About training hard to improve his balance at a facility near his home in Portland, running across a narrow board with a medicine ball in one hand and holding a weighted bar above his head while doing a one-legged squat, Alex Green said:
"It took a lot of work." (HSA)
About how Alex was a good kid, his mother Phyllis Smith said:
"Growing up, he has never caused us any problems." (HSA)
About how Alex was nicknamed the "Chosen One" when he was 7-years-old on a family trip to Disneyland with a fly buzzing in the car, Smith said:
"Everyone was trying to swat the fly while he was sleeping. He wakes out of a deep sleep, then swats the fly we were trying to get for the last 45 minutes. We called him the 'Chosen One' because a lot of good things happen to him. But he also has worked hard to overcome a lot of adversity." (HSA)
HSA Note: "As a high school senior, Green was added as an alternate to a Portland all-star game. A few days before the game, a running back was injured, and Green was summoned. He ended up being named the game's most valuable player. Eastern Arizona (junior) College was the only school to offer him a scholarship. But when he arrived, the head coach had left. He transferred to California's Butte College. After his freshman year at Butte, he learned he was going to become a father. His daughter, Harlym, was born three days before the start of training camp. He took a job working at a hardware store. When that conflicted with his school and football schedule, he worked odd jobs."
About eating just 2 meals a day at UH (a large breakfast at the training table and dinner), sending the money saved from the third meal and other earnings to his daughter's mother in Portland, Green said:
"No sacrifice, no reward. Whether it's through football or a degree, I want to be able to support my family." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Green said he should accumulate enough credits to earn a degree in 2011. He said 18 credits from Butte did not transfer."
About how Mack promoted their team's family atmosphere to her during his recruiting trip, Smith said:
"Coach Mack said: 'We'll take good care of him. Don't worry.' When Alex got there, he told me, 'They treat me like family. Everybody is so nice.'" (HSA)
About how it was nice for Green to have such a huge game against NMSU, Bryant Moniz said:
"A.G. helps us so much with his blocking, it was nice that we could help him." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Green said he first knew he was doing well statistically when he saw his running tab -- 240 yards, nine carries -- on the scoreboard. Later, in the huddle, the linemen said they would help him reach 300."
About how the OL wanted him to get 300 yards, Green said:
"They were telling me to keep it up." (HSA)
About being the first 1,000-yard rusher at UH since UH started using the run-and-shoot, Mack said:
"That's the 'run' part of the run-and-shoot." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101130_Striking_a_balance.html
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Mack says that UH's WAC Championship will have a "lot of bling"
About how he will do the job of designing their ring, Mack said:
"I'm designing the ring, That's my job." (HSA)
About wearing a large ring on his right hand during his weekly news conference yesterday, Mack said:
"I told my wife this morning, 'We're WAC champions, and I'm going to wear one of my WAC champion rings.' That's exactly what I did." (HSA)
Asked if the ring was from the 1999 or 2007 WAC title, Mack said:
"No, no, no. Please don't even give me credit for designing the '99 ring. I don't know who did, but I think they got it out of one of those Cracker Jack deals." (HSA)(
Mack said that he told JJ that he'd return to coach UH in 2007 with one condition:
"I'll come back and help you win a WAC championship if you let me design the ring." (HSA)
About how he finished designing this year's ring, Mack said:
"It's going to be beautiful. Let me just say this: a lot of bling." (HSA)
HSA Note: "UH athletic director Jim Donovan said the rings will be paid for from the Warriors' share from the Dec. 24 Hawaii Bowl. The Warriors will net $375,000, plus an additional $25,000 if it reaches ticket-sale goals. The UH assistant coaches' bowl bonuses also will be deducted from that payout."
About how they won 4 in a row in 2009 to give them a chance to earn a bowl spot if they could have beaten Wisconsin in their finale, Mack said:
"The key was we won four in a row. The players bought in, and didn't listen to the criticism. ... (They) tried to focus on the positives. That's where this (year's) team was born." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101130_McMackin_Ring_to_have_lot_of_bling.html
"I'm designing the ring, That's my job." (HSA)
About wearing a large ring on his right hand during his weekly news conference yesterday, Mack said:
"I told my wife this morning, 'We're WAC champions, and I'm going to wear one of my WAC champion rings.' That's exactly what I did." (HSA)
Asked if the ring was from the 1999 or 2007 WAC title, Mack said:
"No, no, no. Please don't even give me credit for designing the '99 ring. I don't know who did, but I think they got it out of one of those Cracker Jack deals." (HSA)(
Mack said that he told JJ that he'd return to coach UH in 2007 with one condition:
"I'll come back and help you win a WAC championship if you let me design the ring." (HSA)
About how he finished designing this year's ring, Mack said:
"It's going to be beautiful. Let me just say this: a lot of bling." (HSA)
HSA Note: "UH athletic director Jim Donovan said the rings will be paid for from the Warriors' share from the Dec. 24 Hawaii Bowl. The Warriors will net $375,000, plus an additional $25,000 if it reaches ticket-sale goals. The UH assistant coaches' bowl bonuses also will be deducted from that payout."
About how they won 4 in a row in 2009 to give them a chance to earn a bowl spot if they could have beaten Wisconsin in their finale, Mack said:
"The key was we won four in a row. The players bought in, and didn't listen to the criticism. ... (They) tried to focus on the positives. That's where this (year's) team was born." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101130_McMackin_Ring_to_have_lot_of_bling.html
Monday, November 29, 2010
Warrior Quotes from the Star-Advertiser 11/29/10 (UH ranked in the AP top 25)
Asked about the rumor that either Central Florida or Tulsa will be facing UH in the Hawaii Bowl, Hawaii Bowl Executive Director David Matlin said:
"The situation remains fluid and nothing has been locked up yet. We're focused on finding the best caliber opponent for UH." (HSA)
About being ranked in the top 25 by the AP, Greg Salas said:
"It shows all of the hard work in the offseason is paying off. We're getting a little bit of recognition across the country." (HSA)
About how they became WAC champs and got into the top 25 this weekend, Salas said:
"It's kind of crazy how this weekend ended up. After Friday night, after the Boise loss, things kind of changed. We were happy to be WAC champs. That was one of our goals. And now, to get this (ranking). It's crazy." (HSA)
About becoming WAC champs and getting into the top 25, Spencer Smith said:
"As a team, we'll take winning the WAC over a Top 25 ranking. Now we have both." (HSA)
About the hard work they put in over the summer instead of playing with their friends, Kaniela Tuipulotu said:
"You want to be there with your friends, but you're doing something they can never do. They all know that we're doing things to represent. Our friends and family support us. They know we're doing it for everyone in the state. It's worth the sacrifices when you get to see the benefits." (HSA)
Trying to rehab as quickly as possible so that he could play as soon as possible, Spencer Smith said:
"I would drink extra milk.I took calcium pills. Whether it worked physically or not, it helped me mentally. I did it to play with the boys one last time. I'm a senior. This is the last (UH) team I'll get to play with. I wanted to be part of this. This is a special team. The (AP) voters saw that. We have to prove it again (against Nevada-Las Vegas on Saturday) and in the bowl game. It doesn't mean anything unless we keep winning." (HSA)
About how this WAC title is special to him because they were not predicted to be good before the season, Mack said:
"This (WAC title) is really special to me because everybody thought we were going to be a bunch of dogs, including the (WAC) coaches. The press picked us seventh of eight. This team has been close. We adopted the 'We Are One' theme. ... We tried to get better and better. And that's what we've done." (HSA)
About taking over after JJ took the team to the Sugar Bowl, Mack said:
"It's tough to follow a 12-0 (regular) season, and just getting the people back." (HSA)
About changing both coordinators and replacing their primary strength coach this past offseason, Mack said:
"I had to make some changes that weren't fun, for the betterment of the program. The program is the most important thing." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101129_Hawaiis_bowl_opponent_likely_to_be_Tulsa_or_UCF.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101129_Associated_Press_voters_return_UH_to_Top_25.html
"The situation remains fluid and nothing has been locked up yet. We're focused on finding the best caliber opponent for UH." (HSA)
About being ranked in the top 25 by the AP, Greg Salas said:
"It shows all of the hard work in the offseason is paying off. We're getting a little bit of recognition across the country." (HSA)
About how they became WAC champs and got into the top 25 this weekend, Salas said:
"It's kind of crazy how this weekend ended up. After Friday night, after the Boise loss, things kind of changed. We were happy to be WAC champs. That was one of our goals. And now, to get this (ranking). It's crazy." (HSA)
About becoming WAC champs and getting into the top 25, Spencer Smith said:
"As a team, we'll take winning the WAC over a Top 25 ranking. Now we have both." (HSA)
About the hard work they put in over the summer instead of playing with their friends, Kaniela Tuipulotu said:
"You want to be there with your friends, but you're doing something they can never do. They all know that we're doing things to represent. Our friends and family support us. They know we're doing it for everyone in the state. It's worth the sacrifices when you get to see the benefits." (HSA)
Trying to rehab as quickly as possible so that he could play as soon as possible, Spencer Smith said:
"I would drink extra milk.I took calcium pills. Whether it worked physically or not, it helped me mentally. I did it to play with the boys one last time. I'm a senior. This is the last (UH) team I'll get to play with. I wanted to be part of this. This is a special team. The (AP) voters saw that. We have to prove it again (against Nevada-Las Vegas on Saturday) and in the bowl game. It doesn't mean anything unless we keep winning." (HSA)
About how this WAC title is special to him because they were not predicted to be good before the season, Mack said:
"This (WAC title) is really special to me because everybody thought we were going to be a bunch of dogs, including the (WAC) coaches. The press picked us seventh of eight. This team has been close. We adopted the 'We Are One' theme. ... We tried to get better and better. And that's what we've done." (HSA)
About taking over after JJ took the team to the Sugar Bowl, Mack said:
"It's tough to follow a 12-0 (regular) season, and just getting the people back." (HSA)
About changing both coordinators and replacing their primary strength coach this past offseason, Mack said:
"I had to make some changes that weren't fun, for the betterment of the program. The program is the most important thing." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101129_Hawaiis_bowl_opponent_likely_to_be_Tulsa_or_UCF.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101129_Associated_Press_voters_return_UH_to_Top_25.html
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Quotes from the Uh-New Mexico State game 11/27/10
NMSU = Official NMSU Athletics website
HSA = Honolulu Star-Advertiser
LCSN = Las Cruces Sun-News
Note: UH's website and the AP and USA Today articles I read did not have any quotes for the UH-NMSU game.
---------------------- Quotes from the UH Coaches ---------------------
About how they have reached their goal of winning the WAC championship, Mack said:
"Our objective going into this game was to win the WAC championship. After Nevada beat Boise State last night, we knew we had a good shot at winning this game and the WAC championship." (NMSU)
"I am really excited to win the WAC championship. Like I said earlier, our goal was to win the WAC championship as soon as Nevada defeated Boise State." (HSA)
About how the great success that they had with their rushing game, Mack said:
"Our running game did really well today. It had to have been our best rushing game in a long time. Our offensive line also did a great job in helping out our offense." (NMSU)
About the ice water poured over his head as the game ended, Mack said:
"That was freezing." (HSA)
About how hotel security called him after his players made so much noise when Nevada beat Boise State, Mack said:
"He said there were all kinds of noise on the floor. It was our guys coming out of the room and high-fiving everybody. I apologized, and said, 'They just got some good news.' I had our coaches make sure (the players) got back into their rooms. But, shoot, I had a hard time going to sleep, too." (HSA)
About Scott Enos breaking Jason Elam's record with his 92 consecutive PATs during Enos' 25-game UH career, Mack said:
"I'm really proud of Scott.That's a big one. I mean, getting Jason Elam's record? That's big stuff." (HSA)
About how all their receivers had to do was to run decoy routes to open things up for their running game, Offensive Coordinator Nick Rolovich said:
"That's the easiest block in football. The receivers were unselfish. Once (Green) broke through (the line of scrimmage), he had a lot of room." (HSA)
About how their running game opens up when teams play man-to-man coverage against their receivers, RB coach Brian Smith said:
"Usually when we play man(-to-man) teams, that opens up the run game for us." (HSA)
Praising Alex Green's running ability, Smith said:
"He's been running so hard lately. He does a great job of breaking tackles or making people miss. When he gets into open space, we know we have a chance for a big play." (HSA)
---------------------- Quotes from the UH Players -----------------------
About Alex Green's 327 yards rushing, Bryant Moniz said:
"Amazing." (HSA)
About how their coaches knew that Green was close to a lot of records and wanted to keep giving him the ball, Moniz said:
"They wanted to feed him. He deserves it. He blocks for us all year. He saves me a lot of times with his blocks. When he has this kind of a game, he deserves to get the ball. I wanted to give him the ball, stand back and enjoy the view." (HSA)
Asked if he could have imagined having such a huge rushing day, Green said:
"Not at all. When I got up, I thought it was going to be a work day." (HSA)
About how he wasn't aware of the records he was breaking, Green said:
"I just wanted to win." (HSA)
About how he set a goal of having a 1,000-yard rushing season for UH when he signed with UH in 2009, Green said:
"I knew I made the right choice coming here. I knew that in 2009." (HSA)
Deflecting praise from the OL for Green's success, Austin Hansen said:
"Usually when you get all of these rushing yards, it's the offensive line that gets the credit. We played hard, and we blocked hard, but the film will show my man broke tackles at the line of scrimmage and in the secondary. Alex had an outstanding game." (HSA)
About how his TD reception was set up when Pilares ran a crossing route where he brushed up against the defender covering Salas, Greg Salas said:
"Kealoha does a good job of getting a little rub. It's one of our bread-and-butter plays." (HSA)
About setting UH's career record for receiving yards, Salas said:
"This means a lot. It means I've been doing work here for my career. I've been efficient. I've been doing what I'm supposed to be doing. It lets me know I've been doing a good job." (HSA)
"I'm honored. There have been so many great receivers to come through this program." (HSA)
About studying Jason Rivers when he was a freshman and Rivers was a senior in 2007, Salas said:
"I tried to get my game like his was. He'd always give me tips and help me out with routes, and let me know how to improve my route running. He was a really good teacher." (HSA)
About how their receivers ran decoy routes to bring defenders to the sideline to open up things for their running game, Salas said:
"We want to run hard when we're trying to run off (defenders). I just want to take my guy to the sideline, and watch A.G. run past." (HSA)
About how the team celebrated Nevada's win over Boise State, Kealoha Pilares said:
"It was crazy. We were cheering and pounding on the walls. We came out and were running up and down the halls. The other hotel guests were getting mad." (HSA)
About their excellent chemistry within their team, Pilares said:
"People didn't know what was going on inside our close-knit team. From day one, we believed in each other. We were out to prove people wrong. This proves if you work hard, all of the pieces will fall into place. That's exactly what happened this season. We have a piece of the championship." (HSA)
About how Mack told the team the day before the game that the stands would be empty and they had to motivate themselves, Vaughn Meatoga said:
"He told us we had to find our own motivation. When we were celebrating (Nevada's victory), we knew that meant we had to beat New Mexico State. We knew that would be our motivation." (HSA)
About how they were motivated by what their critics said after their losing season last year, Kaniela Tuipulotu said:
"Everybody doubted us. We wanted to prove some people wrong." (HSA)
Not surprised by Umu's interception, Tuipulotu said:
"He's the world's most interesting man. He found the Fountain of Youth but didn't drink from it because he wasn't thirsty." (HSA)
About the INT he had, DE Kamalu Umu said:
"I was shocked. I didn't know what to do. We had a good play. I ran into the running back. I waited there (for the interception). D-linemen don't practice catching, but I've got good hands. I have to work on my agility." (HSA)
About the unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty that he received for diving into the end zone at the end of his TD return on an INT, Aaron Brown said:
"I thought somebody was behind me. (Teammates) will back me up on that." (HSA)
About their success on D in this game, Brown said:
"It was teamwork." (HSA)
Crediting long-snapper Luke Ingram and holder Shane Austin for his success on PATs, Scott Enos said:
"Extra points have to be like a machine. I don't think at all when I kick them. I just go up there and kick." (HSA)
About how he doesn't get nervous on PAT attempts, Enos said:
"I don't get nervous at all. I know it's going to be there." (HSA)
When Vaughn Meatoga asked him "You don't get nervous about anything?", Enos replied:
"Nope." (HSA)
When Meatoga asked again, "Anything?", Enos said:
"OK, some things. But we don't discuss that." (HSA)
-------------------- Quotes from the NMSU Coaches -------------------
About their seniors this season (House and Smith), head coach DeWayne Walker said:
"I wish I had those guys back for four more years. Those are good players. They have helped us lay the foundation. So it's going to be tough to see those guys leave but we have to move forward." (NMSU)
About how he's looking for leadership for next year's team from the players who are coming back, Walker said:
"Well you've got to look at the guys who are coming back on offense Grady, Kenny Smith, you got your young quarterback Matt Christian, Todd Lee. Defensively you are going to have Savage and Fields. Hopefully, Jonte Green, he'll mature as a leader so there are enough of guys coming back to where we are going to have to generate a lot more leadership." (NMSU)
About their QB options for next season, Manley and Christian, Walker said:
"May the best man win! We will get that going during spring practice and we have a lot of work to do." (NMSU)
About how their team has a long way to go to catch up with the other teams in the WAC, Walker said:
"We still have a long way to go.There's a lot -- a lot -- of things you could factor in. ... We have to look at definitely what's going on on the field, but also what's going on off the field. You have to compare what you have to your competitors. I think if you're on the same level in all the areas, then it's: Are you getting the job done or not." (HSA)
About how having to gear up to stop UH's passing game left them vulnerable to UH's running game, Walker said:
"I was always concerned when you put an emphasis to stop the passing game. When you've got a big beast back there and you're using all your bodies to stop the passing game, all it takes is one missed gap. And that's what happened." (HSA)
"The passing game was definitely something we were concerned with. But, when you have a big beast back there and you're trying to use all your bodies to take care of the passing game, all it takes is one missed gap....All of his big runs were because guys were playing the pass first, and he hit us in a gap." (LCSN)
About how UH is better than their team, Walker said:
"We weren't good enough. That football team is just better than us. Are they that much better than us? I wouldn't say they're that. ... But they have a better football team. They have better players, they have a tradition of winning." (LCSN)
Not happy with how they played, Walker said:
"No, I'm not happy with all the big plays that they made and I'm not happy with what we did on offense. When you look at it, 600 yards versus 200 yards....you're not going to win a lot of games like that." (LCSN)
About how they need to come up with a plan to improve their football team, Walker said:
"I think this project we have football-wise is bigger than me. Hopefully we can sit down collectively and really find out the best plan. I think now is when you start. I look at this as really my first year. And I think we have to put a pretty detailed plan together on how we approach this thing ... from the top on down." (LCSN)
About how he feels that they don't have similar resources compared with other WAC schools, with just 1 strength and conditioning coach while others have "anywhere from four to six" and how their recruiting budget is much smaller than their competitors, Walker said:
"I think you have to look at everything. I really believe the more you give, the more you get. And I just really believe we have to study what are you giving? Because I think this can get done. I really do. But, it's going to take a pretty detailed plan with everybody involved for us to get it right." (LCSN)
About how they beat both New Mexico and SJSU despite both of those schools having more resources than them, Walker said:
"I think when you look at your competition, I think that's where we have to look at. Where is our competition? And then we have to look at, where are we? And that's what we have to gage it off of. What do we have to do to close that gap in terms of our competition?" (LCSN)
About how NMSU hasn't gone to a bowl game for 50 years, the longest bowl drought in the country, Walker said:
"Obviously you have to really evaluate on the field. Our talent level, our schemes, where we need to improve, what areas we need to recruit. But we also have to look at what's going on off the field. We just have to really look at this football program, this whole program's entirety (instead) of just singling out one group over another group. We've got a lot of work to do, I think, to really get this program going." (LCSN)
Told that Walker said that they could use an "additional strength coach" and additional academic support as well, NMSU AD McKinley Boston said:
"(The) football budget is comparable — on the average — of most of the programs ... in the middle of the WAC. Which is really what our goal was." (LCSN)
About how their assistant coaches are among the lowest paid in the country, Boston said:
"I could think of some things that, if the economy was better, we could provide." (LCSN)
------------------- Quotes from the NMSU Players ----------------------
About how they prepared for UH's plan to blitz him to put pressure on him, Andrew Manley said:
"I knew they were coming after me. We prepared for it." (HSA)
Praising UH's defense, Manley said:
"It was a great job by their defense." (HSA)
About how he's improved as he has gotten playing time, Manley said.
