Feature article on Rich Miano

About the fierce competition he faced with the Jets when he joined
them as a 6th-round pick and rosters were cut from 49 to 45 adn the
USFL was collapsing which flooded the market with available players,
Rich MIano said:
"I report to camp and there are 120 guys out there and I'm sixth
string. I remember the first week we were in a dormitory and almost
the whole floor got cut. I was like the only one left." (HSA)

About how he was told that he was cut on the final day of camp, the
day before his birthday, Miano said:
"I get home that night, and there were only three TV stations at the
time, and they were all reporting that I had gotten cut. But the next
day my dad woke me up and said, 'Happy birthday, son. The Houston
Oilers just picked you up.'" (HSA)

About how the Jets called him to let him know they were reclaiming him
a few hours after the Oilers claimed him, Miano said:
"They made me fly back that day because they had a game with the
Raiders in Los Angeles. I flew something like 18,000 miles that
weekend, and The New York Times wrote a story about how even pilots
aren't allowed to fly that much. I flew back to New York, then to Los
Angeles, then back to New York. But in our second game I had two
interceptions and now I'm leading the American Football Conference in
interceptions 14 days after getting cut. Amazing." (HSA)

Asked if the team's performance surprised him after they were picked
to finish near the bottom of the WAC before the season, Miano said:
"As a coach, you always want to be optimistic about your opportunities
every year, and you want to think that you can win every game -- even
though things don't always work out that way.

I will say this: Coming into this year, we as coaches knew we had
tremendous, skilled athletes and that (quarterback) Bryant Moniz was
going to be really, really good -- much better than most people
probably anticipated. We also knew the receivers and the running backs
had a lot of potential, so if the line could hold together and come
along -- and that was what we thought could take some time -- then we
could be an explosive offense.

Defensively, we were excited about actually having guys coming back
because the previous year we had 11 new starters. I had never seen
that happen at any level of football, where you had to replace the
entire defensive team. So we knew we'd be better defensively, but
again, there are so many intangibles that you can't control. So while
the pundits and prognosticators have been surprised by how the team
has performed, it hasn't been a surprise to us. We're extremely
pleased, but we're not surprised." (HSA)

Asked what he felt about UH renewing rivalries in the MWC that he
competed against when his UH teams were in the WAC, Miano said:
"I think about our fan base, the loyal fans from the '70s and '80s,
when this program was just starting to get going. We had some great
games against teams like BYU, of course, and Air Force and Wyoming and
San Diego State. ... It was a great time to be a football player at
UH, and I think it was a really exciting time for the sports fans in
the state.

Now we've come full circle ... different name, same teams. I think
it's a great conference. I really believe we had to (leave the WAC)
from a football and an Athletics Department standpoint. This gives us
credibility and stability. I think the old fans will appreciate the
rivalries we'll be renewing and enjoy continuing the rivalries we now
have with Fresno State and Nevada and Boise State.

I also think it was important to the state that we remained a
Division-I program. I really don't believe the people of Hawaii want
or would support a I-AA program, and right now we have a saturated WAC
that seems to be not adding ... you know ... I'm sure (Denver,
Texas-San Antonio and Texas State will) be quality members eventually;
they could be the next Boise States and Nevadas that were I-AA at one
time. But I really believe our program needs to be in a strong
Division-I conference at this time." (HSA)

Asked what was going through his mind during the speculation about
what UH should do after Fresno State and Nevada joined Boise State in
leaving the WAC, Miano said:
"I think there was tremendous trepidation in not knowing if this
program was going to exist anymore on the level it had.

As a coach, obviously, you have to be thinking if this league doesn't
become stronger and we have no possibility of moving, everything from
attendance to television rights to sponsorships ... it could possibly
be the end of everything we have here.

As an assistant coach you're always on a one-year contract anyway, but
this was more important for me because I bleed green. This is my home.
This is my alma mater. This is where I've worked for the last 12
years. Even as a professional football player, I always wanted to
eventually come back and coach and help the youth of Hawaii.

I also thought back to those doomsday scenarios during the Fred
vonAppen days (UH head coach, 1996-98), when people were asking, "Do
we really want a Division-I team?"

I just couldn't see how that would succeed." (HSA)

Asked if he felt there was a real danger that their football program
could have ended, Miano said:
"Oh, most definitely. And you have to give credit to the powers that
be -- the president (M.R.C. Greenwood), (Vice President) Rockne
Freitas, (Board of Regents Executive Administrator) Keith Amemiya,
(Athletic Director) Jim Donovan, the chancellor (Virginia Hinshaw) --
all the people who made this thing work.

It was getting scary, especially in recruiting. It was tough, because
you had to sell the recruits on scenarios. Other (teams') coaches were
telling the kids: "Well, look who's in their conference. Look at who
they'll be playing. Are they ever going to be on ESPN again? Are they
still going to be relevant?" So we're out there and we're having to
create these scenarios where maybe we're going to the Mountain West or
maybe we're going independent and be able to play whoever we want. So
the timing (of joining the Mountain West) couldn't have been better."
(HSA)

Asked how the UH football program changed from when he played, Miano said:
"One thing is that when I was a senior, our average attendance was
47,000 ... and I'm not saying we haven't been able to captivate the
fans as much because I think they're still there. It's just that they
have a lot of different avenues available to view us. But that (2008)
Sugar Bowl year ... it was something else, something we haven't seen
since maybe the Fabulous Five in the way it just captivated the whole
community.

Back in my days we played some big teams like USC, and we had a couple
of big victories, but we didn't get to play in bowl games. There
wasn't a proliferation of bowl games, so unless you went 11-1 or 10-2,
you weren't going anywhere.

But this has always been a successful program. It's had ups and downs,
but right now, if you're a recruit, why wouldn't you want to come
here? It's the most beautiful place on the Earth, we have great
facilities, great fans, we're going to be playing great competition in
our new conference.

But it's our job -- it's Coach (Greg) McMackin's job, it's our job as
assistant coaches -- to be the stewards of this program and continue
to move it forward.

People think getting to a BCS bowl game is once in a lifetime, but why
couldn't we do it again? Boise State's done it. Utah's done it. If we
had won that (Sugar Bowl) game, it would have transcended anything
that happened before in Hawaii sports. People would still be talking
about it 20, 30, 50 years down the line.

But we didn't get it done, so the way I look at it, we still have some
unfinished business." (HSA)

http://www.staradvertiser.com/columnists/20101210_Rich_Miano.html

JC WR Chris Gant commits to the Warriors!

About how he is prepared to do the haka, Chris Gant said:
"I know how to do the haka. We did it my freshman year (at Bishop Alemany High in Mission Hills, Calif.)." (HSA)


Excited about committing to the Warriors, Gant said:
"I'm very excited to play for them. I had my eye on Hawaii as my school since the eighth grade." (HSA)


HSA Note: "From ESPN telecasts, Gant said, he became a fan of the Warriors' four-wide passing offense. He said he followed former UH quarterback Colt Brennan and slotback Davone Bess."


About what he got to do during his recruiting trip, Gant said:
"We got to experience the game-day things. I experienced the meetings and riding on the bus (to the game) and the stadium. It was fun." (HSA)


Gant said that he was impressed with:
"the players and the coaches and the fans and the stadium. I liked everything. There wasn't anything I didn't like about the trip."


HSA Note: "This past season, Gant had 81 receptions for 1,134 yards and 17 touchdowns. In two seasons with the Raiders, he has 145 catches and 33 touchdowns. He was named to the 2010 All-Western State Conference first team. Gant said he is 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds."


Asked what his 40-yard dash time is, Gant said:
"I was hand-timed at 4.4 (seconds)." (HSA)


About how he played basketball when he was growing up, first dunking in the summer before he started high school, Gant said:
"When I was 10, I was going up against 6-footers." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Gant first dunked in the summer before his freshman year of high school. He said he received interest from Nevada, Fresno State, New Mexico State and Wyoming, but said he made his decision during his UH visit."


