Saturday, January 31, 2009

JJ talked about grayshirting recruits

DMN = Dallas Morning News

DMN Note: "SMU coach June Jones estimated he had a handful of grayshirts on his 2007 Hawaii team that crashed the Bowl Championship Series."

About why they grayshirted players at UH, JJ said:
"Depending on the situation, it's almost always in the best interest of the athlete. It happens for different reasons. At Hawaii, it was an overabundance at a certain position." (DMN)

DMN Note: "At SMU, emerging offensive lineman Josh Emshoff has thrived after grayshirting because of a shoulder injury, bulking up from 260 pounds to 290. While Jones believes quarterback development can be aided by grayshirting, the position that probably benefits most is the offensive line. Players use the time to prepare and mature for what they'll face in college. Think of it as a boys-to-men transformation."

Davone Bess reflects on his rookie season

About how special teams helped him get playing time quickly as a rookie, Bess said:
"The fastest way to get on a field for a rookie is playing special teams, you know, and trying to make an impact as soon as possible as fast as you can." (KGMB)

KGMB Note: "That's how Bess avoided getting cut by Miami. He became a playmaker as a return specialist. Then Greg Camarillo got injured and Bess took his starting spot at receiver. The former UH star made 54 catches on the season, which is the second most in NFL history for an undrafted rookie behind Wayne Chrebet."

About getting so many catches as a rookie, Bess said:
"It was weird, the media would come into our locker room and they would tell me, 'man you're such and such, you have this many catches.' Throughout the whole year, it didn't really bother me. It still hasn't hit me yet." (KGMB)


Praising Chad Pennington, Bess said:
"Our chemistry off the field, he's a great leader you know. We joke around and call him Coach Pennington. He has that demeanor as a coach. We're a young receiving corp so he helped us grow and groomed us a lot and it pretty much transferred to the field." (KGMB)

Thursday, January 29, 2009

David Graves re-affirms his commit to UH

About how he's committed to UH despite other schools contacting him, Graves said:
"I’m definitely still with Hawai‘i." (HA)

“For sure, I’m signing with Hawai‘i. Everything is A-OK. I’m pretty excited.” (HA)

HA Note: "He said quarterback Nick Rolovich made a home visit the past Monday."

Feature on Travis LaBoy

About how his travel plans suddenly changed when his flight to New Orleans was canceled after they signed a LB free agent, sending him on a flight to Arizona (where he left after signing a 5-year, $22 million contract), LaBoy said:
"It was kind of a last-minute decision. I didn't know a whole lot about what they did defensively. I knew more about the offense — Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, (Larry) Fitzgerald, Edgerrin James. I thought this might be just right. We may have something going on. When you have an offense putting up points, it makes it a lot easier to play defense." (HA)

HA Note: "The Cardinals have more playoff victories this month than they had in the franchise's previous 87 years, which contributed to the perception that LaBoy said prevailed throughout the league during his four seasons with the Tennessee Titans, who drafted him in the second round in 2004."

About the lack of respect that Arizona had around the NFL, LaBoy said:
"Arizona was like a team when you go to play them, you don't even have to practice that week. You kind of take the week off. They were a joke team. I'm being real. Arizona had no respect. It was like a clown team, it really was. It was that team that as soon as you got them on your schedule, you were looking ahead to that next week. You can't say that now. You do that to the Cardinals now, you get your head pushed in. I heard we were the worst team in Super Bowl history. I really don't care if people realize it, but they really have no choice but to say we are one of the best two teams in the NFL, at the very least." (HA)

About how he will play in the Super Bowl despite being listed as questionable in the latest injury report (he has elbow, ankle, and biceps injuries), LaBoy said:
"I don't know who decides all that, but I'll be out there. I'm not questionable in anyone's mind, really." (HA)

About how he's used as an outside LB in their 3-4 D, which suits his abilities better than how he was a DE/pass rush specialist with Tennessee, LaBoy said:
"Defensive end, you are just one-dimensional, where this is more multi-dimensional. I like this defense a lot. The longer we are playing and keep this nucleus, the better we will be. We will do some great things. We've been playing real well in this playoff run. I think a lot of it is just coming together as a unit and finding an identity, you might say." (HA)

About how he'll be in Hawaii for a long time after the Super Bowl, LaBoy said:
"We have two or three days of packing and we're out to the Islands for a good two months if possible. We try to get back as much as we can. The last offseason got a little short with us having to move, but we look forward to getting back out there this year." (HA)

HA Note: "Travis LaBoy is son of Cliff LaBoy, a Farrington alum who played for the University of Hawai'i in 1973-75. While at UH, Cliff was a teammate of June Jones, who became Travis' coach ... Travis LaBoy is married to former Rainbow Wahine volleyball player Nohea Tano."

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Feature story on Michael Wadsworth

LVS = Las Vegas Sun

About her son's love for football, his Mom Patti Wadsworth said:
"He has such a passion for football. It's just unbelievable to watch him play, knowing that is my son out there doing so well. At first, I was nervous because he was so small, but he knew the game so well and was always one of the fastest. Nobody could catch him." (LVS)

LVS Note: "Not many players Wadsworth's size — he was 5-foot-9, 120 pounds as a freshman — go on to play in college. But, then again, not many have the drive of Wadsworth."

LVS Note: "Wadsworth — who thanks to natural growth and his dedication to weight training is now 6-foot-1, 190 pounds — made a name for himself as one of Nevada's top players as a junior in 2007. He had eight kickoff or punt returns for touchdowns to help Silverado win the Southeast Division title."

About how he learned to play when he was smaller than the other players, Wadsworth said:
"I always thought I would grow, but I wasn't sure when it would happen. When you are smaller, you definitely have to find a way around the bigger kids. I learned how to maneuver. I just like trying to make something out of nothing." (LVS)

LVS Note: "Following a breakout season in 2007, just when Wadsworth was receiving considerable interest from colleges, he found himself again pleading with his parents to play football. His dad's three-year commitment as a missionary leader with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ended, and the Wadsworth family — Michael has 10 siblings — was set to move back to Provo. Michael did not want to bail on teammates in their quest for a state title and argued that relocating would hurt his chances of playing Division I football. He convinced his parents to let him stay, moved in with family friends and had a stellar year. He was named first-team All-Sunrise Region."

