Quotes from the local papers

Praising the progress that Alexander has made, Rolo said:
"You've got to like his progress and I think that is a testament to him (because) from the day he stepped on the island he has been focused on football." (HA)

About how it took him awhile to adjust to UH after transferring from a JC, Rolo said:
"I look back at my experiences and I didn't take it as seriously (at first) as he did. I have a lot of respect for his effort and determination. I mean, from the minute he got here he has competed for the job and been focused on football." (HA)

About Alexander, Mack said:
"He's had a good camp. The good thing about him is that he has been in it the whole time. He's been here all summer working hard. He's first at meetings and has done everything we've asked of him. He's got a strong arm and he's a winner." (HA)

About how Alexander led his team against the team that he coached last year, Rolo said:
"I think he brought them (Santa Rosa) back from a 21-points down against us." (HA)

About how UH gave him his only scholarship offer, Alexander said:
"They were the best option I had and they were telling me I'd have a chance to compete (for the starting) job. I loved the offense because it is similar to what we ran and I liked the schedule. I wanted the opportunity to compete." (HA)

HA Note: "Soares, who is considered to be the Warriors' hardest hitter, has been diagnosed with a torn gastrocnemius, a calf muscle in his left leg. He underwent an MRI yesterday morning and was evaluated by a specialist in the afternoon. Soares, who is wearing a cast, has been told his recovery period is between six and eight weeks. But the injury will not require surgery. Savaiigaea has been diagnosed with a tear in his left triceps. He also is wearing a cast. His recovery period is between four and six weeks."

About his tricep injury, Rocky said:
"It sucks." (HA)

About how surgery cannnot heal his injury, Rocky said:
"Can't sew muscle to a ligament. They want to see if it can heal itself with scar tissues." (HA)

Noting that he missed the latter part of spring training with a leg injury, Rocky said:
"Now this. It's a humbling process. You can't take anything for granted — not that I ever did — but you really appreciate (good health). We'll see what happens." (HA)

About the injuries to Blaze and Rocky, Mack said:
"I feel bad for both of those guys, because they worked really hard this summer and they were playing at the top of their game. Now they have to keep in shape during their rehab and come back to help us defend the WAC championship. Fortunately, we have good depth at both of those positions and we have to move on until they can come back and contribute. (UH trainer Eric Okasaki) and the medical staff did a great job of evaluating (Soares') injury and the doctors were very thorough." (HSB)

About Blaze's injury, Mack said:
"The positive is we have good depth at (the linebacker) position. The negative is we don't have one of our more talented players. I feel bad for Blaze. Hopefully, things will work out." (HA)

HA Note: "Soares is a 2005 Castle High School graduate, He did not play football in 2005 while he was enrolled at a private school. He played two seasons for the Warriors. He has not used a redshirt year. Because he was a partial-qualifier out of high school, he is considered to be a senior. He can earn a fourth season — and second senior year — if he shows significant progress in his college major."

About Blaze, Viliami Nauahi said:
"Blaze's middle name is 'Impact.' " (HA)

About Blaze, Mack said:
"He's a very good player." (HA)

HA Note: "With Soares and Leonard (groin injury) sidelined, Elimimian, who was the Warriors' starting middle linebacker the past three seasons, moved to Leonard's spot at rightside linebacker. Satele was promoted to No. 1 middle linebacker. R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane stepped in for his cousin, Soares, at leftside linebacker. When Leonard is healthy again, he and Elimimian will play on the perimeter, and Satele will remain in the middle. Kiesel-Kauhane, Tyson Kafentzis, Mana Lolotai and Paipai Falemalu will join the rotation."

About their depth at LB, Mack said it is:
"a strong position for us." (HA)

HA Note: "Falemalu, a 2008 Kahuku High School graduate, has ascended the depth chart quickly. Yesterday, Falemalu was the second-team leftside linebacker. Falemalu, who is 6 feet 2 and 240 pounds, has the strength to line up in the tackle box and quickness to drop into pass coverage. Falemalu showed his commitment this summer. A week after his commencement ceremony, he was living in the UH dorms while taking two summer-session classes. He also worked out in the morning, and competed in 7-on-7 drills in the afternoon."