"I feel like I've been able to talk to the guys about the offense more. ... I'm actually able to see defenses a lot better now." (HSA)
About how Coach Walker motivates their team, Manley said:
"Every meeting Coach Walker always has something positive to say to us, to get us fired up. We just have to keep getting the program better and better. We will get better." (HSA)
About how they stacked their defense against the pass and let UH run against them, CB Davon House said:
"For defense, we say lets have them beat us rushing. And that's what they did. And when we did stack the box to stop the run, we were left one-on-one with their best receiver, one of the top receivers in the nation. That's a bad matchup right there." (LCSN)
Asked about the limited resources their team has, House instead said:
"We believe the building stages is just about over now and it's time to start getting W's. And I believe with a lot of hard work and dedication, it will happen. We're only a player or two away or a play or two away from getting that done." (LCSN)
HSA = Honolulu Star-Advertiser
LCSN = Las Cruces Sun-News
Note: UH's website and the AP and USA Today articles I read did not have any quotes for the UH-NMSU game.
---------------------- Quotes from the UH Coaches ---------------------
About how they have reached their goal of winning the WAC championship, Mack said:
"Our objective going into this game was to win the WAC championship. After Nevada beat Boise State last night, we knew we had a good shot at winning this game and the WAC championship." (NMSU)
"I am really excited to win the WAC championship. Like I said earlier, our goal was to win the WAC championship as soon as Nevada defeated Boise State." (HSA)
About how the great success that they had with their rushing game, Mack said:
"Our running game did really well today. It had to have been our best rushing game in a long time. Our offensive line also did a great job in helping out our offense." (NMSU)
About the ice water poured over his head as the game ended, Mack said:
"That was freezing." (HSA)
About how hotel security called him after his players made so much noise when Nevada beat Boise State, Mack said:
"He said there were all kinds of noise on the floor. It was our guys coming out of the room and high-fiving everybody. I apologized, and said, 'They just got some good news.' I had our coaches make sure (the players) got back into their rooms. But, shoot, I had a hard time going to sleep, too." (HSA)
About Scott Enos breaking Jason Elam's record with his 92 consecutive PATs during Enos' 25-game UH career, Mack said:
"I'm really proud of Scott.That's a big one. I mean, getting Jason Elam's record? That's big stuff." (HSA)
About how all their receivers had to do was to run decoy routes to open things up for their running game, Offensive Coordinator Nick Rolovich said:
"That's the easiest block in football. The receivers were unselfish. Once (Green) broke through (the line of scrimmage), he had a lot of room." (HSA)
About how their running game opens up when teams play man-to-man coverage against their receivers, RB coach Brian Smith said:
"Usually when we play man(-to-man) teams, that opens up the run game for us." (HSA)
Praising Alex Green's running ability, Smith said:
"He's been running so hard lately. He does a great job of breaking tackles or making people miss. When he gets into open space, we know we have a chance for a big play." (HSA)
---------------------- Quotes from the UH Players -----------------------
About Alex Green's 327 yards rushing, Bryant Moniz said:
"Amazing." (HSA)
About how their coaches knew that Green was close to a lot of records and wanted to keep giving him the ball, Moniz said:
"They wanted to feed him. He deserves it. He blocks for us all year. He saves me a lot of times with his blocks. When he has this kind of a game, he deserves to get the ball. I wanted to give him the ball, stand back and enjoy the view." (HSA)
Asked if he could have imagined having such a huge rushing day, Green said:
"Not at all. When I got up, I thought it was going to be a work day." (HSA)
About how he wasn't aware of the records he was breaking, Green said:
"I just wanted to win." (HSA)
About how he set a goal of having a 1,000-yard rushing season for UH when he signed with UH in 2009, Green said:
"I knew I made the right choice coming here. I knew that in 2009." (HSA)
Deflecting praise from the OL for Green's success, Austin Hansen said:
"Usually when you get all of these rushing yards, it's the offensive line that gets the credit. We played hard, and we blocked hard, but the film will show my man broke tackles at the line of scrimmage and in the secondary. Alex had an outstanding game." (HSA)
About how his TD reception was set up when Pilares ran a crossing route where he brushed up against the defender covering Salas, Greg Salas said:
"Kealoha does a good job of getting a little rub. It's one of our bread-and-butter plays." (HSA)
About setting UH's career record for receiving yards, Salas said:
"This means a lot. It means I've been doing work here for my career. I've been efficient. I've been doing what I'm supposed to be doing. It lets me know I've been doing a good job." (HSA)
"I'm honored. There have been so many great receivers to come through this program." (HSA)
About studying Jason Rivers when he was a freshman and Rivers was a senior in 2007, Salas said:
"I tried to get my game like his was. He'd always give me tips and help me out with routes, and let me know how to improve my route running. He was a really good teacher." (HSA)
About how their receivers ran decoy routes to bring defenders to the sideline to open up things for their running game, Salas said:
"We want to run hard when we're trying to run off (defenders). I just want to take my guy to the sideline, and watch A.G. run past." (HSA)
About how the team celebrated Nevada's win over Boise State, Kealoha Pilares said:
"It was crazy. We were cheering and pounding on the walls. We came out and were running up and down the halls. The other hotel guests were getting mad." (HSA)
About their excellent chemistry within their team, Pilares said:
"People didn't know what was going on inside our close-knit team. From day one, we believed in each other. We were out to prove people wrong. This proves if you work hard, all of the pieces will fall into place. That's exactly what happened this season. We have a piece of the championship." (HSA)
About how Mack told the team the day before the game that the stands would be empty and they had to motivate themselves, Vaughn Meatoga said:
"He told us we had to find our own motivation. When we were celebrating (Nevada's victory), we knew that meant we had to beat New Mexico State. We knew that would be our motivation." (HSA)
About how they were motivated by what their critics said after their losing season last year, Kaniela Tuipulotu said:
"Everybody doubted us. We wanted to prove some people wrong." (HSA)
Not surprised by Umu's interception, Tuipulotu said:
"He's the world's most interesting man. He found the Fountain of Youth but didn't drink from it because he wasn't thirsty." (HSA)
About the INT he had, DE Kamalu Umu said:
"I was shocked. I didn't know what to do. We had a good play. I ran into the running back. I waited there (for the interception). D-linemen don't practice catching, but I've got good hands. I have to work on my agility." (HSA)
About the unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty that he received for diving into the end zone at the end of his TD return on an INT, Aaron Brown said:
"I thought somebody was behind me. (Teammates) will back me up on that." (HSA)
About their success on D in this game, Brown said:
"It was teamwork." (HSA)
Crediting long-snapper Luke Ingram and holder Shane Austin for his success on PATs, Scott Enos said:
"Extra points have to be like a machine. I don't think at all when I kick them. I just go up there and kick." (HSA)
About how he doesn't get nervous on PAT attempts, Enos said:
"I don't get nervous at all. I know it's going to be there." (HSA)
When Vaughn Meatoga asked him "You don't get nervous about anything?", Enos replied:
"Nope." (HSA)
When Meatoga asked again, "Anything?", Enos said:
"OK, some things. But we don't discuss that." (HSA)
-------------------- Quotes from the NMSU Coaches -------------------
About their seniors this season (House and Smith), head coach DeWayne Walker said:
"I wish I had those guys back for four more years. Those are good players. They have helped us lay the foundation. So it's going to be tough to see those guys leave but we have to move forward." (NMSU)
About how he's looking for leadership for next year's team from the players who are coming back, Walker said:
"Well you've got to look at the guys who are coming back on offense Grady, Kenny Smith, you got your young quarterback Matt Christian, Todd Lee. Defensively you are going to have Savage and Fields. Hopefully, Jonte Green, he'll mature as a leader so there are enough of guys coming back to where we are going to have to generate a lot more leadership." (NMSU)
About their QB options for next season, Manley and Christian, Walker said:
"May the best man win! We will get that going during spring practice and we have a lot of work to do." (NMSU)
About how their team has a long way to go to catch up with the other teams in the WAC, Walker said:
"We still have a long way to go.There's a lot -- a lot -- of things you could factor in. ... We have to look at definitely what's going on on the field, but also what's going on off the field. You have to compare what you have to your competitors. I think if you're on the same level in all the areas, then it's: Are you getting the job done or not." (HSA)
About how having to gear up to stop UH's passing game left them vulnerable to UH's running game, Walker said:
"I was always concerned when you put an emphasis to stop the passing game. When you've got a big beast back there and you're using all your bodies to stop the passing game, all it takes is one missed gap. And that's what happened." (HSA)
"The passing game was definitely something we were concerned with. But, when you have a big beast back there and you're trying to use all your bodies to take care of the passing game, all it takes is one missed gap....All of his big runs were because guys were playing the pass first, and he hit us in a gap." (LCSN)
About how UH is better than their team, Walker said:
"We weren't good enough. That football team is just better than us. Are they that much better than us? I wouldn't say they're that. ... But they have a better football team. They have better players, they have a tradition of winning." (LCSN)
Not happy with how they played, Walker said:
"No, I'm not happy with all the big plays that they made and I'm not happy with what we did on offense. When you look at it, 600 yards versus 200 yards....you're not going to win a lot of games like that." (LCSN)
About how they need to come up with a plan to improve their football team, Walker said:
"I think this project we have football-wise is bigger than me. Hopefully we can sit down collectively and really find out the best plan. I think now is when you start. I look at this as really my first year. And I think we have to put a pretty detailed plan together on how we approach this thing ... from the top on down." (LCSN)
About how he feels that they don't have similar resources compared with other WAC schools, with just 1 strength and conditioning coach while others have "anywhere from four to six" and how their recruiting budget is much smaller than their competitors, Walker said:
"I think you have to look at everything. I really believe the more you give, the more you get. And I just really believe we have to study what are you giving? Because I think this can get done. I really do. But, it's going to take a pretty detailed plan with everybody involved for us to get it right." (LCSN)
About how they beat both New Mexico and SJSU despite both of those schools having more resources than them, Walker said:
"I think when you look at your competition, I think that's where we have to look at. Where is our competition? And then we have to look at, where are we? And that's what we have to gage it off of. What do we have to do to close that gap in terms of our competition?" (LCSN)
About how NMSU hasn't gone to a bowl game for 50 years, the longest bowl drought in the country, Walker said:
"Obviously you have to really evaluate on the field. Our talent level, our schemes, where we need to improve, what areas we need to recruit. But we also have to look at what's going on off the field. We just have to really look at this football program, this whole program's entirety (instead) of just singling out one group over another group. We've got a lot of work to do, I think, to really get this program going." (LCSN)
Told that Walker said that they could use an "additional strength coach" and additional academic support as well, NMSU AD McKinley Boston said:
"(The) football budget is comparable — on the average — of most of the programs ... in the middle of the WAC. Which is really what our goal was." (LCSN)
About how their assistant coaches are among the lowest paid in the country, Boston said:
"I could think of some things that, if the economy was better, we could provide." (LCSN)
------------------- Quotes from the NMSU Players ----------------------
About how they prepared for UH's plan to blitz him to put pressure on him, Andrew Manley said:
"I knew they were coming after me. We prepared for it." (HSA)
Praising UH's defense, Manley said:
"It was a great job by their defense." (HSA)
About how he's improved as he has gotten playing time, Manley said.
