SFSS = South Florida Sun-Sentinel
About Samson's quickness, Miami head coach Tony Sparano said:
"He's very quick off the ball. When you are playing against bigger people quickness can hurt him a little." (SFSS)
SFSS Note: "Speed and quickness set Dolphins center Samson Satele apart. While those attributes might benefit him most weekends, the Dolphins are hopeful it won't be used against him Sunday when he lines up against New England Pro Bowl nose tackle Vince Wilfork."
About how Wilfok has been the most challenging matchup for him during his NFL career, Samson said:
"It's unbelievable what he does. [Wilfork] sits a yard off the ball and you think you can get him. But as soon as you take that first step he's by you, or in your face. ... Other guys try to beat you with speed. He's beating you with power and speed." (SFSS)
About how New England's DL is looking for revenge after the Dolphins rushed for 216 yards and 4 TDs in their game in September, Wilfork said:
"They handled us pretty well, including myself. It's a lot of things that we're going to do differently. We're going to play more physical at the line of scrimmage." (SFSS)
SFSS Note: "Coach Sparano said Satele, who allowed two sacks in the first two games of 2008, has steadily improved. He has only allowed one sack since. Sparano said Satele's biggest improvements have been in his film study, which has helped him become more efficient making the appropriate line calls."
Friday, November 21, 2008
Samson's coach praised his play this season
Asked about the play and growth of Samson so far this season, Miami head coach Tony Sparano said:
"I think Samson's getting better and better each game, I really do. One of the areas I think he's improved the most in is the mental part of it. I do think a large part of that has to do with certainly what he's done off the field in the meeting rooms. You hear a lot about these secret spy meetings that (Chad) Pennington and the group is having and all of these things, but that's one thing. I think what (offensive line coach) Mike Maser has done with him that way from understanding what's going on has been something that's been real good for him, too, teaching him how to study film that way. More importantly, just Samson taking control of what's happening out there. He's done a nice job that way, gotten much better since the day that we walked through the door that way. From a physical standpoint, I think all of the constant reps of Jason Ferguson during the course of the summer has helped him a lot. Against some of the bigger players right now, he's been able to compete in there and compete pretty well against some of those players. His forte is quickness; he's very quick off the ball. It's something that he's good at and when you're playing against bigger people, quickness can hurt them a little bit." (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
"I think Samson's getting better and better each game, I really do. One of the areas I think he's improved the most in is the mental part of it. I do think a large part of that has to do with certainly what he's done off the field in the meeting rooms. You hear a lot about these secret spy meetings that (Chad) Pennington and the group is having and all of these things, but that's one thing. I think what (offensive line coach) Mike Maser has done with him that way from understanding what's going on has been something that's been real good for him, too, teaching him how to study film that way. More importantly, just Samson taking control of what's happening out there. He's done a nice job that way, gotten much better since the day that we walked through the door that way. From a physical standpoint, I think all of the constant reps of Jason Ferguson during the course of the summer has helped him a lot. Against some of the bigger players right now, he's been able to compete in there and compete pretty well against some of those players. His forte is quickness; he's very quick off the ball. It's something that he's good at and when you're playing against bigger people, quickness can hurt them a little bit." (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Quotes from the local papers
About how he learned the skills needed for returning kicks by "playing backyard football" when he was in middle school, with his friends Calvin Dudley and Antoine ("Red"), Malcolm Lane said:
"We used to play 7-on-7. You need moves to break away from somebody playing touch (football). It's easier to shake somebody when it's tackle because (the defender) has to fully wrap you up." (HA)
HA Note: "Entering tomorrow's game against Idaho, Lane is ranked sixth nationally, averaging 30.08 yards per return. Florida State's Michael Ray Garvin leads with a 32.23-yard average. But in the last three games, Lane is averaging 41.29 yards on seven returns."
Praising Lane's job with kick returns this season, Ikaika Malloe said:
"He's doing a great job." (HA)
About how he takes 5 strides forward then picks an open path, Lane said:
"The wedge and the blockers up front do all of the dirty work. Those are the hardest jobs on the team. I just feed off of them. They hype me up. They make the play. All of the credit goes to the blockers." (HA)
About how his world goes silent when he hits the hole in a return, Lane said:
"I'm kind of in a blur. I don't hear anything. I'm so focused." (HA)
About how he notices the big blocks going on in the returns, Lane said:
"I'm running and I'm like, 'ooh, somebody is getting blown up.' It's like a big car wreck. I don't want to slow down and look. I have to keep running hard and looking for the next seam." (HA)
About how he knows when he's reached the second level during his return, Lane said:
"That's when it goes hoooo. That's when you start hyper-ventilating. When I get to the second level, I get excited. I need to relax more. Just like the Utah State (return). I started hyper-ventilating, and couldn't make it." (HA)
HA Note: "In that game, he fumbled on a 91-yard run, just shy of the end zone."
About how returning kicks has helped his game at WR, Lane said:
"Kick returns get me hyped. I always try to go hard every play. I like to get involved, and when I'm feeling more involved, I play a lot better." (HA)
About the heavy rain forecast during tomorrow's game doesn't change their game plan, Mac said:
"It doesn't matter. We've practiced in rain all year. The only thing that bothers a game plan is snow, and I know it's not going to snow. Rain doesn't affect anything as far as we're concerned." (HA)
About how he practices for tough conditions by pouring iced water onto a football before practicing snapping, long-snapper Jake Ingram said:
"If it rains, I've got to focus on what I've got to do. I've got to rely on my skills. If I do, the rain shouldn't be a factor." (HA)
Ingram added that:
"as long as I keep a towel and dry my hands, I'm all right." (HA)
Praising their UnderArmour shoes, Mac said:
"Shoot, we've got the best cleats in the world. Why are we worried?" (HA)
About how Richard Torres and Spencer Smith have been nicknamed "Allstate", Rich Miano said:
"They're the 'good hands' people." (HA)
About how Torres and Smith trained this week as the receivers for onside kicks, Miano said:
"They're good athletes who can catch the ball. And they're tough." (HA)
About how the NCAA allows the kickoff team to "overload" six players on one side of the tee, Miano said:
"That's how many are coming at you when the ball is in the air. You're exposed. You've got to catch it, and you're going to get hit. You can't put a skinny receiver out there and fair catch it. If the ball hits the ground, it's a free ball. Just because you're a receiver and have good hands, it doesn't mean you can field onside kicks. You also need courage." (HA)
About Torres and Smith as their onside kick recoverers, Malloe said:
"You have to be a special kind of guy. Those two guys have the mentality they'll go and get (the football) no matter what." (HA)
About how he depends on his blockers to create a pocket for him to recover the onside kick, Spencer Smith said:
"Hopefully, none (of the opposing players) will come through. If they do, I have to focus on catching the ball. If I get hit, I get hit." (HA)
About how he developed toughness as a state champion wrestler and judoka, Torres said:
"You've got to go up for the ball and pray. They're going to be gunning for you. You've got to trust the guys in front, that they'll clean those guys out before they clean me out. I've got to concentrate on the ball. I'm going to get hit, anyway. I might as well catch it." (HA)
About how his Dad would help him with his receiving skills by using a tennis racket to hit a tennis ball as high as he could, with Spencer trying to catch them like he was fielding a punt, Spencer Smith said:
"It went pretty high. If you catch a tennis ball, you can catch a football." (HA)
About how their game against the Warriors provides them an opportunity for growth, Idaho coach Robb Akey said:
"That's the opportunity it presents for us, continue our building process. I feel like we're much better right now than we were at the beginning of the season." (HSB)
Wanting his players to end their season strong, Akey said:
"I think this is a very important game for us. I want to be able to send the seniors out with a victory in their final go in a Vandal uniform, and for the rest of us coming back it would be a great launching pad going into our offseason and to help us continue in our building process." (HSB)
HSB Note: "The Vandals (2-9, 1-6 Western Athletic Conference) will complete the program's ninth straight losing season when they visit Aloha Stadium. Idaho has won just six league games in four years of WAC membership and saw two captains knocked out by injuries this season."
About how his team has continued to work hard despite going 3-20 in their last 23 games, Akey said:
"We've got a good family atmosphere amongst them, they're working hard, they're paying attention to getting better. That has kept everybody going and that's the way we're working to handle this ballgame, paying attention what we can accomplish. That way things are more optimistic and you see what's there for you opposed to just focusing on the fact that it's the end." (HSB)
About how the bye week energized them, Aaron Bain said:
"I think we're coming back more energized. We took the bye off, but everybody's real antsy and we just want to play." (HSB)
About losing their top receiver (TE Eddie Williams) by far this season to a torn ACL, after losing preseason All-wAC safety Shiloh Keo to injury in September, Akey said:
"Eddie's been doing everything for us. That means some other people are going to have to step up and make some of those catches and blocks and runs he was making for us. Our football team has responded to those things. Any time opportunities open up you can't ask any questions, you just have to run and make sure it closes shut behind you. That's kind of the challenge we put out there to them." (HSB)
About how they are relying on freshmen and sophomores, Akey said:
"They're learning under the gun and those lessons get learned hard. But I think you also get paid back for those growing pains." (HSB)
About how their game with BSU was close at halftime, Akey said:
"At halftime it was a whale of a football game, and unfortunately we didn't play well in the second half. That was an emotional deal, but there's also a lot of emotion when you're talking about playing the final game of the year and for some guys the final game they're going to play here." (HSB)
About how their young DTs got a lot of reps due to injuries to their starters, DT coach Ikaika Malloe said:
"Vaughn had so many reps, Tuika had so many reps, I think it's paying off now." (HSB)
About how Keala Watson, Josh Leonard, and Fale Laeli will get more playing time since they are facing a team with a balanced attack instead of NMSU's pass-reliant offense, Dave Aranda said:
"They're fired up for it. They didn't get a lot of playing time in the last game. So they're very excited to be able to play their style." (HSB)
About freshman Vaughn Meatoga, who made his first career start at Utah State and got his first solo sack against NMSU, Aranda said:
"Vaughn is one of our more productive guys now, where at the beginning of the year in the Oregon State game we had to play him out of necessity in a sense, now we're trying to find ways to play him." (HSB)
About how their DL had just 2 sacks in their first 7 games, but they now have 9 sacks in their last 3 games (5.5 by David Veikune), Keala Watson said:
"In the first few games we were playing our gaps only and nothing else, just focusing on your job. The last couple games, guys have gotten more comfortable at their positions." (HSB)
About his commitment to UH, Kamalani Alo said:
"It's kind of tough thinking of college and making the decision of where to go. I was just fortunate enough to get a scholarship to UH." (HSB)
About how they moved Kamalani to safety (from OLB) due to his speed, Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said:
"We said we need to get him in the backfield so he can cover more ground. He's got great speed for his size, but that's not the only thing -- it's his work ethic. (The UH coaches) know he's a good athlete, but the thing that really got them was his work ethic." (HSB)
Looking forward to playing at Aloha Stadium, where his last high school game was a 22-20 loss to Kahuku in the state semifinals on the last play of the game, JoJo Dickson said:
"We lost in about 5 seconds. It was a big disappointment. I'm looking back and I want to go to the stadium and finally win something." (HSB)
About being the only Hawaii high school player to go to Idaho when Idaho offered a full scholarship and UH only offered a chance to walk-on and possibly grayshirt, Dickson said:
"All I wanted was to get a chance to play and (Idaho) gave me a chance." (HSB)
About how he's moved up from special teams to where the UH game will be his 4th consecutive start at LB, Leilehua grad Siavii said:
"Yeah it surprised me, but I just came over here with the mind-set to earn my position. It is kind of different -- there are like 7-foot guys out there on the field, but just playing ball and being yourself out there is pretty much the same." (HSB)
About how he worked to earn playing time as a true freshman, Kama Bailey said:
"I knew, just like Rob said, we had to come up here and work our butts off to get a position." (HSB)
HSB Note: "His 840 kickoff-return yards are the second most in school history, and he's also made his presence felt on offense, hauling in two 30-yard touchdown catches this season."
About how Kama has a great future with them, Akey said:
"Kama started out getting more time in special teams and then became our return man. He had two touchdowns as a running back in the Louisiana Tech game and I think he's got a great future." (HSB)
About how his 3 local players will be excited to play in Hawaii, Akey said:
"We're bringing them back to their stomping grounds, so I'd like to think they'll be excited about it. They're fired up to play in front of family and friends, so I'd expect them to play even better." (HSB)
About how he dresses in Idaho just like he did back in Hawaii, Siavii said:
"You know how back in the islands we would walk around with our jacket with no shirt. That's how it is today." (HSB)
About the weather in Idaho, Kama Bailey said:
"Of course it gets a little cold and you start shivering a little bit." (HSB)
About how his two teammates from Hawaii will have a big adjustment in their first first winter in Idaho, Dickson (who joined Idaho one year before Bailey and Siavii so he's been through one Idaho winter) said:
"They're gonna have to submit to the temperature when it drops. Right now they're lucky, but once the snow comes down, that's punishment day." (HSB)
"We used to play 7-on-7. You need moves to break away from somebody playing touch (football). It's easier to shake somebody when it's tackle because (the defender) has to fully wrap you up." (HA)
HA Note: "Entering tomorrow's game against Idaho, Lane is ranked sixth nationally, averaging 30.08 yards per return. Florida State's Michael Ray Garvin leads with a 32.23-yard average. But in the last three games, Lane is averaging 41.29 yards on seven returns."
Praising Lane's job with kick returns this season, Ikaika Malloe said:
"He's doing a great job." (HA)
About how he takes 5 strides forward then picks an open path, Lane said:
"The wedge and the blockers up front do all of the dirty work. Those are the hardest jobs on the team. I just feed off of them. They hype me up. They make the play. All of the credit goes to the blockers." (HA)
About how his world goes silent when he hits the hole in a return, Lane said:
"I'm kind of in a blur. I don't hear anything. I'm so focused." (HA)
About how he notices the big blocks going on in the returns, Lane said:
"I'm running and I'm like, 'ooh, somebody is getting blown up.' It's like a big car wreck. I don't want to slow down and look. I have to keep running hard and looking for the next seam." (HA)
About how he knows when he's reached the second level during his return, Lane said:
"That's when it goes hoooo. That's when you start hyper-ventilating. When I get to the second level, I get excited. I need to relax more. Just like the Utah State (return). I started hyper-ventilating, and couldn't make it." (HA)
HA Note: "In that game, he fumbled on a 91-yard run, just shy of the end zone."