About how things became more difficult when he moved back to his family's home in Hau'ula after the first summer session ended, waking up at 4:30am and on the road at 4:45am, Paipai said:
"I got here at 6." (HA)

About how he wasn't sure about going to UH before they replaced JJ, Paipai said:
"I wasn't sure if I wanted to come here because they didn't have a head coach." (HA)

About how the hiring of Mack convinced him to go to UH, Paipai said:
"He cares about the island boys. I decided to stay home, which is what I always wanted to do." (HA)

"Once (the Warriors) got a coach, I knew where I was going. There's no place like home, playing in front of the family. If you go away, you go home to a lonely dorm. Here, you've got family cheering for you every home game." (HA)

About adjusting to UH, Paipai said:
"It's different coming out of high school because we don't have as complicated plays. It's helpful that I have all the seniors helping me. If I have any questions I can go to them and they help me, show me the ropes. Coach Cal (Lee, defensive coordinator and linebackers) is always there, too." (HSB)

Surprised that he was on the 2nd team yesterday, Paipai said:
"I just found out today when I came on the field. Coach Cal told me to go with the second team and I said, 'That sounds good.' vIt shows that the coaches think I can compete with these guys." (HSB)

About how he's happy to finally get a shot at a starting spot, Brashton (who had a pulled left hamstring in his first two seasons with UH) said:
"It's really sweet, I feel really good right now. Because I might actually get on the field and run with the ones. I've been waiting three years." (HA)

About being their starting MLB right now, Brashton said:
"(My career has) been up and down, with injuries and practicing hard but never seeing the field. But now I'm reaping the rewards of my hard work, so I'm happy right now." (HA)

About the injuries to Adam and Blaze, Brashton said:
"I feel bad for Adam and Blaze, who are injured right now, but we're going to keep on practicing and working for Florida (in the season opener)." (HA)

About how OLB is different than MLB, Sol said:
"At middle linebacker, you just find the guy with the ball and go kill them. (At) outside 'backer you really have to be able to think. You have to play the receivers and our outside 'backers blitz a lot. So you have to be really versatile and really sound." (HSB)

About how he lost his confidence during the past few years, Brashton said:
"I lost confidence a couple years. I talked to my friends and family and they kept pushing me to stay with it. Now I'm getting my chance, finally." (HSB)

About moving Sol to OLB after Blaze's injury, Cal Lee said:
"I think Solly can cover better playing outside. And Brashton would be a better inside guy than an outside guy." (HA)

Cal said that a MLB is typically:
"big and physical and strong and you have to make the calls, you have to be smart. You have to go from sideline to sideline." (HA)

About how his family has a long history with UH, Brashton said:
"With my dad them, Samson (Satele), Hercules (Satele) Amani (Purcell), Mel (Purcell), there's a lot of pressure but I think I can live up to it, because I have two more years to play." (HA)

About how Blaze has become the player they thought he would be, Cal said:
"Maturity and experience, he's grown up. He's become the player we always thought he was. ... A complete player that can run, hit, he's smart, being a leader, all of that. He's showing leadership just by his performance, and to me that's huge." (HA)

HA Note: "Satele said it was a "really bad feeling" because his body wasn't cooperating with his desire to get on the field. To prevent that this season, he included running on the beach to strengthen his legs."

About how Brashton's improvement provides them with depth, Cal Lee said:
"With football, you have injuries, and sometimes things happen. People fall down, get hurt, can't play for whatever reason. We feel very comfortable with (Satele) coming in and playing. And you can never have enough depth. For instance, for the case we are in now. Adam is not here and Blaze is not here, for a guy like Brashton, I feel comfortable with what he can do." (HA)

About how the biggest change for Brashton is his maturity, Cal said:
"I saw progress from day one, and day two, and now that it's his fourth year, he progressed." (HA)

About how he joined UH as a 17-year-old, Brashton said:
"I was really young coming in. ... and I'm 20 now, so I'm kind of more mature." (HA)

About the delay in choosing their starting QB, Rolo said:
"It's their fault. They're making it tough on us. They played great today. It was their best day against our defense." (HA)

"These guys are making it tough." (HSB)

HSB Note: "What did UH's two losing seasons in the June Jones era have in common? The starting quarterback of the season opener was not named early in camp, and did not control the reins for long once the games started."