"I feel like I've been able to talk to the guys about the offense more. ... I'm actually able to see defenses a lot better now." (HSA)
About how Coach Walker motivates their team, Manley said:
"Every meeting Coach Walker always has something positive to say to us, to get us fired up. We just have to keep getting the program better and better. We will get better." (HSA)
About how they stacked their defense against the pass and let UH run against them, CB Davon House said:
"For defense, we say lets have them beat us rushing. And that's what they did. And when we did stack the box to stop the run, we were left one-on-one with their best receiver, one of the top receivers in the nation. That's a bad matchup right there." (LCSN)
Asked about the limited resources their team has, House instead said:
"We believe the building stages is just about over now and it's time to start getting W's. And I believe with a lot of hard work and dedication, it will happen. We're only a player or two away or a play or two away from getting that done." (LCSN)
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Quotes before the UH-NMSU game 11/27/10
About walking down the stadium steps instead of going through a ramp leading to the field when they heard that NMSU was already in that area, Rich Miano said:
"That's called respect." (HSA)
About how he doesn't want his players to look at the standings (UH tied for first, NMSU at the bottom of the WAC), Mack said:
"We're here for business." (HSA)
About how they scheduled position meetings while the BSU-Nevada game was going on, Mack said:
"Our entire focus is on our game, not anyone else's." (HSA)
About how they could reach 11 wins to tie the second-most wins in a UH season, Bryant Moniz said:
"We have to win our game against New Mexico (State)." (HSA)
About how he has never missed a PAT in the 24 games he's played for UH, Scott Enos said:
"It's all about the snap and the hold. Those guys" -- he pointed to long-snapper Luke Ingram and holder Shane Austin -- "are like a machine." (HSA)
About how he and Greg Salas work together to force the safety to defend one of them, freeing up the other receiver, Kealoha Pilares said:
"In this offense, we work together." (HSA)
About the success they have been having on shovel passes to him (28.6 yards per completed shovel pass over their past 3 games), Alex Green said:
"It's mostly about selling it. I'm feeling comfortable with it." (HSA)
About why he stands off by himself during games while he's waiting to go in, Haku Correa said:
"I exclude myself from everyone, and try to visualize what I need to do." (HSA)
About how he watches a lot of film of NFL and NCAA games to see if he can learn from other players, Paipai Falemalu said:
"I try to get a feel for what (other same-position players) do, and mimic it." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101127_No_frills_no_luck_have_followed_Aggies.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101127_Warriors_have_their_focus_on_Aggies_not_records.html
"That's called respect." (HSA)
About how he doesn't want his players to look at the standings (UH tied for first, NMSU at the bottom of the WAC), Mack said:
"We're here for business." (HSA)
About how they scheduled position meetings while the BSU-Nevada game was going on, Mack said:
"Our entire focus is on our game, not anyone else's." (HSA)
About how they could reach 11 wins to tie the second-most wins in a UH season, Bryant Moniz said:
"We have to win our game against New Mexico (State)." (HSA)
About how he has never missed a PAT in the 24 games he's played for UH, Scott Enos said:
"It's all about the snap and the hold. Those guys" -- he pointed to long-snapper Luke Ingram and holder Shane Austin -- "are like a machine." (HSA)
About how he and Greg Salas work together to force the safety to defend one of them, freeing up the other receiver, Kealoha Pilares said:
"In this offense, we work together." (HSA)
About the success they have been having on shovel passes to him (28.6 yards per completed shovel pass over their past 3 games), Alex Green said:
"It's mostly about selling it. I'm feeling comfortable with it." (HSA)
About why he stands off by himself during games while he's waiting to go in, Haku Correa said:
"I exclude myself from everyone, and try to visualize what I need to do." (HSA)
About how he watches a lot of film of NFL and NCAA games to see if he can learn from other players, Paipai Falemalu said:
"I try to get a feel for what (other same-position players) do, and mimic it." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101127_No_frills_no_luck_have_followed_Aggies.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101127_Warriors_have_their_focus_on_Aggies_not_records.html
Friday, November 26, 2010
Feature on Elliott Purcell and how he chose UH over NMSU
After practicing in the cold yesterday, Elliott Purcell said:
"The weather in Hawaii is always paradise." (HSA)
About how he verbally committed to NMSU in 2006, Purcell said:
"They recruited me hard. They made everything sound so good, so I (verbally) committed." (HSA)
About how Woody Widenhofer (NMSU's defensive coordinator at the time) told him that he could start right away for NMSU, Purcell said:
"He showed me a Super Bowl ring. I was really stoked. I wanted to be part of that program." (HSA)
About how Cal Lee (who was the head coach at Purcell's alma mater, Saint Louis) convinced him to switch to UH, Purcell said:
"Coach Cal got a hold of me, and you cannot say 'no' to that guy. That guy is a legend. The rest is history." (HSA)
About how Cal Lee talked about the advantage of playing at home, Purcell said:
"He told me I could play in front of my family. You can't beat that." (HSA)
HSA Note: "In the fall of 2006, Purcell and his girlfriend Keani Santos learned they were expecting their first child."
Happy that he chose UH, Purcell said:
"It turned out to be good. I have a family, and I got to play in front of my family." (HSA)
Purcell said that NMSU firing all of their coaches 2 years ago:
"made me feel better about my choice." (HSA)
About making 2 of their 8 sacks against SJSU, Purcell said:
"It was good to contribute." (HSA)
"The best thing about being a father is coming home to your kids. It's great when you open the door, and they run up and hug you. I don't get to see them a lot during the day because of how time-consuming football is. I love being a father." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101126_Purcell_chose_UH_over_NMSU_to_play_in_front_of_family.html
"The weather in Hawaii is always paradise." (HSA)
About how he verbally committed to NMSU in 2006, Purcell said:
"They recruited me hard. They made everything sound so good, so I (verbally) committed." (HSA)
About how Woody Widenhofer (NMSU's defensive coordinator at the time) told him that he could start right away for NMSU, Purcell said:
"He showed me a Super Bowl ring. I was really stoked. I wanted to be part of that program." (HSA)
About how Cal Lee (who was the head coach at Purcell's alma mater, Saint Louis) convinced him to switch to UH, Purcell said:
"Coach Cal got a hold of me, and you cannot say 'no' to that guy. That guy is a legend. The rest is history." (HSA)
About how Cal Lee talked about the advantage of playing at home, Purcell said:
"He told me I could play in front of my family. You can't beat that." (HSA)
HSA Note: "In the fall of 2006, Purcell and his girlfriend Keani Santos learned they were expecting their first child."
Happy that he chose UH, Purcell said:
"It turned out to be good. I have a family, and I got to play in front of my family." (HSA)
Purcell said that NMSU firing all of their coaches 2 years ago:
"made me feel better about my choice." (HSA)
About making 2 of their 8 sacks against SJSU, Purcell said:
"It was good to contribute." (HSA)
"The best thing about being a father is coming home to your kids. It's great when you open the door, and they run up and hug you. I don't get to see them a lot during the day because of how time-consuming football is. I love being a father." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101126_Purcell_chose_UH_over_NMSU_to_play_in_front_of_family.html
Warrior practiced in cold weather yesterday
Abotu how he was cold during their 90-minute practice yesterday at Burges High School, Mack said:
"It was the coldest sunny day I've ever been involved in." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Assistant coach Cal Lee, whose head was wrapped in a towel, estimated the wind-chill at 35 degrees."
Video coordinator Chris Williams yelled during practice:
"Turn off the AC!" (HSA)
About how he stays warm, Bryant Moniz said:
The key? "Wear more clothes. And stay in huddles. I watched the 'Survivorman' on the History Channel, and I learned how to stay warm." (HSA)
About wearing gloves, Corey Paredes said:
"I only use them when I have to use them." (HSA)
HSA Note: "In preparation for tomorrow's road game against New Mexico State, the Warriors are staying in El Paso. Burges High is a mile from the hotel. The Warriors will make the 1-hour drive to Las Cruces, N.M., today for a walk-through session in the Aggies' stadium."
Not worried about the cold, Moniz said:
"We're not concerned. [They] have to play in the same weather as we do, so it'll be fine." (HSA)
About taking Brent Rausch's spot on the travel roster, Cayman Shutter said:
"Personally, I feel I've taken some good steps in the past couple of weeks. I'm finally getting comfortable back there playing quarterback (in practice) and being in charge of the huddle, and kind of just managing the offense. That's the quarterback's job. It's fun to learn that and practice as if you're preparing for a game." (HSA)
About having a turkey dinner with the team last night, Mana Silva said:
"You always wish to be with your real family, but this was a good way to bond." (HSA)
About missing his family on Thanksgiving, George Daily-Lyles said:
"We had 60 people every year -- big tables, saying grace. You ate until you dropped. We always had fried turkey. None of the oven-baked, 7 hours basting. It was 45 minutes in the deep fryer. It's better that way. The turkey is always moist, and you can inject whatever flavor you want. And you don't have to wait 8 hours for it to be done. I have a big family -- nine brothers and a sister. We fry seven turkeys. We don't like to wait." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101126_Warriors_chillin_in_west_Texas.html
"It was the coldest sunny day I've ever been involved in." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Assistant coach Cal Lee, whose head was wrapped in a towel, estimated the wind-chill at 35 degrees."
Video coordinator Chris Williams yelled during practice:
"Turn off the AC!" (HSA)
About how he stays warm, Bryant Moniz said:
The key? "Wear more clothes. And stay in huddles. I watched the 'Survivorman' on the History Channel, and I learned how to stay warm." (HSA)
About wearing gloves, Corey Paredes said:
"I only use them when I have to use them." (HSA)
HSA Note: "In preparation for tomorrow's road game against New Mexico State, the Warriors are staying in El Paso. Burges High is a mile from the hotel. The Warriors will make the 1-hour drive to Las Cruces, N.M., today for a walk-through session in the Aggies' stadium."
Not worried about the cold, Moniz said:
"We're not concerned. [They] have to play in the same weather as we do, so it'll be fine." (HSA)
About taking Brent Rausch's spot on the travel roster, Cayman Shutter said:
"Personally, I feel I've taken some good steps in the past couple of weeks. I'm finally getting comfortable back there playing quarterback (in practice) and being in charge of the huddle, and kind of just managing the offense. That's the quarterback's job. It's fun to learn that and practice as if you're preparing for a game." (HSA)
About having a turkey dinner with the team last night, Mana Silva said:
"You always wish to be with your real family, but this was a good way to bond." (HSA)
About missing his family on Thanksgiving, George Daily-Lyles said:
"We had 60 people every year -- big tables, saying grace. You ate until you dropped. We always had fried turkey. None of the oven-baked, 7 hours basting. It was 45 minutes in the deep fryer. It's better that way. The turkey is always moist, and you can inject whatever flavor you want. And you don't have to wait 8 hours for it to be done. I have a big family -- nine brothers and a sister. We fry seven turkeys. We don't like to wait." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101126_Warriors_chillin_in_west_Texas.html
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Chad Owens was named CFL Most Outstanding Special Teams Player and Sol Elimimian was named CFL Rookie of the Year!
ES = Edmonton Sun
About being unanimously named to the CFL Most Outstanding Special Teams Player on the same night that Sol Elimimian won the CFL Rookie of the Year award, Chad Owens said:
"This is big. We've had a couple guys from Hawaii play in the CFL. This is big for the state of Hawaii, big for my family and big for the Toronto Argonauts." (ES)
Thanking head coach Wally Buono for giving him a chance to play, Elimimian said:
"As a rookie, they had no reason to give me a chance. I missed two weeks, and the pre-season game. A lot of guys get hurt just for being cut. I wasn't sure I would get a chance. Wally seen something in me he like and he stuck with me. Thank God or I wouldn't be here." (ES)
http://www.edmontonsun.com/sports/greycup/2010/11/25/16321696.html
About being unanimously named to the CFL Most Outstanding Special Teams Player on the same night that Sol Elimimian won the CFL Rookie of the Year award, Chad Owens said:
"This is big. We've had a couple guys from Hawaii play in the CFL. This is big for the state of Hawaii, big for my family and big for the Toronto Argonauts." (ES)
Thanking head coach Wally Buono for giving him a chance to play, Elimimian said:
"As a rookie, they had no reason to give me a chance. I missed two weeks, and the pre-season game. A lot of guys get hurt just for being cut. I wasn't sure I would get a chance. Wally seen something in me he like and he stuck with me. Thank God or I wouldn't be here." (ES)
http://www.edmontonsun.com/sports/greycup/2010/11/25/16321696.html
Warrior Quotes from the Star-Advertiser (Both UH and NMSU will start QBs from Leilehua High)
About facing fellow Leilehua High QB Andrew Manly, Bryant Moniz said:
"It's not a big thing." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Moniz was a senior at Leilehua during the 2006 season when Manley, the state's offensive player of the year in 2009, was a freshman."
About how he faced former Leilehua LB Robert Siavii when they played Idaho, Moniz said:
"It's no different than when I played (Idaho linebacker) Robert (Siavii). This time, I don't actually get to play against (Manley) because he's not a defensive player. It'll be cool, though." (HSA)
About how his brother Bronson was Manley's center at Leilehua, Moniz said:
"They won the state championship together, graduated together. I always see him around." (HSA)
About how Haku Correa has been effective at DT during his 30 plays a game, Dave Aranda said:
"He gives us a real boost." (HSA)
About being the starting right DT through spring practice, only to be beaten out by Kaniela Tuipulotu for the starting spot during training camp, Haku Correa said:
"I was disappointed, but it made me push harder. I'm trying to make plays and stand up for myself and my last name." (HSA)
Haku said that his brother Laanui Correa (who played DE for UH):
"expects more from me than what I expect. That's good. I know he's watching me. That pushes me further." (HSA)
About how his biggest improvements are playing to an opponent's pad level and using hand techniques to fight off blockers, Haku said:
"Separation is what D-line is all about." (HSA)
About having televised live interviews yesterday with Alex Dunnachie and Adrian Thomas after UH's practice yesterday, Chezzi Denver (assistant producer of Australia's most popular morning TV show, "Sunrise Australia") said:
"Football is huge to us, mostly AFL (Australian rules football league). All of these (UH players) are like big celebrities to us. They made it overseas." (HSA)
Denver pointed to UH punter Dunnachie and said:
"Alex is very popular." (HSA)
Deflecting praise, Dunnachie said:
"I think it's just Mum and Dad." (HSA)
Denver responded:
"And all of Victoria. They're all cheering him on." (HSA)
About Dunnachie, Grant Denver (one of the show's hosts) said:
"Victorian AFL kickers are gnarly kickers. (Dunnachie) is proving that Down Under. We have very good right legs. That's about all we've got. That's a golden right leg that (Dunnachie) is sitting on, and a nest egg for his future." (HSA)
About Dunnachie's role in American football, Denver said:
"He hasn't moved. Apparently he stands on the sideline for most of the game, then walks out for the glory points." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101125_Both_teams_being_guided_by_Mules.html
"It's not a big thing." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Moniz was a senior at Leilehua during the 2006 season when Manley, the state's offensive player of the year in 2009, was a freshman."
About how he faced former Leilehua LB Robert Siavii when they played Idaho, Moniz said:
"It's no different than when I played (Idaho linebacker) Robert (Siavii). This time, I don't actually get to play against (Manley) because he's not a defensive player. It'll be cool, though." (HSA)
About how his brother Bronson was Manley's center at Leilehua, Moniz said:
"They won the state championship together, graduated together. I always see him around." (HSA)
About how Haku Correa has been effective at DT during his 30 plays a game, Dave Aranda said:
"He gives us a real boost." (HSA)
About being the starting right DT through spring practice, only to be beaten out by Kaniela Tuipulotu for the starting spot during training camp, Haku Correa said:
"I was disappointed, but it made me push harder. I'm trying to make plays and stand up for myself and my last name." (HSA)
Haku said that his brother Laanui Correa (who played DE for UH):
"expects more from me than what I expect. That's good. I know he's watching me. That pushes me further." (HSA)
About how his biggest improvements are playing to an opponent's pad level and using hand techniques to fight off blockers, Haku said:
"Separation is what D-line is all about." (HSA)
About having televised live interviews yesterday with Alex Dunnachie and Adrian Thomas after UH's practice yesterday, Chezzi Denver (assistant producer of Australia's most popular morning TV show, "Sunrise Australia") said:
"Football is huge to us, mostly AFL (Australian rules football league). All of these (UH players) are like big celebrities to us. They made it overseas." (HSA)
Denver pointed to UH punter Dunnachie and said:
"Alex is very popular." (HSA)
Deflecting praise, Dunnachie said:
"I think it's just Mum and Dad." (HSA)
Denver responded:
"And all of Victoria. They're all cheering him on." (HSA)
About Dunnachie, Grant Denver (one of the show's hosts) said:
"Victorian AFL kickers are gnarly kickers. (Dunnachie) is proving that Down Under. We have very good right legs. That's about all we've got. That's a golden right leg that (Dunnachie) is sitting on, and a nest egg for his future." (HSA)
About Dunnachie's role in American football, Denver said:
"He hasn't moved. Apparently he stands on the sideline for most of the game, then walks out for the glory points." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101125_Both_teams_being_guided_by_Mules.html
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Karl Benson tried to convince JD to stay in the WAC and reminds them that they don't require travel subsidies
About his meeting with Benson, JD said that Benson:
"reiterated his position that they have an offer on the table to us to be a football-only member of the WAC and reminded me there would be no travel subsidies (sought)." (HSA)
About how he responded to Benson, JD said:
"I told him I would share that with the members of our leadership team." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Donovan said he "made some calls" but declined additional comment."