About how he loved his UH recruiting visit, Gant said:
"I loved it. I loved how everybody is together. I love the fans." (HSA)


About how his teammates call him "King Gant", Gant said:
"My mother's maiden name is King. I got a tattoo for that, and everybody started calling me King Gant." (HSA)

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101210_JC_receiver_commits_to_Warriors.html

OL Ben Dew from New Zealand committed to the Warriors!

About committing to the Warriors, Ben Dew said:
"It's a good fit for me." (HSA)

"I'm excited to play for the Warriors." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Dew, who lives in Auckland, New Zealand, will be reunited with his sister, Rebecca Dew, a member of the Rainbow Wahine basketball team. Ben Dew said he will take UH classes beginning in January, then go on scholarship in July."


HSA Note: "Dew was born in Gainesville, Fla., and has lived in Tennessee, New Zealand and, for one year, in Hawaii.  In July 2009, he caught the UH coaches' attention when he attended the Warriors' Big Man's Camp for football linemen."


About how Dew learned football quickly when he played for Word of Life Academy in the 2009 football season, his only semester at that school and his first year playing organized football, Joe Onosai (who was head coach there then) said:
"He caught on so quickly. I was pretty amazed at how he progressed. I was most impressed he was such a mature young man. I felt like we had a 25-year-old on the offensive line." (HA)


HSA Note: "After the 2009 fall semester ended, the Dew family moved to New Zealand. Dew said he was home-schooled there, although he competed in rugby leagues. Arizona, UCLA and Wyoming expressed interest in Dew, but he was set with his decision."


About how he ignored interest from other recruiters, Dew said:
"I planned to go to Hawaii." (HSA)


About how he likes Hawaii, Dew said:
"I like (Hawaii's) beaches, but most of all, I like the people. They're very family-oriented. They are -- what's the saying? -- ohana." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Dew said he is 6 feet 4 and 300 pounds. He can bench press 355 pounds. He also is skilled in rugby and basketball."


About Dew, Onosai said:
"He's a beast. He's a big boy. He's a very feisty competitor. He's going to be a great addition to Hawaii's offensive line." (HSA)


Comparing Dew to Colin Scotts, who played for UH and was the first Australian to be drafted by the NFL, Onosai said:
Onosai said Dew is comparable to Colin Scotts, a former Warrior who reportedly was the first Australian to be drafted by the National Football League. Scotts played tight end and defensive end for the St. Louis Cardinals.

"He's a reserved Colin Scotts. He's a good athlete. He's a rugby player. He's very quick for his size. He can play both sides of the ball, but I think his future is on the offensive line. He's big, strong and fast. And he's maturing." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/Big_man_commits_to_hold_line_for_offense.html

WRs Trevor Davis and Cecil Doe committed to the Warriors!

HSA Note: "Trevor Davis of Alhambra High in Martinez, Calif., and Cecil Doe of North Dakota State College of Science said they notified the UH coaches of their decisions. Davis will join the Warriors on his birthday (the Fourth of July), enrolling in the school's bridge summer session. Doe will join UH in January and participate in the Warriors' offseason conditioning program and spring training."


About committing to the Warriors after his recruiting visit last weekend, 6'1", 165-pound Davis (who said he can run the 40 in 4.45 seconds and has run 100 meters in 10.9 seconds) said:
"I just love the campus and the team and the atmosphere. I've talked to (mainland college) coaches. Sometimes I'll believe them, sometimes I won't. But I believe in Hawaii's coaches. They always told me the straight-up truth about everything." (HSA)


About his recruiting visit, Davis said:
"They gave us a lot of free time. I went to the beach. I tried not to think about how nice Hawaii is. I wanted to find other reasons." (HSA)


About how UH players told him that the team was not separated into cliques, something he saw at other schools, Davis said:
"Everyone is cool. Everyone gets along They're really a team." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Davis said he turned down a scholarship from Idaho to commit to UH.}


About how he was contacted by Syracuse, Davis said:
"But I told them I'm going to Hawaii." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Doe, who was raised in Maple Grove, Minn., had been on UH assistant coach Gordy Shaw's radar for a while. Shaw was a longtime line coach at the University of Minnesota. Doe said Shaw had kept track, even when Doe played for a junior college that had a limited passing game. Doe has the build (6-3, 212 pounds) and speed (4.4 over 40 yards) to conjure comparisons to UH wideouts Rodney Bradley and Darius Bright."


About how he loved Hawaii's scenery, Doe said:
"When I first walked out of the (Honolulu International) airport, everything was so beautiful. I saw the trees, and they were so different from what I'm used to seeing. I like the whole atmosphere, the whole place. It's a beautiful place, especially the facilities. And the people are so kind and accepting." (HSA)


About going to UH's football banquet on Sunday, Doe said:
"There was a piano (in the hotel lobby), and I got on there. I can't help myself. I play by ear. I don't read music. When I hear something in my head, I start playing it. Besides sports, that's what I like to do." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101208_2_receivers_offer_commitments_to_play_at_UH.html

Ellis Henderson committed to the Warriors!

About how he committed to UH after his recruiting visit to UH, Ellis Henderson said:
"Everything felt right about Hawaii. I like the family atmosphere. I'm glad I made the choice." (HSA)

HSA Note: "Henderson said he received scholarship offers from Washington State, Southern Methodist, Idaho and Montana. He said he had been in discussions with Washington."

About why he chose UH, Henderson said:
"I wanted to go somewhere where I felt comfortable. I felt that in Hawaii." (HSA)

HSA Note: "Henderson said he is 6 feet and 180 pounds. Dawgman.com, a Washington-based scouting service, said Henderson is capable of running 40 yards in 4.45 seconds and has a vertical jump of 36 inches."

HSA Note: "Henderson's parents and UH running back Alex Green's father are friends. Henderson said he has been told he will compete at slotback in training camp. The Warriors' starting slotbacks, Greg Salas and Kealoha Pilares, are seniors who will be completing their NCAA eligibility with the Dec. 24 Hawaii Bowl. Henderson, a center fielder for Skyview's baseball team, has been told he also will be allowed to play that sport at UH. His second cousin is Rickey Henderson, a Hall of Fame outfielder and baseball's career leader in steals and runs scored."

About how Hawaii's beaches were a factor in him choosing UH, Henderson said that he learned to surf (wearing a wetsuit even in the summer) because his parents owned a second home near Oregon's Cannon Beach and:
"It was worth it." (HSA)

About his coaches often refer to him as "Easy", Henderson said:
"I don't really have a nickname." (HSA)

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101207_Pegged_as_a_future_slot_Henderson_chooses_UH.html

Three Warriors (2 walk-ons) made the All-WAC first team

First team All-WAC:
Greg Salas
Mana Silva
Corey Paredes

Second team All-WAC:
Bryant Moniz
Alex Green
Kealoha Pilares
Adrian Thomas
Laupepa Letuli
Kaniela Tuipulotu
Scott Enos

HSA Note: "The nine WAC head coaches selected the All-WAC teams. A coach was allowed to nominate players from his team, but not vote for them."

About having so many Warriors named to the All-WAC team, Mack said:
"Almost half of our starters got recognition. I'm proud of them. That's a real compliment to the entire program. I'm glad our opposing coaches felt that way about them." (HSA)

About leading the nation with 1,675 receiving yards and setting the school record for most career receiving yards, Greg Salas said about the record:
"It does mean something to me." (HSA)

About how he didn't let his injuries stop him from contributing, Salas said:
"You take a couple of aspirins before the game, and the adrenaline is running. It's not too bad during the game. But after the game, it hurts. You have to suck it up." (HSA)

HSA Note: "Paredes endured injuries to his left shoulder, legs and ankles. With daily treatment -- his father is a chiropractor -- Paredes has managed 11.08 tackles per game. He is fifth nationally with 6.46 solo tackles per game. Silva is No. 1 nationally with eight interceptions. He set the UH career record with 14 picks."

