Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Quotes about the game from the Ruston Leader

RL = Ruston Leader

About how every WAC game is important, Derek Dooley said:
"Every game is big, but the biggest are those you play in your own conference. The preseason is over. WAC play is here and every game is going to be a huge challenge and it starts for us with an outstanding Hawaii team." (RL)


About playing on a Wednseday, Dooley said:
"The routine is going to be a little different because of it being held in the middle of the week, but we're hoping that Tech fans come out and see the game and show their support. I think what's really important is that it is a great time to show the entire nation what Louisiana Tech football and athletics is all about, so hopefully there will be a 'sea of red' out there for the game." (RL)


About how they will be doing a "Red Out" promotion, with fans and the team wearing red, senior DB Deon Young said;
"Whatever color we wear, we hope it helps us get a win against a good Hawaii team. It's time to really be focused and give it our best because the conference schedule begins with this game." (RL)


About how UH has a dangerous offense as usual, Dooley said:
"This is one of those typical Hawaii teams, like the ones when Brennan and Timmy Chang played, that has a great offense. We've got to be very sound defensively. It's going to be important to play physical on defense and take advantage of the opportunities we get on offense." (RL)

http://rustonleader.com/news.php?id=5819

Pregame quotes for the Hawaii - Louisiana Tech game 9/30/09

ST = Shreveport Times

About practicing worst-case scenarios in their walk-through yesterday, Mac said:
"We have to be ready for everything. We don't want any surprises." (HA)

HA Note: "Perhaps the only situation without a Plan B was when Savaiigaea unsuccessfully tried to empty a container of iced water onto assistant coach Dave Aranda as a birthday surprise. "You blew it, Rocky!" a teammate yelled."


About the importance of the La Tech game, Blaze Soares said:
"This is a big step for us to play Louisiana Tech. It's going to define our season. Either we make it or break it. It's for all of the marbles." (HA)

HA Note: "The Warriors, who are 2-1, are playing the last of three consecutive road games. They have set a goal of winning the WAC title. After each practice, they gather at midfield and yell: "WAC champs." "


About the importance of this game for their WAC championship goal, Blaze said:
"We have a championship to win. We have to treat this like a championship game." (HA)

HA Note: "In the 2007 meeting between the teams, also played in Ruston in September, several Warriors suffered from humidity-related cramps. The Warriors still are reminded of the vision of offensive lineman Keith "The Bear" AhSoon barely able to walk. Although the game will be played at night, the Warriors have consulted with a hydration specialist. What's more, slotback Kealoha Pilares plans to take an IV as a pre-game precaution."

HA Note: "The Warriors also moved Soares to middle linebacker, where he will have a greater role in play-calling. The Warriors have been going with a no-huddle defense this season, a strategy that might be beneficial against the Bulldogs' hurry-up offense."


About the importance of this game, Mac said:
"This is a big game for us." (HA)


About how he's averaging 5.67 post-contact yards and 0.65 broken tackles per carry, Alex Green said:
"It's my job to break tackles and make guys miss." (HA)


About how he prepares for his rushes by carrying a 25-pound medicine ball in one arm while jogging on a balance platform, Green said:
"Keeping your balance is the key to football." (HA)


About how he's averaging 0.84 broken tackles per reception (and catching a team-best 83.8% of the passes when he is the primary receiver), Kealoha Pilares (who benched 165 as a freshman and 330 over the summer) said:
"I'm a lot stronger than when I first got here. I never lifted (regularly) in high school," he said. "Coach Mack forced me to do it here, and it's paying off." (HA)


Blaze said that the important thing to play MLB is:
"to be a beast." (HA)


About how they use Richard Torres in 7 of their 8 defensive schemes, Rich Miano said:
"I can't think of a guy with more want-to, focus, dedication, perseverance, any (bleepin') cliche that you can think of. I wish we had 11 guys like Richard Torres." (HA)


About how George Daily-Lyles will be used on the kickoff, punt, and kick-return units, special teams coach Chris Tormey said:
"We think he has the athletic ability and physical size to be an impact player for us this year." (HA)


Feeling that the team is energized for their WAC opener on national TV, Mac said:
"We just have to continue getting better. But because it's our first WAC game and because it's a national TV game, I feel a real good energy with this team. So we'll line it up on Wednesday night and see where we're at." (HSB)


About how they have to limit La Tech's RB Porter, Mac said:
"Porter is obviously a talent. I think people have been keying on him and they've been behind their first couple of games so they've thrown it." (HSB)


About how their offense is in sync now, Greg Alexander said:
"It gets better as you keep going and I think we're at the point right now where everybody feels comfortable with each other and has a good idea of what we're all thinking and we're all seeing the same things." (HSB)


Praising UH's offense, Dooley said:
"They've really got it rolling and they look like the Hawaii of two years ago and it's going to be a big challenge for our defense." (HSB)


About how they do not know how many people will show up for the game, a Louisiana Tech official said:
"We have no idea what to expect (tonight). We really don't." (HA)


Associate AD Malcolm Butler said that the game:
"is our first-ever non-Saturday home game, so we have no idea what we will draw and how it would compare." (HA)

HA Note: "He said some Tech fans have been known to drive four hours or more for Saturday games."


About going for 2 at the end of the 2007 game against Hawaii, La Tech head coach Derek Dooley said:
"I had decided, while our offense was out there on the field, that we would go for two. We were up against the most explosive offense in the country and our defense had played their hearts out. But we were getting tired. They scored in overtime on the two quickest plays I've ever seen ... like pow, pow." (ST)


About how he liked the decision to go for 2 points, safety Antonio Baker (who had 14 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble in that 2007 game) said:
"I felt right in line with the decision our coaching staff made. We stuck with our decision to go for two and we came up short. We can't hang our heads for sticking with the decision. We just didn't
execute." (ST)


Asked by an interviewer after the game if he still would have gone for 2, Dooley said:
"I told him 'heck no.' We've already tried that one and we failed. We'd try something different. What I was surprised about was the support I got for going for 2. I didn't get anybody criticizing me. I was beatin' myself up ... that was a little consolation." (ST)


About going to hug his son after the game, Dooley said:
"You always expect a little support from your family. The first thing out of his mouth, however, was 'Dad, why'd you go for two?' I just looked at him and said 'not now, son.' But as we walked up the hill, he said a little louder, 'But I just don't understand, why'd you go for two, dad.' I knew then it was gonna be rough at home." (ST)


Praising UH's offense this season, Baker said:
"They haven't lost a beat. They have some real talented receivers and Alexander is getting into a groove. I can see a little Colt Brennan in him. They hit you with a short pass here and a short pass there, then they throw one deep. And they can run the ball, which they did on us last year. We just have to bring our 'A' game." (ST)


Praising UH's receivers and the way UH's D gets turnovers, Dooley said:
"If you're a wideout in California and you're fast, you're going there. The big thing is they do such a great job creating turnovers. They've already gotten 10. That's what happened to us last year. We had two interceptions in the red zone (in a 24-14 loss)." (ST)


Expecting a close game, TE Dustin Mitchell said:
"I expect another shootout because their offense is explosive. I believe our defense can step up and stop them enough to give our offense the chance to put some points on the board." (ST)


Approaching this game like he approached the 2007 game, Baker said:
"We were excited and motivated going into that game and it translated onto the field. We didn't come up with the win, but I was just flying around out there having fun." (ST)

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090930/SPORTS0201/909300365&template=UHsports

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090930/SPORTS0201/909300364&template=UHsports

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090930/SPORTS0201/909300363&template=UHsports

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20090930_UH_seeks_Big_Wednesday.html

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20090930/SPORTS0203/909300311/La.Tech-gets-another-shot-at-Hawaii

Practicing at Euless Trinity may boost UH recruiting

HA Note: "Noting a sign welcoming "the University of Hawai'i football team" in the lobby of the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport Marriott here yesterday, a guest asked, "are they playing somebody here?" Advised that UH would be playing Louisiana Tech in Ruston, La., some 250 miles away, tonight, he shook his head. The reason for the 34-hour stopover made more sense, however, when you saw where the Warriors practiced Monday and Tuesday: nearby Trinity (Texas) High School. The Trojans, who won the Texas state large school championship in 2005 and '07, have a large Polynesian, mostly Tongan, enrollment, including some players with family ties in Hawai'i."


About why they decided to practice at Euless Trinity, Mac said:
"We wanted to build a relationship here. This is the biggest Polynesian school in Texas and it is right by the airport so you can fly in and get in and out easily." (HA)

HA Note: "Trinity is in Euless, a town of about 60,000, including many families who are employed at the nearby Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport."


Mac said that he selects where UH recruits, especially when it is not on the West Coast,:
"on whether there is some sort of a Hawai'i tie; a reason for them to come to us." (HA)


Mac said that at Trinity:
"a lot of players have family in Hawai'i. Inoke (Funaki, UH back) has relatives here." (HA)

HA Note: "Trinity practices the haka and some of its players were familiar with UH and its schedule. The Warriors' arrival produced a turnout of approximately 100 students, including some from the nearby junior high yesterday."


Normally thses types of stopovers in travel are against NCAA rules, which specify arrival in the area:
"no more than 48 hours prior to the contest." (HA)

Ha Note: "But Hawai'i has an exemption, according to Western Athletic Conference compliance director Anthony Archbald, who said the NCAA waives the rule for travel to and from Hawai'i and Alaska."

