Quotes from the UH-Nevada game 10/16/10

UH = University of Hawaii website
HSA = Honolulu Star-Advertiser
RGJ = Reno Gazette-Journal
AP = Associated Press (from ESPN's website)
SN = Sports Network (from USA Today's website)

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


About taking satisfaction in beating Nevada because of how they are leaving the WAC, head coach Greg McMackin said:
"There's a real personal satisfaction because they don't want to play with us anymore. They're too good for us now and they're trying to do what's good for their program, I understand that, but the way it was done, I don't know if that was right or not." (AP)


About how their defense played just as hard in the second half as they did the first half, Mack said:
"We just had to coach our way through it and we had to finish (the game). Our defense didn't play any less (in the second half), they gave 21 points and 293 yards to one of the best offensive teams in the country." (UH)


Unhappy with their penalties in the second half and their special teams problems, Mack said:
"We got more penalties than we normally do in the second half, and we're going to have to take a look at that and some breakdowns on special teams that made it an interesting ball game. You got to make it exciting for people to keep coming back. But we won, and that's what I'm really pleased about. We've been taking these games one at a time, and now we can start focusing on Utah State and keep going." (UH, SN)


About how they have a good rivalry with Nevada and their players are classy, Mack said:
"(Nevada) is a team that played a lot of guys and has run a lot of points up on a lot of teams…and we have a good rivalry and I thought their players were very classy. It was a pretty clean football game." (UH)


About how their defense played their best game of the season, Mack said:
"Coming into this game I thought our defensive effort against Navy last year was the best but what you did tonight eclipsed that. You had guys making plays, Corey Paredes knocks down a potential touchdown; get three turnovers for the third consecutive game; and on that goal line stand, Vaughn Meatoga manned up…you have to be happy with the physical play of your defense." (UH)


Asked if this was UH's biggest win under him as head coach, Mack said:
"I think so. People don't realize we were going through a rebuilding process." (HSA)


Praising Dave Aranda, Nick Rolovich, and the rest of their coaches, Mack said:
"I give complete credit to coach Dave Aranda (defensive coordinator) and the defensive coaching staff. He had a great game plan and same thing offensively, I thought that Rolo (offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich) had a great game plan and they had to make some adjustments. I just think those two guys are doing a great job, and I'm really proud of my players…they fought their tails off and didn't quit and kept fighting and finished and that was a big win for us." (UH)


About how Moniz escaped from a Moch sack to get a 37-yard completion to Salas in the 4th quarter, offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich (Rolo) said:
"It might have been 'The Play' of the season." (HSA)

"Unbelievable. I don't know how he gets away from that and that's what he gives us. He's got heart. He's got a lot of pride playing in front of these people." (HSA)


About how their offense responded after Nevada had scored to cut their lead to 20-14, Rolo said:
"We owed the defense one." (HSA)


About how Moniz gained respect in this game, Rolo said:
"It was probably what he needed to gain a little more respect." (HSA)


About how Moniz blamed himself for their loss to Nevada last year, Rolo said:
"I was surprised how down he was (after last year's Nevada game). It's because he has high expectations of himself and he knows how good he can be. He believes he can be great and I think people are seeing that." (HSA)


Crediting their defensive players for having the focus needed to face Nevada's offense, defensive coordinator Dave Aranda said:
"It's a scary offense. There's so many things you have to stop in that offense. It preys on guys being indecisive. Guys being cued to wrong alignments, tied to the wrong spot. So I give all the credit to the players. They really focused in, and there was a plan, it had some complexity, they bought in and the players had a great night tonight." (HSA)


About the importance of this win over the team he used to coach, special teams coordinator Chris Tormey said:
"It's huge, not just for me but this whole program. It shows we're on the right track and it was a great effort by the defense in particular, and the offense stepped up and made some huge plays and on special teams we have some work to do." (HSA)


