Quotes from the UH-Boise State game 10/17/08

HA = Honolulu Advertiser
HSB = Honolulu Star-Bulletin
AP = Associated Press
UH = University of Hawaii Athletics Official Site
IS = Idaho Statesman
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--------------------------- Quotes from the UH Coaches ----------------------------

About their mistakes in the second half, Mac said:
“We’re right back in the same turnover deal. We can’t turn the ball over five times.” (UH, HA)

About their struggles on offense in the second half, Mac said:
“Second half I have to give Boise State full credit. The slowed us down and did a great job defending us. They are one of the top defenses in the country and in the second half they showed that.” (UH)

"We were killed by turnovers. BSU did a good job of slowing down the offense in the second half. Now we just have to look at the film and correct it and get better." (AP)

About choosing to not go for the FG on their first drive, Mac said:
“We probably should have taken the field goal in the first quarter. And I usually don’t make emotional
decisions, but the offense thought that we had a play and we decided to go for it.” (UH)

"I should have gone for the field goal. We had the momentum going and there was 1 yard. I normally don't make emotional decisions. I asked the offense if they had a play for it, they said they did, so I went for it. Should have gone for the field goal." (HSB)

HA Note: "Their opening drive advanced to the BSU 15, from where they faced a fourth-and-1 situation. On his game plan, McMackin wrote that if faced with this scenario, he would call for a field-goal attempt. Instead, McMackin went with his emotions, and opted to go for the first down. Running back Kealoha Pilares took an option pitch and was tackled for a 3-yard loss."

IS Note: "Hawaii got a fourth-down conversion on its first drive, stopping a streak of seven straight Boise State fourth-down stops. The Broncos did stop the Warriors on fourth-and-1 later in the drive."

About limiting BSU's offense to 10 points in the first half, Mac said:
"We were just playing our defense and we were blitzing. He had never been blitzed like that before." (UH)

HA Note: "The Warriors, who entered with a two-game winning streak, crafted a plan of blitzing Moore from different points. Unnerve the brain, and the body of the Broncos' multiple-look offense will collapse."

About how their WAC title hopes are over, Mac said:
"We're obviously not in the WAC race anymore." (HA)

"We were in a single-elimination situation for the WAC championship. Boise beat us and they're still in the race. I would think it'd be a miracle for us to be in the race now." (HSB)

For them to get back into title contention, Mac said that:
"it would take a miracle." (HSB)

About how their other goals are still in reach, Mac said:
"We have two more goals - we want to graduate 100 percent of our players and we want to go to a bowl game. We have six games and we have to win four of them. That's what our goal is. Hopefully we win all of them." (HSB)

About showing the team a video the night before the game of the boxing match between welterweight champion Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto, Mac said:
"That's what this (game) was about. We felt it would be like two guys duking it out. We were the underdogs, but we didn't want to play like underdogs." (HA)

Praising BSU, Mac said:
"I have to give Boise State full credit. They slowed us down and did a great job defending us. They are one of the top defenses in the country, and in the second half, they showed that." (HSB)

"They are one of the top defenses in the country, and in the second half they showed that." (IS)

Praising Inoke's play in the first half, Mac said:
"I thought Inoke did some great things in the first half and we were playing against one of the best defenses in the country." (HSB)

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About the INTs that BSU got, Ron Lee said:
"They played well and forced us to throw, and we didn't do a very good job. They did a heck of a job with their coverage." (HA)

About why Inoke will remain their starting QB, Ron Lee said:
"It wasn't just him (Funaki). It was a bunch of things. I didn't do a good enough job getting the guys ready," Lee said. "They (Boise State) did a good job defending us. They took away the run and we kind of got one dimensional." (HA)

About how the dropped passes are hurting their offense, Ron Lee said:
"It was a combination of things, really. We were not where we were supposed to be, we dropped balls." (HA)

About preparing for the Nevada game, Ron Lee said:
"We're going to look at the tape (of the game) together and then we're going to have to be smarter how we prepare." (HA)

About how BSU took away their running game and contained their option plays, Ron Lee said:
"They did a nice job of containing (Funaki) on that option-type deal that we had, took away our running game, and they put us in a lot of third and longs." (HSB)