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101124_wac_reminds_hawaii_of_no-subsidy_offer.html
"reiterated his position that they have an offer on the table to us to be a football-only member of the WAC and reminded me there would be no travel subsidies (sought)." (HSA)
About how he responded to Benson, JD said:
"I told him I would share that with the members of our leadership team." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Donovan said he "made some calls" but declined additional comment."
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101124_wac_reminds_hawaii_of_no-subsidy_offer.html
Kealoha Pilares was named to ESPN's All-Academic first team
About being named to ESPN's All-Academic first team, Kealoha Pilares (who will get his Kinesiology degree in May) said:
"It's definitely an honor. I work hard in the classroom. That's important to me." (HSA)
HSA Note: "He is the eighth Warrior football player to earn the honor, and only the third to be named to the first team, following safety Chris Shinnick (1997) and running back Travis Sims (1992)."
HSA Note: "To qualify, a player must be either a starter or have a significant reserve role; have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.3, and have reached sophomore athletic eligibility. Pilares' GPA is 3.65. He is sixth nationally in receiving with 109.9 yards per game."
Praising Pilares, Mack said:
"He is an academic athlete. What could be more important than first-team academic all-American? That takes it to another level." (HSA)
Mack said that scholarships compensate a player:
"to go to school. They play football for fun." (HSA)
About Pilares being a great role model for kids in Hawaii, Rich MIano said:
"Kealoha is a Stanford kid, a Cal kid, a Harvard kid. He's a perfect role model for the youth of Hawaii. He is so adamant about his studies. He is so adamant about being the best football player. You don't go from a kid who's 160 pounds to a guy who's 207 pounds and has a power clean of 356. He beats out linemen in power cleans. He puts in the time in the weight room, and he puts in the time in the classroom." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Pilares' childhood dream was to be a pilot. He was accepted to the Air Force Academy, but decided to leave after a few weeks at the Prep Academy. He then enrolled at UH as a part-time student in the 2006 fall semester before joining the Warriors in January 2007. Pilares was taking pre-med classes, but with the time demands of football, he switched majors. He said he aspires to be a physical therapist."
About how he works hard on his classes, Pilares said:
"I wouldn't say I'm smart, but I put in the time and work. I try to stay focused and get things done. That's why we're in school. This is our time. All we have to do is go to school. Why not take advantage of it?" (HSA)
"I'm trying to be successful in life. I have some expensive tastes. I want to put in the time now. I take it one day at a time. I try to do the best I can." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Pilares said he is the first person in his family to attend a four-year college."
Praising Pilares' parents for the way they emphasized education, Miano said:
"He wasn't the biggest kid. He probably wasn't the fastest kid. But he became big and fast. And he's smart. Look at his parents. He comes from good stock. He has two great parents as role models. They really emphasized education." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101124_pilares_on_espn_all-academic_team.html
"It's definitely an honor. I work hard in the classroom. That's important to me." (HSA)
HSA Note: "He is the eighth Warrior football player to earn the honor, and only the third to be named to the first team, following safety Chris Shinnick (1997) and running back Travis Sims (1992)."
HSA Note: "To qualify, a player must be either a starter or have a significant reserve role; have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.3, and have reached sophomore athletic eligibility. Pilares' GPA is 3.65. He is sixth nationally in receiving with 109.9 yards per game."
Praising Pilares, Mack said:
"He is an academic athlete. What could be more important than first-team academic all-American? That takes it to another level." (HSA)
Mack said that scholarships compensate a player:
"to go to school. They play football for fun." (HSA)
About Pilares being a great role model for kids in Hawaii, Rich MIano said:
"Kealoha is a Stanford kid, a Cal kid, a Harvard kid. He's a perfect role model for the youth of Hawaii. He is so adamant about his studies. He is so adamant about being the best football player. You don't go from a kid who's 160 pounds to a guy who's 207 pounds and has a power clean of 356. He beats out linemen in power cleans. He puts in the time in the weight room, and he puts in the time in the classroom." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Pilares' childhood dream was to be a pilot. He was accepted to the Air Force Academy, but decided to leave after a few weeks at the Prep Academy. He then enrolled at UH as a part-time student in the 2006 fall semester before joining the Warriors in January 2007. Pilares was taking pre-med classes, but with the time demands of football, he switched majors. He said he aspires to be a physical therapist."
About how he works hard on his classes, Pilares said:
"I wouldn't say I'm smart, but I put in the time and work. I try to stay focused and get things done. That's why we're in school. This is our time. All we have to do is go to school. Why not take advantage of it?" (HSA)
"I'm trying to be successful in life. I have some expensive tastes. I want to put in the time now. I take it one day at a time. I try to do the best I can." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Pilares said he is the first person in his family to attend a four-year college."
Praising Pilares' parents for the way they emphasized education, Miano said:
"He wasn't the biggest kid. He probably wasn't the fastest kid. But he became big and fast. And he's smart. Look at his parents. He comes from good stock. He has two great parents as role models. They really emphasized education." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101124_pilares_on_espn_all-academic_team.html
Warrior Quotes 11/23/10 (Grant Steen promoted to assistant strength and conditioning coordinator)
About the promotion of Grant Steen to assistant strength and conditioning coordinator, Mack said:
"They couldn't have selected a better guy. He's got a great athletic background. He understands athletes and conditioning. He's a great complement to Tommy Heffernan, who's one of the best I've ever been around. I give both credit for having our team in great condition." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Steen was a linebacker at the University of Iowa. He participated in the New England Patriots' training camps in 2004 and 2005, lasting until the final cuts both years. He played in Europe and Canada, as well as with Arizona in the Arena Football League. That last stop is where he met Nick Rolovich, now UH's offensive coordinator. At Rolovich's urging, Steen applied for a graduate assistant's position in the UH strength program. He was hired two years ago to help with UH's football, men's volleyball and golf programs."
Praising Steen, Rolo said:
"He's got a passion for it. He's been with the Patriots. That commands a little bit of respect." (HSA)
About how he and his wife were married on Kauai and he was raised near a lake, Steen said:
"The ocean lifestyle and football fit hand-in-hand. I'd love to be here a long, long time. I'm excited about contributing to everything, and keeping these guys on track, on and off the field." (HSA)
About how the bye week enabled him to get much-needed rest and recovery, Paipai Falemalu said:
"I'm very grateful for the bye. I got to rest. I got to heal my body up. It was good." (HSA)
About how he did not have a sack in their previous 10 games but had 3 sacks and forced a fumble against SJSU, Paipai said:
"I came out differently. It had a lot to do with the bye. I came out fresh." (HSA)
About how Paipai didn't get a sack before the SJSU game, Vaughn Meatoga said:
"He kept grumbling how he never got any sacks. But he got them in a bunch." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Falemalu said he is adjusting to defensive end. In training camp, he was given the hybrid role of linebacker/end. After the third game, he was made a permanent defensive end."
Crediting his teammates for his success, Paipai said:
"As a d-line, we executed together." (HSA)
Paipai said that fewer missed assignments helped:
"the defense play as one. That's when plays start to happen." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101124_strength_coach_steen_earns_his_promotion.html
"They couldn't have selected a better guy. He's got a great athletic background. He understands athletes and conditioning. He's a great complement to Tommy Heffernan, who's one of the best I've ever been around. I give both credit for having our team in great condition." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Steen was a linebacker at the University of Iowa. He participated in the New England Patriots' training camps in 2004 and 2005, lasting until the final cuts both years. He played in Europe and Canada, as well as with Arizona in the Arena Football League. That last stop is where he met Nick Rolovich, now UH's offensive coordinator. At Rolovich's urging, Steen applied for a graduate assistant's position in the UH strength program. He was hired two years ago to help with UH's football, men's volleyball and golf programs."
Praising Steen, Rolo said:
"He's got a passion for it. He's been with the Patriots. That commands a little bit of respect." (HSA)
About how he and his wife were married on Kauai and he was raised near a lake, Steen said:
"The ocean lifestyle and football fit hand-in-hand. I'd love to be here a long, long time. I'm excited about contributing to everything, and keeping these guys on track, on and off the field." (HSA)
About how the bye week enabled him to get much-needed rest and recovery, Paipai Falemalu said:
"I'm very grateful for the bye. I got to rest. I got to heal my body up. It was good." (HSA)
About how he did not have a sack in their previous 10 games but had 3 sacks and forced a fumble against SJSU, Paipai said:
"I came out differently. It had a lot to do with the bye. I came out fresh." (HSA)
About how Paipai didn't get a sack before the SJSU game, Vaughn Meatoga said:
"He kept grumbling how he never got any sacks. But he got them in a bunch." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Falemalu said he is adjusting to defensive end. In training camp, he was given the hybrid role of linebacker/end. After the third game, he was made a permanent defensive end."
Crediting his teammates for his success, Paipai said:
"As a d-line, we executed together." (HSA)
Paipai said that fewer missed assignments helped:
"the defense play as one. That's when plays start to happen." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101124_strength_coach_steen_earns_his_promotion.html
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Updates on UH's conference situation from the Star-Advertiser
About how the issue of whether or not UH can keep their PPV contract is one of the biggest issues left for the UH and the MWC, JD said:
"As (UH) President M.R.C. Greenwood said, a few things remain to be discussed, and that would be one of them." (HSA)
About how PPV might be eliminated, JD said:
"When you're a member of a conference, sometimes you have to accept what's for the good of the conference. Could it be that pay-per-view will go away? Yes, that's one option. It could be 20 different ways that this works out." (HSA)
A MWC spokesman said that under the MWC's current agreement with CBS CS and Comcast:
"the television partners hold the rights to local football and basketball telecasts." (HSA)
Hoping that PPV can continue, John Fink said:
"We will want to see how it all plays out and (hope) the local rights are protected the best UH can. We're optimistic." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Under its current deal with Oceanic Time Warner Cable and KFVE, UH is guaranteed $2.3 million per year for its local TV and PPV rights and has earned as much as $2.6 million total through incentives. Despite a dip in PPV sales this year, Donovan has said he expects UH to realize $7.5 million in fees for the 3-year period that concludes next month. In addition, UH receives approximately $400,000 annually from the WAC for its share of the current conference TV contract. The WAC is guaranteed 12 football games on ESPN or ESPN2 annually and 10 on ESPNU, plus 15 basketball games and limited exposure for some other sports. The MWC's TV contract runs through 2015-16 and is worth $12 million annually, three times the WAC deal, although there is an option to renegotiate for 2011-12 due to changes in membership."
"Let me cut to the chase: Depending upon what happens going forward in the future, we may lose a lot of our TV revenue that we are getting right now." (HSA)
About how losing UH could make North Texas want to join the WAC, Karl Benson told the media yesterday:
"perhaps even the departure of Hawaii -- or possible departure -- may make the WAC more attractive to North Texas in not having to incur travel costs of all the other sports to Hawaii." (HSA)
Note: North Texas publicly rejected the WAC (again) a few hours after Benson told the media that the WAC was inviting North Texas.
About how he will meet with JD today at the WAC Volleyball tournament to try to convince him to keep UH in the WAC, Benson said:
"I will reiterate the WAC's desire for Hawaii to remain in the WAC and our willingness to work with Hawaii to create a structure that will be beneficial to them and to the WAC. Our intention here is to let the University of Hawaii know they are a valued member of the WAC." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Benson declined to elaborate on what proposals he might make to Donovan. However, he reaffirmed an offer made last Thursday to permit UH to remain as a football-only member, if Hawaii so chooses."
Benson said that the WAC will survive and that he:
"expects to have a minimum of eight members on July 1, 2012 (the date UH would leave if accepted by the MWC)." (HSA)
About how Karl Benson is scheduled to meet with him today to try to convince him to keep UH in the WAC, JD said:
"I'm willing to meet with him." (HSA)
"I'll listen to the offer and bring it back to the leadership team." (HSA)
About how UH could have to give up its PPV rights or to split the money with the MWC, JD said:
"You could come up with so many scenarios it's not funny." (HSA)
HSA Note: "He added that UH is used to dealing with TV decisions made for "the greater good" of the conference that hit Manoa in the wallet. "(ESPN picking up) the Boise State game is a perfect example of that," he said."
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101123_UH_is_optimistic_local_TV_rights_will_be_protected.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/columnists/furtherreview/20101123_Weakened_WAC_tries_to_keep_UH_in_the_fold.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101123_Hawaiis_withdrawal_could_aid_WAC_in_drawing_new_schools.html
"As (UH) President M.R.C. Greenwood said, a few things remain to be discussed, and that would be one of them." (HSA)
About how PPV might be eliminated, JD said:
"When you're a member of a conference, sometimes you have to accept what's for the good of the conference. Could it be that pay-per-view will go away? Yes, that's one option. It could be 20 different ways that this works out." (HSA)
A MWC spokesman said that under the MWC's current agreement with CBS CS and Comcast:
"the television partners hold the rights to local football and basketball telecasts." (HSA)
Hoping that PPV can continue, John Fink said:
"We will want to see how it all plays out and (hope) the local rights are protected the best UH can. We're optimistic." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Under its current deal with Oceanic Time Warner Cable and KFVE, UH is guaranteed $2.3 million per year for its local TV and PPV rights and has earned as much as $2.6 million total through incentives. Despite a dip in PPV sales this year, Donovan has said he expects UH to realize $7.5 million in fees for the 3-year period that concludes next month. In addition, UH receives approximately $400,000 annually from the WAC for its share of the current conference TV contract. The WAC is guaranteed 12 football games on ESPN or ESPN2 annually and 10 on ESPNU, plus 15 basketball games and limited exposure for some other sports. The MWC's TV contract runs through 2015-16 and is worth $12 million annually, three times the WAC deal, although there is an option to renegotiate for 2011-12 due to changes in membership."
"Let me cut to the chase: Depending upon what happens going forward in the future, we may lose a lot of our TV revenue that we are getting right now." (HSA)
About how losing UH could make North Texas want to join the WAC, Karl Benson told the media yesterday:
"perhaps even the departure of Hawaii -- or possible departure -- may make the WAC more attractive to North Texas in not having to incur travel costs of all the other sports to Hawaii." (HSA)
Note: North Texas publicly rejected the WAC (again) a few hours after Benson told the media that the WAC was inviting North Texas.
About how he will meet with JD today at the WAC Volleyball tournament to try to convince him to keep UH in the WAC, Benson said:
"I will reiterate the WAC's desire for Hawaii to remain in the WAC and our willingness to work with Hawaii to create a structure that will be beneficial to them and to the WAC. Our intention here is to let the University of Hawaii know they are a valued member of the WAC." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Benson declined to elaborate on what proposals he might make to Donovan. However, he reaffirmed an offer made last Thursday to permit UH to remain as a football-only member, if Hawaii so chooses."
Benson said that the WAC will survive and that he:
"expects to have a minimum of eight members on July 1, 2012 (the date UH would leave if accepted by the MWC)." (HSA)
About how Karl Benson is scheduled to meet with him today to try to convince him to keep UH in the WAC, JD said:
"I'm willing to meet with him." (HSA)
"I'll listen to the offer and bring it back to the leadership team." (HSA)
About how UH could have to give up its PPV rights or to split the money with the MWC, JD said:
"You could come up with so many scenarios it's not funny." (HSA)
HSA Note: "He added that UH is used to dealing with TV decisions made for "the greater good" of the conference that hit Manoa in the wallet. "(ESPN picking up) the Boise State game is a perfect example of that," he said."
