Quotes about the first day of camp

About how the practice was run differently than previous years, Mack said:
"We needed to set the tone. We run a business-like practice. Everybody is treated the same here. It doesn't matter if you're an All-American quarterback or an All-American linebacker or the last-string kicker or last-string receiver, you'll be treated the same." (HA)

About Blaze being punished after practice, Mack said:
"We have no stars. We just have a bunch of guys who are going to represent Hawaii and the University of Hawaii the right way." (HSB)

HA Note: "At the end of the first practice of training camp yesterday, Soares, the No. 1 left-side linebacker, was ordered to roll the length of the field — twice — as punishment for failing to meet a team requirement."

Happy to be back on the field, Mack said:
"It's really great to get in the football aspect. I have a different demeanor when I'm out here, obviously this is business. I had a great time visiting with a lot of people the last five or six months, but this is business. We're getting ready to go to battle. We have a lot of work to do." (HSB)

About their scheduled 2-hour practice that started 30 minutes early and finished 30 minutes late, LWJ said:
"This is going to help us." (HA)

About how their practice was run at a faster pace than last year, Mouton said:
"It's a little more uptempo. We're moving around all of the time. It's going to be good for the team. We're going to be conditioned and ready to go when we go down to Florida (for the Aug. 30 season opener)." (HA)

HA Note: "Unlike the previous nine training camps under June Jones, now head coach of Southern Methodist, yesterday's practice was a vision of perpetual motion. The rapid-fire reps were a rude awakening for day dreamers."

About the faster tempo in practice, Mack said:
"If you go on the field, you're learning. They're all getting repetitions. They're not standing around listening to someone orate." (HA)

HA Note: "McMackin, to be sure, was mindful of the heat during the late-morning practice. The players were required to take water breaks — hydration periods, in the new UH parlance — every 15 minutes. But McMackin also maintained a hurry-up practice. At the midway point, he called for "sudden change." During games, a sudden change is the result of a turnover, when a team has to adjust quickly to the new situation and mentality. In McMackin's practices, a sudden change requires players to go from workout drills to sprints of 10, 20, 30 and 40 yards."

About Mack, Cal Lee said:
"He is a nice guy. But this is time to get down and get to business. We need to do the things we need to do and discipline is very important." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Make that discipline and adaptability. The concept of sudden change was a point of emphasis yesterday, and will be throughout camp and the season. It means at anytime during practice the entire team may be assembled for, as Monty Python used to say, something completely different. Like basketball-style suicide sprints, which McMackin believes are of more value than the 220-yard conditioning test Jones preferred. To Mack, furlongs are for horses."

About the sudden change drill, Rocky Savaiigaea said:
"You don't know when that horn's going to go off. You've got to be ready to go run those sprints, come back and do drills again." (HSB)

About the sudden changes in a game, Cal Lee said:
"Different situations in the game. All of a sudden, turnovers. Fumble, interception, boom, be ready to go." (HSB)

About their practices, Mack said:
"We're doing a lot of things we did last year and a lot of different things. The main thing is to get these guys ready to play." (HA)

"Balls were thrown good, guys were catching the football. I think we're ahead of where we thought we'd be." (HSB)

About their plans for the QB competition with Tyler not being in camp, Mack said:
"I'm going to keep the same plan that we had. We're looking at the JC guys, we'll make a decision in two weeks and all three of them are going to get reps. It's just cut down by one so they're going to get more reps." (HSB)

About how they won't be doing the 220 test and will instead be running at every practice, Inoke said:
"It was very effective running. From what I heard it seems like we're going to be running like that throughout camp, not just the 220 test and then kind of ease off. It's good, even though I complained during the running. I know it's good for us." (HSB)

HA Note: "McMackin and quarterbacks coach Nick Rolovich implemented the "mental-ab" session. While the quarterbacks are doing sit-up crunches, they are peppered with questions about strategies."

About their "mental-ab" sessions, Inoke said:
"Oh, man, it's tough. They've got us doing crunches while (Rolovich) is asking us about our reads. You're trying to think about the play. But what you've got in your mind is how painful it is, and how you want to put your leg down." (HA)

"I've never been in the military, but it reminds me of those movies when someone has to do pushups while being yelled at. We're trying to do abs, and (Rolovich is) asking: 'You've got 80-Z, what are your blitz breaks? They're coming. What have you got?' You have to be mentally tough when you're exhausted and tired and your mind is not all there. As they say, 'It's mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.' " (HA)

About how the drill serves two purposes, Rolo said:
"I think abs are important in throwing motion." (HA)

HA Note: "He said giving a pop quiz mirrors game conditions, in which quarterbacks need to be alert despite fatigue and physical discomfort."