About how returning kicks has helped his game at WR, Lane said:
"Kick returns get me hyped. I always try to go hard every play. I like to get involved, and when I'm feeling more involved, I play a lot better." (HA)
About the heavy rain forecast during tomorrow's game doesn't change their game plan, Mac said:
"It doesn't matter. We've practiced in rain all year. The only thing that bothers a game plan is snow, and I know it's not going to snow. Rain doesn't affect anything as far as we're concerned." (HA)
About how he practices for tough conditions by pouring iced water onto a football before practicing snapping, long-snapper Jake Ingram said:
"If it rains, I've got to focus on what I've got to do. I've got to rely on my skills. If I do, the rain shouldn't be a factor." (HA)
Ingram added that:
"as long as I keep a towel and dry my hands, I'm all right." (HA)
Praising their UnderArmour shoes, Mac said:
"Shoot, we've got the best cleats in the world. Why are we worried?" (HA)
About how Richard Torres and Spencer Smith have been nicknamed "Allstate", Rich Miano said:
"They're the 'good hands' people." (HA)
About how Torres and Smith trained this week as the receivers for onside kicks, Miano said:
"They're good athletes who can catch the ball. And they're tough." (HA)
About how the NCAA allows the kickoff team to "overload" six players on one side of the tee, Miano said:
"That's how many are coming at you when the ball is in the air. You're exposed. You've got to catch it, and you're going to get hit. You can't put a skinny receiver out there and fair catch it. If the ball hits the ground, it's a free ball. Just because you're a receiver and have good hands, it doesn't mean you can field onside kicks. You also need courage." (HA)
About Torres and Smith as their onside kick recoverers, Malloe said:
"You have to be a special kind of guy. Those two guys have the mentality they'll go and get (the football) no matter what." (HA)
About how he depends on his blockers to create a pocket for him to recover the onside kick, Spencer Smith said:
"Hopefully, none (of the opposing players) will come through. If they do, I have to focus on catching the ball. If I get hit, I get hit." (HA)
About how he developed toughness as a state champion wrestler and judoka, Torres said:
"You've got to go up for the ball and pray. They're going to be gunning for you. You've got to trust the guys in front, that they'll clean those guys out before they clean me out. I've got to concentrate on the ball. I'm going to get hit, anyway. I might as well catch it." (HA)
About how his Dad would help him with his receiving skills by using a tennis racket to hit a tennis ball as high as he could, with Spencer trying to catch them like he was fielding a punt, Spencer Smith said:
"It went pretty high. If you catch a tennis ball, you can catch a football." (HA)
About how their game against the Warriors provides them an opportunity for growth, Idaho coach Robb Akey said:
"That's the opportunity it presents for us, continue our building process. I feel like we're much better right now than we were at the beginning of the season." (HSB)
Wanting his players to end their season strong, Akey said:
"I think this is a very important game for us. I want to be able to send the seniors out with a victory in their final go in a Vandal uniform, and for the rest of us coming back it would be a great launching pad going into our offseason and to help us continue in our building process." (HSB)
HSB Note: "The Vandals (2-9, 1-6 Western Athletic Conference) will complete the program's ninth straight losing season when they visit Aloha Stadium. Idaho has won just six league games in four years of WAC membership and saw two captains knocked out by injuries this season."
About how his team has continued to work hard despite going 3-20 in their last 23 games, Akey said:
"We've got a good family atmosphere amongst them, they're working hard, they're paying attention to getting better. That has kept everybody going and that's the way we're working to handle this ballgame, paying attention what we can accomplish. That way things are more optimistic and you see what's there for you opposed to just focusing on the fact that it's the end." (HSB)
About how the bye week energized them, Aaron Bain said:
"I think we're coming back more energized. We took the bye off, but everybody's real antsy and we just want to play." (HSB)
About losing their top receiver (TE Eddie Williams) by far this season to a torn ACL, after losing preseason All-wAC safety Shiloh Keo to injury in September, Akey said:
"Eddie's been doing everything for us. That means some other people are going to have to step up and make some of those catches and blocks and runs he was making for us. Our football team has responded to those things. Any time opportunities open up you can't ask any questions, you just have to run and make sure it closes shut behind you. That's kind of the challenge we put out there to them." (HSB)
About how they are relying on freshmen and sophomores, Akey said:
"They're learning under the gun and those lessons get learned hard. But I think you also get paid back for those growing pains." (HSB)
About how their game with BSU was close at halftime, Akey said:
"At halftime it was a whale of a football game, and unfortunately we didn't play well in the second half. That was an emotional deal, but there's also a lot of emotion when you're talking about playing the final game of the year and for some guys the final game they're going to play here." (HSB)
About how their young DTs got a lot of reps due to injuries to their starters, DT coach Ikaika Malloe said:
"Vaughn had so many reps, Tuika had so many reps, I think it's paying off now." (HSB)
About how Keala Watson, Josh Leonard, and Fale Laeli will get more playing time since they are facing a team with a balanced attack instead of NMSU's pass-reliant offense, Dave Aranda said:
"They're fired up for it. They didn't get a lot of playing time in the last game. So they're very excited to be able to play their style." (HSB)
About freshman Vaughn Meatoga, who made his first career start at Utah State and got his first solo sack against NMSU, Aranda said:
"Vaughn is one of our more productive guys now, where at the beginning of the year in the Oregon State game we had to play him out of necessity in a sense, now we're trying to find ways to play him." (HSB)
About how their DL had just 2 sacks in their first 7 games, but they now have 9 sacks in their last 3 games (5.5 by David Veikune), Keala Watson said:
"In the first few games we were playing our gaps only and nothing else, just focusing on your job. The last couple games, guys have gotten more comfortable at their positions." (HSB)
About his commitment to UH, Kamalani Alo said:
"It's kind of tough thinking of college and making the decision of where to go. I was just fortunate enough to get a scholarship to UH." (HSB)
About how they moved Kamalani to safety (from OLB) due to his speed, Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said:
"We said we need to get him in the backfield so he can cover more ground. He's got great speed for his size, but that's not the only thing -- it's his work ethic. (The UH coaches) know he's a good athlete, but the thing that really got them was his work ethic." (HSB)
Looking forward to playing at Aloha Stadium, where his last high school game was a 22-20 loss to Kahuku in the state semifinals on the last play of the game, JoJo Dickson said:
"We lost in about 5 seconds. It was a big disappointment. I'm looking back and I want to go to the stadium and finally win something." (HSB)
About being the only Hawaii high school player to go to Idaho when Idaho offered a full scholarship and UH only offered a chance to walk-on and possibly grayshirt, Dickson said:
"All I wanted was to get a chance to play and (Idaho) gave me a chance." (HSB)
About how he's moved up from special teams to where the UH game will be his 4th consecutive start at LB, Leilehua grad Siavii said:
"Yeah it surprised me, but I just came over here with the mind-set to earn my position. It is kind of different -- there are like 7-foot guys out there on the field, but just playing ball and being yourself out there is pretty much the same." (HSB)
About how he worked to earn playing time as a true freshman, Kama Bailey said:
"I knew, just like Rob said, we had to come up here and work our butts off to get a position." (HSB)
HSB Note: "His 840 kickoff-return yards are the second most in school history, and he's also made his presence felt on offense, hauling in two 30-yard touchdown catches this season."
About how Kama has a great future with them, Akey said:
"Kama started out getting more time in special teams and then became our return man. He had two touchdowns as a running back in the Louisiana Tech game and I think he's got a great future." (HSB)
About how his 3 local players will be excited to play in Hawaii, Akey said:
"We're bringing them back to their stomping grounds, so I'd like to think they'll be excited about it. They're fired up to play in front of family and friends, so I'd expect them to play even better." (HSB)
About how he dresses in Idaho just like he did back in Hawaii, Siavii said:
"You know how back in the islands we would walk around with our jacket with no shirt. That's how it is today." (HSB)
About the weather in Idaho, Kama Bailey said:
"Of course it gets a little cold and you start shivering a little bit." (HSB)
About how his two teammates from Hawaii will have a big adjustment in their first first winter in Idaho, Dickson (who joined Idaho one year before Bailey and Siavii so he's been through one Idaho winter) said:
"They're gonna have to submit to the temperature when it drops. Right now they're lucky, but once the snow comes down, that's punishment day." (HSB)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Kamalani Alo commits to the Warriors!
Alo talked about how he received interest from Utah and Oregon State but chose UH because:
"it's home. I want to play in front of family. I really like UH." (HA)
HA Note: "Kamalani Alo, who is 6 feet 1 1/2 and 190 pounds, is projected to compete at safety for the Warriors. He is an outside linebacker for Kahuku. He also is a member of the track team — 100-meter sprint, 110 hurdles, 4x100 relay, shot put and discus — and a sweeper in soccer."
About how Paipai Falemalu is his mentor, Alo said:
"He helped me become an outside linebacker." (HA)
About how Kamalani was born with fair skin and light hair, his Mom Deedee Alo said:
"When my mother saw him, she said his Hawaiian name should be Kamalani. He's the unique child from heaven." (HA)
HA Note: "But Stan Alo said his son was named after an Israel Kamakawiwo'ole song. Deedee Alo said her son's middle name, Tulagatasi, means high chief in Samoan."
About how he and his wife Deedee are long-time Warrior fans, Kanalani's Dad, Stan Alo, said:
"We try to go to games." (HA)
About how Kamalani is considering going on a church mission after he turns 19 (he'll be 17 when he graduates), Stan Alo said:
"He'll have a lot of time for school and football." (HA)
About how Deedee and are happy with Kamalani's decision, Stan Alo said:
"He's going to a very good program. He's getting a good opportunity to go to school and to play football. It's great that his tuition will be paid. That's one less bill for his parents." (HA)
About joining the Warriors' D, Kamalani said:
"I like their defense. It looks really good." (HA)
About why they moved Kamalani to safety this season, Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said:
“He can cover ground. That’s why we moved him to safety. His speed is phenomenal.” (HA)
About Kamalani's work ethic, Torres said:
“He’s got great ability, and it’s all based on his work ethic. He’s not afraid to train.” (HA)
"it's home. I want to play in front of family. I really like UH." (HA)
HA Note: "Kamalani Alo, who is 6 feet 1 1/2 and 190 pounds, is projected to compete at safety for the Warriors. He is an outside linebacker for Kahuku. He also is a member of the track team — 100-meter sprint, 110 hurdles, 4x100 relay, shot put and discus — and a sweeper in soccer."
About how Paipai Falemalu is his mentor, Alo said:
"He helped me become an outside linebacker." (HA)
About how Kamalani was born with fair skin and light hair, his Mom Deedee Alo said:
"When my mother saw him, she said his Hawaiian name should be Kamalani. He's the unique child from heaven." (HA)
HA Note: "But Stan Alo said his son was named after an Israel Kamakawiwo'ole song. Deedee Alo said her son's middle name, Tulagatasi, means high chief in Samoan."
About how he and his wife Deedee are long-time Warrior fans, Kanalani's Dad, Stan Alo, said:
"We try to go to games." (HA)
About how Kamalani is considering going on a church mission after he turns 19 (he'll be 17 when he graduates), Stan Alo said:
"He'll have a lot of time for school and football." (HA)
About how Deedee and are happy with Kamalani's decision, Stan Alo said:
"He's going to a very good program. He's getting a good opportunity to go to school and to play football. It's great that his tuition will be paid. That's one less bill for his parents." (HA)
About joining the Warriors' D, Kamalani said:
"I like their defense. It looks really good." (HA)
About why they moved Kamalani to safety this season, Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said:
“He can cover ground. That’s why we moved him to safety. His speed is phenomenal.” (HA)
About Kamalani's work ethic, Torres said:
“He’s got great ability, and it’s all based on his work ethic. He’s not afraid to train.” (HA)
Other Quotes from the Honolulu Advertiser
About having practice at the field at Saint Louise, Mac said:
"It was a good workout. We got a lot of reps. And we saved our field." (HA)
HA Note: "Heavy rain Tuesday morning forced the Warriors to postpone that day's practice to the afternoon on their grass field. They scheduled yesterday's practice for Saint Louis' artificial surface."
Mac said that they practice in shells (helmets and shoulder pads), but:
"we got a lot of throwing in, a lot of reads. The quarterbacks looked really good. The receivers ran good routes. I thought it was a good, crisp practice." (HA)
About practicing at Saint Louis, Saint Louis grad Keao Monteilh said:
"I felt the power of the field." (HA)
About how their was an asphalt track outlining the field when he went to Saint Louis, Monteilh said:
"Once we left, they got everything — a new track, a fence." (HA)
Saint Louis grad Fale Laeli said about the upgrades at Saint Louis:
"We had the (artificial) turf, but not all of this nice stuff. Back then, it was hard. That's why we played hard." (HA)
About how he passed the entry test to Saint Louis but chose to attend Damien, Kealoha Pilares said:
"It's a better school." (HA)
About how he will complete his high school work in December and enroll at UH in January, competing in UH's offseason conditioning program and participating in spring practice, Billy Ray Stutzmann said:
"I just wanted to get a headstart on the season coming up. Everyone said it's good to get into college early and get the training." (HA)
HA Note: "Still, Stutzmann will be allowed to attend his senior prom and walk with his classmates during Saint Louis' graduation ceremony."
About being moved from slotback to RB due to Libre's possible ab injury and LWJ not being able to practice due to a foot injury, Pilares said:
"What's new?" (HA)
About playing slotback and RB, Pilares said:
"Slot is more fun because it's something new. It's a different feeling when you get the ball as a slotback." (HA)
About how he will get some carries with the injuries to the other RBs, David Farmer said:
"I'm cool with it. It goes with the job." (HA)
Farmer said that he tweaked his right knee last week, but the knee:
"brace saved me. I'm probably at 90, 95 percent." (HA)
About how he will play at full speed despite his injury, Farmer said:
"I try not to think about it. If you don't think about it, it doesn't get to you. I try to pretend I'm 100 percent. The minute you hesitate is when you get hurt even worse." (HA)
About how Mouton will start at free safety, Mac said:
"He's making all kinds of plays back there. We can blitz him. He can play deep. He can play man. He's a very smart player." (HA)
"It was a good workout. We got a lot of reps. And we saved our field." (HA)
HA Note: "Heavy rain Tuesday morning forced the Warriors to postpone that day's practice to the afternoon on their grass field. They scheduled yesterday's practice for Saint Louis' artificial surface."