About being away from his family during his senior year in high school, Michael said:
"There were definitely some late night talks before they finally let me stay." (LVS)

LVS Note: "With the scholarship to Hawaii set, it was agreed Wadsworth would move back to Provo after the season. But he convinced his parents to let him stay the remainder of the year because he has some unfinished business. Hit with injuries, Silverado struggled last fall and did not make the playoffs. Wadsworth hopes to make up for that disappointment with the basketball team, on which he is a top defender for a squad near the top of the Southeast standings."

About Wadsworth, Siverado football coach Andy Ostolaza said:
"Let's put it this way, I have never coached a more complete player who did everything for the team. From the kick returning to playing multiple spots on each side of the ball, I haven't had a kid do so many different things. And, as a student, how can you beat a 4.0 guy?" (LVS)

Feature on Aulola Tonga choosing the Warriors

About how he will get a degree from UH, Tonga said:
"Coach said I don't have to graduate early, that there's five years to finish, and if I graduate early, (UH) would pay for my master's degree." (HSB)

HSB Note: "He noted that former Kahuku quarterback Inoke Funaki is taking that path. Like Funaki, Tonga expects to go on a Mormon mission. Tonga follows a growing line of Red Raiders now suiting up in green and black. He and linebacker Kamalani Alo join transfer Gary Nagy (BYU) and recent recruits Alema Tachibana and Paipai Falemalu, plus walk-on Richard Torres."

About all the players on defense with the Warriors, Tonga said:
"You know what? We might just have a Red Raider defense for UH." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Tonga's decision came down to two factors: staying home near family, and the complicated web of changes on the continent."

About staying close to home, Tonga said:
"My mom liked Coach Mack when she met him. He said he'd take care of me. It's a chance to play soon and stay close to home, play in front of everybody." (HSB)

HSB Note: "His explosive senior season caught recruiters off guard. UCLA had no offers left and asked him to grayshirt. Washington, with new coach Steve Sarkisian, was interested but didn't offer. Interest from Sarkisian was stronger while he was a defensive coordinator at USC. BYU entered the picture late, Tonga said, and never offered."

About the importance of graduating from UH, Tonga said:
"If I graduate from Hawaii, people will remember me, not like people who go out there (to the mainland) and come back." (HSB)

About how he'll return kicks if UH wants, Tonga said:
"If they want me to, I'll do it for the team." (HSB)

Monday, January 26, 2009

Feature story on Colt

RS = redskins.com

About how his first NFL season, Colt said:
“It’s nice to have the first season done, because now you have finally seen it and you know it. You’re not questioning anything anymore. It was a great experience. I finally got to see what the NFL is all about.” (RS)

About transitioning to the NFL, Colt said:
“There was so much that was new. New feelings, new assignments, new things to get used to. You’re coming from college where you were a starter and you had a lot of responsibility. For me and most of the other [rookies], you had to come into a backup role. It was okay because you had time to learn and adjust to everything. But it’s nice now to have the first season done and know what to expect next year.” (RS)

RS Note: "Last preseason, Brennan provided some thrills for the Redskins and their fans. It was an exciting time for the fresh-faced, 25-year-old rookie. Overall, Brennan completed 36-of-53 passes for 411 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. His QB rating of 109.9 led the offense. In his first professional outing, the Hall of Fame Game against Indianapolis on Aug. 3, Brennan completed 9-of-10 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns. His best performance may have been on Aug. 16 against the New York Jets. He completed 4-of-5 passes for 79 yards, including a 33-yard game-winning touchdown pass to tight end Jason Goode. Brennan showed he had a tendency to hold on to the ball too long in the pocket. He was sacked eight times in seven quarters of action in preseason."

RS Note: "When the Redskins selected Brennan last April, NFL draft gurus wondered if he would be able to adapt his sidearm release to a more conventional throwing motion. With head coach Jim Zorn emphasizing a strong, high release, Brennan has worked to adjust how he throws the ball. The sidearm release, so prevalent last preseason, is not as prominent now, Brennan said."

About how he still hasn't completely eliminated his sidearm release, Colt said:
“[Coach Zorn] told me, ‘As long as you’re accurate with the football and you can get the ball there, I want you to be comfortable.’” (RS)

About his throwing ability, Colt said:
“You saw in the preseason and in practice week-in and week-out, as far as my throwing ability, that has never been a question. It was never a question in college. It was something that people questioned whether it would work or not. I think if you watch enough film, you see that it really isn’t a problem.” (RS)

About his success in the preseason, Colt said:
“What I was really excited about was to have a couple games in preseason where I went out there and did a lot of good things. It allowed me to finally say, ‘Look, you can say what you want about me, but when you put me in there, I can get it done. I did it in preseason, I did it in college, I did it everywhere I’ve been at before that.’

When you look at some of the people who are successful in sports, it’s not always the person with the best technique who succeeds. Sometimes it’s someone who steps out of the box. I think when people saw me have success [in preseason], they were willing to accept me.

People were willing to say, ‘He’s different, but he’s good.’ I think people like different. They want to see if I pan out. They want to give me a chance. That was really the best thing I got out of preseason--people got excited about watching me play.” (RS)

S Aulola Tonga, RB Alex Green and K Kevin Bell commit to the Warriors!

About committing to the Warriors, 6'3", 200-pound (4.6 in the 40) Tonga said:
"I told coach (Greg McMackin) I wanted to be a Warrior." (HA)

HA Note: "Tonga also has a 38-inch vertical jump. At Kahuku, he has earned letters in basketball, volleyball, baseball, track and field and football. Next month, he will earn his Eagle Scout ranking. His project was to build a sandbox for a preschool in Kahuku."

About turning down UCLA and BYU, Tonga said:
"I wanted to play in front of my family and friends. I think there's a chance I can play right away." (HA)

HA Note: "Tonga's Kahuku teammate, All-State safety Kamalani Alo, earlier accepted a UH offer."

About Tonga, Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said:
"Aulola is a great athlete, and a coachable kid. He's never angry. He's always positive. He's doing very well in school." (HA)

About how Tonga received an offer from UH last spring, Torres said:
"A lot of schools are picking up on him, but UH wanted him from the start. You can see the effort McMackin is making. He's taking care of the kids. Aulola will be in good hands." (HA)

About how Tonga is expected to compete at free safety, Torres said:
"He's got the range and he's got the vertical. He can grow into a linebacker, playing the flats or rushing off the edge, forcing the quarterback to throw over him, which would be difficult to do." (HA)

HA Note: "Tonga, who took his recruiting visit this past weekend, said it was helpful to have Kahuku alumni as hosts. His guides were Inoke Funaki, Tuika Tufaga, Richard Torres and Paipai Falemalu."