About the delay in choosing their starting QB, Mack said:
"We want to look one more day. We don't want to rush into it. They're competing, and we don't want to take that competitiveness away from them. We'll make a decision within the next couple of days, probably by Thursday." (HA)

"We're not in a hurry, we just want to make a good choice. This team needs to know who the quarterback is so they can rally around somebody." (HSB)

About having the QBs rotate after taking up to 8 snaps yesterday instead of rotating after every 2 snaps for the rest of training camp, Mack said:
"We changed it up on them. We wanted to try some different things." (HA)

About their QB competition, Rolo said:
"All three made good throws. We need to make a decision to get this team to follow a leader. I told them to make it tough. It would be easier on me if they didn't. Now we have to go with the guy who we think will be the guy." (HA)

Praising Shane Austin and Jake Santos also, Rolo said:
"They haven't gotten a lot of reps, but they're knowledgeable about the offense. Both have the swagger. Even though we don't have a No. 1, we're very deep." (HA)

About how he set up four trash cans 40 yards away from the QBs after practice, where they have to place passes into the bins, Rolo said:
"We put in a new format this year: the four-bucket rule. The middle bucket is eight points. The outside bucket is three points. Any contact is one point." (HA)

About how the team of Austin, Rausch, and Jantz beat the team of Inoke, Alexander, and Santos 13-5, Alexander said:
"They pretty much kicked our ass." (HA)

HA Note: "During Monday's afternoon practice, Jantz received a package during a special ceremony. It was a red No. 15 jersey with the name "Tebow" on the back. For the next two weeks, Jantz will portray Florida's Heisman Trophy quarterback Tim Tebow in drills."

About playing Tebow for the scout team, Jantz said:
"I see it as an opportunity, a big deal. I have the responsibility of getting the defense ready. I'm going to give them the best look I can." (HA)

About how his teammates have nicknamed him "Steele-Bow", Jantz (who has watched hours of tape on Tebow) said:
"They have a fun time with it. It's a fun thing, but it also gets serious." (HA)

About his red "Tebow" jersey, Jantz said:
"(The coaches) gave it to me and just told me to wear it with pride. I take it very seriously, I think it's a big responsibility. Coach talks about how everyone has equal responsibility on the team and I just take this as my role and I'm going to give them a good look." (HSB)

About how his teammates are helping him adjust to his role, Jantz said:
"They call me 'Tim' or call me 'Tebow.' (HSB)

HA Note: "With 30 minutes remaining in a scheduled three-hour practice, it was time to put the freeze on the self-styled "Iceman." McMackin gathered the team, then announced that practice would end early if Dan Kelly converted a field-goal attempt from 53 yards. There were two obstacles for the Iceman: he would kick against the wind and his long-snapper, Jake Ingram, had left to take a final exam."

About how Dan Kelly made the kick to end practice early, Tim Grasso said:
"It was deep, and (against) the wind, and he comes through like he always does." (HA)

About making his kick to allow the team to end practice early, Kelly said:
"A little pressure never does anybody any harm. I enjoy it. I actually wish all the kicks were like that because it makes them more enjoyable. I like the attention." (HSB)

Worried about being injured in the celebration after the kick, Kelly said:
"That was dangerous I was like, 'Dude, just don't land on my feet. Hit me in the head, just don't step on my feet.' I've been hitting the ball really well, today was the first day I had a perfect day. Helluva day not to miss one." (HSB)

About having Farmer serve as his long snapper, Kelly said:
"Everyone on this team can operate. You take out the best snapper in the country in Jake, and you put in Farmer, who's still a damn good snapper, and we get the job done. It's a testament to how much talent there is on this team that nobody really takes into consideration." (HA)

About how his goal this summer was to work on his consistency, Kelly said:
"I'd rather be known as a consistent 45-yards-and-in kind of guy than a long, hit-or-miss kind of guy. That's what I worked on." (HA)

HA Note: "Yesterday's No. 1 center does not believe in shortcuts, especially with his first name. Matagisila Lefiti said he prefers that his name not be shortened to "Sila." Lefiti is making a name as a diligent worker on and off the field. Lefiti, a 2007 graduate of Mater Dei High School, met the NCAA requirements but not UH's entry standards. He was granted conditional acceptance last year if he agreed to redshirt and earn at least a 2.5 grade-point average. He met the challenge. His cumulative GPA is 3.0."