Mac said that they practice in shells (helmets and shoulder pads), but:
"we got a lot of throwing in, a lot of reads. The quarterbacks looked really good. The receivers ran good routes. I thought it was a good, crisp practice." (HA)
About practicing at Saint Louis, Saint Louis grad Keao Monteilh said:
"I felt the power of the field." (HA)
About how their was an asphalt track outlining the field when he went to Saint Louis, Monteilh said:
"Once we left, they got everything — a new track, a fence." (HA)
Saint Louis grad Fale Laeli said about the upgrades at Saint Louis:
"We had the (artificial) turf, but not all of this nice stuff. Back then, it was hard. That's why we played hard." (HA)
About how he passed the entry test to Saint Louis but chose to attend Damien, Kealoha Pilares said:
"It's a better school." (HA)
About how he will complete his high school work in December and enroll at UH in January, competing in UH's offseason conditioning program and participating in spring practice, Billy Ray Stutzmann said:
"I just wanted to get a headstart on the season coming up. Everyone said it's good to get into college early and get the training." (HA)
HA Note: "Still, Stutzmann will be allowed to attend his senior prom and walk with his classmates during Saint Louis' graduation ceremony."
About being moved from slotback to RB due to Libre's possible ab injury and LWJ not being able to practice due to a foot injury, Pilares said:
"What's new?" (HA)
About playing slotback and RB, Pilares said:
"Slot is more fun because it's something new. It's a different feeling when you get the ball as a slotback." (HA)
About how he will get some carries with the injuries to the other RBs, David Farmer said:
"I'm cool with it. It goes with the job." (HA)
Farmer said that he tweaked his right knee last week, but the knee:
"brace saved me. I'm probably at 90, 95 percent." (HA)
About how he will play at full speed despite his injury, Farmer said:
"I try not to think about it. If you don't think about it, it doesn't get to you. I try to pretend I'm 100 percent. The minute you hesitate is when you get hurt even worse." (HA)
About how Mouton will start at free safety, Mac said:
"He's making all kinds of plays back there. We can blitz him. He can play deep. He can play man. He's a very smart player." (HA)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Quotes from the local papers
About how they were able to practice at UH yesterday afternoon after their morning practice was rained out, Greg Alexander said:
"It feels good to be back out here. We've had stuff switching around all season so it's something that we've got to deal with and just go out and get our work done." (HA)
HA Note: "Even yesterday's plans were in limbo because of more rain. The Warriors searched for alternate practice sites, including Roosevelt's Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium and Aloha Stadium, but when the afternoon weather cleared up, it was decided they would practice at UH after all."
About how they won't let their schedule changes (forced due to rain) affect them, Adam Leonard said:
"It's kind of a switch-up for (yesterday), but we got some good work in and we're ready to get back into it and finish off strong." (HA)
About their respect for Idaho's offense, Adam said:
"They've moved the ball on everybody they've played,. For us defensive guys, this will be a big challenge. We still haven't played a complete game this whole year." (HA)
About how they want to do well in this game to get their home stretch going strong, Adam said:
"This is one of those games that's going to get us ready for the end of our season and I'm real confident in our team that we can finish strong and win the rest of our games." (HA)
About their afternoon practice, Mac said:
"I thought the guys did a good job and we had a good practice -- we got a good start on our plan. We got everything done that we wanted to do." (HSB)
About how they will practice at Saint Louis's artificial surface field today, Mac said:
"We're not sure of the weather, and we don't want to tear the field up any more. Plus we play on turf (at Aloha Stadium) so it's good to get some work on turf." (HSB)
About moving Ryan Mouton to free safety, Mac said:
"He's such a smart guy, it's amazing how he can pick things up. He looked like a natural free safety today. He's just an excellent athlete." (HSB)
About playing free safety, Mouton said:
"I'm not back there to try to make spectacular plays. It's all about doing your job and those plays will come." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Mouton's last experience as a free safety came in the Warriors' regular-season finale against Washington last year. With injuries thinning the secondary, the coaches asked Mouton to move to safety. He recorded six tackles and came up with the game-clinching interception in the end zone off a deflection to seal a 35-28 win and a BCS berth for the Warriors."
About how Mouton played well at free safety in last year's Washington despite not practicing at that position, Rich Miano said:
"He played about 90 percent of the snaps without practice and without any type of preparation. You can't just take a corner and make him a safety. It takes a special guy because it's a whole different vision thing, it's a whole different communication thing. You have to be more of a quarterback. He just understands concepts and where everybody's supposed to be." (HSB)
About how playing the other secondary positions helps him play free safety, Mouton said:
"Playing corner and nickelback you have to know the other positions and know where your help's coming from. So it's not too much of a difference." (HSB)
About how Keao Monteilh and Desmond Thomas will both play at safety, Miano said:
"They're still going to play, they've helped us win championships and helped us win a lot of games." (HSB)
About how Mouton's speed will cut down on the big plays against their D, Miano said:
"He might make a false step or a bad read, but you can do that when you're as fast as he is. He has the ability to hopefully eliminate some big plays." (HSB)
"It feels good to be back out here. We've had stuff switching around all season so it's something that we've got to deal with and just go out and get our work done." (HA)
HA Note: "Even yesterday's plans were in limbo because of more rain. The Warriors searched for alternate practice sites, including Roosevelt's Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium and Aloha Stadium, but when the afternoon weather cleared up, it was decided they would practice at UH after all."
About how they won't let their schedule changes (forced due to rain) affect them, Adam Leonard said:
"It's kind of a switch-up for (yesterday), but we got some good work in and we're ready to get back into it and finish off strong." (HA)
About their respect for Idaho's offense, Adam said:
"They've moved the ball on everybody they've played,. For us defensive guys, this will be a big challenge. We still haven't played a complete game this whole year." (HA)
About how they want to do well in this game to get their home stretch going strong, Adam said:
"This is one of those games that's going to get us ready for the end of our season and I'm real confident in our team that we can finish strong and win the rest of our games." (HA)
About their afternoon practice, Mac said:
"I thought the guys did a good job and we had a good practice -- we got a good start on our plan. We got everything done that we wanted to do." (HSB)
About how they will practice at Saint Louis's artificial surface field today, Mac said:
"We're not sure of the weather, and we don't want to tear the field up any more. Plus we play on turf (at Aloha Stadium) so it's good to get some work on turf." (HSB)
About moving Ryan Mouton to free safety, Mac said:
"He's such a smart guy, it's amazing how he can pick things up. He looked like a natural free safety today. He's just an excellent athlete." (HSB)
About playing free safety, Mouton said:
"I'm not back there to try to make spectacular plays. It's all about doing your job and those plays will come." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Mouton's last experience as a free safety came in the Warriors' regular-season finale against Washington last year. With injuries thinning the secondary, the coaches asked Mouton to move to safety. He recorded six tackles and came up with the game-clinching interception in the end zone off a deflection to seal a 35-28 win and a BCS berth for the Warriors."
About how Mouton played well at free safety in last year's Washington despite not practicing at that position, Rich Miano said:
"He played about 90 percent of the snaps without practice and without any type of preparation. You can't just take a corner and make him a safety. It takes a special guy because it's a whole different vision thing, it's a whole different communication thing. You have to be more of a quarterback. He just understands concepts and where everybody's supposed to be." (HSB)
About how playing the other secondary positions helps him play free safety, Mouton said:
"Playing corner and nickelback you have to know the other positions and know where your help's coming from. So it's not too much of a difference." (HSB)
About how Keao Monteilh and Desmond Thomas will both play at safety, Miano said:
"They're still going to play, they've helped us win championships and helped us win a lot of games." (HSB)
About how Mouton's speed will cut down on the big plays against their D, Miano said:
"He might make a false step or a bad read, but you can do that when you're as fast as he is. He has the ability to hopefully eliminate some big plays." (HSB)
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Quotes from the local papers
About how he had to cancel their plans to practice yesterday due to the rain and the Ching Field renovation not being done yet, Mac said:
"I didn't want to tear up the grass. We did have them run and lift. We'll still have three full practices this week." (HA)
About how the players that have been getting a lot of playing time had limited workouts last week, Mac said:
"Even our workouts were more about technique and fundamentals." (HA)
About giving the team Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off, Mac said:
"It was a good thing. There were guys playing with aches and pains. I could probably name three-fourths of the team who had aches and pains they've been fighting through. It's just good to have a week off where they're not getting hit. Really, when you play a game, the hits are not collisions anymore because of the size and the speed of the players. They're like car wrecks." (HA)
John Estes said that the week off helped with his variety of injuries, since it:
"gave me a chance to rest up. I needed that." (HA)
About how he played better against Nevada instead of their back-to-back road games after it, Estes said:
"It showed, in my body being all banged up." (HA)
Kealoha Pilares (who has a foot injury) said that the bye week:
"helped me recover a little bit. I feel good now." (HA)
About how they have to get their intensity back after taking the time off, Mac said:
"That's why I wanted to practice an extra day. I didn't want to lose any timing. That's something you lose by not playing a game. You don't get that game experience. But you also don't get the injuries and the collisions." (HA)
About introducing (going over bios and tendencies) their players to the Idaho players during yesterday's meetings instead of how they normally do that on Tuesday, Mac said:
"Introducing the (Idaho) team is very important. Now we have the game plan ready. We'll have three full days to work on it." (HA)
About how he likes playing both RB and slotback, Pilares aid:
"I guess I have one more game to consider me a slot." ( HA)
About how they need Stanford to beat Cal to become bowl eligible (otherwise, they need UCLA or Arizona State to win their last 2 games), Hawaii Bowl executive director David Matlin said:
"Stanford has the easiest road." (HA)
HA Note: "The Hawai'i Bowl, which has the sixth pick of eligible Pac-10 teams, would also have to hope the Bowl Championship Series doesn't take two teams from the conference, USC and Oregon State. Without Stanford and either UCLA or ASU being bowl eligible, the Pac-10 would not have enough representatives to meet its contractual commitments."
About how BYU beating Utah would help BSU make a BCS game, JD said:
"You won't often catch me rooting for BYU, but in this particular case, I hope the Cougars have a great day." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Donovan's rough estimate put the possible financial impact of a BCS berth for a WAC member at $500,000 for UH, which would receive a share of the bowl payout."
If Utah beats BYU and gets a BCS spot, JD said that BSU's chance of also making a BCS game are:
"not impossible, but very slim." (HSB)
About their bye week, Pilares said:
"It felt kind of weird not having a game this week, just watching all the games on TV. It's kind of boring when football's not there. With that time off, you feel more hungry to play now." (HSB)
About how the bye week helped refresh them for their stretch run, Greg Alexander said:
"It was good to get a week off mentally before these last three games. We know our situation and what we have to do." (HSB)
About how the rest from the bye week should outweigh any potential loss in momentum for them, Mac said:
"We'll get an extra day and it's a matter of making the reads and we'll get good reps in practice. The pluses outweigh the minuses." (HSB)
About how Alexander's improvement makes it more fun for their other players on offense, Greg Salas said:
"He's really getting comfortable back there, making all his reads and everybody's jelling together. You're having so much more fun when everything's clicking. It's definitely exciting and you definitely want to get back out there." (HSB)
Not taking Idaho for granted, Mike Washington said:
"Nothing in life is easy, right now we're taking one step at a time to get ready for Idaho. Regardless of their record or where they might stand in the WAC, we have to take care of our responsibilities." (HSB)
HSB Note: "The UH Board of Regents will be updated on the mediation between the school and Jones at its meeting at Kauai Community College on Friday. UH spokeswoman Carolyn Tanaka said the discussions have been ongoing and a decision is not expected to be announced after the meeting, but said "if we have a final settlement, we will make that public." "
"I didn't want to tear up the grass. We did have them run and lift. We'll still have three full practices this week." (HA)
About how the players that have been getting a lot of playing time had limited workouts last week, Mac said:
"Even our workouts were more about technique and fundamentals." (HA)
About giving the team Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off, Mac said:
"It was a good thing. There were guys playing with aches and pains. I could probably name three-fourths of the team who had aches and pains they've been fighting through. It's just good to have a week off where they're not getting hit. Really, when you play a game, the hits are not collisions anymore because of the size and the speed of the players. They're like car wrecks." (HA)
John Estes said that the week off helped with his variety of injuries, since it:
"gave me a chance to rest up. I needed that." (HA)
About how he played better against Nevada instead of their back-to-back road games after it, Estes said:
"It showed, in my body being all banged up." (HA)
Kealoha Pilares (who has a foot injury) said that the bye week:
"helped me recover a little bit. I feel good now." (HA)
About how they have to get their intensity back after taking the time off, Mac said:
"That's why I wanted to practice an extra day. I didn't want to lose any timing. That's something you lose by not playing a game. You don't get that game experience. But you also don't get the injuries and the collisions." (HA)
About introducing (going over bios and tendencies) their players to the Idaho players during yesterday's meetings instead of how they normally do that on Tuesday, Mac said:
"Introducing the (Idaho) team is very important. Now we have the game plan ready. We'll have three full days to work on it." (HA)
About how he likes playing both RB and slotback, Pilares aid:
"I guess I have one more game to consider me a slot." ( HA)
About how they need Stanford to beat Cal to become bowl eligible (otherwise, they need UCLA or Arizona State to win their last 2 games), Hawaii Bowl executive director David Matlin said:
"Stanford has the easiest road." (HA)
HA Note: "The Hawai'i Bowl, which has the sixth pick of eligible Pac-10 teams, would also have to hope the Bowl Championship Series doesn't take two teams from the conference, USC and Oregon State. Without Stanford and either UCLA or ASU being bowl eligible, the Pac-10 would not have enough representatives to meet its contractual commitments."
About how BYU beating Utah would help BSU make a BCS game, JD said:
"You won't often catch me rooting for BYU, but in this particular case, I hope the Cougars have a great day." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Donovan's rough estimate put the possible financial impact of a BCS berth for a WAC member at $500,000 for UH, which would receive a share of the bowl payout."
If Utah beats BYU and gets a BCS spot, JD said that BSU's chance of also making a BCS game are:
"not impossible, but very slim." (HSB)
About their bye week, Pilares said:
"It felt kind of weird not having a game this week, just watching all the games on TV. It's kind of boring when football's not there. With that time off, you feel more hungry to play now." (HSB)
About how the bye week helped refresh them for their stretch run, Greg Alexander said:
"It was good to get a week off mentally before these last three games. We know our situation and what we have to do." (HSB)
About how the rest from the bye week should outweigh any potential loss in momentum for them, Mac said:
"We'll get an extra day and it's a matter of making the reads and we'll get good reps in practice. The pluses outweigh the minuses." (HSB)
About how Alexander's improvement makes it more fun for their other players on offense, Greg Salas said:
"He's really getting comfortable back there, making all his reads and everybody's jelling together. You're having so much more fun when everything's clicking. It's definitely exciting and you definitely want to get back out there." (HSB)
Not taking Idaho for granted, Mike Washington said:
"Nothing in life is easy, right now we're taking one step at a time to get ready for Idaho. Regardless of their record or where they might stand in the WAC, we have to take care of our responsibilities." (HSB)
HSB Note: "The UH Board of Regents will be updated on the mediation between the school and Jones at its meeting at Kauai Community College on Friday. UH spokeswoman Carolyn Tanaka said the discussions have been ongoing and a decision is not expected to be announced after the meeting, but said "if we have a final settlement, we will make that public." "
Sugar Bowl ethics probe could take up to a year!