About the "mental-ab" sessions, Rausch said:
"It's pretty hard." (HA)

About how he lost 20 pounds since moving to Hawaii in late May and weighs 225, Greg Alexander added with a smile:
"Maybe I'm 215 after this practice." (HA)

About how he lost 6 pounds because he was sick last weeks (he now weighs 187), Rausch said:
"I want to get up to 195, 200 pounds." (HA)

HA Note: "Alexander and Rausch said they are adjusting to the accelerated pace of Division I-A football, particularly in deciphering defensive coverages."

About adjusting to the offense, Alexander said:
"It's just the nuances of the offense, knowing what the receivers' splits have to be, just being exactly on the same page with everybody. It's a half-second difference between throwing it behind a guy or throwing it for a touchdown." (HSB)

About how the JC QBs benefited greatly by working out all summer with the team, Rolo said:
"Both of the new guys really put in a lot of hard work in the summer along with Inoke. So they're further ahead than they would be just coming out blindly. They both do some nice things." (HSB)

Praising the 6'4" Alexander and the 6'3" Rausch, Inoke said:
"They have really strong arms and they have what you can't teach, height. They're both really cool humble guys, very teachable, always willing to learn." (HSB)

About being a late addition to their camp, Steele Jantz said:
"We didn't know (if he would be in camp). It was going to depend on if they had room. I was home for three weeks, but I wanted to come back early and talk to Coach and see if I could get into camp." (HSB)

About being the #1 QB in camp, Inoke said:
"It was definitely different. I looked around and it was kind of, 'oh, it is me. I'm the first guy up.' " (HA)

"Since I've been here I was always looking to Colt or looking to Tyler. Now I'm the most experienced here, so definitely I have more responsibility now." (HSB)

"I feel a lot better than I ever have coming into fall camp. I was told it looked like I was more energized. I wasn't thinking about it, but I feel like it's because coaches have shown confidence in me. I'm the one (the offense is) looking at and how do you think they'll feel if they look at me and my knees are shaking and super scared. So it's contagious." (HSB)

About how Inoke is a different player now, Rolo said:
"He is very mild-mannered; there are a lot of the local boy traits in him. For the first few years he was here he didn't want to step on anybody's toes. But out here, now, at this position he knows what is expected of him. And he has a fire within him." (HA)

Praising Inoke, Adam Leonard said
"He's prepared himself for this and we have full confidence in his abilities to get the job done." (HA)

Asked about Tyler, Mack said:
"I hope he takes care of what he has to take care of. But until he's here, we're moving on." (HSB)

About how Kia, Letuli, and Hisatake are competing at the LT spot, OL coach Brian Smith said:
"That's one spot that was unsettled from spring. I thought Kia did a good job (during spring) but that's the one spot where we really want competition. That's one spot where there's the least experience so that's where we want to create the most competition. As someone really earns that spot we'll spread the other two out." (HA)

HA Note: "The position was vacated after 2007 starter Keith AhSoon was moved to left guard. Kia received the most reps during spring ball while Letuli recovered from a hamstring injury, which he said was up to 95 percent healed."

About the first day of practice, Letuli (who gained 20 pounds over the summer to get to 318 ) said:
"As far as practice today, I was a little rusty because I missed all of spring." (HA)

About their first day of practice, Kia (who worked on upper-body strength at Fudge's gym over the summer to help with his "punch") said:
"I think I did all right. It was more mental than I thought it would be, because of the heat. The heat makes the helmet an oven, so it made it tough to remember your plays and assignments. Other than that, I think I did pretty good today. This is how it's going to be in Florida, but worse." (HA)

About how Kia is currently their #1 LT, Smith said that in spring practice Kia:
"separated himself from the other two." (HA)

About having Letuli practice with the second team OL and Hisatake with the 3rd team OL, Smith said:
"Laupepa is smart and Ray is smart and they'll learn fast. They are all three going to get a lot of reps in the first couple of weeks before we make a decision and start seeing if we have to move guys to other spots." (HA)

About how he's improving since being switched to the OL last year, Hisatake said:
"I think coming from where I have, I progressed a lot. There's definitely a lot more room for improvement, but it's something I'm going to work on during the season and during camp. Competition is really thick. Aaron is a utility guy; he knows all the positions. 'Pepa' is a utility guy, he knows all the positions. They are both great technicians and great athletes." (HA)

About how he lost 17 pounds over the summer to get to 311, Hisatake said:
"Like last summer, I decided to stay in Hawai'i instead of go home. I went to all the morning workouts and morning running. And I went on a diet to lose weight. Nothing right now is set in stone, but I did all right. I knew my plays. The running could have been better, but I'm not going to make any excuses." (HA)