About his recruiting visit to UH, Green said:
"The city is beautiful. The people are great. They made me feel welcomed." (HA)

About how his host was CB Lametrius Davis, his teammate at Butte as well as his middle-school classmate in Portland, Green said:
"I've known him a long time." (HA)

HA Note: "Davis played for Butte in 2008, and signed with UH the past December. He enrolled at UH two weeks ago. Green said he is 6-2 and 220 pounds, and is capable of sprinting 40 yards in 4.49 seconds. He can bench press 310 pounds."

About his 7-month-old daughter Harlym, Green said:
"I wanted to pick a name that would be unique." (HA)

HA Note: "Green also said Hawai'i's family-friendly atmosphere is conducive to raising children."

About choosing UH, Green said:
"Hawai'i is a good fit." (HA)

HA Note: "By verbally committing to the Warriors, Green is turning down scholarship offers from Washington, Texas-El Paso and Liberty."

About choosing to walk on at UH despite offers from Miami, Boise State, Utah, and Air Force, Bell said Hawaii is:
"a great place, really great culture. All of the people are nice. The weather is nice." (HA)

HA Note: "Bell is 5 feet 9 and 170 pounds. He said his range is 60 yards. Bell is an accomplished soccer player. At his father's urging, he decided to try out for football three years ago."

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Travis LaBoy talked about playing for the Warriors

About playing for the Warriors, Travis LaBoy said:
"I came in at a great time. (Former head coach) June Jones was turning the program around, and we had a great group of guys. I guess the biggest accomplishment for me was beating Fresno State. Not only were the guys talented, but we all worked very well together." (HSB)

Friday, January 23, 2009

Feature article on the new playing field at the Ching Athletic Complex

About how they show off the new Ching Field to recruits, Mac said:
"The recruits look out our windows and see that big Hawaii (logo) out there and the field, and a lot of them have mentioned that. It shows the support that we're getting and I think it helps all the sports. It's really a positive influence on everything." (HSB)

HSB Note: "The Warriors coaches could hardly be blamed if they closed the shades in past years, when Cooke Field's deteriorating Astroturf was fading and eventually pulled up, leaving the black rubber padding exposed."

About the importance of the new field surface, Wahine track and field coach Carmyn James said:
"It's so central and it was such an eyesore. It really makes the whole athletic department look that much more professional." (HSB)

HSB Note: "The field will give the Warriors an on-campus alternative to their grass practice fields when the rains sweep through Manoa valley. There were several occasions late last season when the team practiced at nearby Saint Louis School when rain soaked the grass field."

HSB Note: "The $5 million donation made by the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation was not used in the field renovation project. School officials are hopeful to get a matching appropriation to complete the plans for the facility -- including construction on grandstands -- unveiled when the donation was announced."

HSB Note: "With Ching Field soon to be completed, Cooke Field will remain a part of the lower campus as the upper grass practice field where the football team practices will be given that designation. It will be the fourth site on campus to bear that name."

About how all of the construction going on with their athletic facilities will give them a work-in-progress look over the coming months, Teri Chang (assistant AD for facilities) said:
"But that's a good thing." (HSB)

Article about the walk-on tryouts for the Warriors

About the 93 athletes that spent the 2 hours trying to make their team, Mac said:
"There were a lot of good athletes. Those who make it will be part of our family. Those who don't, I hope, will remain as fans. It's nothing personal. Sometimes it's a numbers game." (HA)

HA Note: "They were tested in the 40-yard dash, pro-agility drill and 225-pound bench press."

HA Note: "Bryant Moniz, who led Leilehua to the state championship game as a sophomore in 2004, was among the candidates. Moniz, who played at Fresno City College, is competing as a quarterback. He wore a black T-shirt with the words: All Bizness."


About trying to make the Warriors, 6'3", 340-pound Joseph Napeahi (All-State 2nd team with Kahuku in 2002, received interest from Nebraska, Washington, and Utah, but enrolloed at Fresno City College because he didn't meet the requirements to play as an NCAA freshman) said:
"Now, I'm here. I'm happy to be here." (HA)

HA Note: "Defensive end Aaron Rink attended the tryouts, although his place on the roster is solidified. Rink is 6 feet 3 1/2 and 228 pounds. He is capable of running 40 yards in 4.52 seconds."

About DE Aaron Rink, Jake Heun said:
"He's a player." (HA)

About how he only learned about the tryouts two days ago, Santos said:
"I just found out on Monday. I hadn't been going to the gym since November. I've been playing soccer and basketball. Soccer was my conditioning." (HA)

HA Note: "But Santos, who is 6 feet and 195 pounds, ran the 40 in 4.6 seconds. He also completed the pro-agility drill in 4.7 seconds. Santos will compete at wideout."

HA Note: "Offensive linemen Daniel Otineru and Lucas Kennard have championship rings as members of UH's 2007 team. But Otineru did not play in 2008 after undergoing surgery for sleep apnea. Kennard was cut because, at 250 pounds, he was deemed to be too light."

About trying out for the team despite being on the team in 2007, Otineru said:
"I'm not tripping about it. I'll do what I have to do." (HA)

About how he gained 35 pounds to weigh 285 and can bench press 400 pounds, Kennard said:
"I kept working hard, working to get back out here again." (HA)

About how he fit the NT role in UH's 3-4 defense under Glanville but was too heavy to be a DT in Mac's 4-3 D, Quentin Beaver said:
"I was too heavy. It was understandable. I kind of expected it. I wasn't discouraged. I started eating right, and running. I lost 60 pounds. Everything is fine now." (HA)

Jovonte Taylor has recovered from his viral infection

About his slightly torn meniscus, which he had arthroscopic surgery on to repair, Taylor said:
"It’s nothing major." (HA)

HA Note: "Taylor, who was on crutches yesterday, said he should be able to resume workouts in three weeks."