About how their Sugar Bowl investigation could take up to a year, Hawaii Ethics Commission director Dan Mollway said:
"It is going to take some time. Before we can apply the laws, we have to know the facts and be clear about them. It is a very tedious process." (HA)
About how some early flags were raised about children who accompanied staff on the trip, Mollway said:
"everybody who went is a matter for potential review." (HA)
"It is going to take some time. Before we can apply the laws, we have to know the facts and be clear about them. It is a very tedious process." (HA)
About how some early flags were raised about children who accompanied staff on the trip, Mollway said:
"everybody who went is a matter for potential review." (HA)
Friday, November 14, 2008
Another article on Wade Keliikipi's commit
About how his brother is helping him, Wade said:
"He's helping me work on my strength and quickness. It's rough." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Wade Keliikipi (6-foot-4, 275 pounds) just finished his senior season playing primarily defensive tackle for the Seariders and had also heard from Oregon, Michigan State and Cal before committing to UH."
About committing to UH, Wade said:
"It's a big load off my chest. The bottom line is my education is being paid for." (HSB)
About how Wade is an "impact player" for Waianae, head coach Daniel Matsumoto said:
"He had a great season --mentally tough player and a good leader. He was a good captain for us." (HSB)
About following his brother to UH, Wade said that he wants to create his own identity at UH but:
"I'll have some big shoes to fill." (HSB)
"He's helping me work on my strength and quickness. It's rough." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Wade Keliikipi (6-foot-4, 275 pounds) just finished his senior season playing primarily defensive tackle for the Seariders and had also heard from Oregon, Michigan State and Cal before committing to UH."
About committing to UH, Wade said:
"It's a big load off my chest. The bottom line is my education is being paid for." (HSB)
About how Wade is an "impact player" for Waianae, head coach Daniel Matsumoto said:
"He had a great season --mentally tough player and a good leader. He was a good captain for us." (HSB)
About following his brother to UH, Wade said that he wants to create his own identity at UH but:
"I'll have some big shoes to fill." (HSB)
Wade Keli'ikipi commits to the Warriors!
HA Note: "Wade Keli'ikipi has made a name for himself as a punishing interior defensive lineman. Keli'ikipi, who is 6 feet 4 and 273 pounds, projects to play at 290 pounds, his weight at the start of the 2008 season."
About how he needs to gain the weight back that he's lost this season, Wade said:
"I guess I lost some weight." (HA)
HA Note: "He certainly did not sustain any loss in strength. Keli'ikipi can bench press a maximum 405 pounds. He also can bench 225 pounds 30 times. What's more, he is capable of running 40 yards in 5.0 seconds."
About choosing UH over Oregon, Wade said:
"It's close to home. I want to play in front of my family." (HA)
About his brother Wes, Wade said:
"He helps me out a lot. Right now he's training me. He's helping to work on my speed." (HA)
About how he has been a fan of the Warriors for a long time, Wade said:
"I went to a lot of games." (HA)
About how he learned that the Warriors were interested in him at the end of this junior year, Wade said:
"They were my first choice." (HA)
About how was too big to compete in Pop Warner after he was 9, Wade said:
"I had to wait until high school." (HA)
HA Note: "Keli'ikipi is a member of Searider Productions, Wai'anae High's award-winning video program. His role is to edit footage that will be used for public service announcements or short documentaries."
About the documentary that Searider Productions shot and edited in one day, Wade said:
"It came out nice." (HA)
About how he took his first communications class 3 years ago, Wade said:
"I really liked it." (HA)
About how he and his brother go free diving off the Wai'anae coast, Wade said:
"We shoot fish. It's kind of fun. I'm glad I'm staying home. I'm glad UH is giving me a full ride." (HA)
About how he needs to gain the weight back that he's lost this season, Wade said:
"I guess I lost some weight." (HA)
HA Note: "He certainly did not sustain any loss in strength. Keli'ikipi can bench press a maximum 405 pounds. He also can bench 225 pounds 30 times. What's more, he is capable of running 40 yards in 5.0 seconds."
About choosing UH over Oregon, Wade said:
"It's close to home. I want to play in front of my family." (HA)
About his brother Wes, Wade said:
"He helps me out a lot. Right now he's training me. He's helping to work on my speed." (HA)
About how he has been a fan of the Warriors for a long time, Wade said:
"I went to a lot of games." (HA)
About how he learned that the Warriors were interested in him at the end of this junior year, Wade said:
"They were my first choice." (HA)
About how was too big to compete in Pop Warner after he was 9, Wade said:
"I had to wait until high school." (HA)
HA Note: "Keli'ikipi is a member of Searider Productions, Wai'anae High's award-winning video program. His role is to edit footage that will be used for public service announcements or short documentaries."
About the documentary that Searider Productions shot and edited in one day, Wade said:
"It came out nice." (HA)
About how he took his first communications class 3 years ago, Wade said:
"I really liked it." (HA)
About how he and his brother go free diving off the Wai'anae coast, Wade said:
"We shoot fish. It's kind of fun. I'm glad I'm staying home. I'm glad UH is giving me a full ride." (HA)
Other quotes from the local papers
About Chad Lopati, Darren Hernandez said:
"He has all the tools to be a big-time Division I player. It's rare to have a guy who's 6-2, 245 and can run a 4.6. That's a pretty potent combination right there." (HSB)
About choosing UH over the mainland schools, Hernandez said:
"He's intrigued by the mainland offers, but I think he's a Hawaii guy. He loves Hawaii and this is where he wants to stay." (HSB)
About how he kept in touch with Rolo after transferring from CCSF and likes the Warriors, Kevin Williams said:
"I've known Coach Rolovich for a long time now. I've been following Hawaii and I like their program. I'm looking forward to being out there and it's something new." (HSB)
About the importance of getting their college degrees, Vai Sikahema said:
"You have so much to give and to offer and there's so much you can do when you get your degree. It changed the trajectory of my life to get a university degree." (HSB)
About being a teammate of Rich Miano's with the Eagles, Sikahema said:
"We spent most our time in the pros talking trash to each other across the locker room about the UH-BYU days. He seems to remember the picks he had against (Jim) McMahon and (Robbie) Bosco and Steve Young. And, of course, I always reminded him of the scores." (HSB)
"He has all the tools to be a big-time Division I player. It's rare to have a guy who's 6-2, 245 and can run a 4.6. That's a pretty potent combination right there." (HSB)
About choosing UH over the mainland schools, Hernandez said:
"He's intrigued by the mainland offers, but I think he's a Hawaii guy. He loves Hawaii and this is where he wants to stay." (HSB)
About how he kept in touch with Rolo after transferring from CCSF and likes the Warriors, Kevin Williams said:
"I've known Coach Rolovich for a long time now. I've been following Hawaii and I like their program. I'm looking forward to being out there and it's something new." (HSB)
About the importance of getting their college degrees, Vai Sikahema said:
"You have so much to give and to offer and there's so much you can do when you get your degree. It changed the trajectory of my life to get a university degree." (HSB)
About being a teammate of Rich Miano's with the Eagles, Sikahema said:
"We spent most our time in the pros talking trash to each other across the locker room about the UH-BYU days. He seems to remember the picks he had against (Jim) McMahon and (Robbie) Bosco and Steve Young. And, of course, I always reminded him of the scores." (HSB)
Quotes about Scout Bowl 2
About the Scout Bowl, Mac said:
"It was fun game." (HA)
HA Note; "The Warriors were able to experiment. Offensive lineman Nate "Snowflake" McKay was used as a blocking back. Steele Jantz played quarterback and tight end. He was camouflaged, wearing a green jersey — the color of the defense. Unfortunately, he did not wear any leg or knee pads. After a catch, he was drilled. He fumbled, then hobbled to the sideline. Wideout Joe Avery made the winning catch in overtime, breaking a 12-all tie and giving Austin his first victory in three Scout Bowl starts."
About how he turned a 3-yard loss into a 6-yard run for a first down, Dustin Bount (who played both RB and slotback) said:
"That's something I did in JC." (HA)
"I did that in my JC so I figured I'd show them something out here." (HSB)
About how he entered UH with the plan to play both volleyball and football, wideout Matt Kiel (who caught a 34-yard pass to set up the game-tying TD) said:
"We had to pick one (sport) at this time." (HA)
HA Note: "The event ended with Vai Sikahema's pep talk. Sikahema was an All-Pro player and former teammate of UH associate head coach Rich Miano. Sikahema defeated Canseco in a celebrity boxing match."
About how he benefits from redshirting, Ryan Henry said:
"It's very good for me. It gives me a chance to pick up on the offense, then I have another spring ball and another fall camp. I get a head start in school and can graduate after my senior year. I didn't want to waste a year and the seniors we have are good. It just worked out." (HSB)
About redshirting their JC WRs, Ron Lee said:
"If you can redshirt these guys, it's better for the program. They have three years instead of just two, it makes a big difference. You can see already from the first scout bowl to this one how much better the guys have gotten. ... I saw tremendous improvement. Offensive line, receivers, they're different already." (HSB)
About finally winning a Scout Bowl, Shane Austin said:
"I finally got one. I don't know if it'll be my last one but I just wanted to get a win under my belt. We've got a year of bragging rights. It's all good fun." (HSB)
About how he'll be celebrating the win over Sol's team for a week, Adam Leonard said:
"This is a one-week rule. I'm going to keep reminding (Elimimian) about it as much as I can for the whole week. It was fun to see the guys go out there and get excited about it and just play well. The past Scout Bowls have been kind of sloppy, but today they really showed a lot of skill out there." (HSB)
About how the Scout Bowl gives their reserves a chance to shine, Joe Avery said:
"It gives you an opportunity to show what you've got and play the best you can." (HSB)
"It was fun game." (HA)
HA Note; "The Warriors were able to experiment. Offensive lineman Nate "Snowflake" McKay was used as a blocking back. Steele Jantz played quarterback and tight end. He was camouflaged, wearing a green jersey — the color of the defense. Unfortunately, he did not wear any leg or knee pads. After a catch, he was drilled. He fumbled, then hobbled to the sideline. Wideout Joe Avery made the winning catch in overtime, breaking a 12-all tie and giving Austin his first victory in three Scout Bowl starts."
About how he turned a 3-yard loss into a 6-yard run for a first down, Dustin Bount (who played both RB and slotback) said:
"That's something I did in JC." (HA)
"I did that in my JC so I figured I'd show them something out here." (HSB)
About how he entered UH with the plan to play both volleyball and football, wideout Matt Kiel (who caught a 34-yard pass to set up the game-tying TD) said:
"We had to pick one (sport) at this time." (HA)
HA Note: "The event ended with Vai Sikahema's pep talk. Sikahema was an All-Pro player and former teammate of UH associate head coach Rich Miano. Sikahema defeated Canseco in a celebrity boxing match."
About how he benefits from redshirting, Ryan Henry said:
"It's very good for me. It gives me a chance to pick up on the offense, then I have another spring ball and another fall camp. I get a head start in school and can graduate after my senior year. I didn't want to waste a year and the seniors we have are good. It just worked out." (HSB)
About redshirting their JC WRs, Ron Lee said:
"If you can redshirt these guys, it's better for the program. They have three years instead of just two, it makes a big difference. You can see already from the first scout bowl to this one how much better the guys have gotten. ... I saw tremendous improvement. Offensive line, receivers, they're different already." (HSB)
About finally winning a Scout Bowl, Shane Austin said:
"I finally got one. I don't know if it'll be my last one but I just wanted to get a win under my belt. We've got a year of bragging rights. It's all good fun." (HSB)
About how he'll be celebrating the win over Sol's team for a week, Adam Leonard said:
"This is a one-week rule. I'm going to keep reminding (Elimimian) about it as much as I can for the whole week. It was fun to see the guys go out there and get excited about it and just play well. The past Scout Bowls have been kind of sloppy, but today they really showed a lot of skill out there." (HSB)
About how the Scout Bowl gives their reserves a chance to shine, Joe Avery said:
"It gives you an opportunity to show what you've got and play the best you can." (HSB)
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Warriors using the bye week well
About how the bye week gives them time to let their bodies recover, Sol said:
"It's a time to relax a little bit, get our bodies back for these last few games." (HSB)
About how they are working on technique during the bye week instead of needing to prepare for an opponent, DL coach Dave Aranda said:
"It's all ourselves. We're making cut-ups of all our guys over the last two or three games so they can study themselves and see the things they're doing well and things they're doing incorrectly." (HSB)
About how they need to win 2 of their last 3 games, Rich Miano said:
"because it is a three-game playoff now." (HSB)
About their practice yesterday, Rich Miano (who ran practice with Mac returning from his mainland recruiting) said:
"It's pretty much business as usual. We just wanted to make sure they got out here, worked on some of the basics." (HSB)
About how their OL has played well recently, coinciding with stability at the OL positions, OL coach Brian Smith said:
"I thought the road trip was really good for us. I thought both games we played really well. The last three weeks we've been playing a whole lot better and getting better every week. They're getting a chance to play together and then we're getting a lot healthier. ... The continuity of the line is extremely important." (HSB)
About how the extra rest during the bye week helps their bodies, John Estes said:
"Even a couple days of rest for myself is huge - you can just feel it in your body. I feel much better at practice and we're going to feel much better at the game." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Estes, right guard Clarence Tuioti-Mariner and right tackle Keoni Steinhoff have started every game this season. Aaron Kia and Laupepa Letuli began the season competing for the left tackle job, but now start side-by-side with Kia at tackle and Letuli at guard. Keith AhSoon is now rotating in at left guard since his return from a knee injury, with Letuli shifting over to tackle on those occasions."