About how he dreamed of being a QB when he grew up in Hilo, Mana Silva (who was a QB at Kamehameha-Hawaii) said:
"I always dreamed of being like a Bryant Moniz, a quarterback. When I first came out of high school, there was nothing on the table for me. I didn't have a scholarship at all. I had to walk on at Oregon State. It wasn't working out there at all. I walked on at UH." (HSA)

About how he is grateful for his wife's support, Silva said:
"My wife is a rock for myself. She made a lot of sacrifices. She put a lot of hopes and aspirations on a slight delay for now. I'm very grateful to her." (HSA)

About how he had the nickname of "Detour" in high school because he ran out of bounds when he scrambled, Silva said:
"Hopefully, I'm a stop sign now." (HSA)

About being named to the second team, Alex Green (leading the nation in yards per carry, 8.78) said:
"It feels good. We worked hard for this. This is for everybody." (HSA)

Kealoha Pilares called his second-team selection a:
"team award. I'm proud of all of those guys." (HSA)

About being named to the second team, Adrian Thomas said:
"I'm pretty humbled by (the selection)." (HSA)

About being named to the second team, Laupepa Letuli said:
"I'm surprised. But I'm happy." (HSA)

Asked about the leadership he has been providing the team, Kaniela Tuipulotu said:
"I do what I do. I didn't plan on it happening." (HSA)

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101207_Warriors_crack_All-WAC.html

Warrior Quotes from the Star-Advertiser 12/6/10

About how they led the nation with 23 interceptions without getting any in their first 3 games, Rich Miano said:
"The really incredible thing is we had no interceptions the first three games. We went from last in the nation to first in the nation." (HSA)


HSA Note: "UH is No. 1 nationally among 120 Division I teams with 36 turnovers gained and No. 2 in turnover margin."


About how they will take their bowl game preparation seriously, Rolo said:
"We're not going there to party." (HSA)


About how they changed their goal from just making a bowl game to winning a bowl game, Kealoha Pilares said:
"Our goal each season used to be to get to a bowl, but after that Notre Dame loss, we've changed it to win the game. This one is really important." (HSA)


About how they want to win their bowl game because it is on national TV, Rich Miano pointed out that:
"the last few times we've been on national TV, we haven't played up to our potential. So, winning the bowl game is our only goal right now." (HSA)

"We're proud of what we accomplished. We're going to enjoy (the end of the regular season) for 48 hours and then start to focus on the bowl game because we know the season isn't going to be complete unless we win." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/columnists/furtherreview/20101206_ball_hungry_d_made_the_difference_in_warriors_surprising_season.html

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/ferdswords/20101206_warriors_stress_bowl_win_to_complete_the_season.html

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101206_moniz_scores_team_mvp.html

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

HSA = Honolulu Star-Advertiser
AP = Associated Press

Note: UH's website and UNLV's website did not have any postgame quotes, and USA Today did not have any postgame quotes so they are not credited above.


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


About how last year's 1-point loss to UNLV motivated them for this game, Rich Miano said:
"No question, in my 12 years here I think that's the first time we ever lost a game on the last play of the game. These guys kind of derailed our dreams." (HSA)


About all the injuries that UNLV had, Miano said:
"We're a physical team, first and foremost." (HSA)


About how their adjusted after UNLV scored their early TD, Miano said:
"We've had kind of one of those (give-away) drives in a few games this year. Make a couple of mistakes, and make the adjustments. "Dave (defensive coordinator Aranda) does a great job up there calling the plays. Just gotta hang in there and be patient.  These guys, it means too much to them to not play well, to not let these seniors go out with a victory. ... It was very important for us to make sure they went out the right way." (HSA)


About how their WRs had a lot of time to get open because UNLV rushed just 3 defensive linemen, Offensive Coordinator Nick Rolovich (Rolo) said:
"The receivers were able to get to open areas." (HSA)


About how they used a running play earlier in the game to set up a TD pass to Pilares, Rolo said with a smile:
"They pay me to do that." (HSA)


About how last year Salas studied Ashley Lelie, Rolo said:
"He was interested in not only the record but what Ashley did to get there, how he worked and prepared." (HSA)


When Greg Salas came out of the game, Ashley Lelie asked him if he broke Lelie's UH and WAC single-season reception yardage record (1,713):
"Well, did you get it ... did you get it? (HSA)


About how there are some records he has that Salas won't break, Lelie said:
"I've still got the touchdown (19 in a season) and yards gained (per game, 142.8) records. He's not going to get those." (HSA)


When Lelie was told that Salas did not break hsi record, Mouse Davis said:
"Yeah, Ashley said, 'You mean I have to come back for one more game to see him break my record?'" (HSA)


About starting an all-senior OL, Gordy Shaw said:
"It was a great tribute to those five guys and what they've been through. It's just an interesting group of guys. They all had their stories." (HSA)


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


About how they wanting to finish the game strong, Bryant Moniz said:
"We wanted to finish this game off with a bang." (HSA)


About how they wanted revenge for last year's loss, Moniz said:
"Check. This was another team we lost to last year, and we wanted to get it back. And we did. In a big way. We had that list of all the teams we had to beat. We worked so hard. We got to cross that one off." (HSA


About how they will be ready for Tulsa in the Hawaii Bowl, Moniz said:
"We'll be ready for them. We're definitely on a roll again, back on track getting these W's." (AP)


About his 54-yard TD pass to Salas, Moniz said:
"I was squeezing a little bit on that one, but I got the pass in there. It was nice." (HSA)


About granting Kainoa LaCount's request to carry the Hawaiian flag out of the tunnel before their senior night game, Bryant Moniz said:
"I wanted him to have that. I had goose bumps standing behind him watching him." (HSA)


Praising their senior OL, Moniz said:
"They did an excellent job. All of our success is because of them. And I appreciate them. I'm going to miss them." (HSA)


About starting all seniors on their OL, LaCount said:
"That was great, it meant a lot to us. Except for me and Bronson, those guys were together for all five years and I'm honored to play with them and thank them for bringing me in with them." (HSA)


About how this game was for their seniors, junior LT Austin Hansen said:
"This was for the seniors. This is for the guys who gave five years of their lives, dedicated 100 percent for this program. That's 5:30 mornings year 'round. That's heartbreak. That's reading stories about how bad you are. That's working your butt off when nobody believes in you. That's what this night was all about. And the 10 wins? That's the bonus on top." (HSA)


About how he needs just 39 reception yards to break Lelie's UH single-season reception yardage record and just 3 catches to break Davone Bess' single-season reception record (108), Greg Salas said:
"I can wait. The main thing was we won the game and got (win) No. 10." (HSA)


About how Lelie wants him to break his records, Salas said:
"He (Lelie) wants me to get it (and) he's happy for me. I know he's been a great help." (HSA)


About how he redshirted in 2006 and didn't play much in 2007 because of the outstanding play by Bess, Rivers, RGM, and other Warrior receivers, Salas said:
"I never thought about the records back then; they seemed so far away." (HSA)


About how they wanted revenge for last year's loss to UNLV, Salas said:
"We owed them some payback after we lost by one up there last year, so there was definitely still motivation for us." (AP)


About scoring their first TD with an acrobatic, leaping catch, Royce Pollard said:
"You don't think about it, it just happens. When the ball is up there, you have to catch it. I have faith. It worked out the way it was supposed to work out." (HSA)


About how they won their 10th game, Rodney Bradley said:
"This was big for us. It puts this team's name in the history books, along with the other Hawaii teams that won 10 games. This is a reward for our hard work. It gives us momentum for the bowl game." (HSA)