About how he withdrew from classes last October when he suffered a viral infection, Taylor (whose weight dropped to 153) said:
Taylor withdrew from classes the past October when he suffered a viral infection.
"I lost 25 pounds, to be exact. I thought I was dying, man. It was beyond scary. I laid in the bed for 3 1/2 weeks straight. I lost my appetite." (HA)

HA Note: "He returned home to Los Angeles to recuperate. He said he now weighs 180 pounds."

Keala Watson retired from football

About being forced to retire from football, Keala Watson (who will earn a bachelor's degree in environmental studies in May and whose wife Leona is expecting their first child in February) said:
"I had a good run, I’ve been blessed." (HA)

HA Note: "Watson had a productive career with the Warriors despite suffering from Von Willebrand disorder, a condition similar to hemophilia in which a chemical deficiency does not allow his blood to clot normally. A blood-clotting medicine enabled Watson to play for the Warriors. But recent medical tests showed that the medication had diminished efficiency in treating his disorder."

The Warriors are in favor of an early signing period for recruits

About how he is in favor of an early signing period, Mac said:
"I think it's good for the kids and saves the schools money." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Donovan says it works well for other sports, and doesn't see why it wouldn't for football."

About how the BCS schools don't want an early signing period, radio talk-show host and former UH WR Darrick Branch said:
"They don't want a level playing field. (The major conferences) want to continue having the edge because they have big budgets. The smaller schools that could win over some players because of unique education opportunities or genuine relationships get beat out the longer the race is because they don't have the money to keep recruiting them after they've committed." (HSB)

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Ikaika Malloe (DT coach and special teams coordinator) leaves for Yale

About accepting the defensive coordinator job at Yale, Ikaika Malloe said:
"This might have been the most stressful decision I ever made. My heart will always be here. It's been a dream of mine to not only be a coordinator, but to one day be a head coach. You'll never know if you'll get another chance. I don't want to regret not taking it." (HA)

"It's very tough. Even now that I've made the decision it's still tough. ... It's been very stressful over the last week. My ultimate goal, like I told Coach McMackin, is to someday be in his position (as a head coach). I feel God has blessed me with this opportunity and I want to make the best of it." (HSB)

Malloe laughed as he said:
"You've got a local boy at an Ivy League school? Now I have to brush up on my English."


About his long history with Tom Williams (former UH defensive coordinator), Malloe said:
"Tom and I have a long history and, like a lot of other coaches, Tom has been one of my biggest mentors." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Williams, a former Hawaii assistant who was introduced as Yale's new head coach Jan. 7, was an assistant with the Huskies from 1999 to 2001. Malloe, a standout Huskies safety, began his coaching career as a student assistant at Washington in 1997 and stayed in Seattle until 2001."


About how Malloe made him a better player, Jake Ingram said:
"I'm glad I got to spend that year with him and got to see a different perspective on special teams. In the spring he worked with me on some things that really helped me with my snapping and made me a more confident player. A lot of the success I had this year is because of him." (HSB)

"He's an awesome coach." (HA)


Mac praised Malloe's work during:
"the transition year." (HA)

"Ikaika did a great job on the field and in recruiting for us and I wish him and his family all the best." (HSB)

Friday, January 16, 2009

6'7" lineman Pierce Burton commits to the Warriors!

About committing to the Warriors, 6'7", 250-pound Pierce Burton from Rio Americano High (Sacramento) said:
"I decided to commit. It's the place for me." (HA)

HA Note: "By accepting, he is turning down an appointment from the U.S. Military Academy. He also received interest from Boise State and San Jose State."

About how he could be an OL or DL for the Warriors, Burton said:
"Right now, (the Warriors) are recruiting me as an athlete. It depends on how my body develops. If I stay the same size and get stronger, I'll be a defensive lineman. They're hoping I'll gain 50 pounds and be an offensive tackle. They think with my height and build, I should be an offensive lineman." (HA)

About how he thought he would be a college basketball player after he was 6'6" in the 8th grade but he grew only an inch more, Burton said:
"I always wanted to play football. But I was concerned I might get hurt and wouldn't be able to pursue basketball. But now everything is falling into place as far as football goes." (HA)

HA Note: "He joined the football team, as a tight end, in August 2007. During spring training in April 2008, he began working out as a lineman on both offense and defense. The Raiders were 8-2 during the 2008 regular season. They lost in the first round of the playoffs. Burton was named the Raiders' top defensive lineman. He had 70 tackles and 11 sacks."

HA Note: "Burton gained notice when he attended the Nike combine in Oakland. Out of more than 1,000 players, he was ranked No. 4. The top three were running backs. The rankings were based on an index that corresponds to a player's height and weight with his performance in the 40-yard dash, pro-agility shuttle, vertical jump and powerball throw. Burton's score was the best nationally among offensive linemen and tight ends. At the combine, he ran the 40 in 5.0 seconds, had a vertical jump of 30 inches and threw the 7-pound powerball 45 feet. The powerball replaced the bench-press drill as a measuring tool. He is capable of benching a maximum 350 pounds."

About his recruiting trip to Hawaii last weekend, where Aaron Kia, John Estes, and Jeramy Bryant were his hosts, Burton said:
"I had a good time." (HA)

About how his father Larry lived on Maui for 3 years when he was in his early 20s, Burton said:
"He loved to surf there." (HA)

Sunday, January 11, 2009

David Graves ran a similar office in high school

About how he'll fit in with UH well, David Graves said:
"The offense is real similar to the offense we ran in high school and I think I can fit into the island lifestyle real well." (HSB)

About how QBs Corey Nielsen and Cayman Shutter had already committed to UH, Graves said:
"I believe the competition will only make us stronger." (HSB)

bout how Graves did well at QB after playing WR in his other varsity seasons, Folsom coach Kris Richardson said:
"He handled it from Day 1 like he'd been there forever." (HSB)

JD talks about not doing road trips to places like Florida in the future

About how they won't want to take road trips to top teams like Florida in the future, JD said:
"It (playing a national championship pick on the road in front of a huge and hostile crowd), isn't anything we want to do. It could happen if somebody takes off and has a great season. But it won't be because we want it to." (HA)

David Veikune invited to the Senior Bowl!