About how the OL is getting used to playing with each other, Estes said:
"We're just getting used to playing next to each other and everyone's getting healthy. Trust is very important for an O-line. You have to play within yourself and do your own job." (HSB)
About their success running the ball against NMSU, Estes said;
"In this offense, running the ball is really important. Once you start running the ball well, they'll bring a linebacker up, they'll bring a safety up and it'll leave holes in the secondary. When you see a long run by a running back you know the whole O-line did their job on that particular play. When one guy screws up, it compromises the whole play." (HSB)
About their 37 sacks this season, with 1 sack against Utah State and 4 against NMSU, Smith said:
"It's always a concern, but there's tons of other factors that go into sacks besides offensive line play." (HSB)
About going back to their offensive style from the JJ years, Smith said:
"It allows you to get better. When you're constantly changing things, and have different people moving in and out, and you're changing schemes, you can take steps back before you can move forward." (HSB)
About how his team (with Adam Leonard) lost the first Scout Bowl this season (to the team led by Sol and Estes) and has a chance for revenge now, Keala Watson said:
"Last time was our chance to dip our toes into the coaching pool. But this time around we'll be ready for them." (HSB)
"It's a time to relax a little bit, get our bodies back for these last few games." (HSB)
About how they are working on technique during the bye week instead of needing to prepare for an opponent, DL coach Dave Aranda said:
"It's all ourselves. We're making cut-ups of all our guys over the last two or three games so they can study themselves and see the things they're doing well and things they're doing incorrectly." (HSB)
About how they need to win 2 of their last 3 games, Rich Miano said:
"because it is a three-game playoff now." (HSB)
About their practice yesterday, Rich Miano (who ran practice with Mac returning from his mainland recruiting) said:
"It's pretty much business as usual. We just wanted to make sure they got out here, worked on some of the basics." (HSB)
About how their OL has played well recently, coinciding with stability at the OL positions, OL coach Brian Smith said:
"I thought the road trip was really good for us. I thought both games we played really well. The last three weeks we've been playing a whole lot better and getting better every week. They're getting a chance to play together and then we're getting a lot healthier. ... The continuity of the line is extremely important." (HSB)
About how the extra rest during the bye week helps their bodies, John Estes said:
"Even a couple days of rest for myself is huge - you can just feel it in your body. I feel much better at practice and we're going to feel much better at the game." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Estes, right guard Clarence Tuioti-Mariner and right tackle Keoni Steinhoff have started every game this season. Aaron Kia and Laupepa Letuli began the season competing for the left tackle job, but now start side-by-side with Kia at tackle and Letuli at guard. Keith AhSoon is now rotating in at left guard since his return from a knee injury, with Letuli shifting over to tackle on those occasions."
About how the OL is getting used to playing with each other, Estes said:
"We're just getting used to playing next to each other and everyone's getting healthy. Trust is very important for an O-line. You have to play within yourself and do your own job." (HSB)
About their success running the ball against NMSU, Estes said;
"In this offense, running the ball is really important. Once you start running the ball well, they'll bring a linebacker up, they'll bring a safety up and it'll leave holes in the secondary. When you see a long run by a running back you know the whole O-line did their job on that particular play. When one guy screws up, it compromises the whole play." (HSB)
About their 37 sacks this season, with 1 sack against Utah State and 4 against NMSU, Smith said:
"It's always a concern, but there's tons of other factors that go into sacks besides offensive line play." (HSB)
About going back to their offensive style from the JJ years, Smith said:
"It allows you to get better. When you're constantly changing things, and have different people moving in and out, and you're changing schemes, you can take steps back before you can move forward." (HSB)
About how his team (with Adam Leonard) lost the first Scout Bowl this season (to the team led by Sol and Estes) and has a chance for revenge now, Keala Watson said:
"Last time was our chance to dip our toes into the coaching pool. But this time around we'll be ready for them." (HSB)
Chad Lopati commits to the Warriors!
About her son Chad's commitment to the Warriors, Paepaefoa Saili said:
"He's very happy (about the decision)." (HA)
HA Note: "In committing to UH, Lopati is turning down offers from UCLA, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Washington State, Colorado, Michigan State, Brigham Young, Utah, Boise State and Fresno State."
About another school that came a long distance to recruit Chad, Kapolei coach Darren Hernandex said:
"Even Auburn came down." (HA)
Hernandez said that Lopati is:
"a real local boy. He loves Hawai'i." (HA)
HA Note: "Hernandez said Lopati's uncle — former UH running back Keith "Junior" Lopati — was influential in the decision. Hernandez said he sees similarities between Lopati and former UH defensive lineman Falaniko "Niko" Noga. Hernandez and Noga's brother, Al Noga, were UH teammates."
Comparing Lopati to Niko Noga, Hernandez said:
"I know Niko Noga. This might be real high praise, but I would have to compare (Lopati) to Niko Noga. He has similar explosiveness, and a lot of natural strength and agility." (HA)
About how Lopati is also used as a TE, short-yardage RB, and punts and place-kicks, Hernandez said:
"He can play every position. He can throw the football, too." (HA)
HA Note: "As a sophomore in 2006, Lopati was 6 feet 1 and 210 pounds."
About recognizing Lopati's talent right away, Hernandez said:
"We knew early on he was one of the fastest on the team. We knew he had Division I talent. He had a tremendous year for us." (HA)
HA Note: "Last year, at 6 feet 2 and 235 pounds, Lopati played defensive end, finishing with 12 sacks and 14 tackles for losses. This season, Lopati suffered a torn meniscus in a non-league game against Kamehameha. He missed three games. But he still finished with 12 sacks in six games. Lopati, who now weighs 245 pounds, can bench press 365 pounds and squat 495."
About how Lopati was timed at 4.6 seconds in the 40 yard dash at a combine at Baylor, Hernandez said:
"He was running rings around the o-linemen,. He was unblockable. ... For his size, he's really fast. He's athletic, too." (HA)
About how Lopati went against Stan Hasiak (who has committed to UCLA) in practice, Hernandez said:
"The only guy Stan had a hard time blocking was Chad, and they said, 'Who's this guy?' " (HA)
Asked to describe her son, Saili said:
"Humble. He's very big, but he's very humble. He cares about others." (HA)
Asked to describe Lopati, Hernandez said:
"He is very humble. When he was getting all of those offers, he looked at me and raised one of his eyebrows: 'These schools really want me?' I said, 'Yes, Chad, you're doing great.' He said, 'Wow.' He's a super soft-spoken, nice kid. I know everybody says that, but he really is that. He really is a nice kid. He's very unassuming. He mixes well with his classmates. You'd never look at him and think he's the star of the team. He is humble." (HA)
Hernandez said that Lopati is projected to play MLB at UH:
"because of his size and speed. But he can play outside 'backer, too. He can play all of the linebacker positions." (HA)
"He's very happy (about the decision)." (HA)
HA Note: "In committing to UH, Lopati is turning down offers from UCLA, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Washington State, Colorado, Michigan State, Brigham Young, Utah, Boise State and Fresno State."
About another school that came a long distance to recruit Chad, Kapolei coach Darren Hernandex said:
"Even Auburn came down." (HA)
Hernandez said that Lopati is:
"a real local boy. He loves Hawai'i." (HA)
HA Note: "Hernandez said Lopati's uncle — former UH running back Keith "Junior" Lopati — was influential in the decision. Hernandez said he sees similarities between Lopati and former UH defensive lineman Falaniko "Niko" Noga. Hernandez and Noga's brother, Al Noga, were UH teammates."
Comparing Lopati to Niko Noga, Hernandez said:
"I know Niko Noga. This might be real high praise, but I would have to compare (Lopati) to Niko Noga. He has similar explosiveness, and a lot of natural strength and agility." (HA)
About how Lopati is also used as a TE, short-yardage RB, and punts and place-kicks, Hernandez said:
"He can play every position. He can throw the football, too." (HA)
HA Note: "As a sophomore in 2006, Lopati was 6 feet 1 and 210 pounds."
About recognizing Lopati's talent right away, Hernandez said:
"We knew early on he was one of the fastest on the team. We knew he had Division I talent. He had a tremendous year for us." (HA)
HA Note: "Last year, at 6 feet 2 and 235 pounds, Lopati played defensive end, finishing with 12 sacks and 14 tackles for losses. This season, Lopati suffered a torn meniscus in a non-league game against Kamehameha. He missed three games. But he still finished with 12 sacks in six games. Lopati, who now weighs 245 pounds, can bench press 365 pounds and squat 495."
About how Lopati was timed at 4.6 seconds in the 40 yard dash at a combine at Baylor, Hernandez said:
"He was running rings around the o-linemen,. He was unblockable. ... For his size, he's really fast. He's athletic, too." (HA)
About how Lopati went against Stan Hasiak (who has committed to UCLA) in practice, Hernandez said:
"The only guy Stan had a hard time blocking was Chad, and they said, 'Who's this guy?' " (HA)
Asked to describe her son, Saili said:
"Humble. He's very big, but he's very humble. He cares about others." (HA)
Asked to describe Lopati, Hernandez said:
"He is very humble. When he was getting all of those offers, he looked at me and raised one of his eyebrows: 'These schools really want me?' I said, 'Yes, Chad, you're doing great.' He said, 'Wow.' He's a super soft-spoken, nice kid. I know everybody says that, but he really is that. He really is a nice kid. He's very unassuming. He mixes well with his classmates. You'd never look at him and think he's the star of the team. He is humble." (HA)
Hernandez said that Lopati is projected to play MLB at UH:
"because of his size and speed. But he can play outside 'backer, too. He can play all of the linebacker positions." (HA)
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Kevin Williams commits to the Warriors!
About his commitment to the Warriors, Kevin Williams (CB from Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, CA) said:
"Yes, I'm going to be a Warrior." (HA)
HA Note: "Williams, who is 5 feet 10 and 175 pounds, is capable of running 40 yards in under 4.4 seconds. At the scouting combine at Chabot Junior College this past summer, Williams was timed at 4.34 seconds in the 40. He ran 4.39 at an earlier combine. He also ran the pro shuttle in 4.01 seconds. And he bench pressed 185 pounds 15 times. www.Scout.com once gave him a 4-star rating last year. Williams had received offers from Akron, Arizona, Arizona State, Memphis, Oregon State, Toledo, Utah State and West Virginia."
About the "soft" verbal commitment he gave Memphis this past summer, Williams said:
"But that's nothing. Hawai'i is where I'm going. I like the program, and I like the coaches, especially coach Rolo." (HA)
HA Note: "Williams knew Nick Rolovich, now UH's quarterbacks coach, when he was an assistant coach at City College of San Francisco last year."
HA Note: "As a senior at Gibbs High School in Florida in 2006, Williams accepted an offer from South Florida. Although Williams did well in school, he did not pass the so-called Florida exit test, a comprehensive exam that is administered to all Florida high school seniors. During the fall of 2006, Williams worked. Although he eventually passed the Florida exam, he opted to play football at a junior college. It was then that he decided to enroll at City College of San Francisco in January 2007. But Williams found that school and living expenses were expensive for an out-of-state student."
About how he couldn't afford the out-of-state expenses at CCSF, Williams said:
"I couldn't afford it." (HA)
HA Note: "He then transferred to Los Medanos, whose Pittsburg campus is an hour's drive from San Francisco."
About Williams, CCSF head coach George Rush said:
"He's a good guy." (HA)
HA Note: "In 2007, Williams had three interceptions and 27 pass breakups in 10 games. He also had two kick returns for touchdowns. This season, he has three interceptions, two of which he parlayed into returns for touchdowns. He plays man and zone in the Mustangs' 3-5-3 defensive scheme. Williams also has played on offense this season. He has six receptions for 187 yards and a touchdown. He has scored on a rush."
About how he kept in contact with Rolo after he transferred from CCSF, Williams said:
"When I found out he went to Hawai'i, I became very interested in Hawai'i. I follow all of the Hawai'i games." (HA)
HA Note: "Williams said he would like a chance to play on both offense and defense. Ryan Mouton has had a similar dual role for the Warriors this season. Williams, according to scouts, has skills that are comparable to Mouton's. Both are about the same build."
About how he wants Mouton's jersey #2, Williams said:
"I do want No. 2. That was the number I had since Pop Warner. I love that number." (HA)
About how he wore #2 every season except for the first 2 years of high school, Williams said:
"Ever since then, I've worn that." (HA)
HA Note: "Williams said he expects to earn his associate degree in January. He said he likely will move to Hawai'i next summer. Williams said he has three years to play two seasons."
About how he focuses on school, football, and his 9-month-old son Kevin Williams Jr., Williams said:
"My focus is on school and my family." (HA)
About how he likes UH's uniforms, Williams said:
"I love their uniforms. They're really different." (HA)
About how he wants to do the ha'a, Williams said:
"I like when they do the (ha'a) dance. I told the coaches, 'I want to learn that.' " (HA)
"Yes, I'm going to be a Warrior." (HA)
HA Note: "Williams, who is 5 feet 10 and 175 pounds, is capable of running 40 yards in under 4.4 seconds. At the scouting combine at Chabot Junior College this past summer, Williams was timed at 4.34 seconds in the 40. He ran 4.39 at an earlier combine. He also ran the pro shuttle in 4.01 seconds. And he bench pressed 185 pounds 15 times. www.Scout.com once gave him a 4-star rating last year. Williams had received offers from Akron, Arizona, Arizona State, Memphis, Oregon State, Toledo, Utah State and West Virginia."
About the "soft" verbal commitment he gave Memphis this past summer, Williams said:
"But that's nothing. Hawai'i is where I'm going. I like the program, and I like the coaches, especially coach Rolo." (HA)
HA Note: "Williams knew Nick Rolovich, now UH's quarterbacks coach, when he was an assistant coach at City College of San Francisco last year."
HA Note: "As a senior at Gibbs High School in Florida in 2006, Williams accepted an offer from South Florida. Although Williams did well in school, he did not pass the so-called Florida exit test, a comprehensive exam that is administered to all Florida high school seniors. During the fall of 2006, Williams worked. Although he eventually passed the Florida exam, he opted to play football at a junior college. It was then that he decided to enroll at City College of San Francisco in January 2007. But Williams found that school and living expenses were expensive for an out-of-state student."
About how he couldn't afford the out-of-state expenses at CCSF, Williams said:
"I couldn't afford it." (HA)
HA Note: "He then transferred to Los Medanos, whose Pittsburg campus is an hour's drive from San Francisco."
About Williams, CCSF head coach George Rush said:
"He's a good guy." (HA)
HA Note: "In 2007, Williams had three interceptions and 27 pass breakups in 10 games. He also had two kick returns for touchdowns. This season, he has three interceptions, two of which he parlayed into returns for touchdowns. He plays man and zone in the Mustangs' 3-5-3 defensive scheme. Williams also has played on offense this season. He has six receptions for 187 yards and a touchdown. He has scored on a rush."