About UNLV's early TD to tie the score at 7 got them to tighten up their defense, Kaniela Tuipulotu said:
"We had one, two slip-ups when they scored, but I know the effort's always going to be there in every game, so it's nothing to worry about. Of course, they hit us hard with that pass, so we knew we had to tighten some things up. Up front, we always put it on top of ourselves. We had to get our pass rush going and I felt we got better pressure as the game went on." (HSA)


About their defensive strategy to stop UNLV's offense, Tuipulotu said:
"Hit 'em in the mouth. And contain them from going outside." (HSA)


About breaking the UH career interception record with his 14th interception (8th this season), Mana Silva said:
"I was very pleased I did it back at home. At New Mexico State (the previous week) I dropped two. It was kind of frustrating, but to finally get it at home was fitting." (HSA)


About kissing their WAC championship trophy after the game, Silva said:
"I always thought about Michael Jordan, and how he always kissed one of his championship trophies. I finally got to do it. Know what? It feels great." (HSA)


About getting a good return of his INT after being teased by his teammates after some of his previous INT returns, Silva said:
"I finally got a good return." (HSA)


Wishing that he had kept the football after his UH-record 14th INT, Silva said:
"I forgot to get the ball. That would have been a nice souvenir." (HSA)


Saying that this team is better than the 11-3 team in 2006 and the 12-1 team in 2007 that he was on, Spencer Smith said:
"This is the best team I've been on here. Maybe not talent-wise, but execution and playing together, yes." (HSA)


About how they wanted revenge on UNLV, Richard Torres said:
"A LOT of us had this game circled on our calendars since last season. We felt like we owed them some payback." (HSA)


About how the 60-yard TD pass that UNLV had that tied the game at 7 woke them up, Torres said:
"It was a little bit of a wake-up call. We knew they were coming to play. Despite the record, we knew it was a good team. We knew it on film, and that really woke us up and got us saying we had to settle down and play our game." (HSA)


About getting the first INT for UH in the game, Torres said:
"I broke on the ball, and started drooling." (HSA)


About making all 100 PATs that he's tried in his UH career, Scott Enos said:
"It's been a long season, a lot of fun, and the offense has been putting up a lot of points, giving me a lot of opportunities. I couldn't thank them any more. It's been awesome." (HSA)


About how his 100th PAT in the final minutes of the game was a great way for him to end his senior night, Enos said:
"I think it did. Just getting to that century mark, it felt great." (HSA)


About how they did well in every phase on the game, Luke Ingram said:
"Everybody played great. Offense did great. Defense did great. We had great coverage on kickoffs. We got the 10th win. The seniors seemed happy. It was an awesome night." (HSA)


--------------  Quotes from the UNLV coaches  -------------------


About how they need to recruit to build their team, UNLV head coach Bobby Hauck said:
"We need to get on the road and recruit," said Hauck, who was hired as head coach less than a year ago after leading Montana to an 80-17 record in seven seasons. "We're good at the recruiting game ... at six o'clock Monday morning we'll be out and about catching up on recruiting." (HSA)


Not happy with their 2-11 season but seeing signs of progress for their future, Hauck said:
"We're not very pleased with the win total, certainly, but I'm not displeased with where we are going. We're building this program up from ground zero ... but I've seen signs that we've got a chance some day to be a good football team." (HSA)


About how he and his Montana staff were going to get Greg Salas to commit to them in 2006 until UH got his commitment, Hauck said:
"We thought we were the only ones on him until Hawaii stole him from us at the very end of recruiting. We thought we had him down to the last week and they swooped in and got him." (HSA)


Praising UH for their excellent season, Hauck said:
"Hawaii is a good team, we have a lot of respect for the job they've done, what a year they've had. They knew going into the season that they could have a good year, but they went out and did it." (AP)


---------------  Quotes from the UNLV players  --------------------


About how he made their team as a 5th-string walk-on QB as a freshman and now is second on their school's all-time list in passing yards, TD passes and rushing yards by a QB, Omar Clayton said:
"I almost didn't have a career playing football in college. It's really hard for me to feel sad about playing my last game because every game I was able to start and every time I made a play I took it as a gift because I didn't have any offers." (HSA)


About how having their running game shut down hurt their offense, Clayton said:
"We struggled with our ground game and didn't want to get to a point where we were playing behind the chains. Our lack of a run game on first and second down really hurt us." (HSA)


About how he provided senior leadership for their young team, Clayton said:
"My job was just to be the quarterback, which means being a leader. My job was to keep these guys motivated, whatever the scoreboard said, and keep these guys working hard to get better." (HSA)


----------------------  Quotes from others  --------------------------


Excited to face UH in the Hawaii Bowl, Tulsa coach Todd Graham said:
"We're very excited about the opportunity to go to the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl and play a quality opponent in a 9-3 Hawaii team. Hawaii is ranked in the Top 25 nationally, and for us getting the opportunity to win a bowl game like this against a Top 25 team would be awesome for our program." (HSA)

"For us getting the opportunity to win a bowl game like this against a top 25 team would be awesome for our program. Hawaii is a very tough team. They have a tremendous program and some great players." (AP)


Praising UH, Graham said:
"Hawaii is a very tough team. They have a tremendous program and some great players. Hawaii does a great job and have had some big-time wins. The location is a very special destination for us and naturally playing such a great team in Hawaii and having an opportunity to compete for a big win is huge for our program." (HSA)


About how he wants the MWC to expand to 12 football teams, UNLV President Neal Smatresk said:
"I think we need to secure the future of the league and make sure we have a strong league that can ultimately compete for a Bowl Championship Series position and can produce winning teams." (HSA)


About how they can expand beyond adding UH to be their 10th team, Smatresk said:
"I believe there's room for more than we currently have. Personally, I like the number 12." (HSA)

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

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

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


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


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


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

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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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

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

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

Warrior Quotes from the Star-Advertiser 12/3/10 (5 seniors are graduating in December)

About already earning his bachelor's degree, Jeramy Bryant said:
"If you go to class, you're going to learn something." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Bryant, safeties Mana Silva and Spencer Smith, offensive tackle Laupepa Letuli and defensive end Elliott Purcell already have earned bachelor's degrees."


Praising the 5 Warriors that have already earned their bachelor's degrees, Rich Miano said:
"We're proud of them. They accepted the challenge of doing well on the field and in the classroom." (HSA)


About staying up 28 straight hours while working on a chemistry project this week, Mana Silva said:
"It's always good when you immerse yourself in difficult things, especially the sciences. You can learn a lot. My favorite is biology, and the human body. It intrigues me how we are as human beings, inside of us and outside, socially and mentally." (HSA)


About how he has difficulty reading as late as the 6th grade, being assigned specialists and tutors and undergoing medical testing (which showed no neurological problems), Silva said:
"It took me a while to get up to speed." (HSA)

"My mom reminds me of the time I couldn't read. It goes to show you can continue to improve in any aspect." (HSA)


About how one day in middle school his childhood reading problem went away, Silva said:
"I started to learn at an accelerated level." (HSA)


HSA Note: "He made the honor roll at Kamehameha-Hawaii. At UH, he has a cumulative grade-point average above 3.5. He aspires to a career in medicine."


HSA Note: "When their son was 2, Ginna and Mel Smith decided to invest in the Florida Plan, a college fund available to Florida natives. The way the plan works is contributions to the fund are accepted through a student's senior year of high school. The money then goes toward a student's tuition at a Florida university. The bonus is contributors are charged the tuition rate of the year when their child was 2. For the Smiths, that meant if Spencer attended a Florida university, he would only pay the school's 1990 tuition rate. Spencer Smith was eligible for the fund, even though he was born in Clearwater, Fla., but eventually moved to Georgia."


