Quotes about Michael Lafaele

About how their new 4-3 defense will give Lafaele more chances to make plays, JR said:
"The change in scheme has potential for Mike to make more plays upfield. He relishes the challenge to show he can do more." (HSB)

About how Lafaele has led his teammates this offseason, JR said:
"There's a new level of commitment I haven't seen here before, and it's because Mike won't allow less. Since the start of spring practice, Mike has taken over and grabbed the leadership mantle." (HSB)


About his daily routine, which includes 12 hours at UH, Lafaele said:
"It's up at 5:15 in the morning and off to school, usually with Hercules (offensive lineman Satele) or another friend on the team. We're on the field stretching by 6:30, doing some yoga or tai chi. Then drills at 7 a.m., on the field until 8:30. Then weights for an hour and a half." (HSB)


About the sacrifice that he's been making, Lafaele said:
"I don't see the family too much." (HSB)


Being understanding and supportive about Lafaele's sacrifice for football, his wife Teri said:
"It's a lot of dedication on his part. It works out fine. I work at nights 8 hours a day. We always find time for each other, however little it is." (HSB)


About her husband, who does not receive the recognition he deserves, Teri Lafaele said:
"He's low-key. People see my name and they say, 'You have the last name of a famous person.' I'm, 'What?' It happened the other day at the hairdresser. She saw my last name and said, 'There's a real good football player with that name.' I had a big smile on my face after that. A lot of people, when they find out who he is, it's weird, they're so surprised. He's not out there where people would recognize him. It's funny, they tell him, 'You're the heart of the defense.' " (HSB)


About his expanded opportunities in the 4-3 defense, Lafaele said:
"It's a lot easier in the sense of responsibility since we have one more guy on the line. In the 3-4 the nose had to control several gaps. In the 4-3 it's one gap and you have more opportunities to blow the line up, breaking through into the backfield and creating havoc, disrupting the offense. When you play nose the goal is to control and disrupt the gaps." (HSB)


About how he played on the offensive line at Farrington, Lafaele said:
"If you told me this would happen, I would have laughed. I never played defense." (HSB)


JR says that Lafaele:
"was born to play defensive tackle. He did some things last year you don't see very often, and he showed he can play against anyone. He clubbed a center to the ground, brought him to his knees. It's sheer violence, to be honest with you." (HSB)


About how Lafaele is gentle off the field, Teri said:
"He's very sweet and humble. He's really caring about everyone. He's never like 'Oh, whatever.' He's not as tough as he seems on the field. It's hard for me to see him just throwing people around out there because I know that's not how he really is." (HSB)


About how Lafaele won't wow the pros with his body, but they will be impressed with his play, JR said:
"But the people that play and coach with and against him, they all know, and there's a tremendous amount of respect. Will he get a chance to play pro football? He's always played well against tough competition, and Mike is turning himself into a playmaker. He's not the prettiest guy on the team, and he's not going to be doing underwear commercials anytime soon. But he's a pure football player. I love that kid. He's a special one." (HSB)