Warrior practice report

About how he wants them to remain focused on Notre Dame and not get caught up with the Bowl festivities, Mac said:
"There are activities to go to and I want them to have fun, but they know what they have to get done. They're smart, intelligent student-athletes and they know what's at stake in this game." (HSB)


About the 10-yard TD pass he threw to Ryan Henry on the final play of a scrimmage for redshirts and rarely used players, Jake Santos said:
"That was fun. That was a 75-yard drive. We had to convert, like, three (fourth) downs." (HA)

"It was a lot of fun. It was probably the last drive I'll have." (HSB)

Note: Santos is a senior and will probably not get practice reps starting today since they are beginning their game preparation, so this might have been his last play for the Warriors.

About the big hit he put on Dustin Blount, senior safety Ryan Perry said:
"It was great concentration by him. After I hit him, he somehow managed to regain it. It was a great catch." (HA)

About how they will start their game preparation today, Mac said:
"It's time to go to work on Notre Dame." (HA)

HA Note: "The Warriors spent the past three days working on techniques and fundamentals. But they already have studied videos of the Fighting Irish, and crafted a game plan. Because of the extra days afforded for bowl preparation, McMackin used the final hour of yesterday's practice "to have some fun and get some looks" at developing players."

About the scrimmage for the redshirts and reserves, Mac said:
"It was really competitive. They were going back and forth. It was fun. You've got to have some fun when you're playing this game, especially deep into the season as we are." (HA)

HA Note: "For Santos, the only regret was not joining the Warriors after his first season at San Diego Mesa Junior College. At the time, the Warriors were recruiting Colt Brennan. Santos was told he was fourth on the Warriors' wish list at quarterback. At the urging of a coach, he turned down an offer to join UH as a non-scholarship player."

About how he should have walked on to UH earlier, Santos said:
"I still should have come out here. That's the only thing I regret." (HA)

HA Note: "Instead, he played another season at San Diego Mesa, then transferred to Missouri Southern, a Division II school. He did not play in any games there because of an injury. He transferred to UH last year. But in accordance with NCAA transfer rules, he was allowed to practice but not play in games in 2007."

Appreciating his short Warrior career, Santos said:
"I'm thankful for the opportunity to be here. We went to the Sugar Bowl. And now we get to go to another Hawai'i Bowl. It's been fun." (HA)

About working as a clerk in a convenience store and a bouncer in Waikiki when he joined UH as a walk-on after his discharge from the Marines, Alonzo Chopp said:
"It's something you have to do to survive. It's not cheap to live out here." (HA)

About his Warrior career coming to an end, Chopp said:
"It's my last week here, last week in school, just trying to have fun before I leave. It's just one more week to be with my brothers. I'm going to miss them when I leave, but it's time to move on to something else." (HSB)

HA Note: "Chopp will participate in Saturday's UH graduation ceremony. After the bowl game, he plans to enlist in the Air Force. He said he aspires to be an officer. Perry received a football scholarship in August, but continues to work as a camera operator and floor director at PBS Hawai'i. He is a camera operator for the "Leahey and Leahey" show."

About how he nearly died during birth because the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, Ryan Perry said:
"The doctor had to pull me out by (right) shoulder." (HA)

HA Note: "That led to Perry suffering from Erb's Palsy, a paralysis of the arm. He underwent corrective surgery on his right arm when he was 8. But calcium deposits left him with a right arm that is bent at a 90-degree angle."

Perry said that being pulled by his shoulder during the birth:
"caused (his condition), but in reality, it saved my life at the time. It was a fair tradeoff. I'll take that." (HA)

About playing football despite his condition, Perry said:
"I've never really thought of it as an obstacle, even though I know other people think of it that way. To me, it's just normal. It's been a blessing." (HA)


About going back to the scout team starting today, Ryan Henry said:
"That's my role on the team this year and I take pride in it." (HSB)