Quotes from the local papers

About having slotback Ryan Henry with the scout-team offense for a defensive drill yesterday, Mack said:
"That was a mistake. He misunderstood. As soon as I saw that, I said, 'Go back down there (with the top-tier receivers).' We sent him right back. He's one of our top receivers. He's going to be a great player for us." (HA)

Happy with their first week, where they implemented half of their offense, their tough physical-fitness program, and instilled their "tough-mother" mentality, Mack said:
"The coaches are coaching hard and the players are playing hard, so I thought it was a good first week. We're going to be leaving in (a little more than) two weeks (for the season-opener against Florida). There's a sense of urgency out there." (HA)

HA Note: "By the end of this week, a No. 1 quarterback will be picked. That player will receive 75 percent of the snaps during passing drills. Tyler Graunke, who started two games last season as the primary backup to Colt Brennan, continues to be withheld from team activities until he resolves academic issues. Graunke was scheduled to take a test last Friday that would help him gain reinstatement."

Praising Letuli's performance yesterday, Mack said:
"He was an animal. He had the best day of anybody. He played football like football should be played — with vicious, violent, controlled effort. I was really happy with Laupepa. I think he found himself. That's a key position. Kia and Laupepa are competing for that spot. Laupepa took a step up in going after it." (HA)

About how he has a second medical appointment for his right leg injury, with no timetable to return, Heun said:
"I feel I'm getting stronger. I'm powering off of it more than I was. I'm hopeful." (HA)

About how they might not need a power back since LWJ and Libre have improved as blockers, Mack said:
"We don't care if it's a big back as long as he can block. That's the most important thing. ... I'd rather play the best running backs." (HA)

About how Khevin Peoples might have worked his way into a shot at playing time at RB, Mack said:
"He was on our scout team. We like him as a running back. He's been getting reps with the (first and second teams)." (HA)

About the delay in getting into UH, with some of his JC units not transferring, Kainoa LaCount said:
"It was all kinds of stuff happening with credits." (HA)

HA Note: "LaCount said he will correct the deficiencies and be ready to compete in the spring semester. LaCount has not used a redshirt year. He still has two seasons of eligibility. LaCount is 6 feet 7 and 290 pounds. He signed with Oregon State as a Kailua High School senior, but ended up going to College of the Canyons."

HA Note: "Four other members of the 2008 recruiting class — linebacker Art Laurel, safety Christian Vasconcellos, wideout/safety Earvin Sione and defensive end Alema Tachibana — will grayshirt this semester."

Surprised when he was awarded a football scholarship during a team meeting on Friday, Ryan Perry said:
"I didn't know that was coming at all. That was a blessing." (HA)

About how Mack said that his scholarship was a reward for his work in the classroom, as he has a 3.7 GPA, Perry said:
"Hopefully, the younger guys will follow that example. Hard work, pride and perseverance really work." (HA)

About how he has Erb's Palsy, a nerve-damage condition where he cannot straighten his right arm, Perry said:
"The doctor had to pull me out by the arm, and it caused Erb's Palsy." (HA)

HA Note: "Last semester, Perry took 18 credits. He signed up for 15 units this semester, which will enable him to graduate in December."

About how he's worked as a camera operator for PBS, including the "Leahey and Leahey Show", Perry said:
"Those guys are great. It's funny. I got to see some of our guys come through." (HA)

HA Note: "Greg Salas, the No. 1 left wideout, drew oohs with two acrobatic catches yesterday. For one of them, he made, in "Top Gun" parlance, an "inverted dive." "

Downplaying the praise of his catches, Salas said:
"It was just a couple of catches." (HA)

About his work in the offseason, Salas said:
"I worked on my speed and footwork." (HA)

About how he got his mohawk haircut at the urging of his mother when he was back home, Salas said:
"I have a barber back home. Now I don't know who's going to do it for me." (HA)

About how the Florida game is in less than 3 weeks, Mack said:
"There's a sense of urgency. It's getting close." (HSB)

About the first week of camp, Alexander said:
"It was a pretty good first week. I'm pretty sore now, so I know what to expect now coming out. I learned a lot and corrected a lot of mistakes. Obviously, I want to win that starting job, but the biggest thing for me is to just focus on myself and try to improve every day and if that happens then I think I'll be in pretty good shape." (HSB)

HSB Note: "The Warriors resume practice tomorrow with the first of three sets of two-a-days this week (Wednesday and Friday are the others). McMackin said the Warriors will continue to work on their base packages, have a scrimmage on their 18th practice of camp, then turn their attention to installing the game plan for Florida."

