VS = Vancouver Sun
About how broadcasters and P.A. announcers keep messing up his name, Solomon "Aluminum" Elimimian said:
"On, that's standard. My name has been slaughtered since I started playing football. So I don't mind that. It's one of those things where you take the good with the bad." (VS)
VS Note: "Twelve games into his rookie season, Elimimian has been bad in a very good way, establishing himself as one of the most ferocious hitters in the CFL. He plays fearlessly and recklessly, indeed without concern for his personal safety. Cory Body knows. The Argonauts' feature back is still trying to clear the cobwebs from a hit that Elimimian delivered on him in a Sept. 11 game at BC Place."
About how he hits hard on defense, Elimimian said:
"I thank God for the passion I have. I've been blessed with that attribute. I love this game and I respect it. Playing linebacker, you have to be very aggressive. And there are times when you'll get hit. But you always have to have the mentality of punishing the ballcarrier." (VS)
Praising his DL after his 11 tackles and a sack after their win on Saturday, Elimimian said:
"I've been blessed to play behind a great defensive line. In the Calgary game, Keron [Williams], [Khalif] Mitchell, J.B. [Jonathan Brown] and B.J. [Brent Johnson] played a tremendous game. They were really the stars. Keron initiated the sack on Henry. I just finished it." (VS)
Comparing Sol to one of the best LBs he ever coached (Alondra Johnson), head coach Wally Buono said:
"A.J. used to hit everybody, whether you were on his team or not, and Solomon is a hitter in the same mold. A.J.'s attitude was infectious. We needed that. And Solomon has that. He's part of a good young core on defence meshing very nicely with our veteran players." (VS)
About how they have 4 other excellent rookies on their team, Buono said:
"To me, the top rookie will surface in the next six games." (VS)
http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Soloman+Aluminum+shines+Lions+defence/3600196/story.html#ixzz111bhbtbK
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Feature story on Jordan Monico
About the big hits he has been making on special teams, Jordan Monico said:
"Because you don't go in too much on offense, you have to use all your energy somehow. When you hit someone hard, you get this adrenaline rush like you know you popped them. You pump your teammates up and the crowd likes seeing big hits." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Monico was credited with three tackles on kickoff returns in Hawaii's lopsided win over Charleston Southern last week, twice pinning the Buccaneers inside the 20-yard line, and has 10 special teams tackles in four games."
HSA Note: "He's now a member of all four coverage and return units, including a kickoff team that ranks ninth in the FBS by holding opponents to 17.16 yards per return entering Saturday's Western Athletic Conference game against Louisiana Tech at Aloha Stadium."
Praising Jordan Monico, special teams coordinator Chris Tormey said:
"We were having trouble blocking him on our kickoff return. He understands football, fits in the right place, has really good size (6-foot-0 and 235 pounds), and he can run. He's a very good tackler. He wraps up and brings his feet on his tackles, runs through contact." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Mario Monico still owns the UH career records for batting average (.367), total bases (433) and walks (240, also a WAC record) and his 10 RBIs against Utah in 1985 remains a single-game best."
About how his father Mario supported him in his football career, Jordan Monico said:
"(Mario) was supportive in everything I did and was there to work with me, lifting weights, running, giving me pointers." (HSA)
HSA Note: "He played in six games as a freshman linebacker with Savannah State, an FCS program, and hit .279 with four home runs with the baseball team in the spring. But a "miscommunication" with the football staff led him to seek a transfer back home, leaving behind a partial baseball scholarship."