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101123_UH_is_optimistic_local_TV_rights_will_be_protected.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/columnists/furtherreview/20101123_Weakened_WAC_tries_to_keep_UH_in_the_fold.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101123_Hawaiis_withdrawal_could_aid_WAC_in_drawing_new_schools.html
Feature on Aaron Brown getting the first 2 interceptions of his D-IA career against SJSU
About how he didn't get an interception before the SJSU game, Aaron Brown said:
"I probably could have had, like, five (interceptions), but I dropped a few. You have to forget about them and wait for the next one to come your way." (HSA)
About how he works on interception drills with Rich Miano before every game, Brown said:
"He's always throwing the ball around. His passes come in fast. I have to be ready. I have to keep my eye on it, stay focused." (HSA)
About how the defensive players started playing a game after Friday's practice was over, Corey Paredes said:
"We were throwing the ball around, and then all of a sudden, we were playing dodgeball. We were slinging the ball at each other, working the hands. It just happened." (HSA)
About the game, Brown said:
"Dodgeball with footballs. They were being thrown pretty fast. A lot of the time I was trying to get out of the way. But when I had a chance to catch it, it really helped my hands." (HSA)
Asked who won the dodgeball game, Brown said:
"Nobody really won. We were trying to hit each other as hard as we could with the ball." (HSA)
About how Brown plays physically, Miano said:
"He's physical. He plays fast. He plays hard. He's tough. Look at his stitches." (HSA)
About how his scar tissue under his right eye will be removed and the area re-stitched in January, Brown said:
"They want to make it cleaner." (HSA)
About how he was recruited as a safety and moved to LB in less than a month after he started at UH, Dave Aranda said:
"He grew into it. When he was a safety, he basically played the linebacker spot he's playing now. He feels at home." (HSA)
About how they put Brown on the RB or a pass-catching TE, Aranda said:
"We like those matchups." (HSA)
About Brown's first INT, where his job was to defend the first receiver to run a crossing pattern, Miano said:
"He read it perfectly." (HSA)
About Brown's second INT, where he faked that he was defending the flat (releasing the receiver to the CB's coverage) and dropped back to track the second receiver, Miano said:
"The quarterback threw it right to him." (HSA)
About what he had to do when the QB threw the ball to him, Brown said:
"Catch the ball. I concentrated on that." (HSA)
About Brown getting his first 2 INTs, Paredes said:
"A.B. has been saving it up. He dropped some balls before. Now he's taking them to the house." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101123_Playing_for_picks.html
"I probably could have had, like, five (interceptions), but I dropped a few. You have to forget about them and wait for the next one to come your way." (HSA)
About how he works on interception drills with Rich Miano before every game, Brown said:
"He's always throwing the ball around. His passes come in fast. I have to be ready. I have to keep my eye on it, stay focused." (HSA)
About how the defensive players started playing a game after Friday's practice was over, Corey Paredes said:
"We were throwing the ball around, and then all of a sudden, we were playing dodgeball. We were slinging the ball at each other, working the hands. It just happened." (HSA)
About the game, Brown said:
"Dodgeball with footballs. They were being thrown pretty fast. A lot of the time I was trying to get out of the way. But when I had a chance to catch it, it really helped my hands." (HSA)
Asked who won the dodgeball game, Brown said:
"Nobody really won. We were trying to hit each other as hard as we could with the ball." (HSA)
About how Brown plays physically, Miano said:
"He's physical. He plays fast. He plays hard. He's tough. Look at his stitches." (HSA)
About how his scar tissue under his right eye will be removed and the area re-stitched in January, Brown said:
"They want to make it cleaner." (HSA)
About how he was recruited as a safety and moved to LB in less than a month after he started at UH, Dave Aranda said:
"He grew into it. When he was a safety, he basically played the linebacker spot he's playing now. He feels at home." (HSA)
About how they put Brown on the RB or a pass-catching TE, Aranda said:
"We like those matchups." (HSA)
About Brown's first INT, where his job was to defend the first receiver to run a crossing pattern, Miano said:
"He read it perfectly." (HSA)
About Brown's second INT, where he faked that he was defending the flat (releasing the receiver to the CB's coverage) and dropped back to track the second receiver, Miano said:
"The quarterback threw it right to him." (HSA)
About what he had to do when the QB threw the ball to him, Brown said:
"Catch the ball. I concentrated on that." (HSA)
About Brown getting his first 2 INTs, Paredes said:
"A.B. has been saving it up. He dropped some balls before. Now he's taking them to the house." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101123_Playing_for_picks.html
Warrior Quotes 11/23/10 (Mack said that UH will put pressure on NMSU's QB Andrew Manley)
About how they will try to put pressure to freshman QB Andrew Manley, Mack said:
"There are certain times you go after guys. I learned a long time ago, if a guy's a rookie, you go after him. We'll mix up things. We'll mix up coverages. We'll try to confuse him." (HSA)
HSA Note: "McMackin said he has "respect" for the prospect he tried to recruit for more than a year. Manley took an unofficial visit to UH in 2008. McMackin said he had a standing scholarship offer to Manley. In the summer of 2009, UH was pursuing four high school quarterbacks. Each was told a 2010 scholarship would go to the first to accept. That turned out to be Kevin Spain of Arizona. Spain is redshirting this season after undergoing shoulder surgery in August.
McMackin said Manley turned down a second UH offer -- to grayshirt, which would have meant joining the Warriors in January 2011. Instead, Manley accepted a scholarship from the Aggies. Manley is listed as the Aggies' starting quarterback this week."
Praising Manley, Mack said:
"He'll be a great quarterback. He already is for them. ... I have a lot of respect for him. He's a good kid, too." (HSA)
About how they are expected to aggressively blitz against NMSU, Mack said:
"We're going to go after his tail. We're going to come after him every way we can. Not because he's Andrew Manley. Because he's a freshman quarterback. I'd go after any freshman quarterback." (HSA)
About how he hopes that Nevada wins so that they can be WAC co-champions, Mack said:
"I cheer for Nevada all the way. I hope they kick (Boise State's) tail because (should the Warriors beat the Aggies) that would make us co-champions. On our rings, we'd just put 'champions' because 'co' is too many letters." (HSA)
About how he needs to average 95.33 yards per game in their last 3 games to pass Nate Ilaoa's rushing mark for UH, Alex Green said:
"I'm not thinking about that. I just want to help the team win." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101123_McMackin_promises_pressure_for_Manley.html
"There are certain times you go after guys. I learned a long time ago, if a guy's a rookie, you go after him. We'll mix up things. We'll mix up coverages. We'll try to confuse him." (HSA)
HSA Note: "McMackin said he has "respect" for the prospect he tried to recruit for more than a year. Manley took an unofficial visit to UH in 2008. McMackin said he had a standing scholarship offer to Manley. In the summer of 2009, UH was pursuing four high school quarterbacks. Each was told a 2010 scholarship would go to the first to accept. That turned out to be Kevin Spain of Arizona. Spain is redshirting this season after undergoing shoulder surgery in August.
McMackin said Manley turned down a second UH offer -- to grayshirt, which would have meant joining the Warriors in January 2011. Instead, Manley accepted a scholarship from the Aggies. Manley is listed as the Aggies' starting quarterback this week."
Praising Manley, Mack said:
"He'll be a great quarterback. He already is for them. ... I have a lot of respect for him. He's a good kid, too." (HSA)
About how they are expected to aggressively blitz against NMSU, Mack said:
"We're going to go after his tail. We're going to come after him every way we can. Not because he's Andrew Manley. Because he's a freshman quarterback. I'd go after any freshman quarterback." (HSA)
About how he hopes that Nevada wins so that they can be WAC co-champions, Mack said:
"I cheer for Nevada all the way. I hope they kick (Boise State's) tail because (should the Warriors beat the Aggies) that would make us co-champions. On our rings, we'd just put 'champions' because 'co' is too many letters." (HSA)
About how he needs to average 95.33 yards per game in their last 3 games to pass Nate Ilaoa's rushing mark for UH, Alex Green said:
"I'm not thinking about that. I just want to help the team win." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101123_McMackin_promises_pressure_for_Manley.html
Monday, November 22, 2010
Quotes from the Star-Advertiser 11/22/10 (feature on Bryant Moniz)
About how his family celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday in Wahiawa, Bryant Moniz said:
"I'll be gone on Thanksgiving, so we decided to have the party now." (HSA)
Asked about his blessings, Moniz said:
"Health. That's the No. 1 thing. Good health. For everyone." (HSA)
About how they quickly got over their loss to Boise State, Moniz said
"We were over that Boise game a long time ago." (HSA)
About how he didn't realize that he had broken their single-game passing record, Moniz said:
"I had no clue. I thought the record was 700-something, for some reason. It's awesome any time you do something like that. Every player wants to leave (his) mark on (his) school. It's a great honor, really a great honor." (HSA
About how Moniz isn't satisfied with his performance against SJSU, Rolo said:
"He doesn't feel great about his performance. He knows he could have played better (and) the record would have happened (earlier) in the game. He has high expectations because everyone knows how good he can be." (HSA)
About how Moniz shouldn't be unhappy, Rolo said:
"It's hard to complain about those numbers." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Rolovich said Moniz was partially at fault on the two interceptions. Moniz was hit while throwing, leading to an interception in the end zone. A "miscommunication" resulted in the other pick."
Praising Moniz, Rolo said:
"He's a special player. I think he showed himself to have a rightful place in UH history by the way he plays." (HSA)
About their DEs good play in the game, DE coach Cal Lee said:
"They worked hard. They put extra emphasis on getting to the quarterback." (HSA)
About their DEs in the SJSU game, Cal Lee said that:
"we pointed them in the direction of the quarterback, and told them to get him." (HSA)
About how he'll be cheering for Nevada to beat Boise State on Friday, Paipai Falemalu said:
"Of course." (HSA)
About how they will share the WAC title if Nevada beats BSU, Aaron Brown said:
"I want a ring." (HSA)
About how they won't know who will be going to the Hawaii Bowl from C-USA until the C-USA championship game on December 4, Hawaii Bowl executive director David Matlin said:
"The reality, more likely than not, is that we'll have to wait until the championship game." (HSA)
"With C-USA having three teams receiving votes in the polls and the potential of a nine- or 10-win team, I'm excited about the possibilities." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Although SMU has not been removed from consideration for a Hawaii Bowl return, organizers of the Armed Forces Bowl, which will be played in the Mustangs' Ford Stadium, would like to keep the team home in Dallas. The Armed Forces Bowl is usually played in Fort Worth, Texas, but Texas Christian's stadium will be undergoing renovation. The Armed Forces Bowl, along with the Hawaii Bowl, is owned and operated by ESPN Regional Television."
Matlin said that no matter what conference UH is in:
"our objective is the same: to have a place for them in our game when they are bowl eligible." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101122_road_bound_moniz_gives_thanks_early.html
More schools than just UH are interested in joining the Big West
About how several schools in addition to UH are trying to join the Big West, commissioner Dennis Farrell said:
"Hawaii is just one of them." (HSA)
About UH's interest in joining the Big West, Farrell said that:
"there have been a number of conversations with Jim (Donovan, UH athletic director) over many months." (HSA)
HSA Note: "The Big West last week lifted its five-year moratorium on new members and Farrell said three schools, including UH, have contacted him. He said Cal State Bakersfield is one but declined the reveal the other California-based institution."
HSA Note: "Farrell said, it is "premature to speculate upon" how many members the Big West might admit or when an expansion vote might take place. The MWC is expected to make an official determination on UH by the end of the year, pending conclusion of negotiations, although a spokesman said "no timetable" had been established."
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Quotes from the UH-San Jose State game 11/20/10
UH = University of Hawaii Athletics website
HSA = Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Note: The articles about the game from ESPN, AP, USA Today, San Jose Mercury News and a few other websites did not contain any quotes.
-------------- Quotes from the UH coaches -----------------
About how their defense played well and their offense did well after a slow start, praising Moniz for breaking UH's passing record, UH head coach Greg McMackin (Mack) said:
"I thought the guys played extremely well. We had one soft series on defense and we got right back to playing "warrior style football." Offensively, I thought we started off a little slow but they came back and played like warriors. We had 626 yards, "Mo" (Bryant Moniz) broke the passing record. He's just outstanding. I thought it was a well-played game as a team." (UH)
"You knew it was a matter of time before we played Warrior football." (HSA)
Dedicating this game to Colt, Mack said:
"This was for Colt (Brennan)." (HSA)
About how they have prayed for Colt, Mack said:
"We prayed for Colt in practice on Friday. We prayed for him (yesterday) in chapel and at our pregame meal. Colt was on our mind. He's a Warrior. He's a brother. We all love him. We're all concerned about him. Everybody was playing for him." (HSA)
Proud of their defense, Mack said:
"I'm really proud of the defense and they gave up 164 yards and most of it was at the end of the game, when we had our second, third unit in there. I'm proud of our guys, I'm really proud of our coaches. We're looking forward to next week, to continue on. This is a good stepping stone. It's good to get back and win. We have that taste in our mouth and we want to get another streak going." (UH)
About how their DEs contained SJSU's QB after they made an adjustment, Mack said:
"The D-Ends, we knew we had to contain the QB and early on we didn't. We made an adjustment and all the D-Ends did a great job. We also contained them with our backers. Aaron Brown had an outstanding ball game. I'm sure he is going to be an all-WAC player of the week; he had a defensive touchdown and another interception." (HSA)
Praising the play-calling of Defensive Coordinator Dave Aranda, Mack said:
"(Defensive coordinator) Dave (Aranda) did a great job of changing things up, changing coverage and blitz and that's how you have to play a team like that. And they are very similar. I'm really proud of the defense and Dave Aranda and all the defensive coaches. I thought our front played good." (UH)
About how his defense wanted to make a statement in this game, Defensive Coordinator Dave Aranda said:
"They came in embarrassed off of our last time out (against Boise State) and felt like they had a lot to prove. I know they wanted to (make a statement)." (HSA)
About their 8-sack game (7 by the DL), DT coach Tony Tuioti said that having a:
"breakout game like this. I felt it was something we were capable of. I wanted these guys to show what they could do and make all the hard work they do pay off." (HSA)
About how they made mistakes on offense during the game, Offensive Coordinator Nick Rolovich (Rolo) said:
"There was some — it's hard to say, 'sloppiness,' because of the numbers we put up — but we missed a few. Maybe it had something to do with the bye week." (HSA)
About how Bryant Moniz never showed that the BSU loss bothered him, Rolo said:
"He's a cool cat that guy." (HSA)
About how the injury to Jordan Gomes will hurt their special teams, Special Teams Coordinator Chris Tormey said:
"That hurts us; he was on every one of our special teams. We're going to have to scramble." (HSA)
-------------- Quotes from the UH players -------------------
About how he wanted to wear Colt's #15 jersey as a tribute to Colt but couldn't, Moniz said:
"I wanted to wear it to show he means a lot to us. We're praying for the best for him." (HSA)
"We couldn't find it." (HSA)
About how they played well but could have played a lot better, Moniz said:
"Overall, we played well enough to win. But knowing how everything is supposed to execute, and how much better we could have done, it's still upsetting." (HSA)
About not letting the BSU loss affect him, Moniz said:
"As soon as I watched the film, I learned from my mistakes, and I put it behind me. I think it's a mentality that's developed when you play football and when you play my position. You can't get caught up on losses, bad plays; you have to put it behind you and move on." (HSA)
About breaking Colt's single-game UH yardage record (set in the 2006 Hawaii Bowl vs. Arizona State) by a single yard with a 10-yard pass in the 4th quarter, Moniz said:
"It's such an honor and so awesome with all the names that came through here. Rolovich, Dan Robinson, Colt, Timmy Chang. All these guys you look up to growing up. I never thought I'd be playing here and now to kind of put my name there is awesome." (HSA)
About being able to get the ball to all 4 of their WRs and RB Alex Green, Moniz said:
"It's great spreading the ball around because then they can't key on any receiver." (HSA)
About putting the BSU game behind him (2 receptions for 10 yards) with this 8-catch, 144-yard game, Greg Salas said:
"I had to get that taste out of my mouth. It's finally nice to get out on the field and get back to what we're used to." (HSA)
About returning from the hamstring injury that forced him to miss the BSU game, Kealoha Pilares said:
"It felt like forever since I stepped on the field. We started off slow, but we picked things up and put it together." (HSA)
About playing well after struggling in the BSU game, Royce Pollard said:
"We all thought about that Boise game. We needed to come out here and play the way we're supposed to play, to be ourselves, to do what we do." (HSA)
About getting 5 more yards after his helmet had been knocked free at the end of one of his shovel pass receptions, Alex Green said:
"It just came off, and I kept running." (HSA)
Happy to make his first 2 receptions at the college level, Miah Ostrowski said:
"It was nice to finally get in there, get in a rhythm and get that first catch out of the way. It helped that I'm on the first punt return team now (as an end) and I was able to get warm." (HSA)
About getting 2 INTs in this game and returning one for a TD, Aaron Brown said:
"It was about time I showed up and contributed a little more. I've dropped too many interceptions this year and it has been something I've worked on." (HSA)
