Quotes from the WAC Media Preview Day

After interviewing Sol and Adam yesterday, Idaho Statesman columnist Brian Murphy said:
"I was impressed. They seem introspective and thoughtful." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Several other reporters had similar comments after meeting them, and those who played golf with them the previous day appreciated their willingness to try something new which is notoriously difficult for beginners."

Asked if Mack is a father figure, Adam said:
"He's more like a grandfather. A grandfather who can be tough when he has to." (HSB)

Asked if he ever hesitated wearing his WAC Champion ring after what happened in the Sugar Bowl, Sol said:
"You take the good with the bad. look at the ring, and it's not the Sugar Bowl, it's the season." (HSB)

About his popularity right now, Mack said:
"I'm on my honeymoon. But this isn't my first luau. I know I haven't played a game yet." (HSB)


About their improved meeting-room amenities, Mack said:
"We've now got big-butt chairs for the linemen." (HSB)


About how the WAC is a conference with excellent RBs, especially with the top 9 rushers from last season returning, La Tech coach Derek Dooley said:
"It seems like every team you play has a good runner. (The dominance of passing is) one of the myths. It's been a great marketing tool about this wide-open league we have. But people don't realize how physical this league is. Even Hawaii last year. That was not a finesse football team. I think you have to run the ball and you have to play physical." (HSB)

About the RBs in the WAC, Dick Tomey said:
"There are many, many good players at running back in this league. This league is a contradiction in many ways. It's wide open and people spread out, but it's also a league where you have to run the ball well." (HSB)

About WAC teams (aside from UH) have to run the ball to win, Utah State coach Brent Guy said:
"Teams that win in this league are running the ball, with the exception of Hawaii. If you can't stop the run, you can't stop anything. We have to do that on offense and we have to stop the run." (HSB)

HSB Note: "But even Warriors coach Greg McMackin said UH will run more, passing first to set it up. That's why Hawaii will not be in the shotgun as often, unlike last season when Brennan was the focal point of the attack."

About the resignation of their assistant AD for compliance Bill Bryant, JD said:
"We're thankful for everything he's done." (HSB)

About getting the interim promotion, Amanda Peterson said:
"Bill kept me up to speed and I learned a lot about the day-to-day aspects of the job." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Paterson, a former UH soccer player, has been the No. 2 person in compliance the past two years and was a graduate assistant the previous three. She graduated from UH with a double major in speech and communications, and holds a master's in educational administration. Her responsibilities include monitoring student-athlete eligibility and NCAA institutional control issues."

Happy that Amanda was promoted, Bryant said:
"Hopefully Amanda will be the one. She'd be great. She knows her stuff. I think she's qualified." (HSB)