Quotes from the Colorado papers before the UH-Colorado game

DC = Daily Camera
DP = Denver Post
LTC = Longmont Times-Call


About how UH already had 13 plays of 25 yards or more this season, including 4 TD catches of 30 yards or more by Kealoha Pilares said:
"These guys are a very talented squad. They have some experience back particularly on offense and a group of receivers and a quarterback that have been together for awhile and are very, very potent and know what they`re doing on offense." (DC)


About the added responsibility they have by wearing 1990 throwback jerseys in each home game this season, Marquez Herrod said:
"Honor really. To be able to don that uniform and be a part of that tradition and be a part of guys who were able to do that kind of thing and win that game, it gives you a sense of pride. It makes you remember all the guys that came before you and think about it. It`s not just these 60 or 70 guys running on to the field. It`s thousands of guys who have played here every single year and have made the program what it is today. They built this program up and made a name for us. That`s how I feel, that we`re carrying our name and our tradition when we run out there with those on." (DC)


About how this game is more important because they got blown out last week, Tyler Hansen said:
"Yes, absolutely," he said. "Just getting your butt beat, 52-7, we are not 45 points worse than Cal. We want to show people that we`re a better team and Hawaii is the team we`re playing next so let`s go score some points against Hawaii." (DC)


About the importance of this game to their team, Scotty McKnight said:
"A lot of people would probably say no, but I think it is (a must-win). I think we need to come out here and win. We need to gain back support from our fans. I think that people are generally down on the team." (DP)


About how they need to gain their fans back by doing well in the game, McKnight said:
"I think if we come out and perform well, don't look sloppy and look like a better unit, then the fans will get more excited about it, and we can slowly chip away and get people back on our side." (DP)


About how their team still has confidence, Hansen said:
"We're still a confident football team. We're 1-1. It's not like we're 0-8. That (blowout loss to Cal) was the second game of the year. We still have 10 games left on our schedule. There is a lot of football left. We're OK." (DP)


About how they have to keep UH's offense off the field, McKnight said:
"We know we have to sustain drives and score points because Hawaii's offense is so dynamic." (DP)


Expecting UH to come out strong in the game, McKnight said:
"I expect them to come out on fire. There is something about the nature of playing in Hawaii; they all have a motor." (DP)


About how they haven't been hitting on their long passes yet this season, McKnight said:
"The first two games, we haven't hit any long ones. I know we're going to start to. It's a matter of time before that happens." (DP)


About how they need to win this game, senior WR Scotty McKnight said:
"Oh, we need it. We need to go out here and play our game. Is it a make-or-break on the season? No, because there's 10-plus games left. But I think it's big." (LTC)


LTC Note: "CU head coach Dan Hawkins had pressure on him before the season even began. The heat was turned up this week, however. Local talk radio shows, which normally spend 90 percent of their time talking about the Denver Broncos, spent time this week discussing potential replacements for Hawkins. Can Bill McCartney come back? What about Eric Bieniemy? Dave Logan?"


LTC Note: "Hawkins needs this game. He is 17-34 at CU and simply can't afford to have a non-ranked opponent from the Western Athletic Conference come into Boulder and beat his team. All signs point to him needing a winning season to keep his job for 2011. Lose today, and the chances for a winning season drop dramatically."


About how they need this win before their bye week, McKnight said:
"It would really help us out in terms of positive momentum going into the following week." (LTC)


About how they can earn some of their fans back in this game, McKnight said:
"I think if we come out here and perform well and get a win in our first home game ... and people can see we look like a better unit, they'll get a little more excited about it and we can slowly start chipping away and getting (fans) back on our side." (LTC)


About how they need to play in games as well as they practice, offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau said:
"We just have to go out there and do it on Saturday. That's the bridge we have to cross right now. The meetings are sharp; the practices are sharp. Now it's got to translate to Saturday afternoon." (LTC)


About how it is easier for them to play at Folsom Field than anywhere else, McKnight said:
"It's way easier to play here. I've played in a lot of different places, and obviously I'm a little biased, but I love coming to play here." (LTC)


About how UH will play well so they need to also, WR Travon Patterson said:
"They're going to bring their A game. We have to bring our A game as well. If we come in here and play our game, do what the coaches tell us to do and execute the plays, we'll be all right." (LTC)


http://www.dailycamera.com/top-sports/ci_16108016

http://www.denverpost.com/cu/ci_16106813

http://www.timescall.com/sports_story.asp?id=23539