Warrior Quotes from the Star-Bulletin

About cutting their QB candidates for the starting job down to 4 and reducing that number quickly in camp, Mack said:
"The four who will get the reps are Inoke (Funaki), Tyler (Graunke), Greg Alexander and Brent Rausch. And then within a week and a half we're going to cut it to three quarterbacks. At a certain point before the ballgame (Aug. 30 opener at Florida) we're going to cut it down to two and one's going to get three-fourths of the reps and one's going to get a fourth of the reps. It's only going to be those four. Some guys will service the defense." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Funaki, a junior, had an outstanding spring camp, taking an unofficial lead in the bid to be the new starter. But McMackin said Graunke has had a great summer of workouts, and the senior who was Brennan's backup for three seasons is right there at the top, too. McMackin also intends to live up to the promise he made to junior college transfers Alexander and Rausch that they would get a shot at the No. 1 spot. Both have been here since May working out with their new teammates."


About how they could have starters on offense and defense in kickoff and punt coverage roles as well as blocking on returns, Mack said that his rule is the NFL standard that a starter can play in 1 or 2 special teams:
"if he's the best player for the position." (HSB)

Asked if All-WAC LB Adam Leonard could end up on the kickoff return team, Mack said:
"If he's the best guy. If there's no one close to him, absolutely. Obviously, we've got to be smart how we use them. A defensive guy, I don't want him to run down on the kickoff and have to be right in there." (HSB)

About how Sol cannot play on special teams because he makes the defensive play calls, Mack said:
"That's just for communication sake." (HSB)

About how they will be more aggressive in blocking kicks this season, Mack said:
"Here's what I told our staff. There's six or seven plays that's key to a ballgame. They're on offense, defense and special teams. The rest of the game's pretty even. But those big plays, are the game winners. So special teams is a lot of those snaps. We're going to use our best." (HSB)

About the coaches that will be upstairs in the booth during games, Mack said:
"The guys upstairs are playing chess, and they have to think that way." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Ron Lee (offensive coordinator), George Lumpkin (defense), Dave Aranda (defensive line) Alex Gerke (running backs), Craig Stutzmann (receivers) and David Gilmore (defensive backs) will be upstairs."

About being on the sidelines during games, Mack said:
"I want to look in the players' eyes, I want to know what their emotions are." (HSB)

About how they have 2 scholarships in reserve, with the plan to award one to a vet walk-on during camp and the other to a new player, Mack said:
"It's good to have one in your pocket. You never know who's going to come your way late. At Miami one year our last one went to Ray Lewis." (HSB)

HSB Note: "The coach said he prefers smaller travel squads, and the Warriors will take between 60 and 65 players to Florida. The other side of that, though, is that he wants to allow all players who practice to suit up and be on the sideline for home games."