Quotes from the UH-USC game 9/3/10

HSA = Honolulu Star-Advertiser
LAT = LA Times
LADN = LA Daily News
LBPT = Long Beach Press-Telegram
OCR = Orange County Regsiter
AP = Associated Press
UH = Official University of Hawaii Athletics Website

------------------------- Quotes from the UH coaches ----------------------------------

About how they could have easily won this game, UH coach Greg McMackin (Mack) said:
"I'm very disappointed, it's a game we could have easily won. I thought our offense played outstanding, I don't believe we had any turnovers, they gained 588 yards against a good football team. Special teams played really well except for one play, we were trying to sky kick it and get it down inside the 5 and we lost containment on the opposite side and they got a big play on that. Otherwise, our field goals and the other part of our special teams were satisfactory." (UH)

"We can't waste games like that, games we can win. We just can't do that." (HSA)

"They made some big plays. We can't do that. We have to roll to them. We have to double them. We have to do something." (HSA)


About how they need to improve their defense, Mack said:
"Defensively we got a lot of work to do. I think we've got to take a look at everything. I know this, I know we have good enough players and I know we're gonna be a good football team because we played a good football team and there were a lot of positives that we can bring from that game." (UH)


About how USC's players were exhausted and they played a lot of players to keep their players fresh, Mack said:
"We planned on playing a lot of guys because as you 'SC was gassed. When we started running those running backs at them, we were running them because we knew they couldn't tackle them because they were gassed." (LADN)

"We planned on playing a lot of guys because as you saw SC was gassed. When we started running those running backs at them, we were running them because we knew couldn't tackle them because they were gassed. I'd say we played 55 players and I'm pleased with that, I think that is something we've got to do in the next couple of games." (UH)


About how their positives show that they can be a very good team, Mack said:
"There were enough pluses that we can be a very good football team." (UH)


Praising their OL, Mack said:
"I thought our offensive line was outstanding. People have been bad-mouthing our offensive line since I've been here." (HSA)


About how the Warriors showed they wouldn't quit, Mack said:
"I think the whole country saw what Warriors do. There was no quit. They kept showing passion." (HSA)


Feeling that they just ran out of time to come back in the game, Mack said:
"We were in the game, even when we weren't playing our best, but I think we ran out of time." (HSA)


HSA Note: "UH head coach Greg McMackin stopped short of saying Moniz had a concussion, but "I didn't want to take any chances" by putting him back in."


About how they threw the ball 3 straight times during their first drive in the red zone (1st-and-goal from the 3-yard-line with USC ahead 6-0 in the first quarter), Offensive Coordinator Nick Rolovich (Rolo) said:
"Our O-line played so well, they probably deserved for us to run it in. We just missed a couple of throws." (HSA)

About kicking the FG from the 1-yard-line to end the first half after 2 incomplete passes, Rolo said:
"You have to get out of there with some points." (HSA)


Praising the play of Shane Austin and Brent Rausch, Rolo said:
"Shane came in and did a nice job, Brent made some good throws. They got a lot of reps in spring in camp and I think they're all dialed in. We'll have to see how Mo is and go from there." (HSA)


About how they thought they would play better on defense and how they need to tackle better, defensive coordinator Dave Aranda said:
"Everything from spring ball to fall camp led me to believe that we'd be further along. A lot of the issues with our play stemmed not from what they were doing, but what we were inflicting upon ourselves. ... There were some things we've got to correct. Tackling is one of them." (HSA)


Feeling that their D played better once they settled down, Aranda said:
"I'm disappointed with how we started, but I felt we were able to settle down and play better football the rest of the game." (HSA)


------------------------ Quotes from the UH players ------------------------------------


About how he thought he scored a TD on the play when he was ruled down at the 1-yard-line, with confusion when the ref appeared to signal a TD when he was trying to show how far away UH was from the goal line, Salas said:
"I thought I was in. And when he signaled for a touchdown, I really thought I was in. Oh, well." (HSA)


About how they needed more time to come back in the game, Shane Austin said:
"It was a little too late. We definitely had a chance. We needed a little more time." (HSA)


About staying focused on practice despite only getting "mental reps", Austin said:
"You always have to keep your mind right. You always have to know that shot could come at any time." (HSA)


Praising their OL and receivers, Austin said:
"The receivers did a great job of getting open and our O-line, man, they played a hell of a game. I had a lot of time in the pocket." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Several times, the Warriors were out of position in pass coverage. On one play, the Warriors did not have a cornerback aligned on Johnson, who waved to Barkley for the quick snap."