About how they are looking for depth by the Florida game, Mack said:
"We're looking closely to identify maybe 18 guys on offense and 18 guys on defense who we can put in the ballgame to keep everybody fresh." (HSB)

About his plans for today, their first day off during camp, Alexander said:
"Sleep." (HSB)

About taking 3 summer school classes as he tries to get his sociology degree in December, Jameel Dowling said:
"It seems overwhelming, but I'm blessed that I have a coach who understands that I'm trying to get my degree and I respect him for letting me have that opportunity to go to school and come out when I could. It's kind of good. It's a good thing to stay focused." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Summer school ends on Thursday, giving Dowling about a week-and-a-half to concentrate solely on football before the start of the fall semester on Aug. 25. Although his class schedule kept him out of two practices last week, Dowling is a front-runner for a starting cornerback spot as he looks to make the most of his lone season in Manoa."

About the difference between Oregon's state-of-the-art facilities and those at UH, Dowling said:
"That's different as far as the material (aspect), ... I really don't care about the material, it's all football and school." (HSB)

Comfortable after staying in Hawaii over the summer to learn the system, Dowling said:
"I stayed here in the summer so I learned everything, so I'm more comfortable out there than in the spring." (HSB)

Excited about Dowling, Mack said:
"I'm excited about him. He's quick and tall, he's going to be tough to throw at." (HSB)

Dowling said that school is:
"my main focus. I want to get to the next level, but I know if I handle school and get my degree better opportunities will open for me." (HSB)

Hoping to use his degree to work with youths, as he remembers fondly the influence the local Boys and Girls Club had on shaping him, Dowling said:
"They helped give me something instead of just being on the streets. Just gave me somewhere to go, somewhere to go play basketball, interact with other kids." (HSB)

Asked why he didn't transfer after being down in the depth chart for so long, Bain said:
"A lot of people asked me that, even when I was a freshman. There were so many guys ahead of me. Jay Ferg, Davone, a whole bunch of people. But people came and went. If you do something, do it all the way. I'm not going to pull out halfway through the race." (HSB)

Asked if he he thought of transferring, Washington said:
"Transfer? Oh yeah, I thought about it. Most definitely. I had that transfer thing in my mind. But that's thinking negatively. I'm here for a reason." (HSB)

About how they will rotate WRs, unlike how JJ had the starters play the whole game, Ron Lee said:
"We used to practice with four guys. Now we're practicing with 12. Everybody's going hard and fast. That makes us better." (HSB)

About having to share time with the backups now that he's the starter, Washington said:
"The more you get frustrated, the more you put yourself in a hole." (HSB)

About how Washington and Bain waited for their chance to start and are working hard, Ron Lee said:
"They waited a long time. Now they have the chance and they're seizing the moment. They're practicing hard, and so are the other guys." (HSB)

About how he still needs to improve, Bain said:
"I know I've got my little idiosyncrasies to work out." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Several players sat out with various ailments. Tight hamstrings kept linebacker Adam Leonard, receiver Daniel Lofton and defensive end John Fonoti on the sideline another day. Guards Lafu Tuioti-Mariner and Raphael Ieru were also out of action, moving junior Ray Hisatake into the first unit. Hisatake had moved from tackle to guard earlier in the week."

About how their injured players will benefit from the day off, Mack said:
"We've got tweaks and stuff. We'll give them Sunday off. We worked them hard this week and we'll get back to working hard next week." (HSB)

About his back injury, Heun said:
"It's really frustrating, but I just have to get the rehab. The more rehab the quicker I'll be back." (HSB)

About how they had a few confrontations during practice yesterday, Mack said:
"We had to pull them apart a few times, but that's natural. They're getting ready for battle." (HSB)

About how they put their practice altercations behind them, Cameron Allen-Jones said:
"You're going to have your problems and conflicts. But it's just like a family. You always make up. So we're all cool. No grudges. It's football." (HSB)

About how he'll spend some of his free time watching the Olympic swimming competition, Aaron Kia said:
"I don't really know much about who's in it. But I definitely want to see it." (HSB)

About how he and his brother Micah (a starting OL at UCLA) were outstanding competitive age-group and high school swimmers at Mililani, Aaron Kia said:
"I was in the 50 and 100 free. My brother did the breaststroke." (HSB)

About awarding scholarships to 3 walk-ons who are outstanding academically, Mack said:
Scholarships awarded
"Because of their achievements on and off the field. We gave them to three walk-ons. I really wanted to make a statement that guys have opportunities to get scholarships, and that academics are really important to us." (HSB)