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090930/SPORTS0201/909300365&template=UHsports

Feature story on JJ in the Star-Bulletin

About trying to turn the SMU program around, JJ said:
"This is a challenge, but we're getting better. I think we get one more recruiting class and we'll really be competitive in our conference." (HSB)


Comparing the situation with SMU now with his UH team in 2000, JJ said:
"I kind of see it more as 2000 more than '99. Right now the guys are buying like they did in '99, but the battle has been like the 2000 season for our first 15 games (at SMU). The kids are hanging in, bought into what we're doing and getting better. The department, the kids in the locker room, the attitudes, the equipment guys, the trainers, everybody. That whole culture has been pounded of losing for 25 years, so everybody's got to buy in." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Aside from Jones' presence, the practice field is dotted by familiar faces and sounds from his Hawaii days. Dennis McKnight's voice still booms across the field during special teams periods, while Dan Morrison, Jeff Reinebold and Wes Suan monitor their position groups. Former UH standout Adrian Klemm joined the staff this season as offensive line coach."


About how moving to SMU brought his close to his daughter (Nikki Mitchell, an SMU grad living in Dallas) and how he's enjoying watching his granddaughter (2-year-old Malia) grow up, Dan Morrison said:
"I had some phone calls from coaches that I don't really know in the country when this occurred. They were very happy because they said this business has a tendency to pull families apart, not put them back together." (HSB)

HSB Note: "The Hawaii transplants on the staff maintain their ties with the Warriors' current staff, and a few visited the team's hotel Monday night. Morrison said he keeps in close contact with Nick Rolovich, a pupil in 2000 and '01 who succeeded him as UH's quarterbacks coach last season."


Praising Rolo, Morrison said:
"We talk quite often about how things are going. He's going to be a terrific coach. He's got a great temperament for what he's doing right now and he really loves to learn." (HSB)


About how SMU's goal is to make a bowl game, JJ said:
"That's our goal, and we're going to fight our ass off trying to win six games. I hope we can be good enough to get there, but we've got a long way to go." (HSB)

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20090930_Catching_up_with_Jones.html

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

KHNL article on the Warriors opening WAC play

About playing Louisiana Tech on a Wednesday, Greg Salas said:
"Any day is a good day to play football to me, anytime we can get on ESPN and be nationally televised so other people can see us I'll play on any day." (KHNL)


About how they want to be WAC champions, Blaze Soares said:
"This past three games we had is three preseason games is the way I look at it, this WAC game is our first opener and we just gotta be ready, because that's what we preach every game, WAC champs, WAC champs, now it's time to show up and become that." (KHNL)

http://www.khnl.com/Global/story.asp?S=11215365

Lousiana Tech's head coach Derek Dooley says that UH's offense is as good as ever

NO = NewOrleans.com

About how UH's offense is as good as he's ever seen them, La Tech head coach Derek Dooley said:
"They're as good as I've ever seen them. Everybody thought they'd be a little down this year, but I think they actually look better. They're throwing it as well as they did two years ago, just piercing everybody." (NO)


NO Note: "That's not a good sign for the Bulldogs (1-2), who haven't faced a prolific passing attack. Heading into the 7 p.m. mid-week contest, Tech has gone up against ground-bound teams in Auburn, Navy and Nicholls State. Even worse, the last two are pure option teams - about a 180-degree turnaround from Wednesday's foe."


About having to completely redo their defense to go from facing running option teams to UH's passing offense, Dooley said:
"Now we've had to switch our personnel around, switch who's in the game, basically change the whole scheme. It's not like they're having to learn a whole new defense, but everything's different. This is four-wide and throwing it every down." (NO)

http://www.neworleans.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=222511&Itemid=578

Quotes about the Hawaii vs. Louisiana Tech game from the Shreveport Times

ST = Shreveport Times

About how UH's offense is completely different than the option running offenses they faced from Navy and Nicholls State, La Tech coach Derek Dooley said:
"We have to say that everything we've done for the first three weeks -- forget about it ... it doesn't work anymore. We have to switch our personnel around ... change who's in the game. We have a base defense, but everything's different because it's four wides. It's throwing it every down ... it's doing some one-back screens and runs. It's how you pass rush. What are your keys are up front?" (ST)


About how their extra half week to prepare for this game gave them time to evaluate their team, Dooley said:
"It was a great opportunity for me to reflect on the team on where we are. And we had a good heart to heart with the team yesterday. We had an extra padded practice that we hope we improved fundamentally on some things. And we had an extra day to prepare for Hawaii. If we manage it the right way, it certainly helps. Hawaii's in the same boat, too, so all things are even." (ST)


About how Senior RB Daniel Porter hasn't had a good game yet this season, Dooley said:
"He hasn't played well. He knows it and he feels bad about it. I think he's doing some things to correct it. We'll have to run the ball better than we have and I think we will in time. But the good news is we have the young freshmen who have showed some promise." (ST)

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20090929/SPORTS0203/909290318/1001/SPORTS

Quotes about the Warriors in the Hawaii papers

About the importance of this game, Mac said:
"It's time to get down to business." (HA)

"This is an important ball game for us. The whole nation has a chance to see what Warrior football is all about. I feel a big responsibility for us to represent the team, our staff and the people of Hawai'i." (HA)

HA Note: "The master of halftime shows — in the past, he has thrown a projector, computer and water jug to emphasize points — has jolted the Warriors with blistering speeches the past few days."

HA Note: "In preparation for tomorrow's nationally televised game against Louisiana Tech, the Warriors have been placed on a strict schedule: Meetings, practices, study sessions, meals and rest. Show up late, feel the wrath. He even made sure to separate the offensive and defensive players on the bus rides between the hotel and Trinity High football field."


About how the coaches need to make sure that the players play better in the La Tech game, Mac said:
"We've played hard in our first three games. Our job, as a coaching staff, is to make sure we improve and come out and play better than we did last week." (HA)


HA Note: "Each offensive lineman has a shirt that reads: "I hit for 21." No, it's not a reminder of last week's Las Vegas trip, but the motto of the offensive linemen's 21 days of training camp. Line coach Gordy Shaw gave a T-shirt to every offensive lineman who completed training camp. He distributed his entire allotment."


About how offensive linemen improve with reps, Gordy Shaw said:
"They get better when they're practicing. They don't get better when they're on the sideline." (HA)


About the slogan on the back of the shirt that emphasizes unity ("Play as a nickel instead of five pennies"), Shaw said:
"It's something we say in our meetings." (HA)


About Letuli having to miss this game, Shaw said:
"It's a loss. But football is a true team game. It's not like basketball or baseball, where you lose a home-run hitter or a big-time pitcher. Injuries are part of football. You have to get in there and be part of a unit and do your job. We should be all right." (HA)

HA Note: "National Football League scouts are highly interested in Letuli, center John Estes, left tackle Aaron Kia, defensive end Fetaiagogo Fonoti and linebacker Blaze Soares. The scouts attended the Warriors' practice yesterday."


About playing their third straight road game, Greg Salas said:
"It's a game, that's the way we have to look at it. If we put (the travel) in the back of our minds, then we're already psyching ourselves out. So to me it's just another game, it doesn't matter
where it's at." (HSB)


About how the intensity was turned up at practice, Greg Alexander said:
"Any time it's a conference game, the intensity level picks up a little bit, so it should be fun. We just have to be focused and intense and ready to go. All these conference games are going to be
tough." (HSB)


About what they have emphasized since the loss to UNLV, Salas said:
"Execution. Just sharpening everything up. We might have a few new wrinkles here and there, but it's mainly execution." (HSB)


HSB Note: "When asked about Louisiana Tech's strengths, McMackin was quick to mention No. 6 — Phillip Livas — as one of his main concerns. And with good reason. Livas is the leading receiver for the Bulldogs, and is a threat on special teams. He ranked seventh in the country in punt returns last season and returned a kick 85 yards for a touchdown against Navy. He has a total of five returns for touchdowns in his career and was named first-team All-WAC as a kick returner last year."


About the threat of La Tech's returner Philip Livas, special teams coordinator Chris Tormey said:
"We just hope to contain him. We hope to get good hang time on our kicks, good placement, run down the field and diagnose schemes, blocks and make plays. He's a great player. He's a tremendous open-field runner. Tremendous initial quickness, and really good top-end speed."
(HSB)


About how La Tech is excellent on special teams, Tormey said:
"They're excellent, one of the best in the country last yea. They led the WAC in three categories. ... So they're solid on their return team, they lead the conference in kickoff coverage, so they're just solid in every aspect on special teams." (HSB)

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090929/SPORTS0201/909290382&template=UHsports

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20090929_Warriors_get_taste_of_Texas.html

Fresno State is already preparing for the UH game (this is a bye week for them)

Bee = Fresno Bee

About how the 3-game road trips means that the UH players will only be in class for 9 days in September, Mac said:
"It really puts a strain on the players academically." (Bee)


About how the UH players have done a good job of practicing and attending study hall while on the road, Mac said:
"I've really admired them for that." (Bee)


Bee Note: "McMackin said the Warriors will practice twice in Dallas before flying into Monroe, La., today and traveling by bus to Ruston, La., on Wednesday."


