll be a mid-round pick." (HSB)
"If he breaks into the 4.3s, that changes things. He's right at the brink, in the low 4.4s." (HSB)
About how he hasn't gone under 4.4 yet, Rivers (who is training in Colorado) said:
"I'm not quite there, but I'm trying. Since the Shrine Game, I've been running and lifting every day. It's cold here, but all our workouts are indoors. I've been working a lot on running mechanics." (HSB)
About how Rivers will do the 40-yard time at the combine and his bench press at UH's Pro Day, Goeas said:
"The main thing is how he runs." (HSB)
About how he's prepared for the NFL, 6'2", 190-pound Rivers said:
"I just need to do what I do. Catch the ball, run good routes." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Known for initiating contact with defensive backs, Rivers displayed toughness at the Sugar Bowl by coming back into the game after being knocked out by a hit in the first half. He finished with 10 catches for 105 yards in a game Hawaii lost to Georgia 41-10."
Not worrying about who drafts him, Rivers said:
"I don't really care what team picks me. The Patriots and Colts are the exceptions, but everyone else in the league throws the ball about the same amount." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Rivers, UH slotbacks Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins and quarterback Colt Brennan arrive in Indianapolis tomorrow. On Thursday they'll undergo physical exams. On Saturday they get tested in the 40 and other speed, agility and strength tests. Colorado linebacker Jordon Dizon (Waimea High alum) will also be at the combine."
About how Rivers has the most interest from NFL scouts of the UH WRs, an NFL scout said:
"He's the one (of the Hawaii receivers) who has the most going for him. Guys who have watched him enough feel good about him. Even if he runs in the 4.4s, that's good for him and he'll be a mid-round pick." (HSB)
Feature story on Fudge's Gym
About his training style, Fudge said:
"Some question if it's too many reps. Hey, Colt (Brennan) got where he is by reps of throwing the ball. It's the same thing." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Mike Lafaele, Amani Purcell and Hercules Satele didn't get invited to the NFL Combine. But the former Hawaii linemen are VIPs at Fudge's Gym, and that might help them get noticed when UH has its Pro Day on April 1 in Carson, Calif. Harold "Fudge" Fajardo has already helped train three former UH players on their way to the NFL -- Leo Goeas, Ma'a Tanuvasa and Vince Manuwai. Lafaele, Purcell and Satele have been working out with former Warriors Samson Satele (Miami Dolphins) and Dane Uperesa (Cincinnati Bengals) at the gym attached to the Mililani home of Fajardo, whose training technique is based on good old-fashioned high reps with heavy weights."
HSB Note: "Purcell, who started at defensive end for UH last season, said he's made outstanding gains midway through Fajardo's nine-week program, including 44 reps on the bench with 225 pounds. Uperesa said he's enjoying helping his former teammates get ready for their shot at the pros, while preparing himself for a chance to get on the Bengals' depth chart at left tackle. And he likes the no-frills aspects of Fudge's Gym."
About how Fudge's Gym, Uperesa said:
"There's really no distractions here. If you go back to the school you're going to see people that you haven't seen for a while and they might distract you from your workout. Over here it's a quick 45-minute workout. And it's an honor to work out here." (HSB)
About Fudge's Gym, Samson Satele said:
"I like it here. It's a real quiet area. Nobody knows where it is. We just come here and pound the weights." (HSB)
HSB Note: "The place is Fudge's Gym, a small room bloated with free weights, attached to a typical Mililani home on a cul de sac three turns off the highway. Harold "Fudge" Fajardo, 61, estimates that the 600 square-foot extension to his home holds around 20,000 pounds of weights -- more than enough for five 300-pound linemen to get their daily dose of iron. He can't calculate how much money he's put into the room. So much equipment has come and gone over the years -- bought by him, donated by him to fundraisers, given to schools, donated to him by others -- it would be as mind-numbing to figure out as how a 198-pound man could bench press 440 pounds, as Fajardo once did himself. There's no sauna, no pilates classes, no annual membership fees. Just weights and that old gym smell of sweat and strength. And success.