About Mana Silva's INT, Tormey said:
"The difference between winning and losing is making plays when the game is on the line, and that's what we did." (HSA)


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

About how he believed in his OL and receivers, QB Bryant Moniz said:
"I just keep believing in my O-line, believing in my receivers and we were never worried. Whether we're up 17 or down 17, we're going to believe in ourselves." (AP)


About how this is a sweet win, Moniz said:
"This one's sweet. Nevada is ranked, undefeated season, leaving the WAC, we lost to them last year. I could go on and on." (AP)


About continuing Nevada's losing streak in Hawaii, Moniz said:
"We knew that they've never won here and we wanted to keep that going." (AP)


Remembering their loss at Nevada last year, Moniz said:
"I remember that game last year and I was at probably my lowest point since I've been here. I felt like I lost the game for the team. So it was a big win for us today." (HSA)


Not caring that his consecutive 300-yard passing game streak ended, Moniz said:
"The main category is the W." (HSA)


About how they have been getting revenge on teams that beat them last season, Moniz said:
"These past three weeks were all teams we lost to last year, so it's a revenge kind of thing." (HSA)


About how they had to score a TD after Nevada cut their lead to 20-14, Moniz (who had his big play--scramble out of Moch's sack attempt ending with his 37-yard pass on the drive) said:
"There were two drives (in the second half) where we came away with nothing. It was important to get some points, and give our defense a cushion. We needed seven." (HSA)


About getting away from Moch's sack attempt on that play, Moniz said:
"I just refused to go down. I saw (Moch) coming most of the night. I wasn't able to get away. They were able to do a good job. I was able to get away on that play." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Jordan Monico fielded a pooch kick, and returned it to the 43. Three snaps later, after an illegal-procedure penalty, the Warriors faced a first and 15 from their 49. Moniz took the shotgun snap, but was quickly grabbed by defensive end Dontay Moch, who reportedly can run 40 yards in under 4.2 seconds. Moch had sacked Moniz twice, but this time Moniz proved to be too elusive, escaping twice. Moniz then threw to Salas, who maneuvered past linebacker Brandon Marshall for a 37-yard gain."


About the game-turning play in the 4th quarter when Moniz escaped a sack attempt by Moch and got a 37-yard pass to him, Greg Salas said:
"Nothing ... nothing he does after this will surprise me." (HSA)

"It was all Mo. I don't know how many tackles he broke back there. He made the play and all I had to do was find the open spot." (HSA)

"I saw Mo scrambling and I broke my route off. Mo did a hell of a job staying alive. When I see him scrambling, I flow the way he's flowing, and luckily it worked out for us." (HSA)


About how this is a big win for their WAC title chances and for their earning respect, Salas said:
"It was definitely a big game for us. It keeps our hopes alive for a WAC championship. We're trying to prove some people wrong. We're trying to command some respect." (HSA)


HSA Note: "As super slot receiver Greg Salas said after 11 catches for 153 yards, beating the teams fleeing the conference is extra sweet because they perceived themselves as "a little too good for us." "


About catching the TD pass to increase their lead to 27-14, Royce Pollard said:
"I knew I wasn't going to let my hand mess up on that one. I knew I had to catch it. When I saw it in the air, I knew it was mine." (HSA)


Praising Nevada, Kealoha Pilares said:
"They're an awesome team with awesome players. We wanted to prove we were a good team, too." (HSA)


About how their offense responded after Nevada decreased their lead to 20-14, Alex Green said:
"We knew we had to get into the end zone. By any means. We were going to bust our butts to get into the end zone. Mo said as much in the huddle." (HSA)


About encouraging his fellow defensive players, Corey Paredes said:
"I was telling the defense that we need to lock it down and play with our hearts." (AP)


About knocking the ball out of Kaepernick's hand as he was about to score a TD, Paredes said:
"I seen him holding the ball one-hand, Hollywood. So I just whacked it out." (HSA)

