Spring Practice Quotes

HA Note: "On his first day as the new No. 3 quarterback on the Hawai'i football depth chart, Jake Santos kept it simple but left no doubt about his progress this spring training season. Dropping back, his hands wrapped firmly around a ball swollen by the morning showers, Santos spied sophomore wide receiver Greg Salas on a clean release, looked off to check the safety, then delivered a perfect spiral to Salas' waiting hands for an open-field finish. The play wasn't exactly awe inspiring. The dozen or so soggy fans scattered along the hillside didn't rush the field. This was, as a certain Denver point guard might note, practice after all. But quarterback coach Nick Rolovich recognized its significance. A week earlier, the quarterback corps struggled with the read, prompting Rolovich to break down the play using a video example of freshman Bryce Kalauokaaea."

Praising the improvement Santos has made, Rolo said:
"(Santos) has made good improvement from what he was when I got here. There were some things he didn't get, some of the first things you should probably know, but he was able to learn them. The thing about him is he listens and he processes. You never have to tell him anything twice." (HA)

Happy with how he did with his increased reps, Santos said:
"It was the first day that the defense was coming hard at us, but I think I did all right. It's going to take time, but I'm just going to listen to Coach Rolo and keep trying to get better." (HA)

HA Note: "The fifth-year senior spent two years at San Diego Mesa, then transferred to Missouri Southern, where he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He sat out last year, his first as a Warrior, in accordance with NCAA transfer rules but was allowed to practice. Santos applied for a sixth year of eligibility but was denied, meaning his first year of UH eligibility will also be his last."

About everyone thought he would be able to play 2 seasons when he came to UH, instead of how he'll just have this season of eligibility, Santos said:
"When I came here with Coach (June) Jones and Coach (Dan) Morrison, we all assumed I'd be here for three years and play two. They didn't have to take me, but they did. I went from junior college straight to a Sugar Bowl team. It was a huge leap, and every time I look at my ring, I thank God about it. Like everybody else, I have to do everything in my power to get back there." (HA)

HA Note: "Yet while Santos is encouraged that the work he has put in to learning the offense and making the most of his reps have so far paid dividends, he's also aware of the numbers game that finds him at a perceived disadvantage. Santos is behind Inoke Funaki and Tyler Graunke in the depth chart. Also competing for reps are Kalauokaaea, Shane Austin and Kiran Kepo'o. Junior college transfers Greg Alexander and Brent Rausch arrive in the fall."

About how he is a tough situation to try to earn playing time, Santos said:
"I know it's not the most attractive thing when you haven't played in two years, haven't taken a snap in a game situation in two years, and have only one year left. You don't know if you're even going to actually be here in the fall. We have two more people coming in and you don't know if we're all going to be here. The attractive thing is the younger guys because they have more time. I just have to come in and play hard," he said. "When you only have one year left, you have to put it out there every day." (HA)

HA Note: "Rolovich said that had Santos been granted a sixth year of eligibility, it might have affected the staff's recruiting decision. However, he said the competition for playing time is wide open by necessity."

About why the competition for playing time is wide open, Rolo said:
"We've got to win now. We can't be concerned with stockpiling players for the future. This is a crazy business and we've got to play the best guy now. If it's Jake Santos, it's Jake Santos." (HA)

Happy with Santos' attitude in Spring Practice, Rolo said:
"He didn't get a lot of reps at the beginning, but he took it the way you'd want a kid to take it. He didn't hold grudges and he understood the possibilities of his role. He's playing better because of that." (HA)

Praising Santos, who he learned to appreciate last year while Santos was on the scout team, Inoke said:
"He's very humble, very willing to learn. A lot of times, you get discouraged when you're on the scout team, but he was always willing to work and give it his best, and that helps the team to grow. He's always pushing us to learn, and that's something I've learned from him — how to be a better student of the game." (HA)

About how he'll fight for playing time, Santos said:
"I'm going to battle as if I want the starting job. If you don't compete like that, you're never going to get anywhere. Whatever happens, I want to go to Florida. I want to be able to say that I was there." (HA)

HSB Note: "As it was for just about everyone affiliated with Hawaii, Jake Santos' Sugar Bowl experience was bittersweet at best, since the Warriors lost 41-10 to Georgia. But the redshirting quarterback dealt with the additional disappointment of not being on the travel squad -- this despite helping UH to its first BCS game, as scout team MVP. In another twist that would be considered cruel by a person with a less positive outlook, Santos' brother had more access to the Superdome field than he did. Joel Santos was there as a producer for FOX's "Best Damn Sports Show." "

About the big pass he completed yesterday at practice, Santos said:
"I kind of always had the touch, I just never used it. To me, I'm more accurate when I throw the ball hard." (HSB)

About how he checked off of one receiver to freeze the safety on that pass, Santos said:
"All last week Coach was telling us if our X receiver, Greg, if he gets a clean release, set that safety and go back to him. We weren't doing it last week, none of us would. It was something I saw right away. I set the safety and I hit him. It was a good teaching point, a good learning point, something good for me, because it shows I'm coachable." (HSB)

Hoping to keep improving and move up the depth chart, Santos said:
"I started out (spring practice) with the fourth reps. Today I took the third reps. I don't know if it means anything, in my eyes I have to look at it as it means something. Maybe the second spot is open, maybe the first spot is open. But if it ain't? Just do things like today and the coaches will notice. If you make them notice you, you're going to get playing time." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Yes, there were some things the Hawaii offense did well yesterday in its 25-play skirmish against the Warriors defense. But a day after UH's renovated run-and-shoot clicked, it took some licks. If this had been full-contact, it would've been ugly. The Warrior defenders penetrated the under-construction offensive line for what would've been five sacks."