About putting Alexander in for their last drive, Ron Lee said:
"Inoke was taking a lot of hits. It was a good time to get Greg some playing time." (HSB)

About how losing Pilares to injury hurt their offense, Ron Lee said:
"We really missed him as a running back and a receiver." (HSB

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Praising Moore's poise, Rich Miano said:
"He's a smart quarterback. We thought we could pressure him and rattle him. But he makes good decisions. He throws it to the right people and they make plays." (HA)

About how execution is a key for how BSU succeeds, Miano said:
"I don't know if they have the greatest talent, but they make good decisions. That's the difference in football: who makes the right plays and who doesn't. Mistakes will get you beat, and execution will win for you, and they executed." (HA)


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--------------------------- Quotes from the UH Players ----------------------------

About how they made too many mistakes, Inoke said:
"It was frustrating. They are a good team, I take my hat off to them, but we helped them too much." (HA)

About how BSU adjusted their D as the game went along, Inoke said:
"They started to play us differently. They took away the flats. They started to come up, and put on more pressure." (HA)

HA Note: "They also decided to expand the roles of their cornerbacks. Sometimes they were brought up to protect the flats or provide speedy defenders on the perimeter, Funaki's favorite area to roam. In those situations, the safeties would play man-to-man on the UH wideouts. Sometimes, the BSU corners would drop back into coverage."

About the INTs, Inoke said:
"It wasn't a happy feeling at all." (HA)

Inoke said that BSU's pressure contributed to the INTs:
"but you can't make that the excuse. You still have to take care of the ball." (HSB)

About tying Colt and Tim Chang for most INTs in a game, Inoke said:
"Definitely it's not a good feeling at all. But what can you do, it's done and you have to look forward." (HSB)

About how BSU prevented him from being able to run (his longest run was for 6 yards), Inoke said:
"When things collapsed around me, I tried to find a way out, but I just felt like they did a good job of corralling me and keeping me in there." (HSB)

About Libre's play in place of the injured Pilares, Inoke said:
"He (Libre) stepped up. When somebody goes out, somebody has to step in." (HA)

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About the sprained right foot he suffered in the game, Kealoha Pilares said:
"I have no clue how it happened. I wanted to shoot it up (with a pain-killer), but they said if I went back out and it got worse, I might need surgery." (HA)

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About scoring their TD, the first TD of his Warrior career, Daniel Libre said:
"They (the offensive linemen) made my job easy. They just blew it (the defensive line) up. There was a hole you could drive a truck through. I could have walked in." (HA)

Dedicating his TD to the injured Pilares, Libre said:
"I dedicated it to him (Pilares) because it should have been his (carry). I told him it was for him." (HA)

About Pilares' injury, Libre (who suffered a sprain in the Florida game and did not carry the ball in their next game) said:
"It sounds like a foot sprain and I know how that is." (HA)

About his seven rushes in the game, Libre said:
"I liked getting the (seven carries), but I'd like to get them on my own, not because he is hurt." (HA)

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Praising Kellen Moore, Adam Leonard said:
"He doesn't make mistakes - he trusts his reads and he knows where his shakedowns are. He's a good decision-maker. You can tell just from his experience of being a coach's son that he's got a good head on his shoulders. Even though he's relatively young, he's an old man in terms of knowing what defense you're in. The coaches put the ball in his hands and he found his guys open." (HSB, IS)

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About how freshman BSU QB Kellen Moore remained poised despite their pressure, DE David Veikune said:
"He always gets it off a split second before you can hit him. He was getting irritating. But he has a lot of poise. I give him that. Usually you can rattle a freshman, but it didn't seem he was rattled at all. The second play, I think, I blasted him. But he still played his game. I give him a lot of credit." (HA)

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-------------------------- Quotes from the Boise State Coaches ---------------------

About the progress of their team, BSU head coach Chris Petersen said:
“We’re a work in progress and we will get better. Those kids care tremendously and they’re very prideful and we’ll go back to work. I know we’ll see some good things on the tape, we’ve made some strides. We’re really proud of them and how they practiced this week. We got back late Sunday morning and were out there Monday in full pads and you wouldn’t have known that we had a short week or a short day. Everybody knows the drill. It’s all about trying to get better. If we can keep that attitude, that work ethic, we’ll be okay.” (UH)