About Lefiti's improvement, Brian Smith said:
"He's come a long way. He's learned a lot. He's got pretty good balance. He anchors well. He's pretty stout for a young guy. He's doing well. He's been a nice surprise." (HA)

About how he didn't play center in high school but has worked hard to become a good center, Lefiti said:
"I wasn't used to the center spot. I worked hard with the (strength) coaches, Tommy (Heffernan) and Mel (deLaura). They helped me get into shape. Brian Smith really helped me with the (line) calls, and showed me what was going on in the (defensive) packages, which I'm really happy for." (HA)

HA Note: "In the spring, Cadiz was a volunteer janitor in the UH weight room, a position that allowed him to watch spring practices and plead daily for a tryout."

About how he wanted to be able to walk-on to the Warriors, Cadiz (2007 Mililani graduate who attended Humboldt State last fall) said:
"It was my dream." (HA)

About having Cadiz make the training camp roster despite not being able to play in games this year, Mack said:
"We were looking for a running back to give us a look when we got to scout teams. He wants to be on this football team. He's a full-speed, 100 percent guy. I know he'll have his heart and soul into making us better." (HA)

About how Mouton helps his after practice, DB Jeramy Bryant said:
"He's a big help, he doesn't hold anything back, he's helping me out a lot. Whenever I have any questions, I just go to him. Just trying to pick his brain before he goes to the league." (HSB)

Praising Bryant, Rich Miano said:
"I'm excited about him, because when you find a guy that's got talent and work ethic and focus, eventually he's going to help us, maybe sooner." (HSB)

HSB Note: "The stadium's 17-year-old JumboTron received a near-$1 million overhaul of its circuitry and computers, allowing the stadium to display a much wider array of replays, scores and statistics. The improvements are scheduled to be done in time for Hawaii's first home game Sept. 6 against Weber State, stadium manager Scott Chan said. The 19x26-foot JumboTron screen itself will remain the same. Flashier and quicker instant replays are now possible, supplemented by ongoing stats and scoring updates from around the country."

About their overhaul of the JumboTron, Chan said:
"I would think (it would appeal), now you're giving a broader base of information, you're informed about other games you're interested in, how they might be doing." (HSB)

About what they will be showing on the screen, scoreboard administrator Dave Golz said:
"We'll stick to Top 25. Live video of whatever's in the stadium, and put the (stat) graphics over. We have to put them a little bigger than a (score) ticker so people can read it. We can do things a little more creative, a couple different pages." (HSB)

About how they will have security cameras at various places throughout (and above) the stadium, Chan said:
"We're informing the general public to improve our coverage of our property and for security to have a better view of some of the blind spots we have in the facility." (HSB)

About how a camera with a bird's-eye view above the stadium will help them adjust things to reduce traffic into the parking lot on game days, Chan said:
"We can see as far as Red Hill, and places like Salt Lake Boulevard. It's gonna give us a huge advantage this year." (HSB)

About how they would like to replace some seats each year, Chan said:
"We're trying to step up to the plate and make the seat replacement part of the budget every year." (HSB)

About how they will still have the swap meet on game days, Chan said that he was optimistic that the stadium:
"can address that within the next two or three years."

About how the swap meet will still end at 3pm while the stadium gates open for tailgating parking at 2:30pm on game days, Chan said:
"We need to make sure we're sensitive to the needs of the swap meet vendors as well. We don't want to offset their livelihood. We're working at it, we realize how important it is to the (UH) athletic department, and we realize how important it is to (the stadium) as well, not having two operations overlap." (HSB)