"Right place, right time. I got my hands on passes before and didn't execute. This time, I wanted to make sure I secured the ball. It all goes back to the blitzing. I love it when we blitz. It's a way of making a statement." (HSA)
About how their defense wanted to play well after struggling in the BSU game, Brown said:
"We've had that bad taste in our mouth for two weeks now. That wasn't Warrior football and we wanted to come out and show everybody how good Warrior football is." (HSA)
About how UH got 8 sacks in this game after getting just 14 in their previous 10 games combined, Brown said:
"We spent two weeks really emphasizing our blitzing mentality and getting to the quarterback on every play." (HSA)
About how they wanted to play well for Colt, Vaughn Meatoga said:
"Our play was like a get-well card for Colt. [In 2007] his locker was right behind mine. He's such a good guy. He would do anything for anybody. We wanted to do this for him." (HSA)
About how Dave Aranda showed them a chart this week that showed how bad things often happened when they blitzed this season, Meatoga said:
"There were a lot of negatives. We knew that wasn't us. We blitzed way better in the spring. I think we went into this game with the mentality we had to get back to playing Warrior football." (HSA)
About Tuipulotu knocking down a pass on 4th down and the inspirational halftime speech Tuipulotu gave, Meatoga said:
"Kani can fly. I think his vert(ical jump) is 13 inches. But he really gave us a lift with his halftime speech." (HSA)
After getting 3 of their 8 sacks, Paipai Falemalu said:
"Coach Aranda emphasized getting our blitz mentality back." (HSA)
"The whole defense came alive." (HSA)
About how he was surprised that SJSU's QB was able to get up after a few of their sacks, Paipai said:
"I was surprised he got up a couple times." (HSA)
Paipai said that after he got a sack that:
"the other guys wanted one, too." (HSA)
About how 2 other members of their DL got sacks, Paipai said:
"And, then, I wanted more, too." (HSA)
After getting 2 of their 8 sacks, Kamalu Umu said:
"It was pretty much Coach, calling the plays. They were giving away the slide protection every time." (HSA)
About their 8 sacks in this game after getting just 14 sacks in their previous 10 games, Elliott Purcell said:
"It was all the anger built up being so close and not getting sacks." (HSA)
About knocking down a pass that SJSU attempted on 4th and short, Kaniela Tuipulotu said:
"I got lucky." (HSA)
About his halftime speech to the team, Tuipulotu said:
"I told them it's all about G-O-D. We have a lot of faith." (HSA)
About suffering what is believed to be a torn ACL on the kickoff that opened the game, Jordan Gomes said:
"I think someone got blocked into the back of my knee and I heard a popping sound." (HSA)
About making 50 straight PATs to tie Dan Kelly's record from 2007, Scott Enos said:
"I try not to think about any of that stuff. The offense does a great job, scores a lot of points and I get a lot of opportunities." (HSA)
Crediting his teammates for his success (he's made all 84 PATs he has tried during his UH career), Enos said:
"It makes my job easy when you have a great snapper like Luke (Ingram). He's throwing the ball back there so fast and Shane (Austin) puts it on the spot every time. It's like kicking it off a tee." (HSA)
------------ Quotes from the SJSU coaches ------------------
About how Bryant Moniz had a nice game, though they did get some turnovers from him, SJSU head coach Mike MacIntyre said:
"Hawai'i played well, their quarterback had a nice game. We did make him turn over the ball a few times, we made some big plays." (UH)
About how UH's defense stopped them and UH's DTs collapsed their pocket, MacIntyre said:
"Defensively they smothered us pretty well; we did not handle some of their pressure…(Hawai'i's) two inside guys are really good, they push the pocket really well. They're very good players." (UH)
About how the game changed when they did not succeed on a 4th down in the second half and then UH converted on a 4th down after that, McIntyre said:
"In the second half we went for it on fourth down, then they go for it and we don't play it exactly right and they get it by an inch. The whole game switched. If we would have stopped them on fourth down, or gotten the fourth down, it might have been a different story. I don't know if we would have beat 'em, but it would've been closer than 41-7." (UH)
About how they couldn't take advantage of their opportunities, McIntyre said:
"We had some opportunities to put some more points on the board that might have made the outcome a little bit better, but we didn't." (UH)
"I wish we could have run them in. We had some opportunities to put points on the board. It should have been about 17-17 at halftime, but it wasn't." (HSA)
Praising Aaron Brown, McIntyre said:
"(Hawai'i linebacker Aaron Brown) made some nice plays in the flat, reading the quarterback's eyes, he's a good football player. I've noticed him a lot on film. He's very active." (UH)
About Brown's INT return for a TD that made the score 17-0, McIntyre said:
"That was a huge play for them." (HSA)
About how their QB was sacked 8 times, McIntyre said:
"No way should we give up eight sacks." (UH)
"They really smothered us. No way should we be giving up eight sacks." (HSA)
About how he enjoyed his honeymoon in Hawaii much more than this game, McIntyre said:
"I came here on my honeymoon 21 years ago. The honeymoon was a lot better than tonight." (UH)
About how he heard about Colt's injury right after he landed at Honolulu Airport on Friday, Brent Brennan (Colt's cousin) said:
"I got a text message on my cell from my wife to call my parents. They (Colt's aunt and uncle) were in Kona and were checking out of their hotel when they heard about it. They had gone out to dinner with Colt the night before. It was just so fortunate that they were here because Colt's parents were so far away, and so they were able to have communication.
I went to see Colt at the hospital and he was sedated. But he's gonna be fine. He's got some real injuries and it's going to take time to heal. But he's a tough kid and he's in really great shape, so that's going to help him." (HSA)
HSA Note: "In addition to broken ribs and a broken clavicle, a family member said Brennan suffered a broken cheekbone, a broken orbital and a punctured lung."
------------ Quotes from the SJSU players ------------------
Told that Paipai was surprised that he got up from some of the hits he took, QB Jordan La Secla said:
"To tell you the truth, so was I." (HSA)
Praising UH's defense, La Secla said:
"Those boys can really get after it. It was rough." (HSA)
"To be honest, the way they came, I feel like we haven't seen something like that this year. They had a good scheme and everything, but I just feel like the way they rush is so different than any other we've seen. Just the way they get after it. They never give up. They just keep coming and (are) always moving. Usually when I break the pocket I can get upfield a little. (But) was I getting grabbed from behind, getting grabbed from the side. Those boys can move around." (HSA)
About scoring their only TD on a 21-yard reception, freshman WR Noel Grigsby said:
"That was a simple wheel route that we run in practice all the time. The coach dialed it up, the line gave protection and we executed it." (HSA)
Praising UH and noting they have a lot of weapons, Sophomore safety James Orth (who returned an INT for 38 yard in the 3rd quarter and forced a fumble by Kealoha Pilares) said:
"We'll try to get past it and focus on the next game and do the best we can. Hawaii's a good team with weapons all over the place." (HSA)
HSA = Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Note: The articles about the game from ESPN, AP, USA Today, San Jose Mercury News and a few other websites did not contain any quotes.
-------------- Quotes from the UH coaches -----------------
About how their defense played well and their offense did well after a slow start, praising Moniz for breaking UH's passing record, UH head coach Greg McMackin (Mack) said:
"I thought the guys played extremely well. We had one soft series on defense and we got right back to playing "warrior style football." Offensively, I thought we started off a little slow but they came back and played like warriors. We had 626 yards, "Mo" (Bryant Moniz) broke the passing record. He's just outstanding. I thought it was a well-played game as a team." (UH)
"You knew it was a matter of time before we played Warrior football." (HSA)
Dedicating this game to Colt, Mack said:
"This was for Colt (Brennan)." (HSA)
About how they have prayed for Colt, Mack said:
"We prayed for Colt in practice on Friday. We prayed for him (yesterday) in chapel and at our pregame meal. Colt was on our mind. He's a Warrior. He's a brother. We all love him. We're all concerned about him. Everybody was playing for him." (HSA)
Proud of their defense, Mack said:
"I'm really proud of the defense and they gave up 164 yards and most of it was at the end of the game, when we had our second, third unit in there. I'm proud of our guys, I'm really proud of our coaches. We're looking forward to next week, to continue on. This is a good stepping stone. It's good to get back and win. We have that taste in our mouth and we want to get another streak going." (UH)
About how their DEs contained SJSU's QB after they made an adjustment, Mack said:
"The D-Ends, we knew we had to contain the QB and early on we didn't. We made an adjustment and all the D-Ends did a great job. We also contained them with our backers. Aaron Brown had an outstanding ball game. I'm sure he is going to be an all-WAC player of the week; he had a defensive touchdown and another interception." (HSA)
Praising the play-calling of Defensive Coordinator Dave Aranda, Mack said:
"(Defensive coordinator) Dave (Aranda) did a great job of changing things up, changing coverage and blitz and that's how you have to play a team like that. And they are very similar. I'm really proud of the defense and Dave Aranda and all the defensive coaches. I thought our front played good." (UH)
About how his defense wanted to make a statement in this game, Defensive Coordinator Dave Aranda said:
"They came in embarrassed off of our last time out (against Boise State) and felt like they had a lot to prove. I know they wanted to (make a statement)." (HSA)
About their 8-sack game (7 by the DL), DT coach Tony Tuioti said that having a:
"breakout game like this. I felt it was something we were capable of. I wanted these guys to show what they could do and make all the hard work they do pay off." (HSA)
About how they made mistakes on offense during the game, Offensive Coordinator Nick Rolovich (Rolo) said:
"There was some — it's hard to say, 'sloppiness,' because of the numbers we put up — but we missed a few. Maybe it had something to do with the bye week." (HSA)
About how Bryant Moniz never showed that the BSU loss bothered him, Rolo said:
"He's a cool cat that guy." (HSA)
About how the injury to Jordan Gomes will hurt their special teams, Special Teams Coordinator Chris Tormey said:
"That hurts us; he was on every one of our special teams. We're going to have to scramble." (HSA)
-------------- Quotes from the UH players -------------------
About how he wanted to wear Colt's #15 jersey as a tribute to Colt but couldn't, Moniz said:
"I wanted to wear it to show he means a lot to us. We're praying for the best for him." (HSA)
"We couldn't find it." (HSA)
About how they played well but could have played a lot better, Moniz said:
"Overall, we played well enough to win. But knowing how everything is supposed to execute, and how much better we could have done, it's still upsetting." (HSA)
About not letting the BSU loss affect him, Moniz said:
"As soon as I watched the film, I learned from my mistakes, and I put it behind me. I think it's a mentality that's developed when you play football and when you play my position. You can't get caught up on losses, bad plays; you have to put it behind you and move on." (HSA)
About breaking Colt's single-game UH yardage record (set in the 2006 Hawaii Bowl vs. Arizona State) by a single yard with a 10-yard pass in the 4th quarter, Moniz said:
"It's such an honor and so awesome with all the names that came through here. Rolovich, Dan Robinson, Colt, Timmy Chang. All these guys you look up to growing up. I never thought I'd be playing here and now to kind of put my name there is awesome." (HSA)
About being able to get the ball to all 4 of their WRs and RB Alex Green, Moniz said:
"It's great spreading the ball around because then they can't key on any receiver." (HSA)
About putting the BSU game behind him (2 receptions for 10 yards) with this 8-catch, 144-yard game, Greg Salas said:
"I had to get that taste out of my mouth. It's finally nice to get out on the field and get back to what we're used to." (HSA)
About returning from the hamstring injury that forced him to miss the BSU game, Kealoha Pilares said:
"It felt like forever since I stepped on the field. We started off slow, but we picked things up and put it together." (HSA)
About playing well after struggling in the BSU game, Royce Pollard said:
"We all thought about that Boise game. We needed to come out here and play the way we're supposed to play, to be ourselves, to do what we do." (HSA)
About getting 5 more yards after his helmet had been knocked free at the end of one of his shovel pass receptions, Alex Green said:
"It just came off, and I kept running." (HSA)
Happy to make his first 2 receptions at the college level, Miah Ostrowski said:
"It was nice to finally get in there, get in a rhythm and get that first catch out of the way. It helped that I'm on the first punt return team now (as an end) and I was able to get warm." (HSA)
About getting 2 INTs in this game and returning one for a TD, Aaron Brown said:
"It was about time I showed up and contributed a little more. I've dropped too many interceptions this year and it has been something I've worked on." (HSA)
"Right place, right time. I got my hands on passes before and didn't execute. This time, I wanted to make sure I secured the ball. It all goes back to the blitzing. I love it when we blitz. It's a way of making a statement." (HSA)
About how their defense wanted to play well after struggling in the BSU game, Brown said:
"We've had that bad taste in our mouth for two weeks now. That wasn't Warrior football and we wanted to come out and show everybody how good Warrior football is." (HSA)
About how UH got 8 sacks in this game after getting just 14 in their previous 10 games combined, Brown said:
"We spent two weeks really emphasizing our blitzing mentality and getting to the quarterback on every play." (HSA)
About how they wanted to play well for Colt, Vaughn Meatoga said:
"Our play was like a get-well card for Colt. [In 2007] his locker was right behind mine. He's such a good guy. He would do anything for anybody. We wanted to do this for him." (HSA)
About how Dave Aranda showed them a chart this week that showed how bad things often happened when they blitzed this season, Meatoga said:
"There were a lot of negatives. We knew that wasn't us. We blitzed way better in the spring. I think we went into this game with the mentality we had to get back to playing Warrior football." (HSA)
About Tuipulotu knocking down a pass on 4th down and the inspirational halftime speech Tuipulotu gave, Meatoga said:
"Kani can fly. I think his vert(ical jump) is 13 inches. But he really gave us a lift with his halftime speech." (HSA)
After getting 3 of their 8 sacks, Paipai Falemalu said:
"Coach Aranda emphasized getting our blitz mentality back." (HSA)
"The whole defense came alive." (HSA)
About how he was surprised that SJSU's QB was able to get up after a few of their sacks, Paipai said:
"I was surprised he got up a couple times." (HSA)
Paipai said that after he got a sack that:
"the other guys wanted one, too." (HSA)
About how 2 other members of their DL got sacks, Paipai said:
"And, then, I wanted more, too." (HSA)
After getting 2 of their 8 sacks, Kamalu Umu said:
"It was pretty much Coach, calling the plays. They were giving away the slide protection every time." (HSA)
About their 8 sacks in this game after getting just 14 sacks in their previous 10 games, Elliott Purcell said:
"It was all the anger built up being so close and not getting sacks." (HSA)
About knocking down a pass that SJSU attempted on 4th and short, Kaniela Tuipulotu said:
"I got lucky." (HSA)
About his halftime speech to the team, Tuipulotu said:
"I told them it's all about G-O-D. We have a lot of faith." (HSA)
About suffering what is believed to be a torn ACL on the kickoff that opened the game, Jordan Gomes said:
"I think someone got blocked into the back of my knee and I heard a popping sound." (HSA)
About making 50 straight PATs to tie Dan Kelly's record from 2007, Scott Enos said:
"I try not to think about any of that stuff. The offense does a great job, scores a lot of points and I get a lot of opportunities." (HSA)
Crediting his teammates for his success (he's made all 84 PATs he has tried during his UH career), Enos said:
"It makes my job easy when you have a great snapper like Luke (Ingram). He's throwing the ball back there so fast and Shane (Austin) puts it on the spot every time. It's like kicking it off a tee." (HSA)
------------ Quotes from the SJSU coaches ------------------
About how Bryant Moniz had a nice game, though they did get some turnovers from him, SJSU head coach Mike MacIntyre said:
"Hawai'i played well, their quarterback had a nice game. We did make him turn over the ball a few times, we made some big plays." (UH)
About how UH's defense stopped them and UH's DTs collapsed their pocket, MacIntyre said:
"Defensively they smothered us pretty well; we did not handle some of their pressure…(Hawai'i's) two inside guys are really good, they push the pocket really well. They're very good players." (UH)
About how the game changed when they did not succeed on a 4th down in the second half and then UH converted on a 4th down after that, McIntyre said:
"In the second half we went for it on fourth down, then they go for it and we don't play it exactly right and they get it by an inch. The whole game switched. If we would have stopped them on fourth down, or gotten the fourth down, it might have been a different story. I don't know if we would have beat 'em, but it would've been closer than 41-7." (UH)
About how they couldn't take advantage of their opportunities, McIntyre said:
"We had some opportunities to put some more points on the board that might have made the outcome a little bit better, but we didn't." (UH)
"I wish we could have run them in. We had some opportunities to put points on the board. It should have been about 17-17 at halftime, but it wasn't." (HSA)
Praising Aaron Brown, McIntyre said:
"(Hawai'i linebacker Aaron Brown) made some nice plays in the flat, reading the quarterback's eyes, he's a good football player. I've noticed him a lot on film. He's very active." (UH)
About Brown's INT return for a TD that made the score 17-0, McIntyre said:
"That was a huge play for them." (HSA)
About how their QB was sacked 8 times, McIntyre said:
"No way should we give up eight sacks." (UH)
"They really smothered us. No way should we be giving up eight sacks." (HSA)
About how he enjoyed his honeymoon in Hawaii much more than this game, McIntyre said:
"I came here on my honeymoon 21 years ago. The honeymoon was a lot better than tonight." (UH)
About how he heard about Colt's injury right after he landed at Honolulu Airport on Friday, Brent Brennan (Colt's cousin) said:
"I got a text message on my cell from my wife to call my parents. They (Colt's aunt and uncle) were in Kona and were checking out of their hotel when they heard about it. They had gone out to dinner with Colt the night before. It was just so fortunate that they were here because Colt's parents were so far away, and so they were able to have communication.