Among the regulars from years past are former UH and NFL players Leo Goeas and Ma'a Tanuvasa, and Vince Manuwai, a former Warrior who starts at guard for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The walls are full of pictures and newspaper articles, and 14 football helmets -- high school, college and pro -- hang from the ceiling. Fajardo's current project is trying to help three players who just finished at UH get into the NFL. Mike Lafaele, Amani Purcell and Hercules Satele were all starters for the 12-1 Warriors last fall. But they did not get selected for this week's NFL Combine. Their big chance comes April 1 at Carson, Calif., when pro scouts will check out UH alums. So now they work out three or four days a week at Fudge's Gym, specifically on the bench press. The goal is to break the record for bench press repetitions (225 pounds) for all pro days, which Fajardo said is 50. Dane Uperesa (another former Warrior now a tackle with the Cincinnati Bengals) and Samson Satele complete the workout group. Goeas, now a player agent, represents them all. He sent them to Fajardo, a retired Hawaiian Tel employee whose passion is helping others expand their limits."
About sending his players to Fudge's Gym, Leo Goeas said:
"The environment there prepares them to not limit themselves. Fudge is great at pushing people out of their comfort zones. He helps them develop a 'no fear' attitude they'll need when they get to camp." (HSB)
HSB Note: "The session starts with a prayer. A sign on the wall says, "Fudge's Gym, but Jesus Rules." "
Before the workout, Fudge said:
"Easy day today. Light day." (HSB)
HSB Note: "A light day for these guys starts with a warm-up of 20 reps of 225 pounds. The workout is basic, but fast and intense, with plenty of inspirational talk and technical instruction from Fajardo. On this day, one of his star alumni, Tanuvasa, he of two Super Bowl rings, observes."
About how he heard about Fudge's Gym, Tanuvasa said:
"I was 16 when I started lifting. Before, I was more of a beach guy. I had some other friends who lifted here and they told me about the gym." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Fajardo built it in 1985, after a friend challenged him to enter a powerlifting contest. It became a haven for high school lifters, and then Goeas, Tanuvasa and Manuwai made it a home of pro football players."
Asked which player that he's preparing for, Tanuvasa suggested "Wilfork" and Samson said:
"Nah, Casey Hampton." (HSB)
About preparing for all of the DTs in the NFL, Samson said:
"I have to pick my strength up, because every guy (in the NFL) is stronger than the strongest guy I faced in college. The guy that's second string or third string? He's just as good as the guy who's starting. College, you can take a play off when you see some other guy come in. Now, you know they're all good and you gotta bring your 'A' game every time." (HSB)
About training at Fudge's Gym for the first time, Samson said:
"First time here. I've been working out four years. I train hard, but over here I got stronger on my bench faster." (HSB)
About the focus by scouts on the bench press for lineman, Hercules said:
"They're looking more for speed at other positions. But when a lineman comes, they want to see how strong you are. They want to know you can take the punishment and still dish it out. Every time the weights go higher, we still do 20 reps. (Fajardo) just pushes you to the limit and you see the results." (HSB)
About how Fudge's coaching will help him in his quest to make the Bengals' regular roster instead of being on the practice squad, Uperesa said:
"He's teaching me a lot about my muscles and how to use them correctly. Other places they just give you a set and you do it. Over here they lift heavy weights, but they know what they're doing." (HSB)
About the great results he's gotten in just 5 weeks at Fudge's Gym, Michael Lafaele said:
"I never lifted like this. Ever. I think it's him, the weights and the reps. It's perfect for what we train for. He works with our technique, grips, elbow, back. A lot of little details can get you 10 more reps." (HSB)
"Some question if it's too many reps. Hey, Colt (Brennan) got where he is by reps of throwing the ball. It's the same thing." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Mike Lafaele, Amani Purcell and Hercules Satele didn't get invited to the NFL Combine. But the former Hawaii linemen are VIPs at Fudge's Gym, and that might help them get noticed when UH has its Pro Day on April 1 in Carson, Calif. Harold "Fudge" Fajardo has already helped train three former UH players on their way to the NFL -- Leo Goeas, Ma'a Tanuvasa and Vince Manuwai. Lafaele, Purcell and Satele have been working out with former Warriors Samson Satele (Miami Dolphins) and Dane Uperesa (Cincinnati Bengals) at the gym attached to the Mililani home of Fajardo, whose training technique is based on good old-fashioned high reps with heavy weights."