About playing at La Tech, Mac said:
"You just have to do what you gotta do,. That's our schedule, and the players, they're working hard and I know they're going to do a good job." (Bee)


Praising Greg Alexander, La Tech coach Derek Dooley said:
"He's a big presence in the pocket. He's got a very good arm and he's making the accurate throws and he's staying in there waiting for guys to get down the field and he has exceptional wide receivers around him. They really got it rolling. It's going to be a big challenge for our defense." (Bee)

http://www.fresnobee.com/sports/story/1655220.html

Monday, September 28, 2009

Q&A with Coach McMackin in The News-Star

NS = The News-Star

About the UNLV game, Mac said:
"It was a hard-fought ballgame, and UNLV, I give them full credit for winning the ballgame at the end. It was a heartbreaker for us, because we played hard, but you've got to give them credit because they finished and did a good job." (NS)


Asked how a mid-week game changes their team's preparation schedule, Mac said:
"We try to have a actual game week before the game, so Wednesday will become Saturday, Tuesday will be Friday, and you go on back in the week, so that's what we're going to do. You have an actual game week." (NS)


About how their offense has improved since last year, Mac said:
"I think we have to continue to get better, but last year we were struggling at quarterback and receiver, and I think we've got everything going in the right direction. We've got some receivers, and Greg (quarterback Greg Alexander) is getting better with the system, and our system is one that you continue to get better on. I'm really thankful that we're doing well this time of the year because there are just more reps involved. (Offensive coordinator) Ron Lee and all the rest of our offensive coaches have done a good job." (NS)


Asked how Alexander differs from Colt Brenna, Mac said:
"Colt, he could run around, and Greg will run around north and south, but he's got a stronger arm. He's bigger type of guy -- a 6-4, 6-5 type of guy. But I don't know if we'll ever have another Colt Brennan. But he's running the offense really well, and he's a tough guy so he's a good leader. I have a lot of respect for him." (NS)


About Alexander's supporting cast on offense, Mac said:
"It's just a matter of getting team reps, and our supporting cast -- our offensive line is doing a good job, and (assistant coach) Gordy Shaw has been a great addition to our coaching staff. I think (Alexander) is complimented by -- we've got about six to eight receivers, and we're playing five of them, and they're really doing a great job. Greg Salas, and Rodney Bradley is a recruit from Texas, and then Kealoha Pilares -- all three are getting big numbers." (NS)

http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20090928/SPORTS/90927011/1006/Enemy-lines--McMackin-says-Hawaii-has-improved

Quotes about the Warriors in the Hawaii papers

HA Note: "After yesterday's 2-hour practice on the school's grass practice field, defensive tackle Vaughn Meatoga, defensive ends Fetaiagogo Fonoti and Paipai Falemalu, and punt returner Ryan Henry declared themselves physically fit for Wednesday's road game against Louisiana Tech."

HA Note: "Meatoga and Falemalu are recovering from sprained right ankles. Fonoti missed the first three games because of a hyper-extended left kneecap. Henry is recovering from a strained hamstring."


About how he'll start against Louisiana Tech, Fonoti said:
"I feel good. I can't wait to play." (HA)


Paipai Falemalu said that he's not fully healthy, but:
"I'm gradually getting better. I'll be ready to play by Wednesday." (HA)

HA Note: "Meatoga's recovery is important against an opponent that relies on power-running plays. Meatoga is a versatile defensive tackle. Against UNLV, the Warriors used a three-man front in which Meatoga alternated between nose tackle and defensive end."


About rotating between NT and DE against UNLV, Meatoga said:
"That was a lot of fun." (HA)


About receiving ice treatments on his ankle during breaks in practice, Meatoga said:
"I have to keep taking care of it until the game." (HA)


About how his injury is improving, Henry said:
"I'm getting better each day." (HA)


About how he'll only be activated (losing his redshirt year) if LT Aaron Kia cannot play, Brett Leonard said:
"Other than that, they're going to save my year." (HA)


About being backup long-snapper and a backup at guard, Andrew Faaumu said:
"Any spot they need me, I'll try to help out." (HA)


About how he participated in their 2008 spring practice but wasn't invited to fall camp, Faaumu (who got up to 375 pounds) said:
"I got overweight." (HA)


About training during the Fall semester in 2008, Faaumu (who got down to 290 pounds) said:
"I ran twice a day." (HA)


About making the Warrior team this year, Faaumu said:
"I'm happy for the opportunity." (HA)


About their injured DL starters coming back for the La Tech game, DL coach Dave Aranda said:
"They're fighting through so we can have a unit that's together. I'm hopeful when it comes game time, we can play to a level that's expected. But it's good to have everybody back. Some familiar faces I haven't seen in a long time." (HSB)


About having all of their DL starters practice together for the first time this season, Meatoga said:
"(Having the starters out there) was good, kind of a preview of what we could be. But it's really everybody who's been playing lately is pretty much our starters. Liko (Satele), Rocky (Savaiigaea), all of us. They've been playing their butts off, so we've seen it." (HSB)


About how La Tech has been playing other ground-based offenses this season, Aranda said:
"In (LaTech's) previous three games they have faced teams that run the ball as much as they do. So they have not been able to find a rhythm, necessarily, that's acceptable to them. Kind of hoarding the clock, I think that's their game. And so, our key is to try not to allow that to happen. It starts up front, and it starts with the two inside guys, and goes out from there." (HSB)


Trying to fire up his team during practice, Mac repeatedly yelled:
"It'll be a street fight!" (HSB)


About how Royce Pollard might return kicks instead of Jovonte Taylor, special teams coordinator Chris Tormey said:
"We're still looking at that. There's a good chance." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Pollard has fielded three kicks and leads the team inreturn average at 27.7 yards, compared to Taylor's 24.3."


About how the coaches are preparing him to play, Pollard said:
"It seems like they want me to get ready. I have a feel for how guys are going to block and what block goes a certain way. It's reaction -- when you see it, just go for it. That's basically what Coach Tormey's been saying." (HSB)


About trying as hard as he can to get ready for the game, Henry said:
"I've just been doing as much as I can do, but not over-pushing it. Just pushing it a little bit toward its limit and leaving it alone after that. The main thing is just getting the ball back for the
offense." (HSB)

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090928/SPORTS0201/909280352&template=UHsports

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20090928_uh_d_line_comes_together.html

Interesting article about how Colt Brennan gave up a lot of money to play his senior year at UH

HSB Note: "There are folks out there who don't believe Brennan gave up big money to come back, that he wouldn't have been picked high in the draft. I am of a very strong opinion Brennan did give up millions; at the time, I had long conversations with several NFL people who told me Brennan would be among the top two to four QBs selected. Go back over those names at the beginning of this column. Surely, you must agree he would've (or should've) been chosen ahead of them.

SOME -- INCLUDING Brennan -- said he still had more to learn, and that he needed to develop "body armor" (his words) in the weight room. As it turns out, his stock would never be higher than after that junior year, with the 58 touchdown passes, with the trouncing of Arizona State in the Hawaii Bowl. Many of us agree the 2006 team was the best UH squad ever."

http://www.starbulletin.com/columnists/furtherreview/20090928_further_review.html

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Dan Kelly makes sure to clarify that he only had a problem with Mac, not JJ

RPE = Riverside Press-Enterprise

About how some players would do things off the field in Hawaii that affected their on-field performance, Kelly said:
"It happens more than you think. Or maybe not. Maybe it happens just as much as you think. It's real depressing when you see good kids with good talent come over there, and just fall into the drugs and alcohol and the partying and that nightlife, and basically lose sight of why they're really there. And at points I did lose sight of why I was there, and I did make bad decisions. I can honestly say, as a 23-year-old, I've never smoked a cigarette, I've never done any kind of illegal drugs. I'm not gonna lie and say I haven't drank. When I came here, it was a commitment I made to stop, and I have. But most people aren't blessed with the willpower to say no when it comes to being popular, doing the cool thing. For me it was never about being the cool guy. I didn't care. I was kind of by default the cool guy because I decided I didn't want to be the cool guy. That kind of made me the cool guy in general." (RPE)


About how not caring about being the cool guy helped him become cool, Kelly said that UH would be a powerhouse in football if the players had better willpower to say no to temptations, Kelly said:
"It makes you a different kind of cool. I hate blending. I hate being the kid that does everything the other guys do. They do all the cool stuff, just like the other guys do. And for me, that's just the way I live my life. But other kids, they like to be a face in the crowd. They like to go with the flow, to be a part of the place that they're in. It wasn't for me, but you'd be surprised how talented Hawaii would be if the players there that you don't know about had better willpower to say no to those things and actually focus on what they're doing. They'd be a powerhouse, I believe." (RPE)


About how some of their talented players didn't develop into anything because they didn't have the drive to excel, Kelly said:
"I wish ESPN would do a 'Top 10 Players Who Never Played,' one of those type of things. We had some of the best high school kids coming out, and they don't develop anything because they don't have the drive. They don't have the sustaining power to last 13 weeks, 14 weeks. And you only play one game ... That's another thing I hate about football. You work so hard throughout the week to play one game." (RPE)


About how important each game is during a football season, Kelly said:
"If you lose, it's all about recovering a lost season. If you win, itsall about sustaining a perfect season." (RPE)


Asked about how football is a game of overreaction, Kelly said:
"It takes a different breed of person to play football, and I wasn't bred that way." (RPE)


Asked what was JJ's impact on the UH program and the people who played for him, Kelly said:
"This is not to offend June, because June made me better. He treated me like an adult. He didn't resort to public ridicule and basically a lack of respect between player and coach. He treated you like a professional, and in my first few years it made me think, 'Well, if he's going to treat me like an adult I need to act like an adult.' The coaching staff senior year didn't do that. But he really forced upon (us) professionalism, and not in the way of, 'You need to wear this and look professional.' No, it's just ... he treated us like professionals. 'If you want to go make a bad decision, it's on you. I'm not going to give you rules. Don't do stupid stuff. Don't do stuff that'll get you in a bad situation.'

I felt like I grew up more the first three years under June than I did my last season, as a senior, just in the way of having to regulate myself. Not to mention that man, that guy ... he could draw up a play and it would be the most beautiful thing ever. He really had just a master mind for play-calilng and constructing an offense. He was a fantastic offensive coordinator, and I still to this day think he's one of the best coaches I've ever had, just the way his mind worked.

I wasn't happy when he left, I can say that much. But that's the way it goes." (RPE)


About how JJ coached them like he coached NFL players, and how Mac coached in a college style that he didn't like, Kelly said:
"June was very NFL minded. He did everything NFL. Which was cool. I enjoyed it. Senior year wasn't NFL style, it was collegiate style and I didn't like it as much. I thought they treated you too much like a little baby. But you could definitely see the NFL influence when he was the coach, that's for sure.' But he moved on, and so did we. We had to move on, too." (RPE)


About how he moved on to Cal Baptist, Kelly said:
"And I don't regret it." (RPE)

http://blogs.pe.com/collegesports/2009/09/kelly-on-what-was-at-hawaii-an.html

Dan Kelly talks about how he never had any real competition at UH and how he had to fight for his spot in soccer

RPE = Riverside Press-Enterprise

About going from a starting kicker in D-IA and an all-conference performer to having to work his way up the depth chart on his soccer team, Kelly said:
"And down the weight column. I've got to lose some weight. One thing in Hawaii that I never did really have was competition. I never did. My freshman year, there was a junior there, Nolan Miranda, who was kind of off and on the team. A guy named Jeremy Shibata, who was a great kid, a really nice guy, but he wasn't there with power and accuracy. And I literally was handed the job. I had to perform to get the job, but basically I was given the job.