"I thought he was going to get in, and I ran as fast as I could. He 'Hollywood-ed' it. He was holding the ball with one hand. Luckily it was the near hand. I got there, and knocked the ball out, and they called it a touchback. ... If I'm making a tackle and I have a hand on the football, the ball is coming out." (HSA)

"I just wanted to protect our house. Guys ain't getting in easy, so I mean I ran my hardest, and luckily I got on the ball. I mean, I know he's fast, but I'm going to give it my all." (HSA)


About how they have earned respect from their opponents, Paredes said:
"Now guys gotta worry about us." (HSA)


About how this game will silence their doubters, Kaniela Tuipulotu said
"This was for all of our doubters. We can play some damn good football. Nevada came in ranked 19th, but we played as one. That's the most important number." (HSA)

"We wanted to make a statement. I think we did that." (HSA)


About how Nevada's OL was their weak point, Vaughn Meatoga said:
"The coaches told us (Nevada's) O-line was the weak point. The ends did a great job of squeezing down. That left (the defensive tackles) one on one. All we had to do was beat our guy." (HSA)


About his game-clinching INT, Mana Silva said:
"It was like an angel ready to fall. With gravity, it fell right into my hands." (HSA)

"glimpse of heaven." (HSA)

"I gotta go back to church. I think I've been blessed enough to realize the man up there just blessed me. Just gotta take care of what I need to do." (HSA)


About falling to the ground after getting the INT, Silva said:
"I saw (associate head) coach (Rich) Miano tell me to go down. I didn't want to lose the ball. It was no time to be a hero. I decided to go down for the team." (HSA)


About Silva's INT, Jeramy Bryant said:
"Huge, huge. If anybody needed it, I needed it. We needed that as a unit, a defense." (HSA)


About how this win reminds him of their 2006 win against Nevada, Colt Brennan said:
"Absolutely. I thought of my junior year and how the defense stepped up." (HSA)


About how he is a big fan of Moniz, Colt said:
"I like him ... a lot. I'm a fan of his. He is a real football player." (HSA)


Patting Moniz on the back after the game, Colt said to Moniz:
"'Sup baller. Good stuff, keep it up." (HSA)


About the game Colt hugged Mack and said to Mack:
"Hey, I told you we were going to win." (HSA)


About what he said to the team on Friday night, Colt said:
"I told them two things. One, when you play a Top 25 team you get a chance to be in a top 10 plays of the night on ESPN. And two, no one comes into our house and beats us." (HSA)


--------------- Quotes from the Nevada coaches -------------------


About how they had their chances to win, Nevada head coach Chris Ault said:
"We had our chances to win. You can't give up 10 points (in the 4th  quarter). We had our opportunities to win the ball game and didn't. We go with the onside kick, a great job by our kicking team. Our kicking team was excellent tonight, kept us in the game. If (wide receiver) Tray (Session) makes that catch, I'm pretty comfortable we're going to score. You gotta make the plays when you get the chance." (UH)

"We had our opportunities to win the ball game and didn't." (RGJ)


About how they played well defensively, and pointing out the play Moniz made to get away from a sack and complete a big pass to Salas in the 4th uqarter, Ault said:
"I thought defensively we played well. The last touchdown (Hawai'i) got, we've got him sacked and we let him get out. He makes a great throw. It was a great play by Moniz, no question about it. I think that might have been the play of the game, because we had some momentum going." (UH)

"I thought defensively we played well. That last touchdown they got, we had him sacked and we let him get out of it. He made a great play. That was a great play by Moniz, no question out it. I thought that might have been play of the game because we had some momentum going and felt pretty comfortable we could move the ball." (RGJ)


About how they thought they were going to win the game in their final drive, Ault said:
"It's a tough loss, because when you have the chance to do something… And we felt like that last drive we were going to put it in the end zone, and we didn't." (UH)

"You live and learn. It's a tough loss because when you have a chance to do something special, it hurts. We thought that last drive we were going to put it in the end zone and end up winning the game, but we didn't." (RGJ)