HSB Note: "Purcell, who started at defensive end for UH last season, said he's made outstanding gains midway through Fajardo's nine-week program, including 44 reps on the bench with 225 pounds. Uperesa said he's enjoying helping his former teammates get ready for their shot at the pros, while preparing himself for a chance to get on the Bengals' depth chart at left tackle. And he likes the no-frills aspects of Fudge's Gym."
About how Fudge's Gym, Uperesa said:
"There's really no distractions here. If you go back to the school you're going to see people that you haven't seen for a while and they might distract you from your workout. Over here it's a quick 45-minute workout. And it's an honor to work out here." (HSB)
About Fudge's Gym, Samson Satele said:
"I like it here. It's a real quiet area. Nobody knows where it is. We just come here and pound the weights." (HSB)
HSB Note: "The place is Fudge's Gym, a small room bloated with free weights, attached to a typical Mililani home on a cul de sac three turns off the highway. Harold "Fudge" Fajardo, 61, estimates that the 600 square-foot extension to his home holds around 20,000 pounds of weights -- more than enough for five 300-pound linemen to get their daily dose of iron. He can't calculate how much money he's put into the room. So much equipment has come and gone over the years -- bought by him, donated by him to fundraisers, given to schools, donated to him by others -- it would be as mind-numbing to figure out as how a 198-pound man could bench press 440 pounds, as Fajardo once did himself. There's no sauna, no pilates classes, no annual membership fees. Just weights and that old gym smell of sweat and strength. And success.
Among the regulars from years past are former UH and NFL players Leo Goeas and Ma'a Tanuvasa, and Vince Manuwai, a former Warrior who starts at guard for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The walls are full of pictures and newspaper articles, and 14 football helmets -- high school, college and pro -- hang from the ceiling. Fajardo's current project is trying to help three players who just finished at UH get into the NFL. Mike Lafaele, Amani Purcell and Hercules Satele were all starters for the 12-1 Warriors last fall. But they did not get selected for this week's NFL Combine. Their big chance comes April 1 at Carson, Calif., when pro scouts will check out UH alums. So now they work out three or four days a week at Fudge's Gym, specifically on the bench press. The goal is to break the record for bench press repetitions (225 pounds) for all pro days, which Fajardo said is 50. Dane Uperesa (another former Warrior now a tackle with the Cincinnati Bengals) and Samson Satele complete the workout group. Goeas, now a player agent, represents them all. He sent them to Fajardo, a retired Hawaiian Tel employee whose passion is helping others expand their limits."
About sending his players to Fudge's Gym, Leo Goeas said:
"The environment there prepares them to not limit themselves. Fudge is great at pushing people out of their comfort zones. He helps them develop a 'no fear' attitude they'll need when they get to camp." (HSB)
HSB Note: "The session starts with a prayer. A sign on the wall says, "Fudge's Gym, but Jesus Rules." "
Before the workout, Fudge said:
"Easy day today. Light day." (HSB)
HSB Note: "A light day for these guys starts with a warm-up of 20 reps of 225 pounds. The workout is basic, but fast and intense, with plenty of inspirational talk and technical instruction from Fajardo. On this day, one of his star alumni, Tanuvasa, he of two Super Bowl rings, observes."
About how he heard about Fudge's Gym, Tanuvasa said:
"I was 16 when I started lifting. Before, I was more of a beach guy. I had some other friends who lifted here and they told me about the gym." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Fajardo built it in 1985, after a friend challenged him to enter a powerlifting contest. It became a haven for high school lifters, and then Goeas, Tanuvasa and Manuwai made it a home of pro football players."
