Other quotes from the local papers

About how UH needs a wedge blocker to replace the loss of Victor Clore, special teams coordinator Ikaika Malloe said:
"When we lost Victor, we lost a big part of our wedge. He was the wedge setter. We fed off of him. With him out of it, you almost took the soul out of the wedge." (HA)

"Victor's really the heart and soul of our wedge. Just his leadership skill and tenacity in hitting it." (HSB)


HA Note: "Defensive end C.J. Allen-Jones is the leading candidate to replace Clore this week. Defensive tackle Tuika Tufaga and defensive end Antwan "Tua" Mahaley also are auditioning. The wedge setter is aligned at about the 25, on the right hash. The goal is to "re-direct" — bump off course but not engage in a block — on-coming defenders. Of the three candidates, Allen-Jones is the fastest. Tufaga is the bigger hitter, although Mahaley had a big block yesterday."

About how he receives inspiration from DE John Fonoti and DT Fale Laeli, Tuika Tufaga said:
"They make you want to run down the field and knock somebody out." (HA)

About Tufaga, Clore said:
"He's a hard-headed guy. He's from Kahuku. They build them tough out there." (HA)

About possibly replacing Clore, C.J. Allen-Jones said:
"I want to help make this team successful on that side of the ball. We need more yards. We need to score more touchdowns. We need better field position for our offense. Victor did a good job. Unfortunately, he got injured. Somebody has to move up." (HA)

About how Kaleo Wong is also an option to replace Clore, Malloe said of Wong:
"A no-nonsense guy who'll definitely crush your head." (HSB)

About using Aaron Bain to return punts, Malloe said:
"He's one of our better hands, we want him to catch the ball first and hopefully with the scheme we have we can get him to a return." (HSB)


About how the are more worried about this year's Warriors than the Warrior team that beat them in Reno last year, Nevada coach Chris Ault said:
"That was last year. We've moved on and you don't want to look in the rearview mirror." (HSB)

About Nevada's excellent offense (2nd in the country in rushing, 6th in total offense, WAC-best 38.9 points per game), Mac said:
"Everybody's been having trouble defending them because they're very talented and they have a good scheme." (HSB)

HSB Note: 'Wolf Pack quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running back Vai Taua have combined to power a Nevada attack that comes to town this weekend sporting some of the nation's gaudiest numbers."

About how they still need to get better on offense, Ault said:
"We're a good offense, but we've still got a ways to go. We still make some fundamental mistakes that we need to correct." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Even with Luke Lippincott, last year's WAC rushing champion, out with a season-ending knee injury, the Wolf Pack offense hasn't broken stride in running to the top of the WAC and national rankings. At 305.3 rushing yards per game, the Wolf Pack are on pace to break the school's single-season record of 3,096 yards set in 1978."

About how the pistol formation provides two running threats, Mac said:
"What (the pistol) does is it's a two-back offense because the quarterback's just as talented as a runner as any backs we've faced, maybe more so." (HSB)

About Kaepernick's improved passing ability (62.5% completions this year, 54% last year), Ault said:
"He's throwing the ball with more accuracy and he's just more comfortable in the offense." (HSB)

About how they relied on Kaepernick's struggles with passing last year, Adam Leonard said:
"Last year it was part of our game plan to put him into passing situations. This year from the velocity on his ball and the throws he's been making, you can definitely see a drastic improvement." (HSB)

About how Taua has replaced Lippincott well, Ault said:
"(Taua) really has been a pleasant surprise. He just has really good balance, that's one of the biggest things and he has good change of direction." (HSB)

About the challenge of facing a running team like Nevada, Adam Leonard said:
"For a linebacker, a team that loves to run, that's a direct challenge to you and the linemen in front of you." (HSB)