About how his parents received their money back from the fund because he got a football scholarship from UH in 2006, Spencer Smith said:
"It was a win-win situation." (HSA)


Asked if the refund covered all of the plane tickets to see Spencer play, Mel Smith said:
"Not quite." (HSA)


About earning his degree this past summer, Smith said:
"If you go to class, you'll find something to learn, even if you don't want to." (HSA)


About attending parent-teacher conferences for his son (who is in preschool) now, Elliott Purcell said:
"I remember my parents taking me to teacher conferences. Now I do the same with my son -- and I'm still in school." (HSA)


Purcell said that being a father helped him:
"buckle down and focus on school work. I use it as motivation." (HSA)


About how he likes going home after a long day of school, practice, and meetings, Purcell said:
"That's when I can spend time with my sons." (HSA)


About how their secondary takes school seriously, Bryant said:
"We're having a competition. The secondary is trying to get the most guys graduated." (HSA)


About how his UH recruiter (George Lumpkin) helped motivated him in school, Bryant said:
"Coach Lumpkin was on my butt all of the time trying to get me to graduate. I try to do well in every single class." (HSA)


About how Mack has implemented a program that helps their players take 2 summer school classes every year, Bryant said:
"That really helped." (HSA)


About how he was an average student in high school but found that JC classes were much more demanding, Bryant said:
"I hit the harsh reality. I really worked at school after that." (HSA)


About how he has been at UH a long time, Laupepa Letuli said:
"I was here when Derek Faavi was here." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Letuli was recruited by Mike Cavanaugh, who resigned shortly after Letuli signed in February 2005. At UH, Letuli has had five line coaches: Wes Suan, Dennis McKnight, Brian Smith, Alex Gerke and, now, Gordy Shaw. Letuli also has played running back, defensive end, four of the five offensive line positions, and tight end. Because of a variety of injuries, Letuli was allowed back as a sixth-year senior this season. He is considering participating in UH's Pro Day in March. Then again, he took part in last year's Pro Day. He also has a future as a musician."


About his 6 years as a Warrior, Letuli (who graduated with his bachelor's degree last May) said:
"It went by fast. That's why they say college is the best time of your life. It's true. I had a lot of fun." (HSA)


About turning his hair from blonde to jet black, Brent Rausch said:
"I do it every once in a while. My hair was black when I first came here." (HSA)


About how his playing career has a number of roadblocks but he will get his sociology degree in May, Rausch said:
"I pretty much had some ups and downs, had a little bit of a rough career here, but I got an education. I'm still positive about it. It's cool." (HSA)


Praising Rausch for how he handled his lack of playing time, Rolo said:
"He's really matured and appreciated his experience. It was probably not the whole experience he was looking for, but he stayed positive, has been a good teammate." (HSA)


About how he's not going to start thinking about the Hawaii Bowl until after the UNLV game, Mack said:
"We're going to meet on the bowl on Monday. Until then I'm not even thinking about the bowl. I'm just thinking about UNLV. We're truly taking one game at a time and that's what we've prepared for." (HSA)


About how they are concerned about UNLV freshman kickoff returner Marcus Sullivan, Chris Tormey said:
"He's got excellent vision and patience, and reads blocking schemes well." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101203_5_seniors_walk_the_walk.html

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101203_Rausch_back_in_black_coming_full_circle.html

Feature on Bronsno Tiwanak

About how he formally began martial arts training when he was 7 but he was around it all his life, Bronson Tiwanak said:
"I've been around it since I was born. Pretty much once you're part of the family, you're in." (HSA)


HSA Note: "HIs grandfather, Marino Tiwanak, founded the C.H.A. 3 Kenpo Association, which is now run by his father, Michael. Through study and practice, Bronson steadily climbed the ranks to his current position as a second-degree black belt."


HSA Note: "A walk-on transfer to UH from Fresno City College, Tiwanak first had to try out for a spot on the roster. He then contributed on the scout team as the fourth-string center a year ago and became the top backup last spring. When Sila Lefiti suffered a foot injury in the Warriors' final spring scrimmage, Tiwanak moved into the starting unit and hasn't budged since."


About starting every game this season for UH, Tiwanak said:
"I can't explain how much it means to me. I couldn't have imagined my senior year going this way. The way things turned out, I'm just grateful I had the opportunity." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Still a nonscholarship player, Tiwanak is UH's nominee for the Rudy Award. The award is presented annually to "student-athletes who demonstrate exemplary character, courage, contribution and commitment." "


About how he talked with the nervous Tiwanak before their season opener against USC, Gordy Shaw said:
"I said, 'I wouldn't start you if I didn't think you were ready.'  That's the last time we had that conversation, and he's done very well." (HSA)


About how his first snap against USC is something he will never forget, Tiwanak said:
"There was so much adrenaline going through my body it wasn't even funny. I just saw USC guys lined up across from me and I was thinking, 'This is it, this is big-time college football right here.' I said I have to step up, can't let anybody down." (HSA)


About how his kenpo training has given him an advantage when he faces DTs, Tiwanak said:
"Balance is key, being able to hold your ground, and as far as your hand work, striking, being accurate with your punches." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Tiwanak continues to train and teach at C.H.A 3 (short for Central Hawaiian Activities) in the offseason, and he hopes to continue to move up the levels in the sport introduced to him by his father and grandfather."


About Tiwanak's family, Shaw said:
"His family will have a lot of great things to be proud of when this is all over with." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101202_Holding_the_line.html

Other Warrior Quotes 12/2/10

About how the 6'3" Phillip Payne made a leaping catch over him to score the winning TD in last year's UNLV game, 5'9" Tank Hopkins said:
"It was a good play. He made a good play." (HSA)


About redshirting this season in order to let his hip injury heal, Hopkins said:
"It was hard because I wanted to be out there. As time went on, I said, 'This is OK. This is going to help me.'" (HSA)


About how he did not have time to try for a musical career, Kainoa LaCount (whose grandfather is Tau Greig, a member of Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner, 'Elua Kane) said:
"I was too busy playing (sports)." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101202_Green_wins_Capital_One_online_award.html

Kicker Scott Enos has been dealing with arthritis in his lower back all season that makes it painful to kick

About dealing with his arthritis in his lower back that makes him wince every time he kicks the ball, Scott Enos (who has never missed a PAT during his 25-game UH career, with his 92 consecutive PATs setting a UH record) said:
"I get physical therapy every day." (HSA)

"I've been hurt all season. I'm always limping off on kickoffs because my arthritis is hurting me. It started probably after the USC game. I've been feeling it all year." (HSA)


By playing through the discomfort, Enos, a senior, allows the Warriors to redshirt Tyler Hadden, a freshman.
About how he had to play through the pain so that UH could redshirt freshman Tyler Hadden, Enos said:
"They need me to kick." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Enos said he receives daily ice treatments and electrical-stimulation sessions. Each Monday, he runs. He does light exercises on Tuesdays."


About how he resumes kicking on Wednesdays, trying 30 FGs and 10 kickoffs each week in practice, Enos said:
"I go back to work Wednesday." (HSA)


About how he feels the day after the game, Enos smiled and said:
"I'm hurting." (HSA)


Praising Enos, Luke Ingram said:
"It takes a real athlete to do what he does to get ready, and still do the job." (HSA)


About how PATs should be automatic, Enos said:
"You can't miss." (HSA)


About how a kicker has to remain positive, Enos said:
"When you're kicking, you don't want to have any negativity in your mind.You want to b lock all of that out." (HSA)


About how before each PAT he goes to the spot where the ball will be held then takes 3 steps back and 2 steps to the left, Enos said:
"I shrug my shoulders to relax my body, and turn my shoulders into the proper alignment, and kick. Those motions get me focused." (HSA)


About the inspiration he has in his locker, Enos said:
"I have an autographed picture of Jason Elam there." (HSA)


HSA Note: "It is, in fact, a photo copy. The original is in his family's home in Granite Bay, Calif. Enos and his father used to collect autographs. Several years ago, his father mailed a request to Elam, who responded quickly. As soon as he was assigned a UH locker, Enos taped the copy of the photo. Underneath, there is a Michael Jordan quote: "Some people want it to happen, some people wish it would happen, some people make it happen." "