Sophomore season came around, and I had a little competition with a guy named Briton Forester. But for the most part his attitudes off the field kept him off the field. But for the most part I always had the strongest leg. I always had the most accurate leg. The problem I had was height, and he did have height over me. He ended up taking PATs for the last four games of the season, which I ended up earning back for the bowl game.

And then my junior year we had that terrific year, and basically solidified my starting role. And then they brought a kicker in from Temecula, and he was young, and his off the field antics probably kept him from replacing me when I was going through some rough stages. So realistically I never had any competition the whole four years I was there. Which made me kind of slowly start to deteriorate in my talent, and my work ethic started going down because I knew I wasn't going to get jumped. No one was going to jump me. I was going to be the starting kicker no matter what. And I fell into that kind of lull of just doing whatever I wanted and just thinking my natural, God-given talent would just kind of see me through." (RPE)

Which it didn't, and that's something that people should learn from, definitely.

And here, with Jeff (Redinger), he's a tremendous goalkeeper ... I came here thinking, 'I'm going to come here and start third and have to work my way up to one. And if I want one I need to earn it.

And now that I'm at one I need to keep it, because there's a good goalkeeper behind me looking to try to jump me. And to be in front, I can't get jumped. So I'm actually looking forward to this season. I actually enjoy having a goalkeeper, or another player at my position, who can challenge me and can make me better, can push me to be better.

I waited. I waited for my starting spot. I waited for my opportunity ... And now it's just my job not to screw it up. And that's all you can do as an athlete, just play your best and not screw it up." (RPE)


Asked if his time away from soccer has helped him or was a hurdle he had to overcome getting back into the routine, Kelly said:
"There's definitely two different answers to that, and the first one, there is a hurdle, and it's the physical hurdle. I was 6-4, 225. I'm a big kid, and I'm ... I'm agile, but I'm not the smallest guy. And I need to lose weight. And I weighed myself this morning and I'm down to 218. I'm losing the weight. I'm getting down to a better playing size. So that was definitely one of the hurdles. And also the technique of diving and distribution and all that stuff comes with being four years off. I was going to be rusty, and it's something I had to deal with. I struggled with that, and I'm still working on it to this day. But I'm enjoying battling.

On the opposite side of that, I was able to step away from the game and grow as an adult, and see a game from a different light, and see a game that ... you didn't always have to be in the game to learn about the game. I see other things ... I see things that could develop before they develop. My decision-making is wiser because I'm older and I feel like that alone, just being older and keeping my emotions in check, keeps me from making those little mistakes that come back to bite you.

So I would rather have had it this way than any other way. Yeah, I would have loved being in great shape. That goes without saying. But I would rather have had my age than my fitness. I would have switched it. I can only look up and thank God for that. I was offered a scholarship to go play at Cal State Dominguez Hills before I went to Hawaii. I was offered Division III schools ... not scholarships, but to go play there. I had opportunities to go to other places. I didn't. I went to Hawaii, and I gained the weight and I learned the life experiences, and ultimately I came back here and Cal Baptist was thrown in my lap." (RPE)


Feeling that he was meant to kick for Hawaii to make him a better goalie, Kelly said:
"I look back now and think there's a reason why everything happened. And I really do think the reason I went to Hawaii is to better prepare me to be a better goalkeeper in the future. And I know football players and football fans are going to hate to hear me say that. I still have people in Hawaii that still think I should go play football, still think I'd be a great NFL kicker. You know, hey, Tony Meola did it. Maybe I'll do it one day. He went and played for the (Jets) after his goalkeeping days were over. So who knows? Maybe I'll get a chance to do that one day. But for the most part, football definitely led me in a direction that made me a better goalkeeper, I think." (RPE)

http://blogs.pe.com/collegesports/2009/09/kelly-its-nice-to-be-pushed-to.html

Dan Kelly said that UH's fans were great but that he had a problem with Coach McMackin

RPE = Riverside Press-Enterprise

Asked if he did kickoffs as well as placekicks at UH, Kelly said:
"I did field goals and PATs as well as kickoffs. I did the trio." (RPE)


Asked if he leaned on the holder and snapper as kind of a support group or a team within a team, Kelly said:
"No. My freshmen and sophomore years, Kurt Milne was the punter, and I really clicked with him. He and I got along really well. The next guy who came in, Tim Grasso, he was more of a football savvy guy. He didn't play soccer. He was a receiver in high school, all-everything ... Him and Jake Ingram, who's actually the long snapper for the New England Patriots now, those guys clicked. They were football guys. I wasn't. I never tried to make anyone think I was a football guy. I didn't watch Monday Night Football. I didn't watch football on Sundays. I didn't watch college football. Tell you the truth, I can't even tell you I watched professional soccer. I'm just not a TV guy. I'm just a homebody who likes to hang out with his family and hang out with his girl, and that's all I like to do." (RPE)


About how he never needed the camaraderie or support from his teammates and the only Warrior player who has returned a phone call from him has been Colt, Kelly said:
"I never needed the support of my teammates. I never needed that camaraderie. I enjoyed it when I got it, but I never needed it, so I never really connected with Tim or with Jake. I'll be lucky if I can get either one of them to return a phone call nowadays. Actually, surprisingly enough, the only guy who has returned a phone call from me is Colt Brennan - Heisman Trophy candidate, and now he's with the Redskins. He's the only guy I ever talked to who actually asked me how I was doing, which was a real surprise. And he's the one who has the most accolades of anyone." (RPE)


About how he didn't fit in with his teammates, Kelly said:
"I'm not a football player, bottom line, and I don't mesh well with football players. It just doesn't work that way. I'm a soccer player." (RPE)


About being in a high pressure situation at UH with a program that is the pro team for the whole state, Kelly said:
"There was a lot. We were the pro team. And just like ... it's not even close to Cal Baptist. Cal Baptist is very low key. I can go to Taco Bell here, right across the street, and nobody will know who I am. I'd go across the street to Burger King or L and L Grill, and all of a sudden I'm getting asked for autographs and people want to take pictures with me. Any time I went to a club ... in Hawaii, I got hooked up. Any time you wanted to go to a club, we would go, and people would know who we were. At Hawaii we were allowed to drink. And we were very careful not to drink where someone was taking pictures, because we were in the public eye." (RPE)


About having to worry about being photographed with a cup of alcohol when they were out in the public, Kelly said:
"Oh, yeah. And it got to the point where the big-time guys - me, Colt, a couple of the receivers, we would ask for a cup and just pour our drink into a cup instead of drinking it out of the bottle. If it's in a bottle, people know you're drinking. And then it got to the point where we really had to look at ourselves and say, 'Well, we are role models.' ... Colt and I basically stopped going out. I stopped going out my junior year, the year we went to the Sugar Bowl, because we didn't want to deal with the bad press. We were focused on the team that year." (RPE)


Praising the loyal fans of Hawaii, Kelly said:
"But by the same token, I'll tell you one thing: There are just thousands upon thousands of fans that just bleed green there. You cannot find a bunch of crazier fans than Hawaii. The people there were just absolutely beautiful. They took care of the players, they loved the players, they were really compassionate about the players. Even when you did bad ... there's always fans that are going to hassle you, your own fans, but most of the time they were very loyal. Extremely loyal. And to this day I'm still friends with a lot of fans, people that have no relevance to the football program directly, but are just diehard fans. I still talk to them. I'm still connected with them online.

Hawaii is a whole different country. It really is. Yeah, they're part of the union, and all that kind of stuff ... I really miss the people there. It really is the aloha spirit over there." (RPE)


Asked how his Mom is doing, Kelly said:
"She's doing very well. She's basically a stay-at-home mom. There aren't really any kids to stay at home for any more. I'm one of six kids and basically everyone's out. But it came to the point with her illness, MS, and her struggle to beat it, it got to the point where I was missing out on too much, and I didn't want to be away from my family any more. I told Coach Jorden, I didn't want to live at Cal Baptist. I'd kind of like to live at home and commute. I'd like to spend more time with my family. I'd like to see them every day when I go home." (RPE)


About how Coach McMackin was unhappy that he wanted to be near his Mom instead of finishing his degree at UH, Kelly said:
"I got a lot of flak from Hawaii, especially the head coach, Greg McMackin, about not coming back and finishing my degree over there." (RPE)


Asked how close he is to getting his degree, Kelly said:
"About 21 units. I came here and I'm about 46 units away because I have to do all the general education stuff, like the New Testament Surveys and all that stuff. I call 'em the God classes, which I love. I went to a Christian high school, and I love doing that kind of stuff. That kind of stuff was never an issue. I have three semesters to do it, so I've got plenty of time. But I got a lot of flak for not returning and finishing my degree." (RPE)


About how Coach McMackin didn't care about his situation with his Mother's health...and how Mac changed when he became head coach and he stopped calling him coach, Kelly said:
"He didn't care. Unless it goes right to the football thing, he didn't care. It got to the point where I don't even call him Coach anymore. I just call him Greg when we talk. I stopped calling him Coach a long time ago because he stopped being a coach a long time ago to me. When he was the defensive coordinator he was a really nice guy, really a pleasure to be around, just a real genuinely loving guy. And he got the head coaching job and things changed.