About the pass that Brandon Wimberly tipped that resulted in Mana Silva's game-deciding INT, Ault said:
"What do you want me to say? He should have caught it. If Wim makes that catch, I'm pretty comfortable we're going to score somewhere in there. But you got to make the plays when you get the chance." (RGJ)

"What do you want me to say? He should have caught it. Right? I mean, it's a tough play." (RGJ)


About how they struggled on offense in the first half, Ault said:
"Our offense stunk in the first half." (HSA)

"The offense stunk the first half. There's no question about it." (RGJ)

"The offense stunk the first half. There's no question about it. Hawaii did a nice job. I thought the second half we came out played the ball we're capable of playing and moved the ball well and made the corrections. The first half, offensively speaking, was non-existent. I thought our defense played well tonight." (RGJ)

"Our offensive front did not do a very good job and in that first half Kap did not play the ball he's capable of playing. We need him in that trigger position to make some things happen. We had some guys wide open and he overthrew them in the first and we needed some first downs to get ball control." (RGJ)


About the adjustments they made at halftime with their offense, Ault said:
On the halftime adjustments offensively: "We changed a lot, but the offensive line did a much better job. I thought Kap did a better job. We had the one touchdown where the ball goes through the end zone. If he puts in his left hand, it's six. You live and learn. It's a tough loss because when you have a chance to do something, it hurts. We thought that last drive we were going to put it in the end zone and end up winning the game, but we didn't." (RGJ)


About how they gave up 10 points in the second half and they can't do that against UH if they wish to win, Ault said:
"We lose 10 points in the second half, and in a game like this against a team like Hawai'i, you can't give away points." (UH)

"We lose 10 points in the second half, and in a game like this against a team like Hawaii, you can't give away points. This is the third time we've had a chance to win the game in the fourth quarter out here, and we didn't. Hawaii played well, they did an outstanding job." (SN)


About Kaepernick's fumble through the end zone, Ault said:
"Huge. And I think the series before that he throws the interception when we're in field-goal range. We lose 10 points in that second half and in a game like that with a team like Hawaii, you can't afford to give away 10 points." (RGJ)


About how this is the third time they had a chance to win in Aloha Stadium in the 4th quarter and they haven't been able to pull the games out, Ault said:
"This is the third time we've had a chance to win the game in the fourth quarter out here, and we didn't…. Hawai'i played well, they did an outstanding job." (UH)

"This is third time we had a chance to win in the fourth quarter out here and didn't. Last time they beat us with a fade route and now we've got a chance to go down and score and (Hawaii) makes the interception." (HSA)


When a reporter said that they outplayed UH but made too many mistakes, Ault said:
"When you lose a game, you didn't outplay anybody. We had a chance to win the game. We got the onside kick. We did a great job in the kicking game. It was excellent tonight. It kept us in the game. If Wim makes that catch, I'm pretty comfortable we're going to score somewhere in there. But you got to make the plays when you get the chance." (RGJ)


About their numerous mistakes, Ault said:
"You can't do that. You can't do that on the road. When you have chances to score, you have to make them count and we didn't." (RGJ)


Asked about how they might have missed their last chance to win in Hawaii, Ault said:
"I don't have any thoughts right now. It's the third time we had a chance to win in the fourth quarter out here and didn't. That's what we talked to our team about. The fourth quarter, we had a chance to finish it. The last two times we had a chance to finish it. Last time they beat us with a fade route and now you've got a chance to go down and score and kid doesn't make the catch and they make an interception." (RGJ)


----------------- Quotes from the Nevada players ------------------


Blaming himself for the loss, QB Colin Kaepernick (career-high 4 turnovers) said:
"I single-handedly lost this football game tonight." (AP)

"In my eyes, I single-handedly lost this football game tonight." (RGJ)


