"Cheeseburger! Cheeseburger! Cheeseburger!" (HA)
One DB chooses to instead yell:
"Chicken!" (HA)
About how it doesn't matter if they yell chicken or cheeseburger, Spencer Smith said:
"We aren't getting chicken. Or, any cheeseburgers, either." (HA)
HA Note: "Rather the references, assistant coach Chris Tormey's innovation, are food for thought for a defensive secondary hungry to create turnovers and make big plays this season."
About how the NFL can reward creating turnovers with money but in college they cannot even give the players a cheeseburger as a reward, Rich Miano said:
"In the pros they might give you $5,000 for creating a turnover (in a game), but we can't even give cheeseburgers. So we use food as a reminder. Instead of trying to strip the ball as an after-thought we want to make it a conditioned action every play, every practice. When the bell rings it is time to eat, just like Pavlov's dog." (HA)
About how their DBs play with an attitude, Spencer Smith said:
"We have an attitude. We're coming after people, we're going to hit you and we're going to play together. We keep doing all that, we're going to be a pretty good defense." (HA)
About how their experienced secondary (4 returning starters and 3 others returning with a lot of experience) looks to be one of the team's strengths, Smith said:
"We've spent more time together and are building a chemistry. This spring has helped." (HA)
Smith said that cheeseburgers would be nice after a long day's practice, but:
"it is like in the movie 'Hook' — I guess — we have to eat with our minds." (HA)
About how Austin Hansen has earned their starting LT spot, Gordy Shaw said:
"Nobody's going to knock out Austin." (HA)
Shaw praised Hansen's:
"experience and knowledge of the game. He just doesn't mess up fundamentally. He doesn't beat himself by doing the wrong step." (HA)
About the praise he received from Shaw, Hansen said:
"That's high praise considering all of the talented guys we have. I've been here with Gordy for two years. I know his system." (HA)
About how their defense has challenged them during practice, Hansen said:
"Our defense shows so many different looks. They have a real diverse package. It's good. It puts a mental strain on us." (HA)
About how he has the edge at center over Bronson Tiwanak, Matagisila Lefiti said:
"I know my calls. I've had chemistry with the first unit." (HA)
HA Note: "Shaw said Lefiti is ahead physically, but both Lefiti and Tiwanak are relatively even in their knowledge of the offense. Lefiti is capable of bench pressing 440 pounds and squat lifting 545 pounds. Shaw said London Sapolu, who transferred from a junior college in January, should challenge for second-team reps during training camp."
HA Note: "With the return of right tackle Laupepa Letuli, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility, Adrian Thomas moves back to right guard, where he will compete against Brysen Ginlack."
About the position battles (Thomas vs. Ginlack at RG, Leonard vs. Faamu at LG), Shaw said:
"The more the better. They know if they take a day off this summer, the other guy who didn't take a day off might do enough to move ahead. They all know they have to work their butt off this summer." (HA)
About how the Warrior Bowl will be an important evaluation day, especially for Warriors on the bubble of getting cut, Mack said:
"It's going to be a big evaluation day. It's the toughest thing about coaching. These are all good players. There's not a non-athlete out there. Letting them go is tough on everybody. We've given them a shot. But we have to be realistic. It's a numbers game." (HA)
About how he is on the bubble, Fesootai Papali'i said:
"I'm giving it my best. Whatever happens, happens. I'm sure all of the other walk-ons gave it their best, too. I'm ready for anything." (HA)
HA Note: "This is his second spring with the Warriors after transferring from Foothill College. Because of a low grade-point average, he acknowledged, he did not compete during the 2009 season. He had to go through the walk-on tryout to earn another berth on the spring roster."
About how it is hard to cut players, Rich Miano said:
"You don't want to take away someone's dream. Their dream is to play for the University of Hawai'i. They've worked so, so hard. The best part is that no matter what happens, they will always be part of our family. Just because you don't make it, you still have our respect and you'll always be in the Warrior ohana." (HA)
About how their OL preparation will not stop with tomorrow's Warrior Bowl, Austin Hansen said:
"It'll start up again on Monday. Spring ball is over and now we have to get ready to play the season and get into fall camp." (HSB)
About being moved from RT to LT this offseason, Hansen said:
"There have been some good tackles since I've been here, so I want to respect the position and play as hard as I can to show them I respect the legacy they set up." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Shaw said Brett Leonard and Andrew Faaumu remain close at left guard. The race at center could be a three-man battle between Sila Lefiti, Bronson Tiwanak and junior college transfer London Sapolu. Thomas and Brysen Ginlack are both proven at right guard. Letuli was granted a sixth year of eligibility and aims to shed about 20 pounds over the summer and will be pushed at right tackle by Kainoa LaCount, who missed about half of the spring with a knee injury."
About how there is a lot of competition for all 4 OL spots outside of the LT spot, Shaw said:
"It's a photo finish at this point in those four spots. That's not all bad because if a guy decides to take a day off in May, June or July and the other guy doesn't, that might be just enough to put the other guy ahead of him." (HSB)
About how the chemistry of their OL is coming together, Hansen said:
"I think it's getting there, there's better communication, but it's not where it needs to be for sure. I think a summer together is really going to help us out." (HSB)
About how their OL is communicating properly, Shaw said:
"The communication is there within those first two units. I don't think there's anybody in the room who doesn't understand the offense, whereas last year it was all so new to them." (HSB)
About how most of their players will stay around for the first session of summer school so the workouts and drills will continue through the summer, Hansen said:
"There's going to be workouts every day, position-specific drills every day and guys will be running, getting in shape. We're going to be on the field working techniques and hopefully we'll go into fall camp ready to go." (HSB)
http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20100429_fierce_competition_for_4_uh_oline_spots.html
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