I had a bad season my senior year, I didn't play as well as I needed to, but for some reason the relationship between me and him died. That did weigh into my decision of not coming back, but the final factor, the big factor, was my Mom and my family. I wanted to come home.

He couldn't wrap his head around that. It's a business." (RPE)


Asked if his Mom's health is good now, Kelly said:
"Her health is very good. She's doing well. She's still doing treatment. She's not doing the steroid route, which is nice, because when she did do that originally when she was first diagnosed, it was
tough on the family because of the mood swings and all that stuff. Steroids do weird things to your body ... She's on this all natural stuff now, where it's all vitamins. Instead of steroids helping you recover from the episodes, this that she's on now is preventing the episodes from ever happening. I don't think she's had an episode for a few years now, a real serious one. But she's one tough bird. That lady, she can be feeling inches from death and she wouldn't say anything, because she's not a complainer. So that's nice." (RPE)


Asked when his Mom was diagnosed with MS, Kelly said:
"I think my junior year in high school. It's been a good few years." (RPE)


About how he decided to walk on to UH and how he looked forward to the end of his Warrior career so that he could move closer to his parents, Kelly said:
"I'll give you the quick version ... I left for Hawaii not on scholarship. I walked on my first semester. By the time I was recruited it was already the middle of basketball season, and all the scholarships were gone by then. So they said, you can come over and earn your scholarship. OK, I'll earn my scholarship. I played the first semester and wound up earning my scholarship.

When I left for Hawaii, my parents and I were not on good terms. We had a falling out. I moved out of the house. It was my 'rebellious stage' of my life. It happens to everyone ... I moved out of my house. I wound up living with my girlfriend for a while. It was a decision I look back on wishing I hadn't made it, but like anything else you learn from your mistakes and you move on.

I didn't move out of my house to go to Hawaii, I moved out of my girlfriend's house to go to Hawaii. Fortunately, when I left my mom and dad still wanted to help pay for the school. They paid for the first semester, and after the first semester that's when I got my scholarship.

By the start of my junior year was really when my mom and my dad and I rekindled our family and our relationship. And that's when me missing home and me wanting to be home with my family really started to hit. Before, I was happy to be out. I was glad to be out.

And as things went on, my mom and dad kind of started talking and all that stuff, and rekindling that relationship. That's when I was like, 'These four years need to be done.' I want to get this thing done. I want to go home. I want to go back to the Mainland. At least on the Mainland I'm a two-hour flight away, not a five-hour plane flight and $550 for one trip, which is just ridiculous.

My junior year is when that all started to kick in. So that's how that all started to work out." (RPE)


About how he cannot remember what was said during games in their Sugar Bowl year but he remembers the togetherness they had off the field, Kelly said:
"That was the big year. We went 12-0. And I can't tell you one thing that was said. I can't tell you what I was thinking. I made big kicks that year. I made huge kicks that year, the kicks of my career. I can't remember one thing that was said on the sideline. I can't remember one thing that was said in the locker room. I can't remember one thing we did.

I can tell you stories upon stories about the plane flights, stupid stories about people saying dumb stuff and not thinking because they're tired, or guys getting hurt and they're on pain-killers and saying dumb things. Or people just running around beating on each other with pillows. I can tell you story after story about various things we did as a team. And that's what made that special for the rest of us, the camaraderie." (RPE)


About how he hung out with Colt and Ryan Mouton during the Sugar Bowl year, the only time he felt included with the team, Kelly said:
"All of the (other) three years I was there, it was like the quarterback was here, and the running backs here, (on) the totem pole, and the kickers were at the bottom. That year was the only year where I hung out with Colt. I hung out with our starting safety, which was Ryan Mouton at the time. Us three, I remember going and hanging out together on a road trip. They didn't look at me as a kicker, they looked at me as a teammate. And that's what made that season so special. There was no hierarchy. They were just teammates." (RPE)


About how Colt would be the same wonderful person whether or not they won, and how their Sugar Bowl season was made on the friendships between teammates, Kelly said:
"Yeah. I'll tell you one thing, though: With Colt, we could have lost all 12 games and he would have been that way, I think, because you see the kind of thing he's going through. He's had two hip surgeries now. He's still roughing it out, still fighting to stay third string at the Redskins. He's still as nice and as kind a person as the day I met him. But it does help, absolutely. The winning does help. It keeps your morale up. But that season was made on the friendships between teammates, not the wins and the losses." (RPE)

http://blogs.pe.com/collegesports/2009/09/kelly-hawaii-fans-great-but-th.html

Dan Kelly says that playing football for UH took a "toll on his spirit"

RPE = Riverside Press-Enterprise

Asked how he went from playing football for UH to being a goalkeeper for Cal Baptist, Dan Kelly said:
"Me going to play football in the first place was kind of a fallback. I injured my ankle in my senior year of my high school career. I wasn't able to play soccer and kind of fell off the map, so I kind of fell into football. Basically I just used that to get my education. Hawaii just fell into my lap, (because of) the previous players that played for my high school, Linfield Christian in Temecula.

After four years the issue became, 'What do I want? Do I want to go play pro? Do I want to take my shot at that?' But what it came down to basically was, my mom (Ann) was diagnosed a few years ago with MS, multiple sclerosis, and I just wanted to be at home.

So after my fourth season, I decided to leave and come home. I picked up a couple coaching jobs down in Temecula, and through those coaching jobs another coach, Sean Bowers, who used to coach here on the women's side, said, 'Are you looking to play again?' I said I'd love to, but I don't know if I have any eligibility left. He said, 'In NAIA, I think you do. I think you ought to be able to play two more seasons.'

So he talked to coach (Ryan) Jorden, and coach Jorden then contacted me and I came out here and found out that I had three more semesters of eligibility (to) play two more seasons. Really, it's just a chance to play my first love again." (RPE)


About how his teammates teased him him for not being a football player, Kelly said:
"I always got razzed on my football team for not being a `football player.' I was fine with that. I met some very, very, very, very, very amazing people when I was over there -- on the football field, off the football field. But overall I wasn't into the lifestyle. I didn't like being involved in only one-third of the game, the special teams plays. I didn't enjoy sitting on the bench most of the time. Even though I was a starter, I sat on the bench more than anyone else, just because that's my position. I didn't like not being involved." (RPE)


Unhappy with how UH coaches treated their football players, especially allowing injured players get damaged in the long run in order to get back on the field, Kelly said:
"The camaraderie was there, but I didn't like the way you were treated as a football player, between the coaches and the players. I didn't like the way they would run you into the ground. They cared about you, but they would let you play hurt, in a way that would damage you in the long run instead of thinking about you in the short term. And that kind of irritated me a little." (RPE)


About how he did *not* get along with the UH coaching staff during his senior year (after Mac took over), Kelly said:
"I'm not saying all football players are like that, but I got into a very bad situation my senior year with the new coaching staff. Let's just say, diplomatically, we didn't see eye-to-eye on a lot of things. So when I got the chance to jump back at my original love, my first love, soccer, I jumped at it with both feet. I'm blessed to be here." (RPE)


About how football took a toll on his body and spirit, Kelly said:
"It took a toll on my body, but more, it took a toll on my spirit. I didn't want to train every day. I didn't look forward to getting up and training." (RPE)


About how he loves playing soccer much more than he loved playing football, Kelly said:
"Everyone's asking me what's the big difference. The difference is, I enjoy my hour commute here to play soccer more than I looked forward to making the five-minute walk from my dorm down to the football locker rooms. I've been doing this for over a month now, this commute back and forth, and I've never woke up wishing I did not have to go to school today. And that's not a line. It's not something I'm making up ... No kid ever wants to go to school. But I look forward to my opportunity to play soccer. I enjoy it. And the coaching staff and the players here have really made it a point to be enjoyable." (RPE)


About how he likes every player on his soccer team, unlike how there were cliques and bad blood between football players at UH, Kelly said:
"This is the first team I've ever been on in any sport where I've actually liked every single player on the team. I don't have bad blood (with) any of them. It's a real weird situation, that I came in thinking, 'OK, there's gonna be cliques, and I'll have to find my own way, just like football.' I came with a football mentality, just because that's how I was basically raised the last four years. And everyone was just open arms and real supportive of my decision to come in, and super nice. I haven't had a problem with anyone yet." (RPE)


Asked if he was worried that his soccer teammates would be wondering why a big-time football player would be joining them, Kelly said talked more about the difficulty he had at UH:
"No, because ... I don't think there's a better way my dad could have raised me, or my coaches that I've had prepare me for what I was going to go through in football, as well as soccer. The transition from Hawaii to here was extremely easy. Dealing with the ridicule of being a collegiate kicker, and dealing with that kind of pressure and just being a kicker in general - it comes with some bumps and bruises. You're going to get ragged on. You're going to get teased. You're
going to basically get harped on for being a kicker and not being a real football player because you only kick the football.

For me, it's never bothered me because I always relied on one thing: am I doing my job? And that was the only thing. I need to do my job. If you want to make fun of me, that's fine. My self-esteem is really not going to be affected by that kind of stuff.The kind of ridicule you go through in life as a Christian, and as an athlete, I mean, it's basically the same.

I mean, I've gone to Alabama. I've played at Alabama. I've heard beautiful Southern belles call me very derogatory words, just because I was wearing my 'H'. And I've been to the Swamp. I've been to football's heart, with Tim Tebow. I've played against him. I played Reggie Bush. I played Matt Leinart. All those things never fazed me. And the crowds never fazed me. I didn't mind it. The only thing I cared about was, did I do my job the best I could that day? That's
just the way I've lived my life.

And that's why a lot of people don't understand me when I get scored on. I don't show emotion. There's no reason to. What's the point of being mad that you missed a field goal or let a goal in? There's no reason. You move on. We used to say in football, it's one snap and clear. You play a play and forget about it. That's it. The only time you need to remember about that play is a few days later when you watch it on film. That's the only time you really have to know what happened.

