Quotes before the UH-UNLV game 12/4/10

Declining to say if he approached UH first or if UH approached him first about UH joining the MWC, UNLV President Neal Smatresk said:
"What's the expression? 'Great minds think along the same channel'?" (HSA)

"Personally, I've been an advocate for Hawaii joining the league and I hope we can get this resolved so we can all prepare as we need to for the things we have to do." (HSA)


HSA Note: "It was Smatresk, we are told, who brought UH and the MWC together. It was Smatresk, vice chair of the MWC Board of Directors, who hosted the first face-to-face meeting between UH vice president Rockne Freitas and MWC commissioner Craig Thompson in Las Vegas and has talked up the benefits of such a union."


HSA Note: " "A champion of our cause," is how one UH administrator termed Smatresk's involvement. At the Bachman Hall press conference announcing the UH-MWC discussions last month, UH president M.R.C. Greenwood saluted Smatresk as "one of our own."  That was a reference to his years (2004-07) at UH as vice chancellor for academic affairs, a period in which he formed friendships with a number of administrators, including Freitas."


Smatresk said that during his time at UH that:
"(personally), from a football perspective, I think, Hawaii has had a long record of competitive programs. I think the football team can play in most leagues in the country. And, in my opinion, there's always been a little extra pizzazz or sparkle around a Hawaii contest that we think could draw television viewership and expand our market." (HSA)

"When I hear that 'Hawaii Five-O' (song), it still gets the blood pumping." (HSA)


About his good feelings towards UH, Smatresk said:
"Once you've been part of Hawaii, I think a little aloha stays with you." (HSA)


About how they were able to move Greg Salas from wideout to slot because he runs with short strides for a tall receiver, Mouse Davis said:
"His natural steps are a little shorter.  You want the long striders to play outside." (HSA)


About how he naturally runs with shorter steps, Salas said:
"That's the style I run with.  You can make sudden movements.  Luckily, it helps me out.  It definitely makes it easier to avoid people." (HSA)


About how their DTs read which one of the two gaps they are supposed to attack on each play and then absorb up to 2 blockers, Dave Aranda said:'
"Our DTs get push." (HSA)


Praising Kaniela Tuipulotu's play this season, Aranda said:
"He shows consistency every play." (HSA)


About losing 30 pounds since recovering from shoulder surgery and earning a starting spot, Tuipulotu said:
"I got rid of the bad weight.  And I get a lot of help from Vaughn (Meatoga).  He takes a lot of pressure off me because (blockers) pay attention to him.  He makes my job easier." (HSA)


About how they decided to not have Rodney Bradley return punts in the NMSU game because the NMSU punted short and the game was too important, Chris Tormey said:
"We decided to go with Greg (Salas), because he wanted the best ball security we could get." (HSA)


About how they want to earn their 10th victory of the season by beating UNLV, Bryant Moniz said:
"All we're thinking is: Just win. We just want to get (victory) No. 10. That would be the reward for the hard work we've put in. A 10-win season hasn't been done too much. It's hard to come by at any level." (HSA)


About the last regular season game of his 6-year Warrior career, Laupepa Letuli said:
"It went really fast." (HSA)


About their seniors, Rich Miano said:
"These seniors have helped us on the field, and we've tried to help them off the field." (HSA)


About how they have raised money to allow every football player to attend summer school, create a bridge session for summer school, and expand the tutoring program, Miano sid:
"With the resources we have, everyone should be able to graduate." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101204_Warriors_just_want_10.html

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/ferdswords/20101204_Give_a_cheer_for_Smatresk_who_fought_for_old_Hawaii.html

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101204_UNLV_got_bowled_over_by_its_rugged_schedule.html