Asked which player that he's preparing for, Tanuvasa suggested "Wilfork" and Samson said:
"Nah, Casey Hampton." (HSB)
About preparing for all of the DTs in the NFL, Samson said:
"I have to pick my strength up, because every guy (in the NFL) is stronger than the strongest guy I faced in college. The guy that's second string or third string? He's just as good as the guy who's starting. College, you can take a play off when you see some other guy come in. Now, you know they're all good and you gotta bring your 'A' game every time." (HSB)
About training at Fudge's Gym for the first time, Samson said:
"First time here. I've been working out four years. I train hard, but over here I got stronger on my bench faster." (HSB)
About the focus by scouts on the bench press for lineman, Hercules said:
"They're looking more for speed at other positions. But when a lineman comes, they want to see how strong you are. They want to know you can take the punishment and still dish it out. Every time the weights go higher, we still do 20 reps. (Fajardo) just pushes you to the limit and you see the results." (HSB)
About how Fudge's coaching will help him in his quest to make the Bengals' regular roster instead of being on the practice squad, Uperesa said:
"He's teaching me a lot about my muscles and how to use them correctly. Other places they just give you a set and you do it. Over here they lift heavy weights, but they know what they're doing." (HSB)
About the great results he's gotten in just 5 weeks at Fudge's Gym, Michael Lafaele said:
"I never lifted like this. Ever. I think it's him, the weights and the reps. It's perfect for what we train for. He works with our technique, grips, elbow, back. A lot of little details can get you 10 more reps." (HSB)
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Regents approve coaches pay raises
HSB Note: "The current pay scale for offensive coordinator Ron Lee, defensive coordinator Cal Lee and associate head coach Rich Miano ranges from $65,412 to $117,744. The new scale approved yesterday ranges from $116,640 to $203,688. The other assistant-coach ranges have more variance: The current spread is $50,160 to $90,288 and the new approved range is $56,340 to $165,000."
About how the assistant coaches have salaries within the old and new ranges, Clapp said:
"All current salaries, with few exceptions, fall within (both) those ranges. A few (in other sports) will require some adjusting. We have different contracts for our coaches and most all assistants are annual. As they come up, we negotiate a new number and that's an ongoing process." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Ranges for 24 other jobs were also approved yesterday. The maximum salary for women's basketball head coach went from $135,636 to $209,784. Jim Bolla's base annual salary was $120,000 for his first three-year contract that ended prior to this season. His salary for this year was not immediately available."
About the increased salary ranges, a UH news release said:
"The intent of the adjustment and update is to ensure the UH-Manoa Athletics program remains competitive and salaries are comparable with NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision ... programs." (HSB)
HSB Note: "The Board also approved $8,000 bonuses for eight members of the UH football coaching and administrative staff. That money came from donations to the June Jones Foundation. Four assistant coaches who joined Jones at SMU when he left UH to coach the Mustangs have already received those bonuses."
About how the assistant coaches have salaries within the old and new ranges, Clapp said:
"All current salaries, with few exceptions, fall within (both) those ranges. A few (in other sports) will require some adjusting. We have different contracts for our coaches and most all assistants are annual. As they come up, we negotiate a new number and that's an ongoing process." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Ranges for 24 other jobs were also approved yesterday. The maximum salary for women's basketball head coach went from $135,636 to $209,784. Jim Bolla's base annual salary was $120,000 for his first three-year contract that ended prior to this season. His salary for this year was not immediately available."
About the increased salary ranges, a UH news release said:
"The intent of the adjustment and update is to ensure the UH-Manoa Athletics program remains competitive and salaries are comparable with NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision ... programs." (HSB)
HSB Note: "The Board also approved $8,000 bonuses for eight members of the UH football coaching and administrative staff. That money came from donations to the June Jones Foundation. Four assistant coaches who joined Jones at SMU when he left UH to coach the Mustangs have already received those bonuses."