For me, especially as a kicker and a goalkeeper, if you make a mistake it's magnified. Because you are the last line of defense. You miss a tackle, there's 10 other guys to help out. I miss a field goal, it's only on me. No one else gets the stat. There's no stat for missed tackles. There's a stat for missed field goals, though." (RPE)


About how kickers have a lot of time to think about past mistakes, instead of being able to make another play right away as a goalie, Kelly said:
"Right. Plenty of time to think about it. And you know what? It's funny. I've never been one to be known as a thinker ... It is what it is. There's no changing the stat sheet. And that's one thing I'm kind of blessed (about). I went and played football for four years and now I'm coming as a junior - a super, super junior, as I like to say - with the knowledge I'm a 23 year old, and someone who's been around collegiate sports at, and this is no offense to the NAIA, a much more
business-driven sport than soccer. You're just holding a beast. And I'm coming with the understanding that pressure comes with the job, and if you can't do it, then leave. If you can do it, it's good for you.

I'm enjoying it." (RPE)

http://blogs.pe.com/collegesports/2009/09/dan-kelly-football-took-toll-o.html

Feature on UH playing a football game on Wednesday

Asked if he ever played a football game on Wednesday before, Fetaiagogo ("John") Fonoti said:
"Nope. But when it's game day, you just gotta go." (HSB)


About how this will be broadcast to the entire country and the only football game that night, Fonoti said:
"Everybody's watching. It gives you the urge to do better." (HSB)

HSB Note: "It remains to be seen how two "half" byes affect the team one way or the other, but Warriors coach Greg McMackin is rightfully not thrilled with the lack of an actual week-long bye. Hawaii should never make a special trip all the way to Ruston, La., just for the one game against the Bulldogs. It's too expensive not to combine it with another road game, such as two years ago when the game at LaTech was followed by one at UNLV on the way back to Hawaii. Anything east of the Rockies should be paired, and Hawaii has the right idea in following up next year's game at West Point with one at Colorado since the Warriors are on the mainland anyway."


About possibly being used as a CB to knock down alley-oop passes to tall, athletic receivers, Royce Pollard said:
"I played a little corner in high school .If they told me to hike the ball, I'd hike the ball, too." (HSB)

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/20090927_uh_should_call_timeout_on_wacky_road_schedules.html

George Daily-Lyles will not redshirt this year

About how George Daily-Lyles will play instead of redshirt this season, Cal Lee said:
"Vacation is over." (HA)


HSB Note: "Over the last few days, George Daily-Lyles learned how quickly things can move in college football. Earlier this week, the freshman linebacker was content to redshirt. Now he's on the travel list and ready to contribute against Louisiana Tech. Aaron Brown's hamstring injury will keep him out of action, opening a spot for Daily-Lyles, who will play on special teams, along with providing depth at outside linebacker."


About how he had expected to redshirt but he's now preparing to play, Daily-Lyles said;
"I was thinking about taking it slow. Right now it's 'all in.' Get this stuff under my belt and when game time comes I'll be ready. I've changed it up from taking it slow to hitting it hard." (HSB)

HSB Note: "The graduate of Long Beach Poly will play on the kickoff, kickoff return and punt return teams."


About not redshirting Daily-Lyles, Mac said:
"We've been thinking about him for special teams, but with this linebacker position opening up, now there's a place for him." (HSB)

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090927/SPORTS0201/909270386&template=UHsports

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20090927_aussie_makes_first_start_for_uh_vs_louisiana_tech.html

Royce Pollard is expected to start against Louisiana Tech

About how Royce Pollard will probably start at right wideout and be the kick returner against Louisiana Tech, Mac said:
"Pollard is looking good. He's going to get a lot of playing time." (HA)


Excited with getting to start, Pollard said:
"I'm with that. I'm ready to go. I'm excited." (HA)

HA Note: "Pollard, a third-year sophomore, has been playing in place of Jovonte Taylor, who suffered a sprained left ankle in last week's game against Nevada-Las Vegas. Taylor resumed practicing yesterday. Pollard's only UH start was against Idaho last season."


About how his start against Idaho wasn't a real start, Pollard said:
"I had a fake start. Malcolm (Lane) took the kickoff return, but he had an equipment malfunction. I went in. First play, first catch." (HA)

HA Note: "Pollard, who attended a high school in San Diego, turned down a scholarship offer from San Diego State to join the Warriors as a walk-on in June 2007. He relied on a Pell grant and student loans to pay for his first year of school. During last year's training camp, McMackin asked Pollard about his school work. Pollard, a political science major, said he had a 3.4 grade point average. McMackin smiled, then walked away. Two days later, during a team meeting, McMackin awarded Pollard a football scholarship."


About being awarded a scholarship last year, Pollard said:
"I was real happy about that blessing." (HA)

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090927/SPORTS0201/909270386&template=UHsports

Adrian Thomas will make his first start for the Warriors

About being about to have his first start for the Warriors, Adrian Thomas said:
"I had to be patient and work hard." (HA)

HA Note: "It would have been easy to be a doubting Thomas, especially after the false start to his UH career. Thomas made a verbal commitment to UH in February 2004, and completed his high school studies in December of that year. But the NCAA could not immediately determine whether some of the classes he took in Australia met the NCAA's core requirements. For instance, the NCAA struggled to figure out the equivalence of a social science class."


About how he had to wait months for the NCAA to rule on his situation, Thomas said:
"There was a little bit of a concern when they weren't getting back to us, and we were still having trouble getting the academics together." (HA)

"I had to wait." (HA)

HA Note: "Meanwhile, Thomas was in limbo. He worked various jobs because he did not want to commit to full-time employment. He also was advised not to take any university classes because it might trigger his NCAA eligibility clock."

HA Note: "Finally, he received clearance, and was allowed to enroll at UH in January 2006."


About joining a club team in American football when he was 14, Thomas said:
"I was playing rugby at the time, and I was interested to see it. I tried it, and ended up liking it." (HA)

"Rugby's the mainstream sport, so that was something different and I think that intrigued me." (HSB)


Thomas said that the rules and techniques of rugby and football are different, but:
"at the end of the day, it's the same concept." (HA)


About how Thomas have moved up from deep down their depth chart, Gordy Shaw said:
"He's really our sixth-best offensive lineman right now." (HA)

HA Note: "Thomas, who is 6 feet 6 and 306 pounds, has remained fit through an intensive conditioning program. In Australia, he trained by running sand dunes. He is capable of bench pressing 385 pounds. His vertical jump is 29 inches."


Shaw said that because Thomas has only worked with the first team for 3 practices, so:
"he's been a little rusty. But he's getting settled pretty quickly." (HA)


Shaw said that Thomas had a "so-so" practice on Friday but on Saturday:
"he had a good practice. We're counting on him." (HA)


About working on his OL technique, Thomas said:
"I've been working on the technique of things. Coming from Australia, I had to pick up the technique from the older players." (HA)


About how some of his teammates call him "Aussie" instead of his real name, Thomas said:
"Some of the new guys, they don't even know my first name." (HSB)


About how their backup OL need to be ready to play despite not getting any reps, Shaw said:
"When you're a backup offensive lineman you've got to be preparing yourself as if you're going into the game as a starter because it could happen in one play, and you've got to be out there and you don't want to let your team down, you don't want to let your teammates down. In a lot of ways, it's a more difficult task because you're not getting the physical reps, you're only getting the mental reps." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Still, he was a relatively raw prospect when Paul Manera -- a former UH lineman from Australia -- pointed UH assistants George Lumpkin and Wes Suan in his direction during a coaches clinic."


About recruiting Thomas, George Lumpkin said:
"The thing was he ran well for a big guy and all his numbers were good, his 40 time and vertical jump. I trusted Paul, because Paul knew what we needed to play at the University of Hawaii." (HSB)


HSB Note: "Lumpkin brought back a tape for then-offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh, who completed the recruiting process shortly before leaving UH for Oregon State."


About Thomas' recruiting tape, Lumpkin said:
"He was running in the sand, he was going up mountains." (HSB)


About why they have been using Thomas at guard and tackle, Shaw said:
"We've been playing him at both guard and tackle just because he was our sixth-best offensive lineman and we wanted to make sure he could play either position in case we had an injury. He struggled a little (Friday), but I thought he had a really good practice today. He's one of those guys who can play inside or outside. He's big enough to play inside, but moves well enough to be outside and play tackle." (HSB)


About moving into the starting lineup due to injury, Thomas said:
"It's not exactly the best way, but any chance I get, I'm excited to take it and take up the challenge." (HSB)

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090927/SPORTS0201/909270386&template=UHsports

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20090927_aussie_makes_first_start_for_uh_vs_louisiana_tech.html

Quotes from the Call the Coach show on September 23

About how he gave George Daily-Lyles the option of playing instead of taking a redshirt year, but how he thinks Daily-Lyles can give the special teams a big boost, Mac said:
"It's up to him, but I think he can help us win." (HSB)

Note: The day after Mac said this George Daily-Lyles gave an interview where he made it clear that he would be taking a redshirt season, though he said that the coaches kept trying to convince him to play by putting him on the travel rosters. Then *the very next day* it was decided that Daily-Lyles would *not* redshirt, with Mac talking about how the team needed him to play.


About how they maybe should have jammed the UNLV receiver on the line on the game-winning TD, Mac said:
"Don't get me wrong. I like our corners. But they're young and they've got to learn the game." (HSB)

HSB Note: "McMackin said he is considering putting wide receiver Royce Pollard in as a safety in third-down situations, as well as using two other receivers, Greg Salas and Rodney Bradley, to jam opposing receivers at the line in certain situations."