About the confusion they had on D on the play that resulted in a TD to Johnson, CB Jeramy Bryant said:
"I was trying to get the call. I got caught trying to get the call and trying to play football at the same time. That's how it goes. You play a a team like USC and make a mistake, they'll find it." (HSA)


About how they scored a TD to cut the lead to 12 points in the fourth quarter, only to have USC score a TD in their very next play on offense, Kaniela Tuipulotu said:
"We had the momentum, we just have to keep it. We can't get the momentum, then have them just swing it right back. That's one thing we learned from this game that we gotta work on. This game ... showed us where we're at. We were trading blow for blow with them, they just had a little bit more ammo tonight." (HSA)


About going 3-3 on FGs and 3-3 on extra points in the game, Scott Enos said:
"It's great for us as a (special teams) unit. I think we had a pretty good game. We were 100 percent on all of our kicks, so that was a confidence for all of us going into the next game." (HSA)


------------------------ Quotes from the USC coaches ----------------------------------


Unhappy how their poor discipline resulted in so many penalties, USC head coach Lane Kiffin said:
"Very disappointed today with our discipline—something that we emphasized and something that obviously something we didn't get done. I believe there were 10 penalties, a number of offsides, and a late hit. So that's something that we will continue to work on." (UH)

"It was very disappointing with our penalties tonight. We had late hits and jumped offsides. I'm disappointed with everything." (LBPT, LADN)

"I'm really disappointed with everything in general, but more important than anything was the (lack of) discipline." (AP)


Disappointed with how they played in the game, Kiffin said:
"Defensively we didn't play very well, obviously. I'm really disappointed in everything in general." (OCR, LAT, AP)

"We've got a lot of work to do." (LAT)


Asked how he was feeling after his first win as USC head coach, Kiffin said:
"not very well. We didn't do it in the style that we wanted. We want to be tough, we want to be disciplined. I thought we were tough today. I thought that we played physical in parts of the game, but we weren't disciplined." (AP)


Happy with their special teams and unhappy with their defense, Kiffin said:
"I was pleased with the special teams and the energy that they brought today. Defensively we didn't play very well today, obviously." (UH)

"It seems like we gave up 1,000 yards. I know we won and all that, but we can't play like this." (LAT)

"We've got a lot of work to do, which is obvious. We didn't tackle well. There's no way to tell (why) that is. Their offense matched up well with us. They played much more disciplined than us. They had never run the pistol (offense) before. We didn't do things in the style we wanted. We wanted to be tough and disciplined. We were tough but we were not disciplined." (LADN)


About how they need to improve a lot, Kiffin said:
"We did end up winning the game, which is good, but obviously as you can see, we've got some depth concerns and issues… We've got a lot of work to do…" (UH)

"We ended up winning the game, which was good, but obviously as you can see, we've got some depth concerns and issues. We're got a lot of work to do, which was obvious." (AP)


Happy with how QB Matt Barkley played, Kiffin said:
"It was a good start for (quarterback) Matt (Barkley), five touchdown passes and no interceptions…There were some good things, but we've got a long ways to do. But the good thing is I don't think we had any major injuries, and we're 1-0." (UH)

"It was a good start for Matt, five touchdowns passes and no interceptions. Ronald had four overall touchdowns, which was good to see and Marc, in his first start, got probably nine or 10 yards a carry. So we had some good things. We've got a long way to go, but the good thing is we didn't have any injuries and we're 1-0." (AP)


About how they wanted to emphasize their passing game in this game, Kiffin said:
"The plan wasn't to come here and run the ball. We wanted to let Matt throw the ball around and let our offense understand that we want them to be an explosive offense." (HSA)


Praising UH's offense, Kiffin said:
"Give (Hawai'i) some credit, they did play lights out on offense today. I believe we knocked the first two quarterbacks out, and the third guy came in and threw as well as the others." (UH)


About how they do not match up well with UH's offense, Kiffin said:
"This was not a great matchup for us on that side of the ball. We're a big defense. We got spread out all over the field." (OCR)

"(Hawaii) is not a great matchup for us on defense. We got spread out all over the field. I'm very disappointed because we didn't (win) in the style we want to." (HSA

"We're a big defense and they're spread out all over the field in the shot gun." (LADN)


About how USC knew that UH would be running the pistol offense by watching the news Wednesday night, Kiffin said:
"It didn't help us very much." (OCR)

"So we spent all morning changing things and preparing for it. I guess that shows we should never watch the news, because the preparation didn't do any good." (LAT)


About how UH had better discipline than them, Kiffin said:
"(Hawai'i) played much more disciplined than us. I think off the top of my head they only had three penalties." (UH)


About Ronald Johnson's 89-yard punt return, Kiffin joked:
"It was great coaching. We didn't block four guys that were right in front of him." (OCR)

About his argument with Johnson before the game when he told Johnson he couldn't wear black socks, Kiffin said:
"He wasn't happy with me because I told him he couldn't wear black socks. It was like a 15-minute ordeal before the game." (HSA)


About going for 2pt conversions after their first 3 TDs, Kiffin said:
"I wanted to send our team a message about being aggressive and going for it." (LAT)

"The special teams didn't work (on the first play) the way we thought it would. Then we thought we had some good plays lined up for it (on the second and third ones)." (LADN)

"I thought that if we had some good plays lined up, we'd be able to make it and we kind of kept going with that for a while and after the score was up to a certain number we went back to extra points." (AP)

"I've got to be myself. Every coach has to do what they think works best." (LBPT, LADN)


OCR Note: "But Kiffin provided further talk-show fodder by attempting two-point conversions after each of the Trojans' first three touchdowns and one other after that. He said he went for two after the second TD because the first try failed. And the others?  "We kind of kept going with that for a while," said Kiffin, who later mentioned wanting to instill an aggressive mentality in his team."