About accepting the invitation to the Senior Bowl, Veikune said:
"I'm very excited about the opportunity." (HA)

About how he was about to leave for his flight to the East-West Shrine Game, Veikune said:
"I didn't find out until about 5:45 this morning. I was about a minute away from getting into a cab when my agent called and told me to unpack my bags. It's going to be an honor to play in the Senior Bowl." (HSB)

HA Note: "Veikune and former UH cornerback Ryan Mouton are training in Carson, Calif. Veikune, Mouton and long-snapper Jake Ingram have been invited to the NFL combine in Indianapolis."

About how he's on a diet that requires him to eat 4,800 calories a day, with his pre-made meals coming from Sunfare, Veikune said:
"You get to choose what you like and what you don't like. It helps. You don't have to think about cooking." (HA)

HA Note: "Veikune, who is 6 feet 3, wishes to weigh "in the 260 range" when he reports for the Senior Bowl workouts."

About the visibility that Veikune will get in the Senior Bowl, his agent Kenny Zuckerman said:
"When you play for Hawaii and in the WAC, a lot of people in the Midwest and East Coast don't really get an opportunity to see you. It's a great opportunity for him to showcase himself." (HSB)

Thursday, January 8, 2009

BCS Conference Record vs. Non-BCS Conference teams

I was asked to study a few issues with BCS Conference teams and their record vs. non-BCS Conference teams. I'm first going to post this on the Warrior Beat, but I'm putting this here to archive my work. Once again, I want to give credit for this work to this awesome site: http://football.stassen.com/records/multi-conference.html.

I'm going to study the number of games the BCS Conference teams played against Non-BCS Conference teams over the past 5 years. That is what koakane asked for, so that is the issue studied here.

2007
CUSA vs. BCS: 2-25
MAC vs. BCS: 5-35
MWC vs. BCS: 8-10
SUN vs. BCS: 3-23
WAC vs. BCS: 3-16
Totals: 130 games, 21-109, win percentage 19.3%

2006
CUSA vs. BCS: 6-24
MAC vs. BCS: 4-30
MWC vs. BCS: 4-9
SUN vs. BCS: 0-24
WAC vs. BCS: 6-15
Totals: 122 games, 20-102, win percentage 19.6%

2005
CUSA vs. BCS: 2-20
MAC vs. BCS: 2-21
MWC vs. BCS: 7-8
SUN vs. BCS: 1-17
WAC vs. BCS: 0-17
Totals: 95 games, 12-83, win percentage 14.5%

2004
CUSA vs. BCS: 4-21
MAC vs. BCS: 3-21
MWC vs. BCS: 8-14
SUN vs. BCS: 1-12
WAC vs. BCS: 6-11
Totals: 101 games, 22-79, win percentage 27.8%

2003
CUSA vs. BCS: 5-25
MAC vs. BCS: 7-18
MWC vs. BCS: 8-13
SUN vs. BCS: 1-18
WAC vs. BCS: 5-16
Totals: 116 games, 26-90, win percentage 28.9%

Jake Ingram walked on at UH to represent Hawaii

About choosing to walk on at UH instead of taking a scholarship as a DE at a lower level, Jake Ingram said:
“I could have gone to a Division (I-AA) school and received a scholarship as a defensive end. But my whole thing was to represent Hawai‘i. I’m from Hawai‘i. It’s all about representing Hawai‘i.” (HA)

UH Football and Women's Volleyball revenue down $1.25 million from 2007

About the $1.2 million drop in football ticket revenue in 2008 (compared to 2007) and the $55k drop in Wahine volleyball ticket revenue in 2008, JD said:
"The numbers aren't a surprise to me, but they are a little disappointing. We're seeing it in every sector (of business) and we, especially, started to feel it from early November on." (HA)

HA Note: "Football and women's volleyball are two of the three biggest revenue-producing sports in the 19-team lineup at UH. Men's basketball, whose season is currently under way, is the other. As a result, UH officials said they are projecting as much as a $3 million shortfall of the $29.5 million budget for the current fiscal year."

About their hiring freeze and other measures to try to reduce their deficit, JD said:
"We have asked our people to cut back and be prudent in their spending." (HA)

HA Note: "The athletic department has run at a deficit since 2002. When Donovan replaced Herman Frazier 10 months ago, UH had accumulated a net deficit of $4.4 million to $6 million, according to insider estimates. The annual independent audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, which must be approved by the Board of Regents, is scheduled to be released next month."

About how they aren't going to raise season ticket prices, JD said:
"Obviously, the public is hurting right now and we're not about to raise prices." (HA)

HA Note: "Football ticket revenue for 2008 was the lowest since 2005, when UH earned $4.12 million. Last year, in the march to the Sugar Bowl, UH took in $5.85 million. UH had seven home games for all but the 2006 season, when it had eight. Despite an increase of nearly 5,000 season tickets over 2007 to 27,585, average per-game attendance dropped from 41,325 to 33,691 in 2008, according to unaudited figures. Average Rainbow Wahine volleyball attendance dropped from 6,452 in 2007 to 5,944 in 2008. The athletic department generates about 83 percent of its $29.5 million operating budget. The remainder, about $4.6 million, comes from university general funds and goes for the operation of lower campus facilities ($1.4 million) and scholarship support ($3.2 million), according to UH. One bright note for UH is expected to be a rise in its television/pay-per-view rights fees. For the 2007 season, UH received $2.54 million and is expected to receive approximately $2.61 million for 2008."

JD said that their road-game PPV package for season ticket holders at a 65% discount off the price to non-season ticket holders, otherwise:
"the pay-per-view sales mirrored our slump (at the box office)." (HA)

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Jake Ingram and Ryan Mouton prepare for the NFL combine

About having both Mouton and Ingram at the NFL combine, their agent Kenny Zuckerman said:
"This will be good for Ryan and David." (HA)

HA Note: "Ingram has been invited to participate in the NFL-sponsored Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., this month, and the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. He is only one of two long-snappers invited to both elite events. Earlier, former UH cornerback Ryan Mouton and defensive end David Veikune were invited to the NFL combine. Both also will play in the East West Shrine Game in Houston."