Asked whether or not the loss is harder to take because of his career-high 4 turnovers, Kaepernick said:
"Definitely. In my eyes, I single-handedly lost this football game tonight. I fumbled going in (for a touchdown), that's another seven points. That wins us the game. I threw a pick going in. That's another seven. I threw another pick going in. That's another seven. That's 21 more points we should have had tonight." (RGJ)

"In my eyes, I single-handedly lost this football game tonight. I fumbled going in; that's another seven points that wins the game. Threw a pick going in, that's another seven. Threw another pick, that's another seven. That's 21 extra points we should have had tonight." (HSA)


About fumbling the ball through the end zone to cost his team a TD, Colin Kaepernick said:
"I thought I was going to get in easy, but I just didn't take care of the ball." (AP)

"I thought I was going to be in easy. Just didn't take care of the ball." (RGJ)


About being dominated in the first half, Kaepernick said:
"We just didn't come ready to play the first half." (RGJ)

"We didn't get our rhythm until late second half. Turnovers were a big key in that. If you don't have the ball, there's not a lot of rhythm you can get." (RGJ)


Asked if they were too excited in the first half, Kaepernick said:
"Just lack of execution. We just didn't play like ourselves tonight." (RGJ)


Asked how they felt after getting the onside kick, Kaepernick said:
"Right there, we think we're going in for the winning touchdown. On the interception, I had a crossing route to our receiver over the middle. I threw it too far in front. It got tipped and picked." (RGJ)


Asked if UH's defense did anything to surprise them, Kaepernick said:
"There was nothing Hawaii did tonight to stop us. It was ourselves stopping ourselves. We came our and played terrible the first two and a half quarters and then finally starting to get back to ourselves." (RGJ)

"There was nothing Hawaii did tonight to stop us. Just lack of execution (on our part), we didn't play like ourselves tonight." (HSA)


Asked about how they moved the ball in the second half, Kaepernick said:
"The last quarter and half you saw what we were capable of, and that was us playing our normal game. The first two and half quarters we didn't play like ourselves." (RGJ)


Asked why they struggled so much in the first half, Kaepernick said:
"I can't really tell you what it was. I'm not sure. We just weren't playing like ourselves." (RGJ)


About how Kaepernick will come back from this game, Vai Taua said:
"He's a great player. He's played many good games. This game isn't going to define him. He'll step it back up." (RGJ)


Praising Bryant Moniz, Dontay Moch said:
"He's a very good athlete; the guy made the plays they had to have." (HSA)


About the loss, CB Isaiah Frey said:
"It's a hard one to digest. We'll see what kind of team we are when we play Utah State. We'll see how we'll bounce back. It's not over yet. We'll take it game by game and see how it goes." (RGJ)


About how their defense settled down after a bad start to the game, Frey said:
"That's probably the first time we've seen a team like this all season. After we made adjustments after those first couple of scores, we did all right." (RGJ)


About Bryant Moniz getting away from a Moch sack to get a pass to Greg Salas for a big gain in the 4th quarter, Frey said:
"The quarterback just made an amazing play. He eluded the sack and threw the ball downfield. It was a big play, but we had way more opportunities within the game to come out with the 'W.'" (RGJ)


Asked if he was surprised that their offense didn't score any points in the first half, Frey said:
"We knew what our offense can do, but at the same time we expect so much of ourselves to get the job don. We shouldn't have to rely on the offense." (RGJ)


About what he thought after recovering their onside kick, Frey said:
"I thought we were going to win for sure. But things happen, and we'll see how we bounce back." (RGJ)


About how their team will bounce back from the loss instead of letting it linger, Frey said:
"Just get your mind off it and correct mistakes come Monday when we go back and watch film and go from there. We have to improve every week, because every game is still going to be a big one." (RGJ)


Asked if he thought before the game that allowing just 27 points would be enough for them to win, Frey said:
"No because we still didn't execute on certain plays in which they scored touchdowns. We hold ourselves to a standard of not letting them score, so I'd say no." (RGJ)