I went to see Colt at the hospital and he was sedated. But he's gonna be fine. He's got some real injuries and it's going to take time to heal. But he's a tough kid and he's in really great shape, so that's going to help him." (HSA)
HSA Note: "In addition to broken ribs and a broken clavicle, a family member said Brennan suffered a broken cheekbone, a broken orbital and a punctured lung."
------------ Quotes from the SJSU players ------------------
Told that Paipai was surprised that he got up from some of the hits he took, QB Jordan La Secla said:
"To tell you the truth, so was I." (HSA)
Praising UH's defense, La Secla said:
"Those boys can really get after it. It was rough." (HSA)
"To be honest, the way they came, I feel like we haven't seen something like that this year. They had a good scheme and everything, but I just feel like the way they rush is so different than any other we've seen. Just the way they get after it. They never give up. They just keep coming and (are) always moving. Usually when I break the pocket I can get upfield a little. (But) was I getting grabbed from behind, getting grabbed from the side. Those boys can move around." (HSA)
About scoring their only TD on a 21-yard reception, freshman WR Noel Grigsby said:
"That was a simple wheel route that we run in practice all the time. The coach dialed it up, the line gave protection and we executed it." (HSA)
Praising UH and noting they have a lot of weapons, Sophomore safety James Orth (who returned an INT for 38 yard in the 3rd quarter and forced a fumble by Kealoha Pilares) said:
"We'll try to get past it and focus on the next game and do the best we can. Hawaii's a good team with weapons all over the place." (HSA)
Saturday, November 20, 2010
New twists in the UH-MWC situation (WAC offers football-only membership to UH)
About how the WAC has offered a football-only membership to UH, Karl Benson said:
"The WAC has informed (UH officials) that if Hawaii wants to be a football-only member of the WAC, that we are ready and willing to accept Hawaii as a football-only member." (HSA)
About how she hasn't heard directly about the WAC's offer (JD confirmed that he had heard from the WAC), UH President M.R.C. Greenwood said:
"I'm certainly not surprised to hear they would be sorry to see us leave the league. I have not heard anything directly myself." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Benson said he was told by the MWC it may be 30 to 45 days as it figures whether Hawaii adds to the TV (MWC) value."
HSA Note: "When the University of Hawaii approached the Mountain West Conference 12 years ago about membership, the promise of $500,000 in travel subsidies wasn't enough to help gain admittance. Which brings up the question of how much UH might have to ante up to close the deal on negotiations under way with the MWC now."
Declining to say what amount of travel subsidy UH will be giving the Big West, Big West commissioners Dennis Farrell said:
"Jim (Donovan) is putting together some numbers for us." (HSA)
HSA Note: "UH currently does not subsidize travel for fellow Western Athletic Conference members, though previously, it has subsidized travel costs in the WAC and Big West. Apparently open to negotiation with the MWC and Big West is whether the subsidies will involve airfare only or might also include hotel and other expenses.
The last time UH subsidized an opponent's football travel, it spent $113,730 to bring College of Charleston here in September for a nonconference game, under terms of the contract. That included $83,475 for airfare, $21,385 for hotel rooms and $8,870 for ground transportation. UH underwrote 45 rooms for three nights and plane fare for 75 members of the travel party. Although Charleston came from the East Coast, the Buccaneers, a Division I-AA team, had a smaller travel squad than a I-A Mountain West team might require. UH spent more than $100,000 on the airfare alone for Southern California in the season opener."
About travel subsidies by UH, Governor-elect Neil Abercrombie said that:
"travel costs are always an issue -- and they need to be addressed. I will follow through with (UH president and athletic director) M.R.C Greenwood and Jim Donovan. As governor, I will work with them to support a Division I athletic program and the pride that such a program brings not only to the university but to all residents of Hawaii." (HSA)
Offering for the state to subsidize some of UH's travel costs during the election campaign, Abercrombie said back then:
"OK, if we're going to be Division I and the conferences are not necessarily going to welcome us unless we can solve some of the travel questions, well, that's a money question. So if that is what it is, you can always solve a money question. You can always address that." (HSA)
HSA Note: "When a handful of University of Hawaii officials gathered before reporters, TV cameras and microphones Thursday night to announce the expectation of joining the Mountain West Conference, president M.R.C. Greenwood summoned vice president Rockne Freitas to join them. Freitas, standing back in the crowd gathered in the Bachman Hall lobby, initially groaned an "Ah ..." waved his hand in protest and attempted to retreat deeper into the background."
About how Rockne Freitas played a key role in UH being invited to the MWC, UH Board of Regents Chairman Howard Karr said:
"With (UH President) M.R.C. Greenwood and my approval, Rockne played a very important part in reaching out to the MWC and Commissioner (Craig) Thompson." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Or, as one staffer tweeted to a friend when the announcement came: "Rock is the Man!" "
About his role in the MWC invitation, Freitas said:
"It is a team effort, and I like to use the metaphor of a canoe. Every canoe paddler has a distinct role that he or she fulfills to make the canoe go fast. I was, maybe the No. 4 paddler. Clearly, unequivocally, the steersperson (president) sets the pace." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Freitas, who had been chancellor of Hawaii Community College for nearly six years, was named to the just-created position of vice president for student affairs and university and community relations for UH in May. As if that title weren't long enough, he was also tasked to "work on special key projects."
When Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada announced their departures from the WAC this summer, Greenwood, who hadn't had much of a finger in athletics heretofore, came to appreciate the depth of the community's concern over the fate of the athletic program. What she had initially described as "a Manoa (campus) issue" to a booster had taken on considerably more import. Karr and board secretary Keith Amemiya, former executive director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, are said to have driven home the urgency of the situation. So much so, apparently, that Greenwood asked Freitas to suggest a course of action in case other efforts weren't fruitful."
About how he is "old friends" with Freitas, UNLV President Neal Smatresk (vice chair of the MWC Board of Directors and vice chancellor for academic affairs at UH between 2004 and 2007) said:
"We had an opportunity to discuss a number of issues involving academics and Native Hawaiian issues and I greatly appreciated his insights. Of course, we would talk sports from time to time." (HSA)
About how he still follows UH, Smatresk said:
"I root for Hawaii as long as they are not playing UNLV." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Smatresk said he also believed UH would be a valuable addition to the conference and took UH's case to MWC members and commissioner Thompson, who league sources said met with both of them in Las Vegas at least once. By that time, the MWC was interested in UH but, due to travel and cost concerns, only as a prospective football member. It was a situation that suited UH, where athletic director Jim Donovan had already been in talks with the Big West about a home for UH's other sports in case the Warriors chose to become an independent."
About Thompson meeting face-to-face with Smatresk and Freitas, someone familiar with his style said:
"Craig likes to meet face-to-face and keep things out of the public eye." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Meanwhile, Greenwood buttonholed some MWC peers. As recently as a week ago at the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities annual meeting in Dallas, she talked to others, including the Wyoming president, who was on a panel she chaired. By that point things had begun to move swiftly, a straw vote had reportedly been taken showing strong support for UH and Thompson scheduled a conference call for Thursday morning. When the UH Regents met on Maui, staffers said Greenwood got a call from Thompson saying he'd been given the go-ahead to conclude negotiations with UH. And some Regents high-fived news they hadn't heretofore been party to. That evening the announcement was made in Bachman Hall and Freitas could no longer hide in the shadows."
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101120_WAC_counters_Mountain_West_offer_with_football-only_option.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101120_Officials_crunch_numbers_for_cost_of_travel_subsidies.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/editorials/20101120_uh_athletics_scores_big.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101120_The_man_behind_the_plan.html
"The WAC has informed (UH officials) that if Hawaii wants to be a football-only member of the WAC, that we are ready and willing to accept Hawaii as a football-only member." (HSA)
About how she hasn't heard directly about the WAC's offer (JD confirmed that he had heard from the WAC), UH President M.R.C. Greenwood said:
"I'm certainly not surprised to hear they would be sorry to see us leave the league. I have not heard anything directly myself." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Benson said he was told by the MWC it may be 30 to 45 days as it figures whether Hawaii adds to the TV (MWC) value."
HSA Note: "When the University of Hawaii approached the Mountain West Conference 12 years ago about membership, the promise of $500,000 in travel subsidies wasn't enough to help gain admittance. Which brings up the question of how much UH might have to ante up to close the deal on negotiations under way with the MWC now."
Declining to say what amount of travel subsidy UH will be giving the Big West, Big West commissioners Dennis Farrell said:
"Jim (Donovan) is putting together some numbers for us." (HSA)
HSA Note: "UH currently does not subsidize travel for fellow Western Athletic Conference members, though previously, it has subsidized travel costs in the WAC and Big West. Apparently open to negotiation with the MWC and Big West is whether the subsidies will involve airfare only or might also include hotel and other expenses.
The last time UH subsidized an opponent's football travel, it spent $113,730 to bring College of Charleston here in September for a nonconference game, under terms of the contract. That included $83,475 for airfare, $21,385 for hotel rooms and $8,870 for ground transportation. UH underwrote 45 rooms for three nights and plane fare for 75 members of the travel party. Although Charleston came from the East Coast, the Buccaneers, a Division I-AA team, had a smaller travel squad than a I-A Mountain West team might require. UH spent more than $100,000 on the airfare alone for Southern California in the season opener."
About travel subsidies by UH, Governor-elect Neil Abercrombie said that:
"travel costs are always an issue -- and they need to be addressed. I will follow through with (UH president and athletic director) M.R.C Greenwood and Jim Donovan. As governor, I will work with them to support a Division I athletic program and the pride that such a program brings not only to the university but to all residents of Hawaii." (HSA)
Offering for the state to subsidize some of UH's travel costs during the election campaign, Abercrombie said back then:
"OK, if we're going to be Division I and the conferences are not necessarily going to welcome us unless we can solve some of the travel questions, well, that's a money question. So if that is what it is, you can always solve a money question. You can always address that." (HSA)
HSA Note: "When a handful of University of Hawaii officials gathered before reporters, TV cameras and microphones Thursday night to announce the expectation of joining the Mountain West Conference, president M.R.C. Greenwood summoned vice president Rockne Freitas to join them. Freitas, standing back in the crowd gathered in the Bachman Hall lobby, initially groaned an "Ah ..." waved his hand in protest and attempted to retreat deeper into the background."
About how Rockne Freitas played a key role in UH being invited to the MWC, UH Board of Regents Chairman Howard Karr said:
"With (UH President) M.R.C. Greenwood and my approval, Rockne played a very important part in reaching out to the MWC and Commissioner (Craig) Thompson." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Or, as one staffer tweeted to a friend when the announcement came: "Rock is the Man!" "
About his role in the MWC invitation, Freitas said:
"It is a team effort, and I like to use the metaphor of a canoe. Every canoe paddler has a distinct role that he or she fulfills to make the canoe go fast. I was, maybe the No. 4 paddler. Clearly, unequivocally, the steersperson (president) sets the pace." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Freitas, who had been chancellor of Hawaii Community College for nearly six years, was named to the just-created position of vice president for student affairs and university and community relations for UH in May. As if that title weren't long enough, he was also tasked to "work on special key projects."
When Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada announced their departures from the WAC this summer, Greenwood, who hadn't had much of a finger in athletics heretofore, came to appreciate the depth of the community's concern over the fate of the athletic program. What she had initially described as "a Manoa (campus) issue" to a booster had taken on considerably more import. Karr and board secretary Keith Amemiya, former executive director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, are said to have driven home the urgency of the situation. So much so, apparently, that Greenwood asked Freitas to suggest a course of action in case other efforts weren't fruitful."
About how he is "old friends" with Freitas, UNLV President Neal Smatresk (vice chair of the MWC Board of Directors and vice chancellor for academic affairs at UH between 2004 and 2007) said:
"We had an opportunity to discuss a number of issues involving academics and Native Hawaiian issues and I greatly appreciated his insights. Of course, we would talk sports from time to time." (HSA)
About how he still follows UH, Smatresk said:
"I root for Hawaii as long as they are not playing UNLV." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Smatresk said he also believed UH would be a valuable addition to the conference and took UH's case to MWC members and commissioner Thompson, who league sources said met with both of them in Las Vegas at least once. By that time, the MWC was interested in UH but, due to travel and cost concerns, only as a prospective football member. It was a situation that suited UH, where athletic director Jim Donovan had already been in talks with the Big West about a home for UH's other sports in case the Warriors chose to become an independent."
About Thompson meeting face-to-face with Smatresk and Freitas, someone familiar with his style said:
"Craig likes to meet face-to-face and keep things out of the public eye." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Meanwhile, Greenwood buttonholed some MWC peers. As recently as a week ago at the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities annual meeting in Dallas, she talked to others, including the Wyoming president, who was on a panel she chaired. By that point things had begun to move swiftly, a straw vote had reportedly been taken showing strong support for UH and Thompson scheduled a conference call for Thursday morning. When the UH Regents met on Maui, staffers said Greenwood got a call from Thompson saying he'd been given the go-ahead to conclude negotiations with UH. And some Regents high-fived news they hadn't heretofore been party to. That evening the announcement was made in Bachman Hall and Freitas could no longer hide in the shadows."
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101120_WAC_counters_Mountain_West_offer_with_football-only_option.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101120_Officials_crunch_numbers_for_cost_of_travel_subsidies.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/editorials/20101120_uh_athletics_scores_big.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101120_The_man_behind_the_plan.html
Quotes before the UH-SJSU game 11/20/10
About being on Jack Elway's SJSU coaching staff in the early 1980s which had 5 members that became D-I head coaches, Mack said:
"I learned a lot there. It gave me the basics of practice plans. We still use the same practice plan. Elway was a very organized person, and ahead of his time in football." (HSA)
HSA Note: "During those Spartans practices, McMackin, who was coaching the defensive backs, faced an offense coordinated by Dennis Erickson, who went on to a successful head coaching career. Erickson ran a spread attack, which, in turn, helped McMackin develop a quarter zone scheme that has found its way into the current UH defensive playbook."
About how they were ranked in the top 20 during 2 of his 5 years at SJSU and beat Stanford (which had John Elway, Jack's son, at QB), Mack said:
"We were there five years, and we were successful. I was at Idaho before that. I got out of the snow, so I enjoyed that." (HSA)
About how he benefited from his 5 years as DB coach at SJSU, Mack said:
"Jack was really influential, and my time at San Jose State, I met a lot of really great people." (HSA)
Bryant Moniz said that openings for a receiver to be thrown to are called "windows" and that Kealoha Pilares:
"can climb through a window." (HSA)
About how he has been playing well since he regained his starting job, Kamalu Umu said:
"I've been focused. I've been learning to use my hands better to get off blocks." (HSA)
About all of the things that go on during the 2 seconds it takes from snap to punt, Alex Dunnachie said:
"Where are your feet going to face? How are you going to start? Where's your first step going to go? How far will your first step be? What is the angle and position of the ball? How are you going to drop it? There are so many things." (HSA)
About how Dunnachie placed 8 of his 9 punts in the BSU game outside the hashmark, his primary target, Chris Tormey said:
"If he can do that the rest of the year, he'll give our defense a good chance." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101120_McMackin_found_way_starting_in_San_Jose.html
"I learned a lot there. It gave me the basics of practice plans. We still use the same practice plan. Elway was a very organized person, and ahead of his time in football." (HSA)
HSA Note: "During those Spartans practices, McMackin, who was coaching the defensive backs, faced an offense coordinated by Dennis Erickson, who went on to a successful head coaching career. Erickson ran a spread attack, which, in turn, helped McMackin develop a quarter zone scheme that has found its way into the current UH defensive playbook."