About the quote from Michael Jordan in his locker, Enos said:
"It's something that I keep there for motivation." (HSA)


Asked who was the first to request his autograph, Enos said:
"Probably from my parents. They always like to have me sign things." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101201_Mister_Automatic.html

Jake Heun reflects on his Warrior career

About how bird poop landed on his shoulder during his first day in Hawaii, Jake Heun laughed and said:
"I was like, 'This is a great start.'  People told me that was good luck. They lied." (HSA)


Rolo responded:
"That's Jake." (HSA)


About how Rolo recruited his and he was Mack's first recruit as a UH head coach, Heun said:
"Rolo (Rolovich) came out here, and he knew I needed some place to get to in the spring. My folks weren't too stoked on me staying in Alaska for a semester. These other schools wanted me to wait until summer. Rolo called me and said: 'Hey, get on a plane if you want to play running back.' I was like, 'Hell, yeah.' It's been an interesting ride." (HSA)


About how he suffered a herniated disc while weight training on the second day of training camp in 2008 (he missed that entire season), Heun said:
"My whole (left) leg went numb for six months." (HSA)


Heun said that in the spring of 2009:
"Four out of five neurologists said I shouldn't play anymore. It kind of sucks when you're never really what you used to be." (HSA)


About how he moved from RB to LB/DE instead of quitting, Heun said:
"I love football. I wasn't going to let some doctors tell me I couldn't play football." (HSA)

HSA Note: "Heun's time on defense has diminished this season as the Warriors went to a quicker scheme. But Heun has been a valuable member of special teams, an occasional linebacker, and, the past month, has practiced at running back."


Reflecting on his Warrior career, Heun said:
"It was definitely worth it. I got my education taken care of. I got to meet some good guys, and we've played some good ball. I'm glad I can go out on top." (HSA)


About how he plans to compete in MMA after earning his bachelor's degree in European Studies in May, Heun said:
"I want to fight in cages and travel. I want to fight people in every country." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101202_Heuns_UH_stay_has_been_worth_it.html

Feature on 1,000-yard rusher Alex Green

About training hard to improve his balance at a facility near his home in Portland, running across a narrow board with a medicine ball in one hand and holding a weighted bar above his head while doing a one-legged squat, Alex Green said:
"It took a lot of work." (HSA)


About how Alex was a good kid, his mother Phyllis Smith said:
"Growing up, he has never caused us any problems." (HSA)


About how Alex was nicknamed the "Chosen One" when he was 7-years-old on a family trip to Disneyland with a fly buzzing in the car, Smith said:
"Everyone was trying to swat the fly while he was sleeping. He wakes out of a deep sleep, then swats the fly we were trying to get for the last 45 minutes. We called him the 'Chosen One' because a lot of good things happen to him. But he also has worked hard to overcome a lot of adversity." (HSA)


HSA Note: "As a high school senior, Green was added as an alternate to a Portland all-star game. A few days before the game, a running back was injured, and Green was summoned. He ended up being named the game's most valuable player. Eastern Arizona (junior) College was the only school to offer him a scholarship. But when he arrived, the head coach had left. He transferred to California's Butte College. After his freshman year at Butte, he learned he was going to become a father. His daughter, Harlym, was born three days before the start of training camp. He took a job working at a hardware store. When that conflicted with his school and football schedule, he worked odd jobs."


About eating just 2 meals a day at UH (a large breakfast at the training table and dinner), sending the money saved from the third meal and other earnings to his daughter's mother in Portland, Green said:
"No sacrifice, no reward. Whether it's through football or a degree, I want to be able to support my family." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Green said he should accumulate enough credits to earn a degree in 2011. He said 18 credits from Butte did not transfer."


About how Mack promoted their team's family atmosphere to her during his recruiting trip, Smith said:
"Coach Mack said: 'We'll take good care of him. Don't worry.' When Alex got there, he told me, 'They treat me like family. Everybody is so nice.'" (HSA)


About how it was nice for Green to have such a huge game against NMSU, Bryant Moniz said:
"A.G. helps us so much with his blocking, it was nice that we could help him." (HSA)


HSA Note: "Green said he first knew he was doing well statistically when he saw his running tab -- 240 yards, nine carries -- on the scoreboard. Later, in the huddle, the linemen said they would help him reach 300."


About how the OL wanted him to get 300 yards, Green said:
"They were telling me to keep it up." (HSA)


About being the first 1,000-yard rusher at UH since UH started using the run-and-shoot, Mack said:
"That's the 'run' part of the run-and-shoot." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101130_Striking_a_balance.html

Mack says that UH's WAC Championship will have a "lot of bling"

About how he will do the job of designing their ring, Mack said:
"I'm designing the ring, That's my job." (HSA)


About wearing a large ring on his right hand during his weekly news conference yesterday, Mack said:
"I told my wife this morning, 'We're WAC champions, and I'm going to wear one of my WAC champion rings.' That's exactly what I did." (HSA)


Asked if the ring was from the 1999 or 2007 WAC title, Mack said:
"No, no, no. Please don't even give me credit for designing the '99 ring. I don't know who did, but I think they got it out of one of those Cracker Jack deals." (HSA)(


Mack said that he told JJ that he'd return to coach UH in 2007 with one condition:
"I'll come back and help you win a WAC championship if you let me design the ring." (HSA)


About how he finished designing this year's ring, Mack said:
"It's going to be beautiful. Let me just say this: a lot of bling." (HSA)


HSA Note: "UH athletic director Jim Donovan said the rings will be paid for from the Warriors' share from the Dec. 24 Hawaii Bowl. The Warriors will net $375,000, plus an additional $25,000 if it reaches ticket-sale goals. The UH assistant coaches' bowl bonuses also will be deducted from that payout."


About how they won 4 in a row in 2009 to give them a chance to earn a bowl spot if they could have beaten Wisconsin in their finale, Mack said:
"The key was we won four in a row. The players bought in, and didn't listen to the criticism. ... (They) tried to focus on the positives. That's where this (year's) team was born." (HSA)

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101130_McMackin_Ring_to_have_lot_of_bling.html

Warrior Quotes from the Star-Advertiser 11/29/10 (UH ranked in the AP top 25)

Asked about the rumor that either Central Florida or Tulsa will be facing UH in the Hawaii Bowl, Hawaii Bowl Executive Director David Matlin said:
"The situation remains fluid and nothing has been locked up yet. We're focused on finding the best caliber opponent for UH." (HSA)


About being ranked in the top 25 by the AP, Greg Salas said:
"It shows all of the hard work in the offseason is paying off. We're getting a little bit of recognition across the country." (HSA)


About how they became WAC champs and got into the top 25 this weekend, Salas said:
"It's kind of crazy how this weekend ended up. After Friday night, after the Boise loss, things kind of changed. We were happy to be WAC champs. That was one of our goals. And now, to get this (ranking). It's crazy." (HSA)


About becoming WAC champs and getting into the top 25, Spencer Smith said:
"As a team, we'll take winning the WAC over a Top 25 ranking. Now we have both." (HSA)


About the hard work they put in over the summer instead of playing with their friends, Kaniela Tuipulotu said:
"You want to be there with your friends, but you're doing something they can never do. They all know that we're doing things to represent. Our friends and family support us. They know we're doing it for everyone in the state. It's worth the sacrifices when you get to see the benefits." (HSA)


Trying to rehab as quickly as possible so that he could play as soon as possible, Spencer Smith said:
"I would drink extra milk.I took calcium  pills. Whether it worked physically or not, it helped me mentally. I did it to play with the boys one last time. I'm a senior. This is the last (UH) team I'll get to play with. I wanted to be part of this. This is a special team. The (AP) voters saw that. We have to prove it again (against Nevada-Las Vegas on Saturday) and in the bowl game. It doesn't mean anything unless we keep winning." (HSA)


About how this WAC title is special to him because they were not predicted to be good before the season, Mack said:
"This (WAC title) is really special to me because everybody thought we were going to be a bunch of dogs, including the (WAC) coaches. The press picked us seventh of eight. This team has been close. We adopted the 'We Are One' theme. ... We tried to get better and better. And that's what we've done." (HSA)


About taking over after JJ took the team to the Sugar Bowl, Mack said:
"It's tough to follow a 12-0 (regular) season, and just getting the people back." (HSA)


About changing both coordinators and replacing their primary strength coach this past offseason, Mack said:
"I had to make some changes that weren't fun, for the betterment of the program. The program is the most important thing." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101129_Hawaiis_bowl_opponent_likely_to_be_Tulsa_or_UCF.html

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101129_Associated_Press_voters_return_UH_to_Top_25.html

Quotes from the Uh-New Mexico State game 11/27/10

NMSU = Official NMSU Athletics website
HSA = Honolulu Star-Advertiser
LCSN = Las Cruces Sun-News

Note: UH's website and the AP and USA Today articles I read did not have any quotes for the UH-NMSU game.