About how the defense did well yesterday, Mack said:
"I thought we got a lot better today, really, on both sides of the ball. I was pleased with the mentality and physicalness of the front. I thought our coverage was tight, drops (into coverage) by the linebackers. Good things on both sides of the ball, improved on both sides of the ball. That's what you look for as a coach." (HSB)

Happy with how they have adjusted well to having the QB under center, Mack said:
"We're working under the center and emphasizing that and it's been outstanding. We're getting four, five, six centers ready (yesterday it was No. 1 right guard Lafu Tuioti-Mariner). There were some great catches out there and crispness you usually don't see this time of year in the passing." (HSB)

HSB Note: "But the day belonged to the defense, especially tackle Rocky Savaiigaea (sack, blocked pass) and John Fonoti (two sacks)."

Praising the D, Mack said:
"We play a certain style and they have a certain mentality. They came out to work." (HSB)

About how he's had limited playing time at UH so far, Lafu Tuioti-Mariner said:
"I've been waiting for a long time, but I have no regrets. It's been tough, but I just had to be humble and wait because there were guys out there in front of me that were really good, so I try my best and compete. ... This is important to me because it's my last spring and I want to make the best out of it." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Tuioti-Mariner began his UH career as a defensive lineman, making the travel roster early in his freshman season before earning the unit's Most Valuable Scout award. A shoulder injury hampered his progress and former coach June Jones suggested a move to offense, where he backed up Samson Satele and John Estes at center the past two seasons. The 6-foot, 285-pound Tuioti-Mariner looked like he'd found a home at guard this spring, filling the spot held by Larry Sauafea last season, though he shifted back to center for yesterday's practice with Estes nursing a hamstring injury. Flanking him with the first unit were Aaron Kia (tackle) and Keith AhSoon (guard) on the left side and Raphael Ieru (guard) and Keoni Steinhoff (tackle) on the right."

About how Lafu has been used at so many positions, Brian Smith said:
"He's pretty versatile. I'd like to get him going more at guard. It's tough with John being out, but he's doing a good job of filling where we need him for now." (HSB)

Not worried about what position he plays, Lafu said:
"It doesn't matter, I just came here to play ball. Wherever you put me I'll just play my best." (HSB)

About Lafu's team-high 610 pound squat in preseason testing, Keala Watson (who spotted him) said:
"There were like six plates on each side ... and when he stood up it just bounced and (the bar) was like an arch over his back. I was scared because I didn't think I could even spot him, but he just went down, came right back up and racked it." (HSB)

About that 610 pound squat, Lafu said:
"The best part about it, was after I squatted I turned around and I saw the whole team just cheering. I was pretty stoked about it." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Watson and Tuioti-Mariner broke in together as freshmen on the defensive line back in 2004 and now face each other in one-on-one and team periods."

About Lafu, Keala Watson said:
"He has nice footwork, and once he gets under you ... if he gets you on the inside, it's over for you." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Other than having the quarterback taking snaps under center, Tuioti-Mariner said the blocking schemes remain largely the same despite tweaks to the offense and he's gotten a feel for making the line calls when he does play center."

About his brother Max, a highly-rated recruit that signed with Colorado, Lafu said:
"I was happy he made that decision. I told him, 'I'm supporting you all the way, when I'm done here I'm going straight to Colorado to watch you.' " (HSB)

About his Sugar Bowl experience, Jake Santos said:
"Hung out, watched the game. I wish I was there for the whole week, like the team was, but I had Christmas at home, and we got there about an hour before the game. It was cool. My brother and my parents went. After the game I got to be with the team, so it was a good experience." (HSB)

About how the rain during practice did not bother him, Jake Heun said:
"I like being out here in the wetness. We're working on taking care of the ball, and these are the right conditions for that." (HSB)

Looking forward to contact, Heun said:
"I can't wait until the spring game, get out there and bang a little bit. But today, you saw the D-line, they were crackin'. So it was good." (HSB)

About how the fans at Aloha Stadium were negative to him when Oregon State visited in 2006, Mana Silva said:
"All the fans were saying 'traitor' and stuff like that. It was just fun though." (HSB)

HSB Note: "The Kamehameha-Hawaii graduate was a true freshman at Oregon State when the Beavers closed the 2006 regular season against UH, making him a target for some of those sitting behind the OSU sideline."

HSB Note: "Silva played quarterback at KS-Hawaii and in his redshirt year at Oregon State. He also played some receiver with the Beavers. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound sophomore is making the transition to defense this spring. Roaming the secondary with the third team, he broke up a couple of passes with jarring hits during yesterday's 7-on-7 and team periods."

About how the vets have been helping him, Silva said:
"The veterans have been helping me learn the plays and learn the techniques." (HSB)

About Blaze not practicing yesterday, Mack said:
"It's just precautionary." (HSB)

About their scrimmage on Saturday (30-40 plays at the end of their practice), Mack said:
"We'll use it to evaluate new players and hold out guys we know can play." (HSB)