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