Letsgowarriors commented: "mack please tell me youre just trying to please the idiotic fans with the idea that you will play WRs at corner. the problem is that you only brought 4 on the pass rush on that play. you said you didnt want to double cover wolfe on that play, yet he drew FOUR defenders which is why tank was left on an island with payne. stop trying to pawn off the blame to your players. you made the wrong call and should have brought more then 4 guys like you usually do in these situations."

http://blogs.starbulletin.com/quickreads/?p=475

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Feature article on Tank Hopkins

After growing up in Marlin, Texas, Tank Hopkins talked about flying to Hawaii was scary:
"The first time I saw an ocean was when I came (to Hawai'i) on my recruiting trip. I didn't look out the window (of the plane) because I was too scared. It was my first time flying, too. Every little noise I heard, I jumped. Turbulence is crazy." (HA)


About how CBs need to have a short memory, Rich Miano said:
"I always say, playing corner is like playing Russian roulette. You've either been beat or you're going to get beat. That's just a matter of time. After that, you have to have a short memory. You have to play the next down, move on." (HA)

HA Note: "In UH's 34-33 loss to Nevada-Las Vegas, 6-foot-3 wideout Phillip Payne out-jumped 5-9 Hopkins in the corner of the end zone to make the winning catch. The Rebels had run that play three times to Hopkins' side. On the first, Hopkins forced Payne out of bounds. On the second, he tipped away the pass. On the third, Hopkins had blanketed Payne. Miano said Hopkins might have been helped a little ifhe had turned away from Payne to look at the airborne football."


About how looking at the ball in the air might have helped Hopkins, Miano said:
"That would have helped him in terms of jumping and getting up earlier, [but] it was a little bit of a physical mismatch." (HA)


About the game-winning TD pass in the UNLV game, Hopkins said:
"(Payne) just made a good play. I have to get better when it comes to my side. I have to make a play, just like he did. He got the best of me that time. I have to learn from it, and move on." (HA)


About how giving up that TD bothered Hopkins, Rodney Bradley said:
"He was dwelling on it. After a while, you realize you can only do what you can control. He did what he could to make the play. The other dude had the advantage and made the play. That's part of being a corner. You have to bounce back. You can't make every play. That's the thing about Tank. If somebody does make a play on him, he's going to go even harder the next time to make sure it doesn't happen again." (HA)


About how Hopkins received a "minus" grade on only 4 out of 40 plays in the UNLV game, Miano said:
"Unfortunately, the last play was one of them. That's the thing about being a corner. He was this close to being a hero. ... He's getting better in terms of consistency. We're looking for consistently good rather than occasionally great. The main thing is Tank works hard, has good effort, and is a pleasure to be around." (HA)


About having Hopkins as a roomate at Navarro JC and UH, Bradley said:
"Tank is really goofy. He walks around and tries to look serious. But when he gets comfortable with you, he's goofy." (HA)


About how Hopkins is childish, Lametrius Davis said:
"He's the most childish person on the team. Tank, Chizzy (Dimude) and A.G. (Alex Green). They'll take your drink from you and drink it, or they'll take your food and eat it. In the (hotel) room, Tank will take my pillow and throw it. It's always Tank." (HA)

HA Note: "But it's difficult to remain mad at Hopkins, who often flashes a gold-toothed smile. He said it's a family tradition to install a gold cap on a front tooth. His mother, father and two of his brothers have 14-karat caps."


About how he is a competitor, Hopkins said:
"I'm a competitor. I was raised that way. My brothers and sisters competed in whatever we did. Everything I do, no matter if it's playing a game or playing around the house, I'm always competing." (HA)

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090926/SPORTS0201/909260345&template=UHsports

Feature article on Rodney Bradley

Looking forward to how the team will be staying in Dallas, near where his Mom lives, Rodney Bradley said:
"I'm definitely looking forward to it. My mom lives probably about 20 minutes away from where we're going to be staying. Hopefully I can get a home-cooked meal." (HSB)

HSB Note: "He's increased his output in each of his first three games, catching eight passes for 189 yards in a loss at UNLV last weekend. That performance raised his season totals to 18 receptions for 381 yards and four touchdowns and pushed him into fifth in the country in receiving yards."


About how Bradley has learned quickly and has been doing well, Ron Lee said:
"He's got that speed and he's smart and very coachable. He's going to get better. When he first got here you could tell that he didn't have a heavy background in receiving compared to what we do. But he worked hard and he worked on his conditioning with the amount of running we do." (HSB)


About how he never considered playing for UH would be an option until Navarro assistant coach Kevin Curtis talked with him, Bradley said:
"He asked me, 'Rodney would you mind playing for Hawaii?' I was like, are you serious?" (HSB)

HSB Note: "Curtis played for UH head coach Greg McMackin at Texas Tech and again with the San Francisco 49ers, and contacted his former mentor regarding Bradley and cornerback Tank Hopkins."


About how Curtis told him about Bradley and Hopkins, Mac said:
"He called me and said they don't throw the football, but Rodney could have played for us at Texas Tech or anywhere." (HSB)


Mac said that even though Bradley had limited opportunities to catch the ball at his JC (22 passes his freshman year, 29 his sophomore year):
"we could see he could run and catch and he's just a great person." (HSB)


About how he worried for awhile that playing in a running offense would limit his recruiting chances, Bradley said:
"But after a while I let it go, because if it was meant to be, then I'd be somewhere. Plus, I couldn't control it." (HSB)


About moving Salas to slot to allow Bradley to start at wideout, Ron Lee said:
"We couldn't have Rodney on the bench. There was always the possibility of Greg moving back outside, but it worked out to be a good move. Because of his speed, we had to get Rodney on the field." (HSB)


About how he hasn't been hampered during games by his turf toe problem, Bradley said:
"It's funny. I don't feel it during the game. All the way to the game it's killing me, then I don't feel it." (HSB)

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20090926_bradley_carries_big_numbers_home.html

Laupepa Letuli and Aaron Brown will miss the Louisiana Tech game

HSB Note: "Letuli, a senior, injured his left knee during a weight training session this week. It was initially thought he'd play against the Bulldogs (1-2), but McMackin said yesterday that Letuli will miss the game. He's hopeful Letuli will be back for UH's meeting with Fresno State on Oct. 10 at Aloha Stadium."

HSB Note: "With Letuli out, juniors Adrian Thomas and Kainoa LaCount have split the repetitions at right tackle for the last two practices. Thomas has appeared in two games in his career, while LaCount is awaiting his Division I debut since transferring from College of the Canyons. Brown, who began the season as a safety, has been bothered by a hamstring injury since fall camp. He played through it and recorded 10 tackles, including a sack."


About how Aaron Brown has been hampered all season by his hamstring injury, Mac said:
"It's just continuing to get worse. We're going to have to make some decisions because he can't perform that way." (HSB)


Hoping that his tight hamstring gets better by game time, Ryan Henry said:
"It gets better every day. (Today) I just have to see how I feel, continue to get treatment and see how it is." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Henry said the first twinge came during practice last week in Las Vegas, and it worsened during the game against UNLV. If Henry can't play, Greg Salas will step in as the punt returner. Jovonte Taylor could be back at wide receiver for today's practice after missing the last two days due to a sprained ankle suffered early in the loss at UNLV. Royce Pollard has been working with the first team at Z receiver and as the kickoff returner in Taylor's absence. Defensive end Paipai Falemalu and tackle Vaughn Meatoga sat out of team drills as they continue to recover from ankle injuries."

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20090926_letuli_out_for_game_at_latech.html

Friday, September 25, 2009

Cleveland Browns Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan praised the progress made by David Veikune and Kaluka Maiava

Excited about progress that David Veikune and Kaluka Maiava have made, Browns Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan said:
"I tell you, it's exciting. It is exciting. These kids are coming on. Those two young men you mentioned right there, they're going to be good players. They really are. You can see them growing. It's like all of a sudden now they have beards. It's like, 'Gosh, they're men now.' They're just waiting for their opportunity. They really are and they're going to be good when they get in there, they really are. Here are guys, probably used to playing every snap they've ever played, now they're backups. Usually you see a little lull in the action, it takes a while, but now, they're growing. They're coming on fast. Both those kids, they're coming on fast and they're going to be good players. It's really exciting to see those guys every day, because they work hard and they're getting better." (Cleveland Leader)

http://www.clevelandleader.com/comment/reply/11432

Feature on Jake Ingram's love of surfing

TE = The Enterprise

About how he's been surfing since he was a kid, Jake Ingram said:
"I've been surfing since I was 6 years old. That's what you do in Hawaii. You're always around the water. If you're not surfing, fishing or diving, I don't know what you're going to do." (TE)


About how he will adjust to the cold and lack of year-round surfing in New England, Jake said:
"I'll make snowmen instead. It's a little bit of an adjustment, but I'm going to just take it as it comes. The more it cools down, the more I'll adjust to it, and hopefully by the time it's freezing I'll be right in there with everybody else." (TE)


About how he took advantage of the summertime swells created by Hurricane Bill, Jake said:
"I've been up to New Hampshire a few times, got to go surfing up there twice at Hampton Beach. It was a little colder than I'm used to, but it was fun." (TE)


About how he loves surfing, Jake said:
"I enjoy (surfing) a lot. I've been doing it a long time and I'mcomfortable in the water." (TE)


Asked what attracted him to surfing, Jake said:
"It's just something fun to do and it's cheap. Once you've got a board, you're set. A short board will cost you 400 bucks. Long boards can go anywhere from 600 to, shoot, 1,400. But once you've got a board, you don't have to put gas in it. You don't have to oil it up. Nothing. Surfboard and a bar of wax, and you're ready to go." (TE)


About how he hasn't had any dangerous surfing situations, Jake said:
"I know when I'm comfortable. I know my boundaries, especially in Hawaii, because it gets big out there. I know my limits." (TE)

http://www.enterprisenews.com/sports/x1479320373/Career-has-taken-Patriots-Ingram-from-surf-to-turf

Injury updates for the Warriors

HA Note: "Defensive ends Fetaiagogo Fonoti and Paipai Falemalu resumed workouts after missing games because of injuries. Linebacker/nickelback Aaron Brown will miss Wednesday's road game against Louisiana Tech — and possibly several more — because of an injured right hamstring. Right tackle Laupepa Letuli, who was wearing a large brace on his left knee, did not work out. He reportedly suffered an ailment during a jumping exercise Wednesday."