Friday, February 15, 2008
Kauai Garden Island News report on the Warriors' rings
About his WAC champion ring, Jett Jasper said:
“I couldn’t believe how big it was; it’s so blinged out, there are so many diamonds. That’s my main piece of jewelry right now.” (KGI)
Excited to get the ring, Kenny Estes said:
“That’s what completed the whole WAC championship experience." (KGI)
“We did a fitting for them about a month ago, so I knew it was going to fit and it fit perfectly." (KGI)
“I couldn’t believe how big it was; it’s so blinged out, there are so many diamonds. That’s my main piece of jewelry right now.” (KGI)
Excited to get the ring, Kenny Estes said:
“That’s what completed the whole WAC championship experience." (KGI)
“We did a fitting for them about a month ago, so I knew it was going to fit and it fit perfectly." (KGI)
Mario Cox is reinstated
About how Mario Cox is on the team, Mack said:
"Yes, he's going to come out for spring ball. He'll be competing with everybody else at running back. He's competing for a position (on the team)." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Cox was suspended for the 2006 season for not meeting team academic expectations, and then was dismissed from the team last season by former head coach June Jones. Cox played as a true freshman in 2005 and sparingly in 2007."
"Yes, he's going to come out for spring ball. He'll be competing with everybody else at running back. He's competing for a position (on the team)." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Cox was suspended for the 2006 season for not meeting team academic expectations, and then was dismissed from the team last season by former head coach June Jones. Cox played as a true freshman in 2005 and sparingly in 2007."
AD Search Committee named
About the search committee, Hinshaw said:
"The members of the search committee were chosen for their understanding of the relationship between UH athletics and our community and the needs of a Division I athletics program." (HA, HSB)
HA Note: "University of Hawai'i-Manoa Chancellor Virginia S. Hinshaw will chair a nine-member search committee to recommend a new athletic director, the school announced yesterday. In addition to Hinshaw, the other members are: Debra Ishii, executive assistant to the chancellor; Mitchell Kaaialii, assistant vice president, First Hawaiian Bank; Dee Jay Mailer, CEO Kamehameha Schools; Don Murphy, owner of Murphy's Bar & Grill; Peter Nicholson, English professor and UH faculty representative; Dave Shoji, UH women's volleyball coach; Christina Stidman, president, Associated Students of UH-Manoa; and John Tsui, chair of Towne Realty Development. Kaaialii is a former UH offensive lineman (1989-91)."
HSB Note: "The committee will meet next week. It will recommend a candidate for approval by the Board of Regents. Hinshaw said earlier UH wants to have a new AD in place by the middle of next month to replace Herman Frazier, who was dismissed last month.
Hawaii Bowl executive director Jim Donovan joined the list of known applicants for the job yesterday. "Yes, I applied (Wednesday)," the former UH associate AD said.
Hawaii High School Athletic Association executive director Keith Amemiya and Kamehameha-Hawaii athletic director Bob Wagner also told the Star-Bulletin that they have applied.
Carl Clapp is serving as interim AD, and has also applied for the permanent post.
Hilo Community College chancellor Rockne Freitas is believed to be among the leading candidates, but declined comment yesterday.
Another possible candidate, San Jose State football coach Dick Tomey, had not returned a phone messages left for him earlier this week."
HA Note: "The early read is that interim athletic director Carl Clapp, already the biggest winner in the athletic department this year, has the most reason to be encouraged. With just under two years at UH and little known outside of Manoa until Frazier was dismissed, Clapp appears to have won Hinshaw's confidence with his handling of things at the Sugar Bowl and thus the interim appointment and a doubling of his salary to $227,807.
Rockne Freitas, an 11-year NFL veteran who was associate athletic director at UH in the 1980s and now serves as Hawai'i Community College Chancellor, would seem to have some following on the committee, though not as much as he could have had under membership that had been rumored.
Ultimately, the one with the most on the line in the AD sweepstakes is Hinshaw. The next AD will be her call and she clearly wants it that way."