About how he's looking for more consistency on offense, Petersen said:
"We are a work in progress and we will get better. This game is so much about detail. It looks simple, but there are so many things that go along with making it work." (AP)

“This game is so much about details and when you’re really operating like you want to, it looks simple, but there is a lot of detail that goes along with it. When you’re not quite there, you just miss. Like I’ve said, if we keep practicing and working like we have been, we’ll get there.” (UH)

"We're a work in progress. We will get better. Those kids care tremendously. They're very prideful. This game is so much about details. When you're really operating like you want to, it looks simple. When you're not quite there, you just miss." (IS)

About redshirt freshman QB Kellen Moore, Petersen said:
“I think that is when the quarterback intelligence comes out, and the one thing we know about Kellen is that he’s smart. If you give him a crack, he’s going to take advantage of it. He’s been very smart with the ball down there, he’s not going to turn it over, we have a lot of confidence that we can throw it in there because we know he’s going to take care of the football for us. He did it again tonight.” (UH)

About how he doesn't think of Moore as a freshman (the first freshman #1 QB in BSU's history), Petersen said:
"One thing about (the quarterback) position is that it's so analytical and that it's about intelligence. And the way Kellen runs things on the field and responds to certain situations isn't like a freshman. So, I don't really think of him as a freshman quarterback." (HA)

"Kellen is a smart guy. When you give him a crack, he's going to take advantage of it. We have a lot of confidence that we can throw it in there because we know he's going to take care of the football for us. He did it again tonight." (HA)

"The one thing we know about Kellen is that he's smart. If you give him a crack he's going to take advantage of it. He's been very smart with the ball down there. He's not going to turn it over. We have a lot of confidence that we can throw it in there because we know he's going to take care of the football for us." (HSB)

About how he doesn't mind letting Moore throw in the red zone, Petersen said:
“That’s where a lot of quarterback intelligence comes out. The one thing we know about Kellen is he’s smart. You give him a crack, he’s going to take advantage of it.’’ (IS)

About Moore's two fumbled snaps, Petersen said:
"I guess he still looks like a freshman sometimes. Next week our goal can be not to have any freshman-like exchanges under center." (HA)

About how they shuffled their starting OL again, Petersen said:
"We're just trying to find different answers. We think we've got good players there. We're not going to just take it laying down, that this is what we've got. We know we can get better and we're going to figure out what that is. If we need another combination next week, after this week of practice, we'll try it." (IS)

IS Note: "Senior Andrew Woodruff started at left tackle for the second straight game. Senior Jon Gott moved from right guard to left guard, freshman Cory Yriarte started at center, sophomore tackle Kevin Sapien moved to right guard and sophomore Matt Slater started at right tackle."

About how freshman center Thomas Byrd (who started the first 5 games) didn't play in the game and has been benched since before their previous game after they lost a fumbled snap, Petersen said:
"He just needs to take care of details better. That's the best way to put that." (IS)

About how the fumbled snap that they lost in this game was the QB's fault, not the center's fault, Petersen said:
"Our goal next week is to not have a quarterback-center exchange issue." (IS)

About how this was the 5th time in their last 6 games that they only allowed one score on D, Petersen said:
"If we can hold everyone to just seven points each game, that would take a lot of stress off of everyone. Football is a game of confidence, and we've got a lot of guys out there who are gaining confidence each week that they can make plays for us on defense." (HA)

Proud of their defense, Petersen said:
"I'm really proud of the guys (on defense). One of the things we've been talking about is - not only this week, but for a long time - how we didn't finish the game last year against Hawaii. In the second half, you could really see them dial it up. They're playing tremendous. The kids are really believing in what we're doing. This game is such a game of confidence. You start to play well and it builds." (IS)

About being more defensive-minded this year and more conservative on offense, Petersen said:
"I'm very much used to it and I'm totally good with it. If we can hold everybody to seven points, I think it'd take a lot of stress off a lot of people. ... We can't count on our defense every week holding them to seven points." (IS)

Reminded that they have held 5 of their last 6 opponents to 7 points or less this season, Petersen said that they might be able to rely on their D keeping the other team to seven points or less:
"Actually, maybe we can." (IS)

Praising Brandyn Thompson, Petersen said:
"He really stepped up. He's playing great. It was awesome for him to have the kind of game he did. He really deserved it." (IS)

HSB Note: "The keys to Boise State's game plan were scribbled on a white board in the Broncos' meeting room. Underlined among them was, "turnovers!""

