Quotes before the UH-Fresno State game 10/9/10

FB = Fresno Bee


About how he talked to the Warriors about the hostile crowd in Fresno, Mack said:
"I talked to my players about what the crowd will be like. There will be elderly ladies waving their fists at us, and people yelling at us, and even 5-year-old guys yelling. It will be a real hostile environment." (HSA)


About how they cannot prepare the team for the hostile crowd, Mack said:
"That's OK.You have to play i n front of those crowds. We played in front of the whole Army academy. The student body was behind us. You have to learn to play in those situations, and you look forward to it. It makes the game fun. You like that kind of pressure." (HSA)


About how they spent their hour walk-through working on special teams and about 10 trick plays, Mack was asked if those were real trick plays or decoys and said:
"You never know who's watching." (HSA)


About the purpose of their walk-through, Mack said:
"We just wanted to get the players out here, to get a feel for the stadium and the turf. We wanted them to try to make some cuts." (HSA)


About how this game is important to both teams, Mack said:
"We're really excited about this game. Everybody will be watching back in Hawaii. The Fresno fans' enthusiasm will psych us up. This game means a lot to both teams." (HSA)


About how the defensive players had another walk-through workout in the hotel parking lot after they returned from the walk-through at the stadium, Mack said:
"We're doing everything we can to be prepared." (HSA)


About how the Fresno State RBs keep fighting for extra yards, George Daily-Lyles said:
"You think you stop the running back after 2 yards, then he gets 2 more yards, and then 2 more yards. Then it's second and 4 instead of second and 8, and that makes it tough on a defense." (HSA)


About how they need to stop Fresno State's running game to win, Daily-Lyles said:
"Our game plan is pretty straightforward: Stop the run. If we can do that, we have a chance to win." (HSA)


Praising how Moniz read a double blitz and through a 12-yard pass to Kealoha Pilares, Rolo said:
"Mo had a nice gauge of the situation." (HSA)


About how Kaniela Tuipulotu stayed in the background last year when he had to sit out due to transferring to UH but has stepped up his leadership now, Vaughn Meatoga said:
"When he first came in, he sat back and observed.  This season, he really stepped up, especially on game day.  I know a lot of people feed off him because of the confidence he gives off." (HSA


About how he wants to avoid a high-scoring game against UH, Fresno State head coach Pat Hill said:
"A low-scoring game is more to our advantage. Defense is the name of the game. Defense will control the tempo of the game, and special teams.  I don't see it being a 10-7 game. Low 30s, high 20s, that'd be low scoring probably in a game like this. But you never know. Cincinnati, everyone thought would be a high-scoring game and it really wasn't." (FB)


About how Jamel Hamler, their leading receiver (17 catches for 252 yards and 2 TDs) might not play due to a shoulder injury, Hill said:
"We haven't gone into this game counting on him. If we get him, it will be a plus." (FB)


About his chemistry with Hamler, Colburn said:
"I've had a better feel with him than I've ever had with a receiver in my life. We threw together a lot this offseason. We trust each other. ... So when you lose a guy like that, it's tough. But I think our young guys have done a great job of stepping up and filling in." (FB)


About how their top 3 WRs have been out with injury at different times (and one of their backup WRs, Stallworth, will miss the UH game due to injury), Colburn (his 11 TD passes have been to 10 different receivers) said:
"You know, you get comfortable with a guy. ... They're different players, they have different strengths and run routes just a hair different. It doesn't mean their better or worse -- just means their different.  When we lost Rashad [Evans] and Jamel, we had to switch some things around and it affects our receivers because they have to move around as well to compensate. It's affected me a little bit, but, overall, it hasn't affected our performance on offense. It's just changed some things we do." (FB)


About how they will need to get pressure on Bryant Moniz, Hill said:
"It's really going to come down to can we get pressure on the quarterback and get him to get the ball out of his hand quicker?  The quicker he gets the ball out of his hand, the less chance we have of giving up the deep ball.  We want to try to get the ball out of his hand quickly; it's going to be hard to get to him. While rushing him, you have to make sure your containing him, too." (FB)


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http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101009_UH_wary_of_Bulldogs_ground-hogging_ways.html

http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/10/08/2111068/dogs-colburn-remains-poised-and.html

http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/10/08/2111058/gameday-breakdown-fresno-state.html