"The members of the search committee were chosen for their understanding of the relationship between UH athletics and our community and the needs of a Division I athletics program." (HA, HSB)
HA Note: "University of Hawai'i-Manoa Chancellor Virginia S. Hinshaw will chair a nine-member search committee to recommend a new athletic director, the school announced yesterday. In addition to Hinshaw, the other members are: Debra Ishii, executive assistant to the chancellor; Mitchell Kaaialii, assistant vice president, First Hawaiian Bank; Dee Jay Mailer, CEO Kamehameha Schools; Don Murphy, owner of Murphy's Bar & Grill; Peter Nicholson, English professor and UH faculty representative; Dave Shoji, UH women's volleyball coach; Christina Stidman, president, Associated Students of UH-Manoa; and John Tsui, chair of Towne Realty Development. Kaaialii is a former UH offensive lineman (1989-91)."
HSB Note: "The committee will meet next week. It will recommend a candidate for approval by the Board of Regents. Hinshaw said earlier UH wants to have a new AD in place by the middle of next month to replace Herman Frazier, who was dismissed last month.
Hawaii Bowl executive director Jim Donovan joined the list of known applicants for the job yesterday. "Yes, I applied (Wednesday)," the former UH associate AD said.
Hawaii High School Athletic Association executive director Keith Amemiya and Kamehameha-Hawaii athletic director Bob Wagner also told the Star-Bulletin that they have applied.
Carl Clapp is serving as interim AD, and has also applied for the permanent post.
Hilo Community College chancellor Rockne Freitas is believed to be among the leading candidates, but declined comment yesterday.
Another possible candidate, San Jose State football coach Dick Tomey, had not returned a phone messages left for him earlier this week."
HA Note: "The early read is that interim athletic director Carl Clapp, already the biggest winner in the athletic department this year, has the most reason to be encouraged. With just under two years at UH and little known outside of Manoa until Frazier was dismissed, Clapp appears to have won Hinshaw's confidence with his handling of things at the Sugar Bowl and thus the interim appointment and a doubling of his salary to $227,807.
Rockne Freitas, an 11-year NFL veteran who was associate athletic director at UH in the 1980s and now serves as Hawai'i Community College Chancellor, would seem to have some following on the committee, though not as much as he could have had under membership that had been rumored.
Ultimately, the one with the most on the line in the AD sweepstakes is Hinshaw. The next AD will be her call and she clearly wants it that way."
Thursday, February 14, 2008
The Warriors got their WAC Champion rings today
Before distributing the rings, Mack thanked JJ and said that most of all:
"this was because of the players. The players made the plays." (HA)
HA Note: "McMackin designed the rings, which has "Hawai'i," palm trees, Diamond Head, the sun, the beach and "12-0" on one side. On the other is the wearer's name, a helmet with an "H" on it, "Warrior 'Ohana," and the owner's jersey number. On the face, "WAC Championship" is on the top and "Sugar Bowl" is on the bottom."
About the middle of the ring, Mack said:
"And, a little bling for the fellas." (HA)
About the ring, Sol Elimimian said:
"This is a reward for all of the hard work. We put in a lot to reach this goal together." (HA)
"this was because of the players. The players made the plays." (HA)
HA Note: "McMackin designed the rings, which has "Hawai'i," palm trees, Diamond Head, the sun, the beach and "12-0" on one side. On the other is the wearer's name, a helmet with an "H" on it, "Warrior 'Ohana," and the owner's jersey number. On the face, "WAC Championship" is on the top and "Sugar Bowl" is on the bottom."
About the middle of the ring, Mack said:
"And, a little bling for the fellas." (HA)
About the ring, Sol Elimimian said:
"This is a reward for all of the hard work. We put in a lot to reach this goal together." (HA)
Dodgeball was the latest Super Games competition
About how they prepared for dodgeball, Adam Leonard said:
"We used different dodgeball techniques we learned from 'Dodgeball,' the movie. We're just the Average Joes and we came to compete." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Unlike dodgeball legend Patches O'Houlihan in the movie, Leonard did not throw wrenches at his team to prepare them for the rigors of competition."