About how he kept in contact with Rolo after he transferred from CCSF, Williams said:
"When I found out he went to Hawai'i, I became very interested in Hawai'i. I follow all of the Hawai'i games." (HA)
HA Note: "Williams said he would like a chance to play on both offense and defense. Ryan Mouton has had a similar dual role for the Warriors this season. Williams, according to scouts, has skills that are comparable to Mouton's. Both are about the same build."
About how he wants Mouton's jersey #2, Williams said:
"I do want No. 2. That was the number I had since Pop Warner. I love that number." (HA)
About how he wore #2 every season except for the first 2 years of high school, Williams said:
"Ever since then, I've worn that." (HA)
HA Note: "Williams said he expects to earn his associate degree in January. He said he likely will move to Hawai'i next summer. Williams said he has three years to play two seasons."
About how he focuses on school, football, and his 9-month-old son Kevin Williams Jr., Williams said:
"My focus is on school and my family." (HA)
About how he likes UH's uniforms, Williams said:
"I love their uniforms. They're really different." (HA)
About how he wants to do the ha'a, Williams said:
"I like when they do the (ha'a) dance. I told the coaches, 'I want to learn that.' " (HA)
Monday, November 10, 2008
KGMB article on the Warriors
Happy with their improved play in the red zone, QB Greg Alexander said:
"We finally put some points on the board, especially after last week we had to work on some red zone stuff and there's still some things that we need to clean up. We had a couple of lost down situations when we weren't on the same page, but overall we got a lot better and we still have some work to do." (KGMB)
About how both teams needed the win for their bowl hopes, Mac said:
"It was just an excellent win for us, because they were playing for the same thing that we were, we're both playing to go to bowl games, and that's why it was so competitive, especially away from home." (KGMB)
About how the win was important for their bowl hopes, Ryan Mouton said:
"It means a lot you know, we knew we had to come out here and win three of the next four. This is just a great start, hopefully we can win out, that would be good, it just feels good right now." (KGMB)
"We finally put some points on the board, especially after last week we had to work on some red zone stuff and there's still some things that we need to clean up. We had a couple of lost down situations when we weren't on the same page, but overall we got a lot better and we still have some work to do." (KGMB)
About how both teams needed the win for their bowl hopes, Mac said:
"It was just an excellent win for us, because they were playing for the same thing that we were, we're both playing to go to bowl games, and that's why it was so competitive, especially away from home." (KGMB)
About how the win was important for their bowl hopes, Ryan Mouton said:
"It means a lot you know, we knew we had to come out here and win three of the next four. This is just a great start, hopefully we can win out, that would be good, it just feels good right now." (KGMB)
Feature on recruiting by the Warriors
About how today their coaches will attend football practices and meet with the coaches and school counselors of recruits in the Bay Area, Southern California and Las Vegas, Mac said:
"Recruiting is important to us. It's the lifeblood of our program." (HA)
HA Note: "This is the first time in recent memory that the Warrior coaches were on Mainland recruiting missions during the season."
About how this is an "evaluation period", where their coaches are not allowed to have face-to-face meetings with recruits, Mac said:
"I think it's really important that we're visible, and (high school) coaches know we're recruiting." (HA)
About the players that they received verbal commitments from, Mac said:
"You have to keep recruiting them and let them know they're important to you." (HA)
HA Note: "McMackin and defensive coordinator Cal Lee were in Las Vegas yesterday. Today, they will join assistant head coach George Lumpkin and assistant coach Alex Gerke in Los Angeles. Quarterback coach Nick Rolovich is evaluating players in the Bay Area. Rolovich was raised there, and he was a player and coach at City College of San Francisco."
HA note: "The NCAA allows each team a maximum of seven coaches out to recruit at one time."
About how they will meet with the coaches and counselors of every prospect who has received a scholarship offer from the Warriors, Mac said:
"When the season's over, then we'll go into the homes." (HA)
HA Note: "McMackin said he plans to make a home visit to every prospect — both on the Mainland and locally — who has received a UH offer. Cal Lee or offensive coordinator Ron Lee will accompany McMackin, depending on which position the recruit plays."
Noting that they had 30 seniors on their 64-player travel roster, Mac said:
"We have to keep recruiting." (HA)
"Recruiting is important to us. It's the lifeblood of our program." (HA)
HA Note: "This is the first time in recent memory that the Warrior coaches were on Mainland recruiting missions during the season."
About how this is an "evaluation period", where their coaches are not allowed to have face-to-face meetings with recruits, Mac said:
"I think it's really important that we're visible, and (high school) coaches know we're recruiting." (HA)
About the players that they received verbal commitments from, Mac said:
"You have to keep recruiting them and let them know they're important to you." (HA)
HA Note: "McMackin and defensive coordinator Cal Lee were in Las Vegas yesterday. Today, they will join assistant head coach George Lumpkin and assistant coach Alex Gerke in Los Angeles. Quarterback coach Nick Rolovich is evaluating players in the Bay Area. Rolovich was raised there, and he was a player and coach at City College of San Francisco."
HA note: "The NCAA allows each team a maximum of seven coaches out to recruit at one time."
About how they will meet with the coaches and counselors of every prospect who has received a scholarship offer from the Warriors, Mac said:
"When the season's over, then we'll go into the homes." (HA)
HA Note: "McMackin said he plans to make a home visit to every prospect — both on the Mainland and locally — who has received a UH offer. Cal Lee or offensive coordinator Ron Lee will accompany McMackin, depending on which position the recruit plays."
Noting that they had 30 seniors on their 64-player travel roster, Mac said:
"We have to keep recruiting." (HA)
Quotes from the local papers
About how the Warriors will not practice on Monday or Tuesday, Mac said:
"The players are going to get a little rest. They need it." (HA)
About how the time off will help their injured players like Inoke, Mac said:
"Inoke was banged up." (HA)
HA Note: "McMackin said there is hope that outside linebacker Blaze Soares, who has not played this season because of a severe calf injury, will be available to play in the Nov. 22 game against Idaho. The preliminary indication is that Soares will not be able to receive a special exemption that will allow him to extend his UH career through the 2010 season. UH officials still are investigating his situation, believing Soares has a case for an extra year."
Looking forward to going back to Hawaii after their 10-day road trip, Keao Monteilh said:
"I can't wait to see my family, and the weather is a lot warme." (HSB)
About how they didn't need their normal hours of meetings the night before the NMSU game, Mac said:
"Usually we have a team meeting. (Friday) night there wasn't anything else to meet about, wasn't anything else to talk about. Everybody knew what they had to do." (HSB)
About how they were forced to focus on football during their week in El Paso, Sol said:
"That helped us because it was nothing else but football. We came into the game knowing this was do-or-die, our season was at stake. We had to win this game ... and we rallied together." (HSB)
About how Alexander is figuring out the offense, Rolo said:
"He's understanding his initial pre-snap read and he's understanding how the offense morphs to the defense. He's really becoming a leader, becoming more vocal. I think we're in a good spot (at quarterback). Best spot we've been in all year. His decision-making was the biggest thing I saw." (HSB)
About Chris Williams getting 211 yards and 3 TDs receiving, Mac said:
"We knew Williams is a good player and (Holbrook) threw the ball good and they hit us up the seams. We cannot give plays like that, especially to an explosive team like (NMSU)." (HSB)
About their D in the NMSU game, Mouton said:
"We had a couple of busts and messed up a couple of coverages. But other than the big plays I felt like we kept them contained." (HSB)
About their season-best 9/12 for 3rd down conversions, Alexander said:
"Coach is always preaching third-down conversion, it's one of the biggest stats that actually matters in a football game. When we convert third downs it takes a lot out of the wind out of the defense." (HSB)
About NMSU's big plays early in the game, Mac said:
"We gave up some big plays early. It was a real character test. They're explosive, especially Williams. I'm proud of the way our guys came back." (HSB)
About the importance of scoring a TD on their first drive to respond to NMSU's TD, Alexander said:
"One of our goals was to come out to a quick start offensively. After they scored that first touchdown it was good to come right back down and respond, I think that gave us a lot of confidence." (HSB)
About how he didn't let himself forget about his fumble in the Utah State game, Daniel Libre said:
"My screensaver on my computer is that picture of me fumbling (last week at Utah State). I've been thinking about it and trying to focus on not coughing it up like that again and making plays out there to get a W." (HSB)
"The players are going to get a little rest. They need it." (HA)
About how the time off will help their injured players like Inoke, Mac said:
"Inoke was banged up." (HA)
HA Note: "McMackin said there is hope that outside linebacker Blaze Soares, who has not played this season because of a severe calf injury, will be available to play in the Nov. 22 game against Idaho. The preliminary indication is that Soares will not be able to receive a special exemption that will allow him to extend his UH career through the 2010 season. UH officials still are investigating his situation, believing Soares has a case for an extra year."
Looking forward to going back to Hawaii after their 10-day road trip, Keao Monteilh said:
"I can't wait to see my family, and the weather is a lot warme." (HSB)
About how they didn't need their normal hours of meetings the night before the NMSU game, Mac said:
"Usually we have a team meeting. (Friday) night there wasn't anything else to meet about, wasn't anything else to talk about. Everybody knew what they had to do." (HSB)
About how they were forced to focus on football during their week in El Paso, Sol said:
"That helped us because it was nothing else but football. We came into the game knowing this was do-or-die, our season was at stake. We had to win this game ... and we rallied together." (HSB)
About how Alexander is figuring out the offense, Rolo said:
"He's understanding his initial pre-snap read and he's understanding how the offense morphs to the defense. He's really becoming a leader, becoming more vocal. I think we're in a good spot (at quarterback). Best spot we've been in all year. His decision-making was the biggest thing I saw." (HSB)
About Chris Williams getting 211 yards and 3 TDs receiving, Mac said:
"We knew Williams is a good player and (Holbrook) threw the ball good and they hit us up the seams. We cannot give plays like that, especially to an explosive team like (NMSU)." (HSB)
About their D in the NMSU game, Mouton said:
"We had a couple of busts and messed up a couple of coverages. But other than the big plays I felt like we kept them contained." (HSB)
About their season-best 9/12 for 3rd down conversions, Alexander said:
"Coach is always preaching third-down conversion, it's one of the biggest stats that actually matters in a football game. When we convert third downs it takes a lot out of the wind out of the defense." (HSB)
About NMSU's big plays early in the game, Mac said:
"We gave up some big plays early. It was a real character test. They're explosive, especially Williams. I'm proud of the way our guys came back." (HSB)
About the importance of scoring a TD on their first drive to respond to NMSU's TD, Alexander said:
"One of our goals was to come out to a quick start offensively. After they scored that first touchdown it was good to come right back down and respond, I think that gave us a lot of confidence." (HSB)
About how he didn't let himself forget about his fumble in the Utah State game, Daniel Libre said:
"My screensaver on my computer is that picture of me fumbling (last week at Utah State). I've been thinking about it and trying to focus on not coughing it up like that again and making plays out there to get a W." (HSB)
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Licensing revenues doubled last year, Sugar Bowl merchandise credited
About how their merchandise royalties goes into the Athletic Department Revolving Fund to help all sports, not just football, Tiffany Kuraoka, assistant AD for business said:
"The amount we get this year will be very high. That will be a windfall for us. ... Believe me it will be spent." (HSB)
HSB Note: "UH received $631,910 in the fiscal year ending June 30, compared with $317,009 in the previous year, according to Carolyn Tanaka, UH vice president of external affairs. The money doesn't reflect actual retail sales, but payments from licensed wholesalers who put a UH logo on products. They pay the university 8 percent of the selling price of goods to the university. Sales of UH Sugar Bowl-related merchandise soared after the football team received an invitation to the Bowl Championship Series event in New Orleans."
HSB Note: "The money from 2007 and 2008 has yet to be distributed, in part because the administration is still deciding how to do that, Tanaka said. The formula changes year-to-year depending on sales. In 2006, the largest chunk of money, nearly 70 percent, went to the UH-Manoa Athletics Department, 24 percent went to the UH system office, and about 4 percent to the UH-Hilo Athletics Department."
"The amount we get this year will be very high. That will be a windfall for us. ... Believe me it will be spent." (HSB)
HSB Note: "UH received $631,910 in the fiscal year ending June 30, compared with $317,009 in the previous year, according to Carolyn Tanaka, UH vice president of external affairs. The money doesn't reflect actual retail sales, but payments from licensed wholesalers who put a UH logo on products. They pay the university 8 percent of the selling price of goods to the university. Sales of UH Sugar Bowl-related merchandise soared after the football team received an invitation to the Bowl Championship Series event in New Orleans."
HSB Note: "The money from 2007 and 2008 has yet to be distributed, in part because the administration is still deciding how to do that, Tanaka said. The formula changes year-to-year depending on sales. In 2006, the largest chunk of money, nearly 70 percent, went to the UH-Manoa Athletics Department, 24 percent went to the UH system office, and about 4 percent to the UH-Hilo Athletics Department."
Quotes from the UH-NMSU game 11/8/08
HA = Honolulu Advertiser
HSB = Honolulu Star-Bulletin
UH = University of Hawaii Official Site
NMSU = New Mexico State Official Site
LCSN = Las Cruces Sun-News
---------------
----------------- Quotes from the UH coaches ----------------------
About how his team played, UH head coach Greg McMackin (Mac) said:
“I thought today we were more like we wanted to get to. Our offense moved the ball. We gave up some big plays early. It was a real character test. They’re [New Mexico State] explosive, especially [Chris] Williams. I’m proud of the way our guys came back.” (UH, NMSU)
"We knew we were making strides. We finally put a full game together." (HA)
Asked about their play on offense, Mac said:
“We had to replace three starters [from last season]. We have to win two more games.” (NMSU)
Praising their offense, Mac said:
"They (the offense) had sort of been feeding off the defense and special teams this year and now, all of a sudden, I thought the offense took over in the ballgame." (HA)
"The offense kept us in the game. They've been sort of feeding off the defense and special teams -- now all of a sudden I thought the offense changed the whole momentum of the ball game." (HSB)
About the importance of this game, Mac said:
"This was a must-win game for us. We had to have this ballgame." (HA)
"This was a must-win. We've had great practices. ... It was a perfect week, and the guys responded." (HSB)
About the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on David Veikune, Mac said:
“I’m really disappointed, we had a great player do something that we don’t approve of. He made a great hit. We don’t approve of taunting anyone. The hit was a great hit but I was upset about the taunting. I’m completely 100% against taunting. He’s a great kid and he felt bad about it afterward.” (UH, NMSU, HA, HSB)
Comparing Alexander to several excellent NFL QBs, Mac said:
"I've been around (John) Elway and (Warren) Moon and (Jeff) Garcia and some other pretty good ones. (Alexander has) that coolness about him on the field. He never gets shaken. He's got a great 'gamester' attitude." (HA)
About Alexander's helicopter-spin 2-point conversion, Mac said:
"Greg pulled a John Elway out there." (HSB)
About the closed-door meeting he had with the team during their first night in El Paso (the night after the Utah State loss), Mac said:
"That was such a tough loss. On Sunday, we had a real talk. It wasn't pretty. I got some things off of my mind." (HA)
About how he challenged several of the 30 seniors on their 64-man travel roster, Mac said:
"I love these players. These are the greatest players I've coached. They're the best I've been around. They want it so bad — for the seniors, and for the state of Hawai'i. They listen to you. And they believe in each other. That's why it was good to be on the road for the week. We were together. We were working for each other." (HA)
About how Mouton was full-time on defense in this game, Mac said:
"Today we really needed him to come play on defense. We'll still have an offensive package for him (available), but he's truly a defensive player." (HA)
About how Kealoha Pilares was back from injury, Mac said:
"We sure missed Kealoha. Boy, it was nice to have him back." (HA)
Praising the play of Pilares and Libre, Mac said:
"Both those guys have done a great job." (HA)
About having Pilares and Libre on the field at the same time, Mac said:
"That's a good combination. We want to get as much speed and athletic ability on the field as we can." (HSB)
.
