Quotes from the local papers

HA Note: "There should be a decision tonight on the summer-long competition among fourth-year junior Inoke Funaki, and junior-college transfers Greg Alexander and Brent Rausch. Nothing, the coaches insist, should be read into Alexander taking snaps with the first-team offense during yesterday's afternoon practice, or Rausch observing from the side. Funaki had been the leadoff quarterback in the first nine practices."

About why Alexander went first in practice yesterday, Rolo said:
"Inoke was still in the weight room when Greg was out here (warming up), so I had Greg go first." (HA)

About how he sat out of practice to rest his right arm, Rausch said:
"It's no big deal. I'm giving it a rest. I threw a lot of balls." (HA)

About how Alexander has just 2 years to play 2 seasons, Rolo said:
"If he's going to help us, he's going to (have to) help us now." (HA)

About Rausch's early inconsistency, Rolo said:
"Maybe that first round of reps, Rausch had to go with the new receivers. That might have had something to do with it. He's coming on." (HA)

HA Note: "Rolovich said Rausch has forced a three-way competition. Rolovich has rated every pass of every practice. Through Tuesday, only a few points separated the leader and No. 3 quarterback."

About the battle for the starting QB sopt, Mack said:
"It's very close. That's why we don't want to rush." (HA)

Comparing the 3 QBs, Rolo said that Rausch throws:
"the prettiest ball. I know Colt's (passes were) pretty, but the sidearm (motion) was always the thing. Rausch can put it on you with the tight spiral. And he's 6-4, so the thing is coming. He almost has some anger to him on the field. When people doubt him, he's angry. He's really playing well lately." (HA)

About how Inoke understands their offense, Rolo said:
"Inoke has some personal qualities that make him very attractive as a leader to his teammates.He has very good decision-making (abilities). He understands (the offense). His arm is not as strong as the other two, but he's been working on it a lot." (HA)

About Alexander's poise, Rolo said:
"Greg stands tall. He's calm. He understands the position — throwing the ball, the wind. He's fairly accurate, especially on the short stuff. We haven't thrown enough down-the-field balls to see who's going to be the most accurate on deep passes. Greg has some intangibles. He doesn't get rattled. He's here to compete and play." (HA)

About how he wants to earn the starting QB job, Alexander said:
"I want the job. I've got to compete, and I have to earn it. That's what I'm trying to do. We'll see what happens. All I can do is control what I do out here. (The coaches) will make the decision." (HA)

HA Note: "A decision was expected yesterday. But the final installment of the offense was added during yesterday's three-hour morning practice. The coaches decided to wait until at least after today's practice, giving the top-tier quarterbacks an extra day to adjust to the offense."

About how they put in the final part of the offense yesterday, Rolo said:
"We put in the last major piece. Hopefully, they'll see it better (today)." (HA)

About how they will not rush their decision on a starting QB, Mack said:
"There's no real hurry because we don't start getting into game planning until next week. We're just not going to rush into it. We have 350 throws (taped) on each guy, in team (drills) or 7-on-7. So that's over 1,000 passes that we've analyzed. And they've probably thrown 1,000 more in ball drills. All three of them are good quarterbacks, and we just are adding up all the intangibles and pick the guy who gives us the best chance to win." (HSB)

About how they are trying to give each QB equal reps, Rolo said:
"We've switched up the reps so they all go against the No. 1 DBs, they all go with the No. 1 receivers. I just told them, 'I told you guys to make it a tough decision and you guys have.' But pretty soon we've got to make that tough decision, that's where we're going, support your teammate and you push that quarterback in front of you." (HSB)

About having Estes at LG, AhSoon at C, and Hisatake at RG in practice yesterday, Brian Smith said:
"It is what it is. You'd rather have everyone healthy. When guys go down, you have to be a little more creative." (HA)

HA Note: "The shuffle was triggered because of injuries to Estes (sore right shoulder), right guard Clarence Tuioti-Mariner (sore leg) and reserve guard Raphael Ieru (sore knee). To ease the strain on Estes, he was moved to left guard. By the afternoon practice, he was back at center."

