Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Feature interview with Mack

About how he and JJ have different styles, Mack said:
"June (Jones) are I are two different people. We're good friends, and we really like each other. But he coaches a certain way, and I coach a certain way." (HA)

HA Note: "For this training camp, McMackin has scrapped the dreaded 220s — 10 sprints of 220 yards in a specified time period. There will be a brief quarterback competition from among senior Tyler Graunke, junior Inoke Funaki, and junior-college transfers Greg Alexander and Brent Rausch. By the end of the second week of training camp, McMackin will have decided on a successor to Colt Brennan."

About Pilares, Mack said:
"Pilares has to be on the field. I want our playmakers on the field." (HA)

HA Note: "McMackin is focused on training camp and the season-opener against Florida. On Monday, the coaches had two meetings totaling six hours. They met twice yesterday. But McMackin took a short break to meet with reporters yesterday at Jack's Restaurant in 'Aina Haina."

About reducing his speaking schedule, Mack said:
"I really enjoyed the last time to get to know people, and having camps, and the communication, but it's time to go to battle. We're meeting and getting ready for practice. We've been meeting all of the time, anyway. It's business time now." (HA)

About eliminating the 220s from the start of camp, Mack said:
"I don't want anyone to pull anything. We're not giving endurance tests, which is a change. We're going to practice and work on conditioning. Conditioning is a big factor, obviously. We're going to have sudden changes during practices. We'll practice, then blow a whistle, and the offense and defense will run. Then they'll go back to their drills. It's realistic conditioning." (HA)

About his practice philosophy, Mack said:
"We're going to start hydrating early because of the humidity problem in Florida, and do as many things as we can that way. We're going to practice pro style. June and I believe in the same things. I believe in saving guys' legs more. Like on Fridays, we'll have special teams and 10 plays on offense and 10 plays on defense, and get off the field. (Jones) likes the reps (for the offense on Fridays). Different coaches feel different things. I didn't take (the defense off the field on Fridays) without asking him. I told him I wanted to save the defense's legs, and he was fine with that. June was great to work with. But I believe we need that for the whole team, too. We've got to have fresh legs." (HA)

About their QBs, Mack said:
"Tyler (Graunke) has handled everything he needs to do. He's eligible. Inoke (Funaki) had the best spring of anybody. Greg Alexander is a real talent, and so is Brent (Rausch). But Brent has three years (to play three seasons). I told all of the quarterbacks we're going to take a look at the JC guys in the first part of camp, and then we'll make a decision." (HA)

About how Santos and Austin will be QBs for the scout team, Mack said:
"I've already talked with all of them. I told everyone exactly what their role is going to be, so there aren't any surprises. Jake is a senior, and it's unfortunate he didn't get his (extra) year back, because he's a great kid. But you can't get that many quarterbacks ready for ball games." (HA)

About putting their QB under center, Mack said:
"I like the shotgun. But as a defensive guy, whenever anybody's in the shotgun, we give a jet call: 'We're coming.' There's no running game. Percentage-wise we'll be more gun. But we're going to be under center so we can do some things. Those two new (quarterbacks) run 4.6 (seconds over 40 yards). And Tyler can run and Inoke can run. I think Inoke is a great runner. Inoke runs with aggressiveness. He'll run over guys." (HA)

About moving AhSoon from LT to LG, Mack said:
"Keith is going to be great there. I think (the offensive line is) going to be the strength of our offense. We have three starters back. (Center) John Estes is outstanding. When he was in there in the spring, he was playing a little hurt (because of a pulled hamstring). He feels so much better. He's just a leader. We're going to stress fundamentals up front. I'm more into fundamentals, techniques and getting better as the season goes on. I think we're going to be better and better offensively. We're going to be an attacking offense. That's our philosophy." (HA)

About their running game, Mack said:
"We're sitting great at running back. Leon (Wright-Jackson) is outstanding. Every time I saw him, he was running down the field for touchdowns. (Daniel) Libre is a change-up — good speed, good hard runner. And Jake (Heun) and David (Farmer) are powerful guys." (HA)

About playing Florida at noon in their opener, Mack said:
"I think it's a great opportunity. We're playing the Heisman Trophy winner. We're playing in the Swamp. We're playing the No. 1-ranked team in the country. You've got to get ready for that. My biggest concern, because I coached in Miami, is the humidity. I'm not worried about the travel. We're going to Atlanta, and work out at Georgia Tech (for two days). We're going to be fine travel-wise. But the humidity? Anybody who plays in Florida, that's a problem. I'm concerned and we have to be ready for the humidity. We have to have people who know how to give IVs. We have to identify people in practice who perspire a lot and lose their body weight, and maybe get them early IVs. At Miami, it was like a M*A*S*H unit. We (won) 68 home games in a row. Most of it was in the fourth quarter. (That is when) you cramp up, and you can't play." (HA)

About trying to block kicks, Mack said:
"I'm not a big fake-it guy, unless we have something. I'm smart that way. But, sure, we're going to go for blocks. We want to let them know we're coming." (HA)

About rescinding the team rule that prevented redshirts and scout players from suiting up for home games, Mack said:
"I would like to. We haven't made that decision yet. But if a person is on our team and helping us get ready to win, he should be there on the sideline at home games. I know that gets (the sideline) crowded, but we have to handle the discipline in that. If a guy is on scout team and helps the offense get better or helps the defense get better, then he should be a part of that. To be on the field is a great experience. It's a little demeaning to sit in the stands when you're on the team." (HA)

About being UH's head coach, Mack said:
"I'm enjoying it. We had such a great season. And the people have been unbelievable. We had more than a thousand kids at our camp. Everywhere we go, people are so positive and happy. That's where I feel responsible to do a good job. We play for the people of Hawai'i. Everybody is with it. It's the greatest time in the world, and you feel great responsibility." (A)

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