About their success on offense in this game, Ron Lee said:
"The players just executed. We had options off of different looks. The players were together. They knew what to do." (HA)
.
Praising Alexander's play in this game, Rolo said:
"I think Greg has really come along. He made smart decisions. He knew where to throw the ball in certain situations. I thought he had his best game as a Warrior." (HA)
.
About NMSU's blitz scheme, OL coach Brian Smith said:
"They were bringing seven and we had six to protect (Alexander)." (HA)
HA Note: "NMSU defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn concocted a scheme in which any defender can be a blitzer. Dunn's strategy for UH was to play man coverage on the four receivers and turn loose everybody else."
.
About the 3 TDs that Chris Williams scored off post patterns, DB coach Rich Miano said:
"If you cover (the routes), it works out better. (Williams) is a good player, but we made him look like the best player in America." (HA)
About how they need Mouton on D, Miano said:
"As many yards as we gave up in passing (394 and four touchdowns), we're going to need him on defense. But I don't make that decision. Coach (Greg McMackin) does." (HA)
"Some of the things he does are amazing; the way he shuts guys down. He's the best I've ever coached. I mean, you look at every game he plays and there are like three or four plays that are flashes. He doesn't have a lot of interceptions but there have been like three balls caught on him all year. Two of those were comebacks and another was a tip. I think he's back (on defense)." (HA)
.
----------------- Quotes from the UH players --------------------
.
About how they learned from the Utah State game that they need to communicate better, Alexander said:
"We needed to start to communicate. Last week, (Utah State) did some things to us. We needed to talk. That was the big focus this past week." (HA)
About how communication was critical because of NMSU's defensive strategy, Alexander said:
"When (the Aggies) come down with the four-across man (defense), that changes everybody's route, really. We had to make sure we were all on the same page. We didn't want to leave anybody hanging. We did a good job of talking. Everybody was communicating." (HA)
About how their offense is effective against blitzes, Alexander said:
"Crossing routes and stuff to the flats are good against man (coverage). That's the beauty of this offense. They can bring heat, but we can answer with our routes." (HA)
About how their game plan was effective, Alexander said:
"We had an excellent game plan. We knew what they were doing, we got what we saw on film and exploited it." (HSB)
About how they scored a TD on their first drive to respond to NMSU's TD on their first drive, Alexander said:
"One of our goals was to come out to a quick start offensively. After they scored that first touchdown it was good to come right back down and respond, I think that gave us a lot of confidence." (HSB)
About how Pilares makes a difference to their offense, Alexander said:
"He makes a huge difference. He's the most dynamic player we have on offense. He does a lot of different things for us, when you put the ball in his hands in space he's going to make plays. We just have to give him the ball quick and let him go do his thing." (HSB)
.
Happy to be back from injury, Kealoha Pilares said:
"It was good to be back with the boys. Especially after having to watch and not being able to do anything last week. I really looked forward to this (game)." (HA)
Pilares said that he liked playing at slotback:
"but I'll play where ever they need me. Just being out there again was great." (HA)
About his injured foot, Pilares said:
"It still hurts a little. It limited me doing some things, but, overall, it held up pretty good." (HA)
"It's been sore, but it's been getting better. I just have to keep taking care of it. It hurt a little bit tonight, but I felt good." (HSB)
.
About his 88 yards rushing and 2 TDs, Daniel Libre said:
"The line made it real easy and the receivers worked real hard on making some good blocks." (HA)
"I give all the credit to our receivers and the line. They were blocking extremely well. They worked at it all week and it paid off." (HSB)
About how Pilares is good at RB and slotback, Libre said:
"Where ever we put Kealoha he's going to be a threat and if the running game is working, they can't key on him." (HA)
About how Pilares and he helps each other, Libre said:
"He opens up things for me and I try to open up things for him." (HSB)
About how he reminded himself of his fumble in the Utah State game, Libre said:
"That was sitting in my head since it happened. My screensaver on my computer is that picture of me fumbling. I've been thinking about it and trying to focus on not coughing it up like that again and making plays out there to get a W." (HSB)
.
About how they shortened their routes due to NMSU's blitzes, Greg Salas said:
"You have to snap it." (HA)
.
About how the WRs and Alexander needed to make their reads and communicate better, Aaron Bain said:
"We had to communicate better. We had to make the read, seeing what the defense was doing before the ball was snapped. Then we had to relay (the call) to the quarterback and linemen. Once you do that, it makes it easier for the quarterback." (HA)
.
About how their lack of communication by the D led to NMSU's early success on offense, Sol Elimimian (team-high 10 tackles) said:
"They scored on us early because we didn't communicate. Once we started communicating, we played better." (HA)
About how this win was critical for them to get to the Hawaii Bowl, Sol said:
"We knew what was at stake. This was a must-win for us and that's how we approached it as a team. The offense played a heck of a game." (HSB)
.
About how the offense is improving and has more confidence now, Adam Leonard said:
"Those guys (the offense) are hitting their stride. It takes a while with all the guys they lost, but they have more confidence — and it shows." (HA)
About how they needed the offense to do well in this game, Adam said:
"It would have been a different game if our offense got stopped." (HA)
.
About scoring a TD on defense after not scoring when being on offense for two games, Ryan Mouton said:
"It was a little weird. They (teammates and coaches) were telling me, 'You score on defense but you couldn't even score on offense.' " (HA)
About the TD, Mouton said:
"it felt great." (HA)
About his 91-yard INT return, Mouton said:
"They couldn't run on our front seven, so we knew they'd be passing. When they did, it (the ball) kind of fell into my hands. I was like, 'Oh, I got the ball; let's go.' " (HA)
"Solly (Elimimian) tipped the ball and it just dropped in my hands and a couple of the guys led me to the end zone." (HSB)
About how he was almost knocked out of bounds before he reached the end zone, Mouton said:
"I didn't know there was a guy behind me and (he) almost knocked me out of bounds." (HA)
About wanting to remain full-time on defense, Mouton said:
"Hey, coach, with as many yards passing as we gave up. ..." (HA)
About the importance of this game for their bowl chances, Mouton said:
"We knew we had to win three of the next four (after the Utah State loss), and this is a great start." (HSB)
.
About how Chase Holbrook was able to elude their pass rush so many times, David Veikune said:
"He had that third eye. He could tell when someone's coming. He reminded me of Colt (Brennan). There's no way he could have seen the defender coming. But he feels it, and he has a great arm, too." (HA)
Apologizing for his taunting of the unconscious NMSU player, which resulted in a 15-yard penalty, Veikune said:
"I would like to apologize to their whole team. We were having a battle. ... I thought he would get up and talk trash, like we had been doing the whole game. I knew it was wrong. I shouldn't have talked, anyway. It was a selfish thing. I apologize to him, and to his team." (HA)
.
About intercepting Holbrook's pass with about a minute left in the game, Erik Robinson (whose family made the 9-hour drive to attend the game) said:
"The play came my way." (HA)
.
About his first start as a Warrior (after shifting from DE to DT before this game), Francis Maka (1.5 sacks in this game) said:
"I felt really comfortable there (at tackle). Because they pass a lot, the coaches gave us the freedom to move around, even on the inside. A lot of times I just beat the guy off the first step." (HSB)
.
----------------- Quotes from the New Mexico State coaches ------------------
Asked about UH's offense, NMSU head coach Hal Mumme said:
“Well they did a lot of things well on offense today, we did not take care of business there. Our offense did a bit better on a patched up line. We were not able to run the ball well today at all. It was a 14-point turn around in the first game and that is a big turn around.” (UH, NMSU)
About how they played hard to the end of the game, Mumme said:
“Yeah, our kids have been battling. They are playing as hard as they are able to play. We are just really beat up right now. I guess our performance was not necessarily good, but it was hard.“ (UH, NMSU)
About how Chris Williams played in the game, Mumme said:
“He did really well and I think all those guys did a fine job today. Our receivers are battling hard and they did not always play great, but they played hard.“ (UH, NMSU)
About how Williams has overcome his hamstring injury, Mumme said:
"Chris has had to deal with an injury the past couple of weeks and that's tough. But he battled back and had a great game against Hawai'i. He's a great kid and has had a great career. It was nice to see him have some big plays. It's fun to watch him play." (HA)
About Chase Holbrook and their OL, Mumme said:
“Well, we played with our ex-fullback at tackle, our right guard at right tackle and played with a freshman at center, a back up right gurard and the only guy starting who started the season is Chuck Taylor and he is doing a great job in the line. But we just got a lot of new faces and I was proud of the way we protected Chase because Hawai’i has a good front line.” (UH, NMSU)
About their onside kick try when the score was 35-24, Mumme said:
"The onside kick was something we had planned all week, we felt like there was a weakness that would could exploit, it just didn't work out." (LCSN)
About Mouton's interception for a TD when NMSU was close to scoring with the score just 21-14 at the time, Mumme said:
"That play swung the momentum to Hawaii. It was a 10 or 14 point swing. It was a bad break, A.J. and Chase have made so many big plays for us. I'm not going to point the finger at them. Hawaii's defensive back made a great play and run." (LCSN)
Feeling like their team played well, especially considering they had just 6 offensive linemen, Mumme said:
"We did some good things and played more like we want to and that's going upfield more with the passing game. Chris was tremendous, he's been battling a hamstring injury for a couple of weeks. He was ready to go and battled hard. We didn't run block well, but injuries to our line and our backs have limited us. We'd be more efficient if we were healthy." (LCSN)
Asked about playing Fresno State next week, Mumme said:
“Fresno is beat-up like us and they lost a heartbreaker last night to Nevada. We just have to play hard and keep our heads up.” (NMSU)
"We have to worry about Fresno State now. We'll get to work on them, that will be a tough game." (NMSU)
Praising La'Auli Fonoti's adjustment from LB to DL, Mumme said:
"La'Auli had a good game today. He's playing hard and he's accepted his new role well and done some nice things." (HA)
About how their players from Hawaii like La'Auli were motivated for the game, Mumme said:
"This game is a big deal to our kids from Hawaii, and they really got up for it." (HSB)
.
----------------- Quotes from the New Mexico State players ----------------------
.
About how they wanted to get the ball more to Chris Williams this week, QB Chase Holbrook said:
"We definitely wanted to get Chris the ball more today. He was feeling good and he was able to get behind the Hawai'i defenders. Chris has great speed and he has a great knowledge of the offense." (HA)
"It was nice to see Chris get back into the groove. He showed why he's one of the best in the nation. He has good speed, and it was good to see him get back in the end zone today." (HSB)
.
About how turnovers hurt them in the game but they still have a chance to become bowl eligible, Chris Williams (7 catches for 221 yards and 3 TDs) said:
"We did some good things on offense, but turnovers continue to hurt us at key times. But the season isn't lost or done. We have three more games left and we can become bowl eligible." (LCSN)
About how his focus is on winning and making a bowl game instead of his stats, Williams said:
"I just want to win. We still have three games left and that's important because we can still be bowl-eligible." (HA)
About how he likes NMSU's offense, Williams said:
"I love this offense. I've had a great chance to make plays and consistency has been a key. I have great people around me at all the key spots." (HA)
About his TDs of 84, 23, and 83 yards, Williams said:
"I haven't had long touchdowns this year. It felt good to stretch my legs, get some long runs and get in the end zone a few times. We just try to build from there." (HSB)
About how he had 7 catches for 160 yards and 2 TDs against UH in 2006 (he missed the 2007 game due to injury), Williams said:
"When I play against (Hawaii) I guess I just play pretty well. It's hard to get open, but we just found some holes." (HSB)
.