About how he chose to walk on to the football team instead of playing baseball for UH, Monico said:
"I was thinking about it. It's still in my mind because I still love the game of baseball. But I'm just focusing on football right now and working my butt off. On the baseball field I'm more of a power hitter. On the football field I try to do the same, just be a hard hitter." (HSA)
About Louisiana Tech's speedy special teams, Tormey said:
"We're trying to make a concentrated effort to get more speed on the field. Louisiana Tech has tremendous speed, not only at the returner positions but across the board on their coverage teams and return teams. So we need to be able to match skill with skill." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100930_Bruising_hitter.html
"Because you don't go in too much on offense, you have to use all your energy somehow. When you hit someone hard, you get this adrenaline rush like you know you popped them. You pump your teammates up and the crowd likes seeing big hits." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Monico was credited with three tackles on kickoff returns in Hawaii's lopsided win over Charleston Southern last week, twice pinning the Buccaneers inside the 20-yard line, and has 10 special teams tackles in four games."
HSA Note: "He's now a member of all four coverage and return units, including a kickoff team that ranks ninth in the FBS by holding opponents to 17.16 yards per return entering Saturday's Western Athletic Conference game against Louisiana Tech at Aloha Stadium."
Praising Jordan Monico, special teams coordinator Chris Tormey said:
"We were having trouble blocking him on our kickoff return. He understands football, fits in the right place, has really good size (6-foot-0 and 235 pounds), and he can run. He's a very good tackler. He wraps up and brings his feet on his tackles, runs through contact." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Mario Monico still owns the UH career records for batting average (.367), total bases (433) and walks (240, also a WAC record) and his 10 RBIs against Utah in 1985 remains a single-game best."
About how his father Mario supported him in his football career, Jordan Monico said:
"(Mario) was supportive in everything I did and was there to work with me, lifting weights, running, giving me pointers." (HSA)
HSA Note: "He played in six games as a freshman linebacker with Savannah State, an FCS program, and hit .279 with four home runs with the baseball team in the spring. But a "miscommunication" with the football staff led him to seek a transfer back home, leaving behind a partial baseball scholarship."
About how he chose to walk on to the football team instead of playing baseball for UH, Monico said:
"I was thinking about it. It's still in my mind because I still love the game of baseball. But I'm just focusing on football right now and working my butt off. On the baseball field I'm more of a power hitter. On the football field I try to do the same, just be a hard hitter." (HSA)
About Louisiana Tech's speedy special teams, Tormey said:
"We're trying to make a concentrated effort to get more speed on the field. Louisiana Tech has tremendous speed, not only at the returner positions but across the board on their coverage teams and return teams. So we need to be able to match skill with skill." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100930_Bruising_hitter.html
Other UH quotes (Jordan Gomes gave up his academic scholarship to stay eligible for football)
About how he gave up the $7,000 academic scholarship he had from the engineering department to switch his major to Hawaiian studies to remain eligible to play football (he has significantly more credits in Hawaiian studies than engineering), Jordan Gomes said:
"I'm giving up my tuition to play football." (HSA)
About how he still plans to get his engineering degree, Gomes said:
"I'm not giving up my education." (HSA)
Unsure if his hamstring will recover enough for him to play on Saturday, Rodney Bradley said:
"It probably will go down to the wire. It's a game-day decision. Right now, it doesn't look like I'll be playing." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Bradley attended yesterday's 2-hour practice, but did not participate in any of the drills. He said the left hamstring is "a little sore." He said it is "not torn," but "still pretty tight." "
About how his "personal issues" have been resolved (the problem escalated 2 days before training camp began) and he has reclaimed his starting left CB job, Lametrius Davis said:
"I was going through some stuff back home (in Portland). It was kind of hard." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Davis confided with Barrett Awai, the area director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, as well as with teammates Jeramy Bryant, Kamalu Umu, Kawika Ornellas, Lewis Walker and Bryant Moniz."