About how AhSoon did at center, a position he didn't play since being at Tafuna High School in American Samoa, Smith said:
"I thought he did great. No balls on the ground, which is way ahead of some of the other guys." (HA)

About getting some reps at center, AhSoon said:
"It's been a while, but it felt good today. We always have to adjust. I figured it would be good for the team just to help out and practice at center and guard." (HSB)

About starting guard AhSoon working at center and backup guard Ginlack working at tackle, Smith said:
"It could be good for us. It's making some other guys a lot more versatile." (HSB)

Smith said that Estes practiced briefly at guard during drills, but:
"he's still our center." (HSB)

About how AhSoon would be used at center in "emergency" situations, Smith said:
"John is still our center." (HA)

About moving Hisatake to guard after the first practice at camp, Smith said:
"Even after spring, I thought Ray might be better at guard." (HA)

HA Note: "The recent plan called for Hisatake to back up AhSoon, who moved from left tackle to left guard. But with injuries to Tuioti-Mariner and Ieru, Hisatake switched to right guard. He has been No. 1 at that position this week."

About moving from tackle to guard, Hisatake said:
"I actually feel a lot more comfortable at guard." (HA)

About how his "light" went on this past Saturday, Letuli (who will unfortunately have to miss a few practices due to injury) said:
"The light did go on. I hope it burns even brighter." (HA)

About being on the "sevice" (scout) team, Kenny Estes said:
"It's OK. It'll make me work even harder." (HA)

About how they service team members are important, Mack said:
"It's important that each guy finds a role. We talked about that. The guys on (service) teams might have a chance to start on special teams. It's all about finding a role." (HA)

HA Note: "McMackin said the service players will earn meaningful work. For instance, Steele Jantz will receive almost all of the snaps against the Warriors' starting defense. If he remained with the regulars, he would not have any snaps in passing drills."

About how the service team members get more reps and can impress the coaches, Mack said:
"You get more reps (on service teams), and we're still watching them. If you jump off the screen, you can move (up the depth chart). It's another way of getting reps." (HA)

HA Note: "Junior-college transfers Dustin Blount and Jovonte Taylor have been withheld from practicing while UH awaits certification of their associate degrees. Both slotbacks already have been accepted into UH. They completed summer-school sessions at their junior colleges last week. There is no concern about their UH eligibility, but the missed time has them behind in the competition."

About how he can tell the difference between this year and last year (when he was an unknown trying to make the team), Libre said:
"I can feel the difference in practice. When I come in I feel the defense keying on me, like they know I might be getting the ball." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Libre's status as a leading returnee in the backfield is a long way from where he was last year as a receiver buried on the depth chart after making stops at Menlo College and Kapiolani Community College following his graduation from Konawaena. He spent the first half of the season on the scout team, but gradually started to see more time in practice with the first offense. With Kealoha Pilares out with an injury, Libre made his Division I debut against Fresno State, picking up 61 yards on six carries. He had his best game of the season against Washington in the regular-season finale, when he picked up 143 total yards."

About the Fresno State game, Libre said:
"When I came into Fresno it was a big change, changed my life really. But I don't want it to go to my head. I have to keep myself grounded because there's always somebody better." (HSB)

About how he, LWJ, and Famer have been splitting reps, Libre said:
"I know we're all going to play because we all complement each other." (HSB)

About how he's been working hard in strength training to become a better blocker, Libre said:
"I've never really faced anything like this before. I thought coming in against Fresno was tough; it's going to be a lot tougher at Florida. But I've been training this entire time, since (the Sugar Bowl against) Georgia. I haven't taken a day off yet." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Redshirt freshman Vaughn Meatoga, who entered fall camp looking to push for playing time, has seen more time with the first two units, rotating repetitions with seniors Keala Watson and Joshua Leonard, in recent practices. Sophomore Keahi Watson, Keala's younger brother, and Geordon Hanohano, a true freshman from Saint Louis, also played with the second team yesterday."

About getting reps with the first 2 units, Meatoga said:
"It helps me because I know I have to play at Keala and Josh's level. Everyone needs to keep in stride with everything and it makes everyone work harder." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Meatoga won the respect of his teammates in fall camp last year and redshirted the season. Keahi Watson also redshirted last season and Hanohano joined the Warriors this fall after earning All-State honors at Saint Louis last season."

About their new players on the DL, DL coach Dave Aranda said:
"They're intelligent and studious guys, they're asking questions and they're excited to have a shot. (Yesterday) was a good showing. Geordon's really making progress. He's going to be a great player for us in the future, and Haku brings a lot to the table." (HSB)

About returning early from his hamstring injury due to the competition at his spot, Daniel Lofton said:
"That can kind of accelerate your healing process when you have that (competition) because every practice counts. You have to come out and make the most of it, so I was kind of anxious to get back out, got tired of sitting on the side." (HSB)

about completing his Samoan class (the final was yesterday morning), Mouton said:
"I can hold a conversation." (HSB)