About how UH played well, DL La'auli Fonoti said:
"Hawaii did make some key plays, especially on third down. We have to come out better in the first half and on the first drive and make plays. Hawaii is a good team and its quarterback played well." (LCSN)
About moving from LB to DL, La'auli (7 tackles, 2 sackes, forced fumble, QB hurry in this game) said:
"It has been a huge adjustment for me going from linebacker to the defensive line. I'm learning how to read the offensive line a lot better and I'm trying to be more consistent every week in terms of assignments. I still have a few games left and I want to finish strong. I wasn't sure how the move would work out when they told me about it." (HA)
About the 3-3-5 defense they changed to this season, La'auli said:
"The coaches here at NMSU have given me the chance to play in this defense and I'm trying to take advantage. It's a different defense, but it gives me a chance to move around and make plays. It's tough being in the trenches with all the big guys, but I just have to adjust as best as possible. I have to do what's best for the team." (HA)
HSB = Honolulu Star-Bulletin
UH = University of Hawaii Official Site
NMSU = New Mexico State Official Site
LCSN = Las Cruces Sun-News
---------------
----------------- Quotes from the UH coaches ----------------------
About how his team played, UH head coach Greg McMackin (Mac) said:
“I thought today we were more like we wanted to get to. Our offense moved the ball. We gave up some big plays early. It was a real character test. They’re [New Mexico State] explosive, especially [Chris] Williams. I’m proud of the way our guys came back.” (UH, NMSU)
"We knew we were making strides. We finally put a full game together." (HA)
Asked about their play on offense, Mac said:
“We had to replace three starters [from last season]. We have to win two more games.” (NMSU)
Praising their offense, Mac said:
"They (the offense) had sort of been feeding off the defense and special teams this year and now, all of a sudden, I thought the offense took over in the ballgame." (HA)
"The offense kept us in the game. They've been sort of feeding off the defense and special teams -- now all of a sudden I thought the offense changed the whole momentum of the ball game." (HSB)
About the importance of this game, Mac said:
"This was a must-win game for us. We had to have this ballgame." (HA)
"This was a must-win. We've had great practices. ... It was a perfect week, and the guys responded." (HSB)
About the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on David Veikune, Mac said:
“I’m really disappointed, we had a great player do something that we don’t approve of. He made a great hit. We don’t approve of taunting anyone. The hit was a great hit but I was upset about the taunting. I’m completely 100% against taunting. He’s a great kid and he felt bad about it afterward.” (UH, NMSU, HA, HSB)
Comparing Alexander to several excellent NFL QBs, Mac said:
"I've been around (John) Elway and (Warren) Moon and (Jeff) Garcia and some other pretty good ones. (Alexander has) that coolness about him on the field. He never gets shaken. He's got a great 'gamester' attitude." (HA)
About Alexander's helicopter-spin 2-point conversion, Mac said:
"Greg pulled a John Elway out there." (HSB)
About the closed-door meeting he had with the team during their first night in El Paso (the night after the Utah State loss), Mac said:
"That was such a tough loss. On Sunday, we had a real talk. It wasn't pretty. I got some things off of my mind." (HA)
About how he challenged several of the 30 seniors on their 64-man travel roster, Mac said:
"I love these players. These are the greatest players I've coached. They're the best I've been around. They want it so bad — for the seniors, and for the state of Hawai'i. They listen to you. And they believe in each other. That's why it was good to be on the road for the week. We were together. We were working for each other." (HA)
About how Mouton was full-time on defense in this game, Mac said:
"Today we really needed him to come play on defense. We'll still have an offensive package for him (available), but he's truly a defensive player." (HA)
About how Kealoha Pilares was back from injury, Mac said:
"We sure missed Kealoha. Boy, it was nice to have him back." (HA)
Praising the play of Pilares and Libre, Mac said:
"Both those guys have done a great job." (HA)
About having Pilares and Libre on the field at the same time, Mac said:
"That's a good combination. We want to get as much speed and athletic ability on the field as we can." (HSB)
.
About their success on offense in this game, Ron Lee said:
"The players just executed. We had options off of different looks. The players were together. They knew what to do." (HA)
.
Praising Alexander's play in this game, Rolo said:
"I think Greg has really come along. He made smart decisions. He knew where to throw the ball in certain situations. I thought he had his best game as a Warrior." (HA)
.
About NMSU's blitz scheme, OL coach Brian Smith said:
"They were bringing seven and we had six to protect (Alexander)." (HA)
HA Note: "NMSU defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn concocted a scheme in which any defender can be a blitzer. Dunn's strategy for UH was to play man coverage on the four receivers and turn loose everybody else."
.
About the 3 TDs that Chris Williams scored off post patterns, DB coach Rich Miano said:
"If you cover (the routes), it works out better. (Williams) is a good player, but we made him look like the best player in America." (HA)
About how they need Mouton on D, Miano said:
"As many yards as we gave up in passing (394 and four touchdowns), we're going to need him on defense. But I don't make that decision. Coach (Greg McMackin) does." (HA)
"Some of the things he does are amazing; the way he shuts guys down. He's the best I've ever coached. I mean, you look at every game he plays and there are like three or four plays that are flashes. He doesn't have a lot of interceptions but there have been like three balls caught on him all year. Two of those were comebacks and another was a tip. I think he's back (on defense)." (HA)
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----------------- Quotes from the UH players --------------------
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About how they learned from the Utah State game that they need to communicate better, Alexander said:
"We needed to start to communicate. Last week, (Utah State) did some things to us. We needed to talk. That was the big focus this past week." (HA)
About how communication was critical because of NMSU's defensive strategy, Alexander said:
"When (the Aggies) come down with the four-across man (defense), that changes everybody's route, really. We had to make sure we were all on the same page. We didn't want to leave anybody hanging. We did a good job of talking. Everybody was communicating." (HA)
About how their offense is effective against blitzes, Alexander said:
"Crossing routes and stuff to the flats are good against man (coverage). That's the beauty of this offense. They can bring heat, but we can answer with our routes." (HA)
About how their game plan was effective, Alexander said:
"We had an excellent game plan. We knew what they were doing, we got what we saw on film and exploited it." (HSB)
About how they scored a TD on their first drive to respond to NMSU's TD on their first drive, Alexander said:
"One of our goals was to come out to a quick start offensively. After they scored that first touchdown it was good to come right back down and respond, I think that gave us a lot of confidence." (HSB)
About how Pilares makes a difference to their offense, Alexander said:
"He makes a huge difference. He's the most dynamic player we have on offense. He does a lot of different things for us, when you put the ball in his hands in space he's going to make plays. We just have to give him the ball quick and let him go do his thing." (HSB)
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Happy to be back from injury, Kealoha Pilares said:
"It was good to be back with the boys. Especially after having to watch and not being able to do anything last week. I really looked forward to this (game)." (HA)
Pilares said that he liked playing at slotback:
"but I'll play where ever they need me. Just being out there again was great." (HA)
About his injured foot, Pilares said:
"It still hurts a little. It limited me doing some things, but, overall, it held up pretty good." (HA)
"It's been sore, but it's been getting better. I just have to keep taking care of it. It hurt a little bit tonight, but I felt good." (HSB)
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About his 88 yards rushing and 2 TDs, Daniel Libre said:
"The line made it real easy and the receivers worked real hard on making some good blocks." (HA)
"I give all the credit to our receivers and the line. They were blocking extremely well. They worked at it all week and it paid off." (HSB)
About how Pilares is good at RB and slotback, Libre said:
"Where ever we put Kealoha he's going to be a threat and if the running game is working, they can't key on him." (HA)
About how Pilares and he helps each other, Libre said:
"He opens up things for me and I try to open up things for him." (HSB)
About how he reminded himself of his fumble in the Utah State game, Libre said:
"That was sitting in my head since it happened. My screensaver on my computer is that picture of me fumbling. I've been thinking about it and trying to focus on not coughing it up like that again and making plays out there to get a W." (HSB)
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About how they shortened their routes due to NMSU's blitzes, Greg Salas said:
"You have to snap it." (HA)
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About how the WRs and Alexander needed to make their reads and communicate better, Aaron Bain said:
"We had to communicate better. We had to make the read, seeing what the defense was doing before the ball was snapped. Then we had to relay (the call) to the quarterback and linemen. Once you do that, it makes it easier for the quarterback." (HA)
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About how their lack of communication by the D led to NMSU's early success on offense, Sol Elimimian (team-high 10 tackles) said:
"They scored on us early because we didn't communicate. Once we started communicating, we played better." (HA)
About how this win was critical for them to get to the Hawaii Bowl, Sol said:
"We knew what was at stake. This was a must-win for us and that's how we approached it as a team. The offense played a heck of a game." (HSB)
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About how the offense is improving and has more confidence now, Adam Leonard said:
"Those guys (the offense) are hitting their stride. It takes a while with all the guys they lost, but they have more confidence — and it shows." (HA)
About how they needed the offense to do well in this game, Adam said:
"It would have been a different game if our offense got stopped." (HA)
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About scoring a TD on defense after not scoring when being on offense for two games, Ryan Mouton said:
"It was a little weird. They (teammates and coaches) were telling me, 'You score on defense but you couldn't even score on offense.' " (HA)
About the TD, Mouton said:
"it felt great." (HA)
About his 91-yard INT return, Mouton said:
"They couldn't run on our front seven, so we knew they'd be passing. When they did, it (the ball) kind of fell into my hands. I was like, 'Oh, I got the ball; let's go.' " (HA)
"Solly (Elimimian) tipped the ball and it just dropped in my hands and a couple of the guys led me to the end zone." (HSB)
About how he was almost knocked out of bounds before he reached the end zone, Mouton said:
"I didn't know there was a guy behind me and (he) almost knocked me out of bounds." (HA)
About wanting to remain full-time on defense, Mouton said:
"Hey, coach, with as many yards passing as we gave up. ..." (HA)
About the importance of this game for their bowl chances, Mouton said:
"We knew we had to win three of the next four (after the Utah State loss), and this is a great start." (HSB)
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About how Chase Holbrook was able to elude their pass rush so many times, David Veikune said:
"He had that third eye. He could tell when someone's coming. He reminded me of Colt (Brennan). There's no way he could have seen the defender coming. But he feels it, and he has a great arm, too." (HA)
Apologizing for his taunting of the unconscious NMSU player, which resulted in a 15-yard penalty, Veikune said:
"I would like to apologize to their whole team. We were having a battle. ... I thought he would get up and talk trash, like we had been doing the whole game. I knew it was wrong. I shouldn't have talked, anyway. It was a selfish thing. I apologize to him, and to his team." (HA)
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About intercepting Holbrook's pass with about a minute left in the game, Erik Robinson (whose family made the 9-hour drive to attend the game) said:
"The play came my way." (HA)
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About his first start as a Warrior (after shifting from DE to DT before this game), Francis Maka (1.5 sacks in this game) said:
"I felt really comfortable there (at tackle). Because they pass a lot, the coaches gave us the freedom to move around, even on the inside. A lot of times I just beat the guy off the first step." (HSB)
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----------------- Quotes from the New Mexico State coaches ------------------
Asked about UH's offense, NMSU head coach Hal Mumme said:
“Well they did a lot of things well on offense today, we did not take care of business there. Our offense did a bit better on a patched up line. We were not able to run the ball well today at all. It was a 14-point turn around in the first game and that is a big turn around.” (UH, NMSU)
About how they played hard to the end of the game, Mumme said:
“Yeah, our kids have been battling. They are playing as hard as they are able to play. We are just really beat up right now. I guess our performance was not necessarily good, but it was hard.“ (UH, NMSU)
About how Chris Williams played in the game, Mumme said:
“He did really well and I think all those guys did a fine job today. Our receivers are battling hard and they did not always play great, but they played hard.“ (UH, NMSU)
About how Williams has overcome his hamstring injury, Mumme said:
"Chris has had to deal with an injury the past couple of weeks and that's tough. But he battled back and had a great game against Hawai'i. He's a great kid and has had a great career. It was nice to see him have some big plays. It's fun to watch him play." (HA)
About Chase Holbrook and their OL, Mumme said:
“Well, we played with our ex-fullback at tackle, our right guard at right tackle and played with a freshman at center, a back up right gurard and the only guy starting who started the season is Chuck Taylor and he is doing a great job in the line. But we just got a lot of new faces and I was proud of the way we protected Chase because Hawai’i has a good front line.” (UH, NMSU)
About their onside kick try when the score was 35-24, Mumme said:
"The onside kick was something we had planned all week, we felt like there was a weakness that would could exploit, it just didn't work out." (LCSN)
About Mouton's interception for a TD when NMSU was close to scoring with the score just 21-14 at the time, Mumme said:
"That play swung the momentum to Hawaii. It was a 10 or 14 point swing. It was a bad break, A.J. and Chase have made so many big plays for us. I'm not going to point the finger at them. Hawaii's defensive back made a great play and run." (LCSN)
Feeling like their team played well, especially considering they had just 6 offensive linemen, Mumme said:
"We did some good things and played more like we want to and that's going upfield more with the passing game. Chris was tremendous, he's been battling a hamstring injury for a couple of weeks. He was ready to go and battled hard. We didn't run block well, but injuries to our line and our backs have limited us. We'd be more efficient if we were healthy." (LCSN)
Asked about playing Fresno State next week, Mumme said:
“Fresno is beat-up like us and they lost a heartbreaker last night to Nevada. We just have to play hard and keep our heads up.” (NMSU)
"We have to worry about Fresno State now. We'll get to work on them, that will be a tough game." (NMSU)
Praising La'Auli Fonoti's adjustment from LB to DL, Mumme said:
"La'Auli had a good game today. He's playing hard and he's accepted his new role well and done some nice things." (HA)
About how their players from Hawaii like La'Auli were motivated for the game, Mumme said:
"This game is a big deal to our kids from Hawaii, and they really got up for it." (HSB)
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----------------- Quotes from the New Mexico State players ----------------------
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About how they wanted to get the ball more to Chris Williams this week, QB Chase Holbrook said:
"We definitely wanted to get Chris the ball more today. He was feeling good and he was able to get behind the Hawai'i defenders. Chris has great speed and he has a great knowledge of the offense." (HA)
"It was nice to see Chris get back into the groove. He showed why he's one of the best in the nation. He has good speed, and it was good to see him get back in the end zone today." (HSB)
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About how turnovers hurt them in the game but they still have a chance to become bowl eligible, Chris Williams (7 catches for 221 yards and 3 TDs) said:
"We did some good things on offense, but turnovers continue to hurt us at key times. But the season isn't lost or done. We have three more games left and we can become bowl eligible." (LCSN)
About how his focus is on winning and making a bowl game instead of his stats, Williams said:
"I just want to win. We still have three games left and that's important because we can still be bowl-eligible." (HA)
About how he likes NMSU's offense, Williams said:
"I love this offense. I've had a great chance to make plays and consistency has been a key. I have great people around me at all the key spots." (HA)
About his TDs of 84, 23, and 83 yards, Williams said:
"I haven't had long touchdowns this year. It felt good to stretch my legs, get some long runs and get in the end zone a few times. We just try to build from there." (HSB)
About how he had 7 catches for 160 yards and 2 TDs against UH in 2006 (he missed the 2007 game due to injury), Williams said:
"When I play against (Hawaii) I guess I just play pretty well. It's hard to get open, but we just found some holes." (HSB)
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About how UH played well, DL La'auli Fonoti said:
"Hawaii did make some key plays, especially on third down. We have to come out better in the first half and on the first drive and make plays. Hawaii is a good team and its quarterback played well." (LCSN)
About moving from LB to DL, La'auli (7 tackles, 2 sackes, forced fumble, QB hurry in this game) said:
"It has been a huge adjustment for me going from linebacker to the defensive line. I'm learning how to read the offensive line a lot better and I'm trying to be more consistent every week in terms of assignments. I still have a few games left and I want to finish strong. I wasn't sure how the move would work out when they told me about it." (HA)
About the 3-3-5 defense they changed to this season, La'auli said:
"The coaches here at NMSU have given me the chance to play in this defense and I'm trying to take advantage. It's a different defense, but it gives me a chance to move around and make plays. It's tough being in the trenches with all the big guys, but I just have to adjust as best as possible. I have to do what's best for the team." (HA)
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