About how they used freshman LB Dan Paul (who plays on special teams but rarely plays on D) at FB due to the injury to TE Chris O'Neill (FB Richie Brockel moved to TE to help replace O'Neill, who will likely miss the rest of the season), Petersen said:
"There's no question he can play there and play there very well. We're not ready to take him out of the linebacker role, but he may be a two-way player. We'll always have a role for him on offense from here on out." (IS)

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About how they have been throwing for TDs in the red zone instead of running for the TDs there, BSU offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin said:
“It’s the scheme for that game on what we feel gives us the best matchups. That’s really the reason. He’s obviously prepared himself for those situations. Down there, things are a lot tighter and he’s been able to see things he needs to see. He understands the scenarios in the red zone, just how crucial that is when we’re passing the football down there.” (IS)

IS Note: "BSU running backs have had their share of rushing touchdowns in the red zone in recent years. Last year through six games, the Broncos had 13 rushing touchdowns from inside 20 yards. This year, that number is down to 10 — and none in the past two games."

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DB coach Marcel Yates said that the struggles Thompson had against UH last year had him:
"on a mission to prove to people he can play that position." (IS)

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-------------------------- Quotes from the Boise State Players ----------------------

Praising their defense, QB Kellen Moore said:
”Defense has been great all year and they just step up to the challenge each week. It’s fun on our side (offense) to know that they are going to get out there and take care of business.” (UH)

"They just step up to the challenge each week. They're getting better. It's pretty impressive and it's fun on our part seeing them take care of business." (IS)

About how they are more defensive-minded this year and are scoring less points, Moore said:
"At the end of the day, it's a win." (IS)

About pulling away in the second half, Moore said:
“It’s just the mentality of playing all four quarters and not relaxing at all. We knew we just had to keep scoring.” (UH)

About their offense, Moore said:
“I think we got moving a little bit better this week in the passing games and the running game is coming along. We just take what the defense gives us and get better each week." (UH)

"I think we got moving a little bit better this week in the passing game and the running game is coming along. You don't know how many chances you're going to get like that. Fortunately, I was able to make the plays tonight. But one of these days, we're going to rush for 300 yards against somebody." (HA)

About how they are not performing up to their standards on offense but still happy that they are winning, Moore said:
"We're playing awesome on defense, and offensively, we're striving to finish strong and play a full four quarters. Winning 24-7 or 27-7 each week isn't exactly ideal from our perspective on offense, but we're happy with what we've been able to accomplish so far." (HA)

About keeping a cheat-sheet of dozens of plays, type-written on a forearm band, Moore said about their playbook over several hundred possible plays:
"It keeps your head turned during the week. You're learning a ton of new stuff. But when it comes to the game, it helps." (HA)

About their no-huddle offense, Moore said:
"We tried to mix it up. We've got a lot of dimensions to this offense. We mixed in the no-huddle, and tried to get some quick stuff going." (HA)

About how 6 of his 8 TD passes over the past 3 games have come while they were in the red zone, Moore said:
“The red zone is where you’re going to get your points. Their defense is either going to sit back and drop a bunch of guys or blitz all. You have to see what you got and look at the matchups.” (IS)

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About his three interceptions, DB Brandyn Thompson said:
“It feels good. When you see an opportunity to make a play, you want to make the play. You don’t know how many chances you get like that. Fortunately, I was able to make the plays tonight.” (UH, HSB)

"I had an idea of what they wanted to run, and how they wanted to run. When you get the opportunity to make a play, you want to make a play." (HA)

About his first INT, where he tapped his toes inside the sideline like a WR, Thompson said:
"That kind of reminded me of high school and my receiver days." (IS)

About how he missed out on a 4th INT when a pass hit him in the hands on UH's final drive and popped into the air and was caught by Salas for a 7-yard-gain, Thompson said:
"That hurts. When you get the gimme picks, you definitely want to make them count. That's going to hurt to watch on film." (IS)

IS Note: "Hawaii also had a catch on a ball that hit junior cornerback Kyle Wilson in the helmet. Salas grabbed that deflection for 25 yards."