Asked about the large knee brace he was wearing, Letuli said:
"Just trying (the brace) on, see what it feels like." (HA)


About how he expects Letuli to be able to play against La Tech Mac said:
"The five blocks of granite will be there." (HA)


About how Adrian Thomas and he took turns at right tackle yesterday, Kainoa LaCount said:
"We're going to be switching up, so it should be good. We don't know what's going to happen (with Letuli), so we have to be ready." (HA)


Thomas hopes that Letuli will be able to play against La Tech, but just in case he said:
"I'm getting ready." (HA)


About injuring his hamstring in their season opener, Aaron Brown said:
"Since the first game, I haven't been able to play at 100 percent." (HA)


Mac said that Brown's injury is:
"why he's not starting. He's a stud. He's had a hamstring (injury) all year. It's getting worse. He's one of the best players, but we can't get him on the field because of his hamstring injury." (HA)


About his injury, Brown said:
"It sucks. I came out here to play. I'd rather help the team by being 100 percent than going out there and making mistakes at 80 percent." (HA)


About returning to practice after missing the first three games due to a hyper-extended left kneecap, Fonoti said:
"I have to get back into it. My knee isn't used to it." (HA)


About how he wants to play against La Tech, Fonoti said:
"Hell, yeah. I've been out for three games. I don't want to miss any more. I've got to catch up." (HA)


About the importance of Fonoti's return, Mac said:
"Getting Fonoti back gives us a whole different dimension." (HA)


About how his right ankle sprain has improved, Paipai Falemalu said:
"I'm not 100 percent, but it's better than walking on crutches. There's nothing to do but tape it up and suck it up as much as possible." (HA)


About how Mac let him return to practice but told him to take it easy, Paipai said:
"Coach Mack told me to get some reps, but don't re-injure it. It doesn't hurt when I get into the stance. When I try to change directions, it's a little tender. But I'll be ready for the game."
(HA)


About how he's been cleared to return to practice tomorrow, Jovonte Taylor said:
"I didn't think I would be back so soon with an ankle sprain." (HA)


About the return to practice of Paipai and Fonoti, Mac said:
"We're going to work them in slow this week, but John looked really good today, so I think they're ready to roll." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Fonoti, the lone returning starter on the Warriors defense, is looking forward to his debut in his senior season and will play with a knee brace while easing back into game speed."


Fonoti said that being in a helmet and taking part in drills:
"felt awesome. felt it a little bit, but I have to fight through it. I've missed too many games already. I'm just trying to get out there, make some plays and help out the team." (HSB)


About trying to return quickly but being careful not to injure himself further, Paipai said:
"Just watching a game is frustrating, but after a loss it makes me feel a little guilty that I wasn't able to help the team. It makes me want to play more, but at the same time the coaches want me to be cautious." (HSB)


About moving from guard to tackle, Thomas said:
"I found out just this morning. I haven't played tackle in a while, since camp. It's good though." (HSB)


Appreciating being with the Warrior team, LaCount said:
"Just being on the sideline right now is something special, just being a part of the game." (HSB)


About using Blaze at MLB, Mac said:
"We're looking at combinations. It gives us a little flexibility. He's got good size and instincts. He's a leader and has a lot of football IQ." (HSB)


About how R.J. and he have been used at MLB, Blaze said:
"As a linebacker unit, we always call the strength and we always echo everything. Our communication between the linebackers is awesome, so the burden is never on one person." (HSB)


Unsure when he can return, Rausch said:
"They didn't really give me a time (for a possible return). just have to see how long it takes to heal. Hopefully I can come back, but we have to see." (HSB)


Unsure when he'll be able to practice again after his right pinkie fracture (from falling to the ground during a drill), Brent Rausch said:
"It's very frustrating. It was an unlucky situation." (HA)


About how he's going to redshirt this season, George Daily-Lyles said:
"They kept giving me travel lists, like they wanted me to play. I'm going to redshirt, get this year under my belt, learn the system." (HA)

HA Note: "Offensive tackle Brett Leonard has not played this season, an indication he might redshirt. Leonard was on the past travel roster."


http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090925/SPORTS0201/909250373&template=UHsports

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20090925_warriors_d_line_gets_a_boost.html

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Cleveland head coach Eric Mangini discussed when David Veikune might get to play with the defense

Asked when David Veikune will get on the field with the defense, Cleveland head coach Eric Mangini said:
"I think both he and Kaluka (Maiava) are moving forward a little bit each week. They've gotten work with the defensive unit through the course of practice. He's been up for those games, so he has to be ready to play. When that opportunity will come, or when he'll get reps, there will be some times when we may cycle those guys through, to try to distribute the reps." (Cleveland Leader)


Asked if there is something specific Veikune needs to do to get on the field with the defense, Mangini said:
"He has some versatility, which is positive. He's worked outside. He's worked inside. He needs to keep improving with his overall understanding of the defense, of that week's opponent and contributing on special teams. Sometimes, you go to the game and you may not get any defensive reps, or offensive reps, but you make a real impact on teams. What we're look for, ideally, is everybody that goes to the game has an impact in whatever role they're asked to play." (Cleveland Leader)

http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/11425

Ryan Grice-Mullen is 2nd in the CFL in punt returns

Kel = kelowna.com

Kel Note: "Grice-Mullen’s 11.6-yard punt return average is second in the CFL"

About his successful punt returns against Toronto (one of his long returns set up the winning FG), RGM said:
“It’s one of those non-think and react things. You kind of have to have it your mind to want to get (to the outside). It’s all about instincts and trusting your team and yourself.” (Kel)

http://www.kelowna.com/2009/09/24/grice-mullen-finds-his-niche-in-return-game/

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Feature article on Davone Bess in ESPN 1420 Magazine

EMAG = ESPN 1420 Magazine

About the importance of working to improve, even if nobody else is out there to help with motivation, Davone Bess said:
"I was in the weight room working out [on a recent trip back to UH], and I saw a kid just sweating and working hard. He was in there by himself, and all I could tell him was 'Just keep working, keep doing what you're doing, because you've brought back so many memories for me.' When I was at UH, there were so many times when I was out there by myself because I knew it would pay off one way or another." (EMAG)


About their Sugar Bowl season, Bess said:
"It was so exciting, I think about it every day. I go back and watch all the footage, and it makes me miss the guys that much more. Every time I come back to Hawaii it brings back memories. I look forward to coming back and being out here. Everything I learned from Hawaii help me make the transition to the NFL." (EMAG)


About being motivated by not being drafted, Bess said:
"It was real disappointing not being drafted, but you know I just took it as motivation. Going into camp, I knew what was ahead for me. I knew I had to go out and turn some heads quickly to show the coaches and organization that I wanted to play and could be an impactful player." (EMAG)


About having 54 catches for 554 yards and a TD in his rookie season, Bess said:
"I proved I was capable of making plays. I was a smart, tough and disciplined player. But at the same time, it gave me a chance to stay at it, compete and really go after what I wanted to do. So when my opportunity came, I took it, ran with it, and made the most of it. That's the thing about the NFL: You never know when your chance is going to come -- so when it does, you have to be ready." (EMAG)


About how he wasn't surprised like others about his rookie success, Bess said:
"I always have high expectations for myself, so everything that happened last season was exactly how I envisioned oging into camp. I wasn't surprised because that's what I worked so hard to do. It was just a long journey. I'm just excited that I had that opportunity and that the coaches didn't give up on me." (EMAG)


Giving some credit of his success to Bill Parcells, Bess said:
"Bill Parcells played a role in where I'm at today. He was always telling me, 'You've got to do this etter,' and when I did something well, he would always compliment me: 'that's a good job, son. You do it that way, keep doing that.' And I fed off that. It's pretty much what helped me get to where I'm at, taking in the feedback and going with it." (EMAG)


Unsure what his role with be this season in Miami, but sure that he'll compete every day for his spot, Bess said:
"It's going to be a little of what it was last year, but at the same time, I understand my role. Wherever they want me at, and whatever they want me to do, I'll do it. That's the main thing. You've got to come out and compete every day." (EMAG)

Feature article on Rocky Savaiigaea in ESPN 1420 Magazine

EMAG = ESPN 1420 Magazine

About how having to miss almost all of last season due to a torn triceps tendon, Rocky said:
"The injury taught me so many things, but most of all it made me humble. As I watched my teammates go through the season, I felt as though I was an outsider looking in. I couldn't connect on the same level. What it did, though, was give me a new perspective. All I wanted to do was work even harder." (EMAG)


About being inspired by his grandmother, who passed away in 2006, Rocky said:
"My grandmother was my best friend. She taught me a lot in life. When she was in pain, and on her last legs, she never quit. She battled through, and I knew that was something I had to do. I couldn't quit on her, my family or myself." (EMAG)


About coming back from his injury, Rocky said:
"Like everybody else, there was a time I reached my lowest of lows. there was a time I didn't want to do anything. Yet, my strength in God, my faith and the support of my family gave me that extra motivation to come back even stronger." (EMAG)


About leading by example, Rocky said:
"I believe there are two types of leaders. There are your loud leaders and the ones who lead by action. I commit myself every single day. I'm not going to give anybody a chance to say that I wasn't in there working to be better. My time is now." (EMAG)


About how they have a talented and hungry team, Rocky said:
"We have so much talent this year, and people don't realize that some of these guys haven't had the chance to shine. Their time has come, and I know the guys are working hard. We have the tools to run the table." (EMAG)


Asked what will be his legacy as a Warrior, Rocky said:
"At the end of day, I just want to be remembered as a guy who worked through both good and bad times. I want to inspire my teammates and others to do great things." (EMAG)