About how they invited Ingram because he's the nation's highest-rated long-snapper, Senior Bowl President Steve Hale said:
"We take specialists very seriously. We spend a lot of time evaluating punters, placekickers and long-snappers. Most of the time, the specialists (invited to the Senior Bowl) are either drafted or make an NFL club as a free agent. Jake is a very good long-snapper." (HA)

About his high evaluation, Ingram said:
"I won't believe it until it really happens. If it happens, that will be confirmation for me." (HA)

HA Note: "Ingram is training in West Lake, a suburb of Los Angeles. He lifts weights, run and snaps. He also has been placed on a weight-gain program in which he has six meals and drinks five protein shakes every day. The 6-foot-4 Ingram weighs 240 pounds, and his goal is to reach 250."

About why he needs to gain 10 pounds, Ingram said:
"I start the protection. They're going to be some big linebacker athletes who will try to run down the A gap (between the snapper and guard). I have to keep them from moving back the point." (HA)

Ingram said that the Senior Bowl and combine:
"will be an opportunity to showcase my skill." (HA)

About Mouton, who is training in Carson, CA, Zuckerman said:
"He's got such amazing athleticism and speed. Scouts are excited to see him. He's a great cover guy." (HA)

About how Mouton's 39-inch vertical jump and speed alleviates concerns over his 5' 9.5" height, Zuckerman said:
"If you can cover and have an amazing vertical, if you're 5-91/2 and not 5-10, what does it matter? That's what the East West will show." (HA)

HA Note: "Mouton, who weighs 183 pounds, has been placed on a daily 4,500-calorie diet. He said he wants to weigh "close to 187" for the scouts during East West testing. Still, Mouton is trying to maintain his quickness. At Blinn College, he ran 40 yards in 4.27 seconds. He said his goal is to run in the low 4.3s at the combine."

About working out twice per day, from 8-10:30am and from 1:30pm-3:30pm, Mouton said:
"This is an all-day job. You have to put in the work if you want the results." (HA)

Destin Stewart commits to the Warriors!

About how he likes the weather in Hawaii more than his Oklahoma weather, Destin "D-Stew" Stewart said:
"I really like the weather over there. The year-round weather is always warm. Right now (in Oklahoma), it's a little cold. It's in the 20s." (HA)

About how he also liked the Warriors four-wide offense, the coaching staff, and his future teammates, Stewart said:
"Those are the reasons I decided to commit to Hawai'i." (HA)

HA Note: "Stewart, a senior at Oklahoma City's Douglass High, said he is 6 feet 4, 200 pounds and can run 40 yards in 4.5 seconds. He was named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association's 2008 All-State team as a receiver, despite playing in a run-oriented offense. www.Rivals.com listed Stewart in its Oklahoma High Top-35 list of prospects."

About being named to the Daily Oklahoman's All-State second team as a punter, Stewart said:
"I don't know my average. I just kicked it as far as possible." (HA)

Stewart made a verbal commitment to Tulsa a couple of months ago, but after a few weeks he said:
I de-committed. I wanted to get away from Oklahoma, really." (HA)

HA Note: "Stewart received offers from Kansas State, Toledo and Wyoming, and interest from Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma State."

Stewart said that after he visited Hawaii the weekend before the Hawaii Bowl:
"Hawai'i felt like the best fit. I really liked it down there. It's a great environment." (HA)

HA Note: "He also said he was impressed with UH's academic program. Stewart has a 3.7 grade-point average this year, and has earned an NCAA-qualifying score on the SAT. Stewart also is the starting wing player on Douglass' basketball team. He averages 13.0 points per game. The Trojans are ranked fourth in the state."

About how he was 5'5" as a 7th grader and grew *9* inches by the of the 8th grade, Stewart said:
"I'm trying to hit another growth spurt." (HA)

HA Note: "Stewart has several hobbies. He often rides American Quarter Horses on his uncle's ranch in Central Oklahoma."

About how he's difficult to find in the woods where paint-ball competitions are held, Stewart said:
"I can hide a little bit." (HA)

About how his parents has chosen "Destiny" as a girl's name because they thought they were having a girl, Stewart said:
"Because I was a boy, my mother named me Destin." (HA)

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Great utility for comparing Conference vs. Conference performance

I stumbled across this awesome utility for comparing stats for teams from one conference and how they did against another conference. It also breaks things down for how each team did against any specific conference or team, which is awesome also. To run your own searches, go here.

I did a few searches for the 4 seasons between 2004 and 2007 in order to see the results. Plus, I think that the WAC did worse in 2008...

WAC vs MAC, 4-1
WAC vs Sun Belt, 11-8
WAC vs C-USA, 4-5
WAC vs Big 10, 4-5
WAC vs MWC, 15-19
WAC vs ACC, 2-5
WAC vs Big 12, 3-14
WAC vs Pac-10, 6-27
WAC vs SEC, 0-14

For comparison purposes, here is the record for the MWC:

MWC vs MAC, 2-0
MWC vs Sun Belt, 3-0
MWC vs C-USA, 9-10
MWC vs Big 10, 1-7
MWC vs WAC, 19-15
MWC vs ACC, 3-4
MWC vs Big 12, 9-8
MWC vs Pac-10, 10-18
MWC vs SEC, 2-3
MWC vs Big East, 2-2

For comparison purposes, here is the record for the Big 12:

Big 12 vs MAC, 2-0
Big 12 vs Sun Belt, 27-1
Big 12 vs C-USA, 20-3
Big 12 vs Big 10, 9-6
Big 12 vs WAC, 14-3
Big 12 vs ACC, 6-5
Big 12 vs MWC, 8-9
Big 12 vs Pac-10, 8-10
Big 12 vs SEC, 6-7
Big 12 vs Big East 3-3

Jason Rivers and Hercules Satele join the Spokane Shock!

shock = Spokane Shock Official Site

Happy that they were able to sign Jason Rivers, head coach Adam Shackleford said:
“His numbers are obviously impressive; he is one of the highest-rated players that we have ever signed. During the recruiting process, we learned that his character is every bit as impressive as his numbers on the field.” (shock)

About how he is a leader, Rivers said:
“I am a leader – in a game and in practice I lead by example. I’m tenacious – I don’t give up. I’m definitely a go-getter on the field.” (shock)

About signing Hercules, Shackleford said:
“He’s one of the strongest linemen we have ever signed. But in addition to his size and strength he is very athletic. When he was with the Cardinals he played both left guard and center because of his athleticism.” (shock)

QB David Graves commits to the Warriors

About UH getting David Graves, his mentor Troy Taylor said:
"Hawai'i is getting a great player and a great person." (HA)

HA Note: "The latest University of Hawai'i football commitment was named Sacramento's Metro Football Player of the Year. He was one of the nation's most efficient high school quarterbacks, completing 72 percent of his passes and throwing for 40 touchdowns in 11 games. And he has a cumulative grade-point average of 3.76."