About how the OL is "a little out of shape" but he's not concerned, Smith said:
"I think we can get them in shape and get them ready." (HA)

About how the RT and LT are important in their offense, instead of how the LT position is normally the most important because the LT protects the blind side of a QB, Smith said that:
"both tackles are important because we're a half roll team, so if they are rolling right they are rolling away from the left tackle and he's got a little more time to work, so I think both tackles here are equally important." (HA)

About how competition is good because it will push them to be better, Letuli said:
"It doesn't matter if you're first, second, third, we're all going to improve. It's great, I think we're the best players to play that spot because we're mobile and athletic and technique-wise we're all legit." (HA)

About how his playing career is over after the NCAA denied his request for a 6th year, Maka (who will work this season as a student-assistant) said:
"I'm glad I can still be around the guys." (HA)

HA Note: "The announcement was made during an emotional team meeting Sunday night. Maka received a standing ovation."

About Maka, Mack said:
"I'm proud of him. I'm glad he can help us, and I'm glad he will graduate." (HA)

HA Note: "Maka is a math major who is on track to earn a bachelor's degree in December."

About being moved from safety back to RB, Peoples said:
"They need some speed guys over there, and I'm speedy. Might as well put me over there." (HA)

About his new haircut, Mouton said:
"The sun made me do the hair. It's going to be pretty hot out here." (HA)

About how he decided to cut his hair during his one-week visit to his family home in Katy, Texas, Mouton said:
"One day it was 101 degrees. I tried to work out in that. It was like, 'yeah, this hair is going to have to be cut.' " (HA)

About returning kickoffs and playing some offense in addition to being a key to their 6 defensive schemes, Mouton said:
"I'm up for the challenge. Anything I can do to help the team out, I'm willing to do. Hopefully good things will come out of it." (AH)

About how Mana Silva was the top SS at the end of spring training, Rich Miano said:
"I like that he's 6-1, 210 pounds, runs 4.5 (seconds over 40 yards) and will hit you. Like everything else, you've got to start somewhere. After spring, he was the guy." (HA)

Expecting Erik Robinson to push for the starting spot, Miano said:
"That's a competitive battle that's probably going to go down to the wire." (HA)

HA Note: "Silva displayed his quickness during yesterday's ladder drill in which players had to run sprints of 10, 20, 30 and 40 yards. Silva finished first."

About how he played golf, surfed, and fished to relax this summer, Silva said:
"I played the back nine. I was 44 over. It's fun." (HA)

About his reputation as a hard hitter, despite how he played as a QB at Kamehameha-Hawaii, Silva said:
"My friend used to call me 'Detour' because I used to always run out of bounds — detour to the sidelines." (HA)

About being a walk-on after transferring from Oregon State before last season, Silva said:
"I'm still a walk-on. It's up to the coaches if I'm worthy of a scholarship." (HA)

After their first practice of camp, Silva said:
"It was tough. I've got to get back in shape." (HSB)

HSB Note: "After spending a year in Corvallis, Ore., the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Silva returned home to be closer to family. He sat out the entire '07 season, but had a strong spring despite the long layoff."

About being listed as first team to start camp, Silva said:
"It was kind of humbling when I saw my name on the depth chart at No. 1. Coming out of spring I was the first, but I wasn't sure if they would still have me (there). Shows that the coaches got trust in me." (HSB)

About how the running in their practice was different than how things were at Oregon State, Silva said:
"We don't run at Oregon (State). Coach had a philosophy where we get ready at practice by going full speed." (HSB)

Not complaining about the running, Silva said:
"Over here, we're fighting Goliath. When we go to Florida, we've got to be ready." (HSB)

About how he isn't looking past their first 2 games with Oregon State as their 3rd game, Silva said:
"We got Florida first, the big SEC. I always get up for everything." (HSB)

Looking forward to playing in his first real game since high school when they begin their season, Silva said:
"I'm just excited to get to play again." (HSB)

Looking forward to his scholarship starting when classes start later this month, Bain said:
"It's a good feeling. It's like I worked this hard and it's paid off, but I just have to keep working. I don't want to be satisfied with what I've got." (HSB)

About how his hamstring is healed not and he's excited to return to Hawaii, Grasso said:
"I just like being part of the team again more than anything. I battled through it, I got it all fixed up and I'm excited to be back. It's my first practice in eight months." (HSB)

After signing a contract with Buffalo, Hawthorne said:
"I feel if you're going to play outside you have to be fast and that's something I definitely feel I can bring to this team is speed. I feel confident about that." (HSB)