Adam said:
"But we did dodge cars." (HSB)
About how he plays dodgeball, Blaze said:
"We played a lot last spring, we used to have our own tournaments. Solomon, Jake (Ingram), Keao (Monteilh), Ryan Keomaka." (HSB)
About how he had the dodgeball experts on his team, Sol Elimimian said:
"Yes, we have some professional dodgeball players. Blaze, Greg Salas, Jake Ingram. We thought we were the favorite." (HSB)
HSB Note: "And Elimimian's team looked the part early. Even kicker Dan Kelly looked like he knew what he was doing (not a big surprise considering Kelly was an outstanding soccer goalkeeper in high school). Soares, with a big wind-up fastball to match his first name, was the KO king. In the championship game, the Hammers took the early lead, but the Section 8 players were especially adept at bailing their fallen teammates out of "jail" and came from behind to win."
About the team play that led to their win, Adam said:
"It's teamwork. Just communicate, and be athletic. We've got an athletic team, they can do different facets of just being an athlete. That's what it takes, and that's what I wanted when I picked my team. You have to have coordination. There's chaos and you have to be able to focus. Kind of like a football game." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Section 8's roster includes Cameron Allen-Jones, Jameel Dowling, James Flanagan, R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane, Daniel Libre, Dylan Linkner, Monteilh and Miah Ostrowski."
About his team's name, Adam said:
"Because we're hungry. We're tired of being on the bottom and we'll work our way up." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Section 8 has won two of the three Super Games so far. Kiesel-Kauhane won last week by being able to sit with his back against a wall -- without a chair and with a weight in his lap -- the longest."
Looking forward to beating Adam in the next competition, Sol said:
"We've got more battles and we look forward to beating them. We're going to win the rest of the events, so I'm not worried about Adam's team." (HSB)
Answering back, Adam said:
"Here's my prediction. We'll win basketball, too." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Next week's event is tug of war."
"We used different dodgeball techniques we learned from 'Dodgeball,' the movie. We're just the Average Joes and we came to compete." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Unlike dodgeball legend Patches O'Houlihan in the movie, Leonard did not throw wrenches at his team to prepare them for the rigors of competition."
Adam said:
"But we did dodge cars." (HSB)
About how he plays dodgeball, Blaze said:
"We played a lot last spring, we used to have our own tournaments. Solomon, Jake (Ingram), Keao (Monteilh), Ryan Keomaka." (HSB)
About how he had the dodgeball experts on his team, Sol Elimimian said:
"Yes, we have some professional dodgeball players. Blaze, Greg Salas, Jake Ingram. We thought we were the favorite." (HSB)
HSB Note: "And Elimimian's team looked the part early. Even kicker Dan Kelly looked like he knew what he was doing (not a big surprise considering Kelly was an outstanding soccer goalkeeper in high school). Soares, with a big wind-up fastball to match his first name, was the KO king. In the championship game, the Hammers took the early lead, but the Section 8 players were especially adept at bailing their fallen teammates out of "jail" and came from behind to win."
About the team play that led to their win, Adam said:
"It's teamwork. Just communicate, and be athletic. We've got an athletic team, they can do different facets of just being an athlete. That's what it takes, and that's what I wanted when I picked my team. You have to have coordination. There's chaos and you have to be able to focus. Kind of like a football game." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Section 8's roster includes Cameron Allen-Jones, Jameel Dowling, James Flanagan, R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane, Daniel Libre, Dylan Linkner, Monteilh and Miah Ostrowski."
About his team's name, Adam said:
"Because we're hungry. We're tired of being on the bottom and we'll work our way up." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Section 8 has won two of the three Super Games so far. Kiesel-Kauhane won last week by being able to sit with his back against a wall -- without a chair and with a weight in his lap -- the longest."
Looking forward to beating Adam in the next competition, Sol said:
"We've got more battles and we look forward to beating them. We're going to win the rest of the events, so I'm not worried about Adam's team." (HSB)
Answering back, Adam said:
"Here's my prediction. We'll win basketball, too." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Next week's event is tug of war."
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