HA Note: "Graves, who is 6 feet 1 and 191 pounds, said he chose the Warriors because of the four-wide offense, the coaching staff and "Hawai'i's music.""

About his love for Jawaiian music and traditional island songs, Graves said:
"I love the music of the islands. I love the bending guitars, and the real soothing voices." (HA)

About how Curtis Gaesser, director of Folsom's award-winning Jazz Band & Choir, was raised in Hawaii, Graves said:
"He grew up playing island music. His first instrument was the ukulele. He's a great teacher." (HA)

About Graves' QB ability, Taylor (former QB coach for Cal who opened a year-round program that tutors QBs) said:
"The thing that impresses me the most is how quickly he gets rid of the ball. When you talk about a high-school-level quarterback, the most successful are the ones with quick releases and accuracy. He has the quickest release of any quarterback I've worked with in the high school or college level. He's very accurate. He has a strong arm. He's got all of the throws you need to make." (HA)

HA Note: "The past summer, the Folsom coaches called UH offensive coordinator Ron Lee for information about the Warriors' version of the four-wide offense. Folsom, which also runs a spread offense, has two UH-inspired plays: "Hawai'i" and "Hawai'i Switch." "

About how Graves ran a similar offense to UH in high school, Taylor said:
"Folsom runs a complex passing game. He learned to run the show, and he's very good at it. He's smart and competitive. I think he's a great fit for Hawai'i." (HA)

HA Note: "Folsom often went with an empty set, using five receivers and relying on both Graves' passing and scrambling. In 2008, Graves rushed for 696 yards and 11 touchdowns."

About Graves' running ability, Taylor said:
"He's a great quarterback, but some opponents said he was Folsom's best running back, too." (HA)

HA Note: "Graves indeed has multiple talents. He played quarterback from Pop Warner through his freshman season. To help out the team, he played wide receiver in 2006 and 2007. As a junior, he was named to the All-Metro team."

About how Graves played WR while waiting to be the QB starter, his father David Graves Sr. said:
"He's a quarterback, and he waited for his turn." (HA)

HA Note: "He initially made a verbal commitment to Nevada. But after visiting Hawai'i the weekend before the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl, he changed his mind."

About how his son broke his verbal commitment to Nevada to choose UH, David Sr. said:
"It wasn't easy for him. I told him to do what was best for himself." (HA)

HA Note: "David Sr. said his son was impressed with Lee and UH quarterbacks coach Nick Rolovich. He said his son liked head coach Greg McMackin's "positive style." Last week, Graves notified the Nevada coaches that he was de-committing."

About choosing UH over Nevada, Graves said:
"Nevada has great coaches and a great program. But I feel there are more opportunities for me in Hawai'i. I see Hawai'i as a better fit for me, probably a better life experience." (HA)

Monday, January 5, 2009

Na Koa tries to raise more than $1.65 mil for the Warriors

HA Note: "Saying the University of Hawai'i football team is "at an economic crossroads" to remaining competitive in a tough economy, its head coach and booster club are asking fans to help raise more than $1.65 million in aid for the centennial season this fall. "Over 20,000 Warrior football fans and contributors," were asked to pitch in, according to the letter sent out and signed by coach Greg McMackin and Na Koa president Rick Blangiardi. Na Koa has approximately 650 regular members and currently contributes about $650,000 to the operation of the football program, officials said."

About their goal to raise $1.65 mil, the letter said:
"our intention is to create a grass roots campaign that will expand our membership in Na Koa while creating a combined giving to meet the many current and unbudgeted financial needs of our Warrior football program." (HA)

About the need for additional funding, the letter said:
"with continued success (comes) increased demands and expectations for excellence. Historically, our efforts to date have helped provide a fairly solid foundation for the football program. The challenge, however, of remaining competitive in the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A) has brought us to an economic crossroads at a time when we are experiencing an island economy we have not seen in years." (HA)

HA Note: "Na Koa has helped underwrite the costs of players attending summer school, buying communication head sets, video equipment and other needs for the team, Blangiardi said."

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Feature story on Dave Aranda

RDF = Redlands Daily Facts

About Dave Aranda's love for football, his father Paul Aranda said:
"He's a football guy 24/7. He just loves it. He's gone to a lot of pro camps and has been all over the place. He's always looking to learn." (RDF)

About how the head coach at Redlands High School influenced his life, Dave Aranda said:
"Coach (Jim) Walker was a big influence on me. You could just see how he motivates people with his one-on-one talks. He was great at taking you off to the side and you could tell he cared about you and that you were important to him." (RDF)

RDF Note: "A 185-pound linebacker, Aranda suffered from shoulder problems that forced him to play offensive line with his arm in a sling. After high school, Aranda attended San Bernardino Valley College for a semester before transferring to California Lutheran University, where he was a student assistant. From there, he went to Texas Tech University and worked for three years as a graduate assistant. Then it was on to the University of Houston. Aranda would return to California Lutheran as defensive coordinator before taking the same job at Delta State in Mississippi, where he led one of the top defenses in Division II in 2007. He then appeared headed to Southern Utah University before he was offered the job of defensive line coach at Hawaii."

Proud of their season at UH, Aranda said:
"It's a great school. We didn't have the best year but with everything we lost and all of the turnover, I'm very proud of what we accomplished." (RDF)

Crediting his success to the teachings from George Tesla (his OL coach) and Miguel Olmedo (Redland's current head coach), Aranda said:
"Coach Tesla was just a real gruff old-timer who was a stickler for fundamentals. He always made me do things right. And I remember the detail he would coach with and how everyone loved him. With Coach Olmedo, I took from him his drive, determination, intensity and stubbornness. I never wanted to let him down and I always wanted to do more." (RDF)

About how he always stops by the talk with his old coaches when he's back in Redlands, Aranda (who is married to his high school sweetheart) said:
"I always try to stop by and meet up with Coach Walker and Coach Olmedo. It's amazing the things they've accomplished with the RHS program and we just catch up and talk football." (RDF)

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Samson talked about facing bigger nose tackles

About playing against nose tackles that can outweigh him by 45+ pounds, Samson said:
''We have to use our quickness and take them places they don't want to be." (MH)

MH Note: "Among Sunday's key matchups: Dolphins left tackle Jake Long against Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs (eight sacks), and 300-pound center Samson Satele on Baltimore's 345-pound Haloti Ngata. Satele has struggled at times against much heavier defensive tackles (including Ngata on Oct. 19), but he played well against New York's 349-pound Kris Jenkins and improved by studying how similar-sized centers take on bigger nose tackles."