----------------------  Quotes from the UH Coaches  ---------------------


About how they have reached their goal of winning the WAC championship, Mack said:
"Our objective going into this game was to win the WAC championship.  After Nevada beat Boise State last night, we knew we had a good shot at winning this game and the WAC championship." (NMSU)

"I am really excited to win the WAC championship.  Like I said earlier, our goal was to win the WAC championship as soon as Nevada defeated Boise State." (HSA)


About how the great success that they had with their rushing game, Mack said:
"Our running game did really well today.  It had to have been our best rushing game in a long time.  Our offensive line also did a great job in helping out our offense." (NMSU)


About the ice water poured over his head as the game ended, Mack said:
"That was freezing." (HSA)


About how hotel security called him after his players made so much noise when Nevada beat Boise State, Mack said:
"He said there were all kinds of noise on the floor. It was our guys coming out of the room and high-fiving everybody. I apologized, and said, 'They just got some good news.' I had our coaches make sure (the players) got back into their rooms. But, shoot, I had a hard time going to sleep, too." (HSA)


About Scott Enos breaking Jason Elam's record with his 92 consecutive PATs during Enos' 25-game UH career, Mack said:
"I'm really proud of Scott.That's a big one. I mean, getting Jason  Elam's record? That's big stuff." (HSA)


About how all their receivers had to do was to run decoy routes to open things up for their running game, Offensive Coordinator Nick Rolovich said:
"That's the easiest block in football. The receivers were unselfish. Once (Green) broke through (the line of scrimmage), he had a lot of room." (HSA)


About how their running game opens up when teams play man-to-man coverage against their receivers, RB coach Brian Smith said:
"Usually when we play man(-to-man) teams, that opens up the run game for us." (HSA)


Praising Alex Green's running ability, Smith said:
"He's been running so hard lately. He does a great job of breaking tackles or making people miss. When he gets into open space, we know we have a chance for a big play." (HSA)


----------------------  Quotes from the UH Players  -----------------------

About Alex Green's 327 yards rushing, Bryant Moniz said:
"Amazing." (HSA)


About how their coaches knew that Green was close to a lot of records and wanted to keep giving him the ball, Moniz said:
"They wanted to feed him. He deserves it. He blocks for us all year. He saves me a lot of times with his blocks. When he has this kind of a game, he deserves to get the ball. I wanted to give him the ball, stand back and enjoy the view." (HSA)


Asked if he could have imagined having such a huge rushing day, Green said:
"Not at all. When I got up, I thought it was going to be a work day." (HSA)


About how he wasn't aware of the records he was breaking, Green said:
"I just wanted to win." (HSA)


About how he set a goal of having a 1,000-yard rushing season for UH when he signed with UH in 2009, Green said:
"I knew I made the right choice coming here. I knew that in 2009." (HSA)


Deflecting praise from the OL for Green's success, Austin Hansen said:
"Usually when you get all of these rushing yards, it's the offensive line that gets the credit. We played hard, and we blocked hard, but the film will show my man broke tackles at the line of scrimmage and in the secondary. Alex had an outstanding game." (HSA)


About how his TD reception was set up when Pilares ran a crossing route where he brushed up against the defender covering Salas, Greg Salas said:
"Kealoha does a good job of getting a little rub. It's one of our bread-and-butter plays." (HSA)


About setting UH's career record for receiving yards, Salas said:
"This means a lot. It means I've been doing work here for my career. I've been efficient. I've been doing what I'm supposed to be doing. It lets me know I've been doing a good job." (HSA)

"I'm honored. There have been so many great receivers to come through this program." (HSA)


About studying Jason Rivers when he was a freshman and Rivers was a senior in 2007, Salas said:
"I tried to get my game like his was. He'd always give me tips and help me out with routes, and let me know how to improve my route running. He was a really good teacher." (HSA)


About how their receivers ran decoy routes to bring defenders to the sideline to open up things for their running game, Salas said:
"We want to run hard when we're trying to run off (defenders). I just want to take my guy to the sideline, and watch A.G. run past." (HSA)


About how the team celebrated Nevada's win over Boise State, Kealoha Pilares said:
"It was crazy. We were cheering and pounding on the walls. We came out and were running up and down the halls. The other hotel guests were getting mad." (HSA)


About their excellent chemistry within their team, Pilares said:
"People didn't know what was going on inside our close-knit team. From day one, we believed in each other. We were out to prove people wrong. This proves if you work hard, all of the pieces will fall into place. That's exactly what happened this season. We have a piece of the championship." (HSA)


About how Mack told the team the day before the game that the stands would be empty and they had to motivate themselves, Vaughn Meatoga said:
"He told us we had to find our own motivation. When we were celebrating (Nevada's victory), we knew that meant we had to beat New Mexico State. We knew that would be our motivation." (HSA)


About how they were motivated by what their critics said after their losing season last year, Kaniela Tuipulotu said:
"Everybody doubted us. We wanted to prove some people wrong." (HSA)


Not surprised by Umu's interception, Tuipulotu said:
"He's the world's most interesting man. He found the Fountain of Youth but didn't drink from it because he wasn't thirsty." (HSA)


About the INT he had, DE Kamalu Umu said:
"I was shocked. I didn't know what to do. We had a good play. I ran into the running back. I waited there (for the interception). D-linemen don't practice catching, but I've got good hands. I have to work on my agility." (HSA)


About the unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty that he received for diving into the end zone at the end of his TD return on an INT, Aaron Brown said:
"I thought somebody was behind me.  (Teammates) will back me up on that." (HSA)


About their success on D in this game, Brown said:
"It was teamwork." (HSA)


Crediting long-snapper Luke Ingram and holder Shane Austin for his success on PATs, Scott Enos said:
"Extra points have to be like a machine. I don't think at all when I kick them. I just go up there and kick." (HSA)


About how he doesn't get nervous on PAT attempts, Enos said:
"I don't get nervous at all. I know it's going to be there." (HSA)


When Vaughn Meatoga asked him "You don't get nervous about anything?", Enos replied:
"Nope." (HSA)


When Meatoga asked again, "Anything?", Enos said:
"OK, some things. But we don't discuss that." (HSA)


--------------------  Quotes from the NMSU Coaches  -------------------


About their seniors this season (House and Smith), head coach DeWayne Walker said:
"I wish I had those guys back for four more years. Those are good players. They have helped us lay the foundation. So it's going to be tough to see those guys leave but we have to move forward." (NMSU)


About how he's looking for leadership for next year's team from the players who are coming back, Walker said:
"Well you've got to look at the guys who are coming back on offense Grady, Kenny Smith, you got your young quarterback Matt Christian, Todd Lee. Defensively you are going to have Savage and Fields. Hopefully, Jonte Green, he'll mature as a leader so there are enough of guys coming back to where we are going to have to generate a lot more leadership." (NMSU)