About how Colt had a lot of success against him in last year's game, Thompson said:
"I've had this game circled on my calendar. Last year as a freshman, they took advantage of me. So it was nice to be able to get all of those picks. I just saw the ball today." (AP)

"They kind of took advantage of me last year (as a freshman)." (HA)

"I definitely had this game circled on my calendar. It was the most playing time I had seen all season, and I was young and inexperienced and Hawai'i took advantage of me." (HA)

"I've had this game circled on my calendar." (HSB)

"I definitely did have (the game) circled on my calendar. Last year, as a freshman, it was the most time I saw and they kind of took advantage of me. It definitely feels good." (IS)

HA Note: "In last year's game, C.J. Hawthorne burned Thompson on a deep pattern late in the third quarter to push the Warriors' lead to an insurmountable 12 points."

IS Note: "It was a poignant win for Thompson, who played poorly last year at Hawaii. It was the first extensive playing time of his career, he was a true freshman and he was only in the game because of injuries to starter Orlando Scandrick and backup Rashaun Scott. Hawaii burned Thompson for a key 38-yard touchdown in that game. "

Thompson has a ritual of writing something on his eye black stickers to inspire his game--this week he said he wrote "Play Maker" because:
"I have a motto that says, 'If you make a bad play, you've got to make it up with a good one.' Tonight I had more good ones than bad ones." (HA)

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About UH's offense, DE Mike T. Williams said:
“If you can pressure the quarterback at anytime and just get in his head and just get him rattled, wondering where you’re at instead of worrying about down the field, it’s going to help. So obviously, five picks, that’s great.” (UH)

About the importance of beating UH, Williams said:
“It means a lot. Last year left a really bitter taste in my mouth. It was at their house and we had to watch them celebrate. We’re used to winning WAC championships around here and they took it from us. So it really just felt good as a team to go out there and knock them off.” (UH, HA, HSB)

About the performance of their D, Williams said:
“It all goes back to practice and finishing every play out there. Just making sure that we give our best because if we don’t finish, you saw what happened out there last year. We didn’t finish on defense or offense last year in Hawaii.” (UH)

About their depth on the DL, Williams said:
“You can really count on them to do the same thing out there when you come out. It’s great. We’re over there celebrating the whole time, and that’s how it should be for a D‐line. Basically, keeping them in there and allowing us to come out with fresh legs is good for us as a D‐line.” (UH)

About the importance of pressuring the QB and how it decreases the QB's effectiveness, Williams said:
"If you can pressure the quarterback at anytime and just get in his head and just get him rattled, wondering where you are instead of worrying about down the field, it is going to help. So, obviously, five (interceptions), that's great." (HA)

"If you can pressure the quarterback at any time and just get in his head and just get him rattled, wondering where you're at instead of worrying about down the field, it's going to help." (HSB)

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About the difference between last year's game and this game, DB Jeron Johnson said:
“It was more determination and more focus during practice. We prepared well and came out and executed.” (UH)

About how they got their INTs on 3rd-and-long situations, Jeron said:
“On third down we knew we wanted to bring pressure. Our defensive line got pressure and we had five interceptions. That was our game plan to bring pressure, and it worked.” (UH)

"On third downs, we wanted to put pressure on them and see if we could make something happen. That was our game plan, and it worked." (HA, IS)

Praising their DL for containing Inoke for their part in the success of their secondary, Jeron said:
"It was a variety of different things. Our front played amazing. They contained the quarterback. He's an awesome scrambler." (HA)

About the win, Jeron said:
"We're back. We've got a lot to prove this year, and we're trying to prove it." (HA)

About how this was a statement game for them, Jeron said:
"It was a statement game. We're back." (HSB, IS)

About how they did better this year on D than they did last year, Jeron said:
"Their quarterback wasn't as good as Colt Brennan. It was more determination and more focus in practice. The preparation was awesome, even with the short week. We came out and executed." (IS)