About how they were ranked in the top 20 during 2 of his 5 years at SJSU and beat Stanford (which had John Elway, Jack's son, at QB), Mack said:
"We were there five years, and we were successful. I was at Idaho before that. I got out of the snow, so I enjoyed that." (HSA)
About how he benefited from his 5 years as DB coach at SJSU, Mack said:
"Jack was really influential, and my time at San Jose State, I met a lot of really great people." (HSA)
Bryant Moniz said that openings for a receiver to be thrown to are called "windows" and that Kealoha Pilares:
"can climb through a window." (HSA)
About how he has been playing well since he regained his starting job, Kamalu Umu said:
"I've been focused. I've been learning to use my hands better to get off blocks." (HSA)
About all of the things that go on during the 2 seconds it takes from snap to punt, Alex Dunnachie said:
"Where are your feet going to face? How are you going to start? Where's your first step going to go? How far will your first step be? What is the angle and position of the ball? How are you going to drop it? There are so many things." (HSA)
About how Dunnachie placed 8 of his 9 punts in the BSU game outside the hashmark, his primary target, Chris Tormey said:
"If he can do that the rest of the year, he'll give our defense a good chance." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101120_McMackin_found_way_starting_in_San_Jose.html
Colt Brennan seriously injured in a car accident in Kona
About the car accident, Colt's father Terry Brennan said:
"This is our worst nightmare. You always worry about safety, whether you're in Hawaii or on the mainland." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Colt Brennan was a passenger in an SUV driven by his girlfriend, Shakti Stream. They were headed north on Queen Kaahumanu Highway near the 90-mile marker at about 9:30 a.m. yesterday. Stream told police the brake malfunctioned, causing the SUV to cross the center line and collide head-on with a Saab sedan driven by a 47-year-old woman, a source said, adding that neither vehicle was speeding."
HSA Note: "» Colt Brennan: He suffered cracked ribs, an injured left collarbone and possible head trauma; taken to Queen's hospital yesterday.
» Shakti Stream: Brennan's girlfriend sustained a broken collarbone; was hospitalized in Kona overnight.
» Second driver: An unidentified woman, 47, had serious leg injuries; taken to an Oahu hospital yesterday."
about how Colt's injuries, Terry said:
"We're upset. We're hopeful all of the victims will be OK." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Police said Brennan was a passenger in an SUV driven by Shakti Stream, 27, his girlfriend and a Kona resident. The SUV was traveling north on Queen Kaahumanu Highway near the 90-mile marker at about 9:30 a.m. According to a source, Stream told police the brake malfunctioned, causing the vehicle to cross the center line and collide head-on with the Saab. A source said neither vehicle was speeding."
HSA Note: "Terry Brennan said his son spent the past few weeks with Stream on the Big Island. He said his son and Stream were en route to a volleyball event when they were involved in the accident."
About Colt's injuries and the others injured in the accident, Rich Miano said:
"This is a sad situation. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Colt and his family and the two women injured and their families. We wish them all a healthy recovery." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/hawaiinews/20101120_brennan_2_women_injured_in_collision.html
"This is our worst nightmare. You always worry about safety, whether you're in Hawaii or on the mainland." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Colt Brennan was a passenger in an SUV driven by his girlfriend, Shakti Stream. They were headed north on Queen Kaahumanu Highway near the 90-mile marker at about 9:30 a.m. yesterday. Stream told police the brake malfunctioned, causing the SUV to cross the center line and collide head-on with a Saab sedan driven by a 47-year-old woman, a source said, adding that neither vehicle was speeding."
HSA Note: "» Colt Brennan: He suffered cracked ribs, an injured left collarbone and possible head trauma; taken to Queen's hospital yesterday.
» Shakti Stream: Brennan's girlfriend sustained a broken collarbone; was hospitalized in Kona overnight.
» Second driver: An unidentified woman, 47, had serious leg injuries; taken to an Oahu hospital yesterday."
about how Colt's injuries, Terry said:
"We're upset. We're hopeful all of the victims will be OK." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Police said Brennan was a passenger in an SUV driven by Shakti Stream, 27, his girlfriend and a Kona resident. The SUV was traveling north on Queen Kaahumanu Highway near the 90-mile marker at about 9:30 a.m. According to a source, Stream told police the brake malfunctioned, causing the vehicle to cross the center line and collide head-on with the Saab. A source said neither vehicle was speeding."
HSA Note: "Terry Brennan said his son spent the past few weeks with Stream on the Big Island. He said his son and Stream were en route to a volleyball event when they were involved in the accident."
About Colt's injuries and the others injured in the accident, Rich Miano said:
"This is a sad situation. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Colt and his family and the two women injured and their families. We wish them all a healthy recovery." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/hawaiinews/20101120_brennan_2_women_injured_in_collision.html
Friday, November 19, 2010
UH is joining the MWC for football-only, all other sports going to the Big West!
About how they aren't going to have the official announcement about the MWC for awhile but they are confident that the deal is done, UH President M.R.C. Greenwood said:
"We have no reason to believe this is not going to move on a positive trajectory and that we will not have the official announcement (of agreement)." (HSA)
The Presidents of the MWC schools met yesterday by conference call and a spokesman for the MWC said:
"The Mountain West Conference Board of Directors has authorized Commissioner Craig Thompson to begin discussions with the University of Hawaii regarding possible membership in the sport of football only." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Sources familiar with the process said the MWC membership has already been polled and is agreeable to UH's entrance under certain conditions, which are believed to include travel subsidies. UH has indicated the subsidies, which will underwrite conference opponents coming to play in Aloha Stadium, will not be a problem."
JD said that he asked Dennis Hirota (Vice Chairman of the Board of Regents):
"to pinch me so I'd know I wasn't dreaming." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Signs last night pointed to the expected agreement having grown out of initial back-channel work done by UH Vice President Rockne Freitas and former UH administrator Neal Smatresk, who is president of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, an original MWC member. Greenwood and others made prominent mention of their "key" involvement as part of the "UH team" that has brought what is described as a "string agreement in principle" to the table. Smatresk was UH's chief academic officer from 2004-07 when he left for UNLV, where he became president in 2009 and now occupies a key role with the MWC Board of Directors."
Hirota said that when Greenwood briefed the UH Board of Regents at a meeting earlier in the day:
"everyone was very happy." (HSA)
HSA Note: "There were reports of some high-fives among regents, such was the relief after months of growing concern about where recent conference shake-ups had left the state's only NCAA Division I athletic program."
About how the WAC's announcement of adding Texas State and UT-San Antonio was going to make their geographic problems worse, JD said:
"The WAC was moving more geography-wise toward the middle of the country, which is more difficult for us on travel and more expensive." (HSA)
JD said that the new WAC would mean:
"having less and less known rivalries with teams that were going to be in the WAC." (HSA)
About how UH has a long history with the teams in the MWC, JD said:
"You look at Air Force, UNLV, San Diego State, Boise State, Nevada, Fresno State ... these are the schools that our fans resonate with. And we're going to be joining them and playing against them. That will help us at the gate and help (in recruiting)." (HSA)
About the problem their leaving will cause the WAC, JD said:
"we're obviously concerned about our colleagues out there, but the reality is that we're charged with doing what is best for (UH) and that's what we're doing." (HSA)
About how UH had *not* informed him that they were leaving before holding their press conference, Karl Benson said that he was "surprised" and:
"I've been surprised before." (HSA)
About UH's deadline to let the WAC know they are leaving, JD said:
"We need to notify the WAC by June 30 of 2011." (HSA)
About how the people of Hawaii should be happy with this change, JD said:
"The people in the state of Hawaii should be very positive about this and be convinced we have a bright future ahead of us." (HSA)
Greenwood said that UH has been asked to:
"enter discussions for the Warrior Football team to join the Mountain West Conference." (HSA)
About how MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson called UH earlier in the day, Greenwood said:
"The commissioner asked (UH) to begin discussions with the aim of the football team entering the conference as soon as possible." (HSA)
About how their team is excited about going to the MWC, Mack said:
"Our players and coaches are very excited." (HSA)
About how the volleyball team will benefit from playing in the Big West, Dave Shoji said:
"I think it's a positive for all our other teams, not just volleyball. I think most of our coaches would agree with that. It's closer, we all recruit in California. It will help recruiting. It will renew some old rivalries and I'm sure our fans would be happy to see those (Big West) teams again." (HSA)
"I think it's a positive for all our other teams. I think most of our coaches would agree with that. I'm sure our fans would be happy to see those (Big West) teams again." (HSA)
About the changes, UH basketball head coach Gib Arnold said:
"I'm excited for the football team. We will wait and and see what the next move is for the other sports." (HSA)
About moving to the MWC, JD said:
"The important thing, is we're going to the dance. That's always been the most important thing in my life. I'm a former offensive lineman, and no matter what it takes, we try to get the job done. We don't expect a lot of fanfare. We just want to get the job done." (HSA)
About how they have been scrambling ever since Fresno State and Nevada decided to leave the WAC, JD said:
"The day after Fresno and Nevada announced they were going to move, we made contacts with many conferences and many different entities." (HSA)
HSA Note: "He said that there were "realistically" five different scenarios, one of which involved the football team competing as an independent."
HSA Note: "UH president M.R.C. Greenwood and the leaders of the Board of Regents apparently pushed negotiations with the Mountain West."
About UH's strengths, UH chancellor Virginia Hinshaw said:
"Academically, we're very strong. We're also highly competitive in a multitude of sports. We offer a different time slot (for national television). Our fans travel to games, and we have a lot of alumni on the mainland. People are aware of the many assets that Hawaii and our teams bring." (HSA)
About how playing MWC teams will boost ticket sales, marketing, and merchandising, UH associate AD John McNamara said:
"It will be back to the future. The teams we'll be playing going forward are schools our fans are very familiar with." (HSA)
About how being in the MWC will help their recruiting, Mack said:
"It's really going to help recruiting. Our players are really excited about it. I like the recruiting areas. I like the old rivalries being back together." (HSA)
About how more conference shifting will happen in the future, Mack said:
"I think there's going to be another earthquake. It will be good to be in a solid league when that happens." (HSA)
HSA Note: "UH, of course, is not finished. Donovan said the intent is to move UH's other sports into the Big West, which recently lifted its moratorium on expansion. "It's not a done deal," Donovan cautioned, but said the Big West offers a better fit. He said the Mountain West was approached with only UH football seeking membership."
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101119_League_switches_welcomed.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/columnists/furtherreview/20101119_Do_you_believe_in_miracles_Yes_if_youre_a_UH_fan.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/hawaiinews/20101119_UH_leaving_WAC.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/109083259.html
"We have no reason to believe this is not going to move on a positive trajectory and that we will not have the official announcement (of agreement)." (HSA)
The Presidents of the MWC schools met yesterday by conference call and a spokesman for the MWC said:
"The Mountain West Conference Board of Directors has authorized Commissioner Craig Thompson to begin discussions with the University of Hawaii regarding possible membership in the sport of football only." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Sources familiar with the process said the MWC membership has already been polled and is agreeable to UH's entrance under certain conditions, which are believed to include travel subsidies. UH has indicated the subsidies, which will underwrite conference opponents coming to play in Aloha Stadium, will not be a problem."
JD said that he asked Dennis Hirota (Vice Chairman of the Board of Regents):
"to pinch me so I'd know I wasn't dreaming." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Signs last night pointed to the expected agreement having grown out of initial back-channel work done by UH Vice President Rockne Freitas and former UH administrator Neal Smatresk, who is president of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, an original MWC member. Greenwood and others made prominent mention of their "key" involvement as part of the "UH team" that has brought what is described as a "string agreement in principle" to the table. Smatresk was UH's chief academic officer from 2004-07 when he left for UNLV, where he became president in 2009 and now occupies a key role with the MWC Board of Directors."
Hirota said that when Greenwood briefed the UH Board of Regents at a meeting earlier in the day:
"everyone was very happy." (HSA)
HSA Note: "There were reports of some high-fives among regents, such was the relief after months of growing concern about where recent conference shake-ups had left the state's only NCAA Division I athletic program."
About how the WAC's announcement of adding Texas State and UT-San Antonio was going to make their geographic problems worse, JD said:
"The WAC was moving more geography-wise toward the middle of the country, which is more difficult for us on travel and more expensive." (HSA)
JD said that the new WAC would mean:
"having less and less known rivalries with teams that were going to be in the WAC." (HSA)
About how UH has a long history with the teams in the MWC, JD said:
"You look at Air Force, UNLV, San Diego State, Boise State, Nevada, Fresno State ... these are the schools that our fans resonate with. And we're going to be joining them and playing against them. That will help us at the gate and help (in recruiting)." (HSA)
About the problem their leaving will cause the WAC, JD said:
"we're obviously concerned about our colleagues out there, but the reality is that we're charged with doing what is best for (UH) and that's what we're doing." (HSA)
About how UH had *not* informed him that they were leaving before holding their press conference, Karl Benson said that he was "surprised" and:
"I've been surprised before." (HSA)
About UH's deadline to let the WAC know they are leaving, JD said:
"We need to notify the WAC by June 30 of 2011." (HSA)
About how the people of Hawaii should be happy with this change, JD said:
"The people in the state of Hawaii should be very positive about this and be convinced we have a bright future ahead of us." (HSA)
Greenwood said that UH has been asked to:
"enter discussions for the Warrior Football team to join the Mountain West Conference." (HSA)
About how MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson called UH earlier in the day, Greenwood said:
"The commissioner asked (UH) to begin discussions with the aim of the football team entering the conference as soon as possible." (HSA)
About how their team is excited about going to the MWC, Mack said:
"Our players and coaches are very excited." (HSA)
About how the volleyball team will benefit from playing in the Big West, Dave Shoji said:
"I think it's a positive for all our other teams, not just volleyball. I think most of our coaches would agree with that. It's closer, we all recruit in California. It will help recruiting. It will renew some old rivalries and I'm sure our fans would be happy to see those (Big West) teams again." (HSA)
"I think it's a positive for all our other teams. I think most of our coaches would agree with that. I'm sure our fans would be happy to see those (Big West) teams again." (HSA)
About the changes, UH basketball head coach Gib Arnold said:
"I'm excited for the football team. We will wait and and see what the next move is for the other sports." (HSA)
About moving to the MWC, JD said:
"The important thing, is we're going to the dance. That's always been the most important thing in my life. I'm a former offensive lineman, and no matter what it takes, we try to get the job done. We don't expect a lot of fanfare. We just want to get the job done." (HSA)
About how they have been scrambling ever since Fresno State and Nevada decided to leave the WAC, JD said:
"The day after Fresno and Nevada announced they were going to move, we made contacts with many conferences and many different entities." (HSA)
HSA Note: "He said that there were "realistically" five different scenarios, one of which involved the football team competing as an independent."
HSA Note: "UH president M.R.C. Greenwood and the leaders of the Board of Regents apparently pushed negotiations with the Mountain West."
About UH's strengths, UH chancellor Virginia Hinshaw said:
"Academically, we're very strong. We're also highly competitive in a multitude of sports. We offer a different time slot (for national television). Our fans travel to games, and we have a lot of alumni on the mainland. People are aware of the many assets that Hawaii and our teams bring." (HSA)
About how playing MWC teams will boost ticket sales, marketing, and merchandising, UH associate AD John McNamara said:
"It will be back to the future. The teams we'll be playing going forward are schools our fans are very familiar with." (HSA)
About how being in the MWC will help their recruiting, Mack said:
"It's really going to help recruiting. Our players are really excited about it. I like the recruiting areas. I like the old rivalries being back together." (HSA)
About how more conference shifting will happen in the future, Mack said:
"I think there's going to be another earthquake. It will be good to be in a solid league when that happens." (HSA)
HSA Note: "UH, of course, is not finished. Donovan said the intent is to move UH's other sports into the Big West, which recently lifted its moratorium on expansion. "It's not a done deal," Donovan cautioned, but said the Big West offers a better fit. He said the Mountain West was approached with only UH football seeking membership."
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101119_League_switches_welcomed.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/columnists/furtherreview/20101119_Do_you_believe_in_miracles_Yes_if_youre_a_UH_fan.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/hawaiinews/20101119_UH_leaving_WAC.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/109083259.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