About their QB options for next season, Manley and Christian, Walker said:
"May the best man win! We will get that going during spring practice and we have a lot of work to do." (NMSU)


About how their team has a long way to go to catch up with the other teams in the WAC, Walker said:
"We still have a long way to go.There's a lot -- a lot -- of things you could factor in.  ... We have to look at definitely what's going on on the field, but also what's going on off the field.  You have to compare what you have to your competitors. I think if you're on the same level in all the areas, then it's: Are you getting the job done or not." (HSA)


About how having to gear up to stop UH's passing game left them vulnerable to UH's running game, Walker said:
"I was always concerned when you put an emphasis to stop the passing game. When you've got a big beast back there and you're using all your bodies to stop the passing game, all it takes is one missed gap. And that's what happened." (HSA)

"The passing game was definitely something we were concerned with. But, when you have a big beast back there and you're trying to use all your bodies to take care of the passing game, all it takes is one missed gap....All of his big runs were because guys were playing the pass first, and he hit us in a gap." (LCSN)


About how UH is better than their team, Walker said:
"We weren't good enough. That football team is just better than us. Are they that much better than us? I wouldn't say they're that. ... But they have a better football team. They have better players, they have a tradition of winning." (LCSN)


Not happy with how they played, Walker said:
"No, I'm not happy with all the big plays that they made and I'm not happy with what we did on offense. When you look at it, 600 yards versus 200 yards....you're not going to win a lot of games like that." (LCSN)


About how they need to come up with a plan to improve their football team, Walker said:
"I think this project we have football-wise is bigger than me. Hopefully we can sit down collectively and really find out the best plan. I think now is when you start. I look at this as really my first year. And I think we have to put a pretty detailed plan together on how we approach this thing ... from the top on down." (LCSN)


About how he feels that they don't have similar resources compared with other WAC schools, with just 1 strength and conditioning coach while others have "anywhere from four to six" and how their recruiting budget is much smaller than their competitors, Walker said:
"I think you have to look at everything. I really believe the more you give, the more you get. And I just really believe we have to study what are you giving? Because I think this can get done. I really do. But, it's going to take a pretty detailed plan with everybody involved for us to get it right." (LCSN)


About how they beat both New Mexico and SJSU despite both of those schools having more resources than them, Walker said:
"I think when you look at your competition, I think that's where we have to look at. Where is our competition? And then we have to look at, where are we? And that's what we have to gage it off of. What do we have to do to close that gap in terms of our competition?" (LCSN)


About how NMSU hasn't gone to a bowl game for 50 years, the longest bowl drought in the country, Walker said:
"Obviously you have to really evaluate on the field. Our talent level, our schemes, where we need to improve, what areas we need to recruit.  But we also have to look at what's going on off the field. We just have to really look at this football program, this whole program's entirety (instead) of just singling out one group over another group. We've got a lot of work to do, I think, to really get this program going." (LCSN)


Told that Walker said that they could use an "additional strength coach" and additional academic support as well, NMSU AD McKinley Boston said:
"(The) football budget is comparable — on the average — of most of the programs ... in the middle of the WAC. Which is really what our goal was." (LCSN)


About how their assistant coaches are among the lowest paid in the country, Boston said:
"I could think of some things that, if the economy was better, we could provide." (LCSN)


-------------------  Quotes from the NMSU Players  ----------------------


About how they prepared for UH's plan to blitz him to put pressure on him, Andrew Manley said:
"I knew they were coming after me. We prepared for it." (HSA)


Praising UH's defense, Manley said:
"It was a great job by their defense." (HSA)


About how he's improved as he has gotten playing time, Manley said.
"I feel like I've been able to talk to the guys about the offense more. ... I'm actually able to see defenses a lot better now." (HSA)


About how Coach Walker motivates their team, Manley said:
"Every meeting Coach Walker always has something positive to say to us, to get us fired up. We just have to keep getting the program better and better. We will get better." (HSA)


About how they stacked their defense against the pass and let UH run against them, CB Davon House said:
"For defense, we say lets have them beat us rushing. And that's what they did. And when we did stack the box to stop the run, we were left one-on-one with their best receiver, one of the top receivers in the nation. That's a bad matchup right there." (LCSN)


Asked about the limited resources their team has, House instead said:
"We believe the building stages is just about over now and it's time to start getting W's. And I believe with a lot of hard work and dedication, it will happen. We're only a player or two away or a play or two away from getting that done." (LCSN)

Quotes before the UH-NMSU game 11/27/10

About walking down the stadium steps instead of going through a ramp leading to the field when they heard that NMSU was already in that area, Rich Miano said:
"That's called respect." (HSA)


About how he doesn't want his players to look at the standings (UH tied for first, NMSU at the bottom of the WAC), Mack said:
"We're here for business." (HSA)


About how they scheduled position meetings while the BSU-Nevada game was going on, Mack said:
"Our entire focus is on our game, not anyone else's." (HSA)


About how they could reach 11 wins to tie the second-most wins in a UH season, Bryant Moniz said:
"We have to win our game against New Mexico (State)." (HSA)


About how he has never missed a PAT in the 24 games he's played for UH, Scott Enos said:
"It's all about the snap and the hold. Those guys" -- he pointed to long-snapper Luke Ingram and holder Shane Austin -- "are like a machine." (HSA)


About how he and Greg Salas work together to force the safety to defend one of them, freeing up the other receiver, Kealoha Pilares said:
"In this offense, we work together." (HSA)


About the success they have been having on shovel passes to him (28.6 yards per completed shovel pass over their past 3 games), Alex Green said:
"It's mostly about selling it.  I'm feeling comfortable with it." (HSA)


About why he stands off by himself during games while he's waiting to go in, Haku Correa said:
"I exclude myself from everyone, and try to visualize what I need to do." (HSA)


About how he watches a lot of film of NFL and NCAA games to see if he can learn from other players, Paipai Falemalu said:
"I try to get a feel for what (other same-position players) do, and mimic it." (HSA)


http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101127_No_frills_no_luck_have_followed_Aggies.html

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101127_Warriors_have_their_focus_on_Aggies_not_records.html

Feature on Elliott Purcell and how he chose UH over NMSU

After practicing in the cold yesterday, Elliott Purcell said:
"The weather in Hawaii is always paradise." (HSA)


About how he verbally committed to NMSU in 2006, Purcell said:
"They recruited me hard. They made everything sound so good, so I (verbally) committed." (HSA)


About how Woody Widenhofer (NMSU's defensive coordinator at the time) told him that he could start right away for NMSU, Purcell said:
"He showed me a Super Bowl ring. I was really stoked. I wanted to be part of that program." (HSA)


About how Cal Lee (who was the head coach at Purcell's alma mater, Saint Louis) convinced him to switch to UH, Purcell said:
"Coach Cal got a hold of me, and you cannot say 'no' to that guy. That guy is a legend. The rest is history." (HSA)


About how Cal Lee talked about the advantage of playing at home, Purcell said:
"He told me I could play in front of my family. You can't beat that." (HSA)


HSA Note: "In the fall of 2006, Purcell and his girlfriend Keani Santos learned they were expecting their first child."


Happy that he chose UH, Purcell said:
"It turned out to be good. I have a family, and I got to play in front of my family." (HSA)


Purcell said that NMSU firing all of their coaches 2 years ago:
"made me feel better about my choice." (HSA)


About making 2 of their 8 sacks against SJSU, Purcell said:
"It was good to contribute." (HSA)


"The best thing about being a father is coming home to your kids. It's great when you open the door, and they run up and hug you. I don't get to see them a lot during the day because of how time-consuming football is. I love being a father." (HSA)

http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101126_Purcell_chose_UH_over_NMSU_to_play_in_front_of_family.html