Reno Gazette-Journal feature on Bryant Moniz

RGJ = Reno Gazette-Journal


About going from a walk-on at a D-IAA school to leading the country in passing at UH, Bryant Moniz said:
"It's definitely surrea. I never thought I'd be leading the nation in passing. I never thought I'd actually start a game. It's just a real blessing to be able to play this game and play at home. It's an honor and it's exciting. It's definitely a surreal experience, something that I appreciate every day." (RGJ)


About not getting any scholarship offers out of high school, Moniz said:
"I think it's because of my height. That and not too many quarterbacks from Hawaii get the chance to play in college." (RGJ)


RGJ Note: "Moniz took his best college offer, which was a non-scholarship position at Fresno (Calif.) City College. He shared an apartment with four other guys and bought his groceries at the dollar store. One month, his roommate forgot to pay the power bill. The apartment lost electricity -- no lights, no refrigerator, cold showers, no air conditioning in the 100 degree heat.:


About leaving the apartment to move in with his girlfriend Kiley and having 2 bulldog puppies, 2 poi dogs, and 4 rabbits at their apartment, Moniz said:
"It was an exciting time." (RGJ)


About moving back to Hawaii after his girlfriend became pregnant, enrolling at Leeward Community College and getting a job delivering pizzas, Moniz said:
"I really liked that job. It was pretty easy. You sit in your car, listen to the radio and drive around and get some nice tips. And the hours were really flexible, so I was able to do it around my schedule." (RGJ)


About initially being listed 6th on their QB depth chart and being asked by Mack to move to defense after he had 4 INTs as a scout team safety, Moniz said:
"I was all for it. I just wanted to play." (RGJ)


About telling UH boosters that Moniz is the best QB in the country, Mack said:
"He's doing unbelievable things." (RGJ)


About being able to throw passes to Salas and Pilares, Moniz said:
"It's awesome. The year before I walked on I was watching the team and watching Greg and watching Kealoha. When I got in there, I was kind of like a fan on the field. I was, like, 'Wow, there's Greg Salas! There's Kealoha Pilares! I'm throwing them passes!' It was so cool and it's really an honor to be able to play with them." (RGJ)


About how becoming a father has changed him, Moniz said:
"It's changed me a lot. My daughter, she's 2 now, she has her own personality and she can talk and everything. It's really helped me a lot. It's kept me grounded. I don't do any college partying, and I think that has a lot to do with being a dad and a family guy and having to provide for other people. It's one of the reasons I am where I am." (RGJ)


http://www.rgj.com/article/20101015/SPORTS06/10150400/1018/SPORTS