Friday, January 2, 2009

Feature story about the life story of Davone Bess

MH = Miami Herald

About how his Mom raised him despite having 2 kids by the time she was 17, Bess said:
"My mom grew up pretty much a single parent. She had me at the age of 15 and she had my brother at 17. My dad pretty much wasn't there. If anyone was there it was my brother's dad, but not really because he was in a big time drug dealer. He was in and out of jail himself and going back and forth so he wasn't a reliable source." (MH)

About how hard it was for his Mom to provide for their family, and how nobody on his Dad's side of the family even went to high school, Bess said:
"There was times my mom was in a room breaking down, crying, going crazy trying to figure out how to pay the bills and stuff. Knowing all the negativity my family had grown up in, there was almost no way out of our situation. This was in Oakland, California. I should tell you I was the first person in my family to go to college. I was the first person on my dad's side of the family that went to high school. That kind of gives you an idea of the type of family I grew up in. And my grandma was really supportive of my mom, but it's crazy because my grandma was actually pregnant at the same time as my mom. I'm the same age as my auntie. So [my grandma] couldn't really take care of me like she really wanted to because she had her own to take care of. so my mom was a kid -- a kid raising two kids." (MH)

About how sports kept him out of trouble, Bess said:
"Sports pretty much kept me busy, kept me out of trouble, kept me off the streets. My mom always stressed, 'We don't need to be going that route like your stepfather,' meaning my brother's dad. And being a kid, everybody got in trouble, doing this and that when your parents told you not to. But I always had sports to lean back on and it always helped me to stay focused and keep me from getting deeper into serious problems." (MH)

About how he ended up in jail, Bess said:
"My stepfather, like I said, was in and out of jail a lot. He was there when he could be. But it's different when you got a male living with you in the house. He didn't stay with us. I graduated high school and one day I went to pick some friends up, but they ended up having some stolen merchandise with them. I picked them up. We get pulled over. And they charged me with everything because I was the driver. They knew I had nothing to do with it. But because of the fact I was an accessory, I did 15 months in a juvenile detention facility. Those guys wanted to testify on my behalf and tell them I had nothing to do with it. I was getting ready to go off to college and do all these positive things, but their attorneys wouldn't allow them to do that because that would make them look bad." (MH)

About how he lost his scholarship to Oregon State, Bess said:
"I was going to Oregon State. I had signed a sports scholarship to go to Oregon State already. I had just graduated high school. It hurt. It hurt big time. So it was time for Plan B for me. I knew I was going to get out. I had all these positive things going for me, but the positive things ended up screwing me because [the judge] felt that I knew better than to put myself in that situation." (MH)

About the facility he was sent to, and how it was fortunate that their flag football team played against a local high school that had a lot of good players, Bess said:
"So I go to the facility. It was as open facility. If I had wanted to walk out the door and leave, I could do it. There was like no gates, no nothing. I could walk out. Obviously, if you walk out, you get in trouble. You might get more time. They had a whole bunch of leagues -- volleyball, softball, flag football -- so I'm doing all these different things. And with the flag football team, we end up going to this local high school to play. And there was this whole bunch of kids being recruited from this school. I guess I started turning heads playing against the kids that were already being recruited." (MH)

About how UH found out about him, Bess said:
"We were playing 7 on 7 and one of June Jones assistants ended up seeing me. This was the summer of '04 and from that summer throughout the fall I was talking to [the University of] Hawaii. I got out in September. And then they brought me out on a trip in October and offered me a scholarship. I accepted, and in January 2005, I enrolled at Hawaii." (MH)

About how he had to overcome the lack of respect UH had and his past trouble in order to make his NFL dream come true, Bess said:
"I got my opportunity back. I still wasn't sold that my dream was definitely going to come true and I was going to the NFL. I knew that by me going into that situation, it was going to be that much harder to make it to the NFL. Being Hawaii, nobody respects Hawaii. And then there was still the trouble issue -- the character issue -- that people were going to wonder about." (MH)

About why he verbally committed to the Dolphins while the draft was still going on, Bess said:
"I didn't get drafted. And it was frustrating. But I didn't give up. I knew whatever team I was going to, I was going to give my all and give my best. I set specific goals for myself when Miami signed me. They called me in the fifth round and I thought that was going to be my round. But they said they didn't have any other picks and had to use their picks on, like, a lineman or a running back or something. So I was, like, OK. Then right after the draft my phone was ringing off the hook. Like 12 teams called me after the draft but I had actually verbally committed to coming to Miami during the seventh round. So I ended up saying, 'I'm just going to go to Miami.' I did know the situation and I felt this was the best spot for me to come in and contribute." (MH)

About how other teams offered bigger signing bonuses, Bess said:
"They gave me a $7,000 signing bonus and my agent said there were a couple of teams willing to give me up around $9,000 or $10,000. But that didn't matter. I knew this was the best opportunity and best fit for me." (MH)

About how he worked his way up the depth chart, Bess said:
"I think my second preseason game, against Jacksonville, they bumped me up and I actually started as the third receiver. And I was like, 'OK,' and got a little more confidence. And then the next game, even more. It was the last preseason when I had my best game, even on special teams. And that let me know the coaches were serious. And Week 1, here it is and I'm the No. 3 receiver and starting in the three wide receiver package. And my confidence grew from there." (MH)

About how he never listened to his doubters, Bess said;
"So never listen to anybody that says you can't do something. Because through all those times, throughout that whole story I just told you, I always had people in my ear or talking behind my back saying I wasn't going to make it. 'He ain't going to do this, he's just going to be another statistic on the streets. He ain't this, he ain't that. I'm happy he went to jail.' I just kept my eyes on the prize. I knew what I wanted to do. I knew what I wanted to accomplish. And I took that motivation and kept it going. So don't let anybody tell you you can't do anything." (MH)