About how they have to tackle better, defensive coordinator Ed Orgeron said:
"We've got to do a better job of tackling. We've got to do a better job running to the football. We've got to do a better job with our assignments. ... It's all stuff we can fix." (OCR)


About how they didn't play Nick Perry even though he was available because they were hoping that an extra week off would help him with his injury, and how their DL was tired even in the first half, Orgeron said:
"Guys got tired more than usual. We were thin without Nick Perry. It changed our rotation. Maybe we should have substituted earlier.'' (LADN)


----------------------- Quotes from the USC players -------------------------------------

Feeling that their offense played well, Matt Barkley (18-23 passing for 257 yards and a school-record-tying 5 TD passes) said:
"I feel on the offensive side of the ball this was a complete game." (OCR)

"Our offense was rolling, just the way we expected it to. We ran the game plan like we practiced and stuck to it. It was fun to finally play a game. I'm happy with the 'W.' Can't be complaining about anything right now." (LBPT, LADN)

About how he's improved since last year, Barkley said:
"I've grown a lot since last year. To have it finally show in a game like this is very satisfying." (LAT)

"I've told you guys I've grown a lot since last year, and to have it finally show in a game like this is very satisfying. In all aspects of our offense we played really well." (HSA)

Happy with the win, Barkley said:
"It's huge for our whole team, for coach Kiffin, for the program, for all of the guys, it's big time. It's awesome, but it's just a start." (AP)

About how he won't surf today during their free time in Hawaii (USC doesn't leave until the afternoon), Barkley said:
"I don't know how to surf. Everyone thinks I do because I'm from Newport Beach." (LBPT, LADN)


Praising the play of Barkley, Ronald Johnson said:
"Wow. He's really our quarterback now. He's really the leader." (LAT)

About how he formed a bond with Barkley during their daily summer workouts, Johnson said:
"It all took off during the summer. We always go out and catch. We do things to get ourselves better. The connection kept growing and growing. It paid off tonight." (HSA)

About his 89-yard punt return for a TD, Johnson said:
"For a moment, I was like, maybe I should fair-catch it. I made a full-speed decision." (HSA)

"I felt like I was going to get hit hard. Once I get it was like, 'OK, I got to make a play' and I got some big blocks which sprung me loose." (HSA)


About the game, RB Marc Tyler said:
"It was the first game of the season. There were some nerves, but we knocked the rust off." (LBPT, LADN)

Happy with all of his carries, Tyler (67 yards on 10 carries in the first half alone, 154 yards on 17 carriers for the game) said:
"I'm just happy to get a chance to play and I wanted to make the most of it. I feel great physically. It's nice to get the season going here and contribute." (LBPT, LADN)

"I didn't envision waiting for three years, but I did envision when I got a chance of making a big impact." (LAT)

About how it was nice to play after all the talk about NCAA sanctions, Tyler said:
"Everybody was talking about sanctions, there was even a guy yelling at us from behind the bench, but we finally put all that behind us. It was great to just come out and play." (LAT)


Asked to assess how their defense played overall, CB Shareece Wright said:
"Not good. When a team scores 36 points, it's not good. The (only) good thing is we won." (OCR)

"It was a long game, there was a lot going on. We need to get this figured out." (LAT)


About his hit that injured QB Bryant Moniz, Michael Morgan said it:
"was definitely a clean hit. I didn't do anything illegal. I'm playing football. That's part of the game. ... He was trying to cut back on me. I saw him try to make a move, and I hit him." (HSA)



----------------------------- Quotes from other people ------------------------------


About his daughter Jessie (who attends USC), WAC commissioner Karl Benson said:
"I think she's rooting for UH." (HSA)


Praising UH's offense in the fourth quarter, Athletic Director Pat Haden said:
"That's a really good offense." (HSA)


Praising Shane Austin's performance in the game, Dick Tomey (who was SJSU head coach last year when Austin started at QB in UH's victory) said:
"Last year he was accurate and poised. Tonight he's shown he's improved. He's making a real statement." (HSA)


About his son Shane, Dave Austin (who flew to Hawaii on Wednesday for the game, with Shane's Mom Cathy in Hawaii since before training camp began) said:
"He's stronger than I've ever seen him. He said through adversity you learn and grow. I'm so proud of him. He was so composed and he was so ready." (HSA)