About how the people who knew about his personal issue have supported him, Davis said:
"They got behind me and supported me as much as possible." (HSA)
With his problems now behind him, Davis said:
"I'm back to being myself." (HSA)
About how he had to go to the sideline after the third defensive play of the Colorado game, Kamalu Umu (who has moved back to the left DE spot from the right DE spot) said:
"I think I got myself too excited before the game. I wasted all of my energy. When it came to game time, it was hard for me to function." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100930_Gomes_loses_scholarship.html
"I'm giving up my tuition to play football." (HSA)
About how he still plans to get his engineering degree, Gomes said:
"I'm not giving up my education." (HSA)
Unsure if his hamstring will recover enough for him to play on Saturday, Rodney Bradley said:
"It probably will go down to the wire. It's a game-day decision. Right now, it doesn't look like I'll be playing." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Bradley attended yesterday's 2-hour practice, but did not participate in any of the drills. He said the left hamstring is "a little sore." He said it is "not torn," but "still pretty tight." "
About how his "personal issues" have been resolved (the problem escalated 2 days before training camp began) and he has reclaimed his starting left CB job, Lametrius Davis said:
"I was going through some stuff back home (in Portland). It was kind of hard." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Davis confided with Barrett Awai, the area director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, as well as with teammates Jeramy Bryant, Kamalu Umu, Kawika Ornellas, Lewis Walker and Bryant Moniz."
About how the people who knew about his personal issue have supported him, Davis said:
"They got behind me and supported me as much as possible." (HSA)
With his problems now behind him, Davis said:
"I'm back to being myself." (HSA)
About how he had to go to the sideline after the third defensive play of the Colorado game, Kamalu Umu (who has moved back to the left DE spot from the right DE spot) said:
"I think I got myself too excited before the game. I wasted all of my energy. When it came to game time, it was hard for me to function." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100930_Gomes_loses_scholarship.html
UH coaches would like UH to move from the WAC to the Big West
HSA Note: "A majority of University of Hawaii coaches are currently in favor of joining the Big West Conference rather than remaining in the Western Athletic Conference, some of them said yesterday. "I haven't met a coach yet who prefers staying (in the WAC)," said a coach who asked to remain anonymous because they have been cautioned not to speak for the athletic department or school. Some coaches say they have begun to tell prospective recruits UH is likely to be in the Big West in two years."
HSA Note: "After discussing the situation with coaches last month, athletic director Jim Donovan asked them to prioritize in memos where they would like to see their programs compete.
One UH coach said:
"Everybody I've talked to said they preferred the Big West. And I've talked to almost everybody." (HSA)
Another UH coach said:
"As much as we are loyal to the WAC, we want what is best for our programs and the athletes, and, at this point in time, that is the Big West. That could change, but right now it is the Big West." (HSA)
About how they understand that what it best for the football program will drive UH's decision, a prominent UH coach said:
"We understand that." (HSA)
HSA Note: "UH's most decorated coach, Dave Shoji of Rainbow Wahine volleyball, acknowledged in an interview with KKEA, 1420-AM radio earlier this week that his "secret desire" has been to "go back to the Big West." "
A Big West athletic director in the Big West said:
"I'm just one voice in the Big West Conference, but if Hawaii was interested in joining there would certainly be a lot of support if all the travel budgets could be reasonably worked out in advance." " (HSA)
The Big West AD said that UH moving to the Big West:
"would probably save (Hawaii) a lot of travel expense money by maintaining league travel competition in the state of California." (HSA)
About the Big West, a UH coach said:
"from a money, competition and recruiting standpoint, the Big West makes the most sense for most of our sports." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100930_UH_coaches_favor_Big_West.html
HSA Note: "After discussing the situation with coaches last month, athletic director Jim Donovan asked them to prioritize in memos where they would like to see their programs compete.
One UH coach said:
"Everybody I've talked to said they preferred the Big West. And I've talked to almost everybody." (HSA)
Another UH coach said:
"As much as we are loyal to the WAC, we want what is best for our programs and the athletes, and, at this point in time, that is the Big West. That could change, but right now it is the Big West." (HSA)
About how they understand that what it best for the football program will drive UH's decision, a prominent UH coach said:
"We understand that." (HSA)
HSA Note: "UH's most decorated coach, Dave Shoji of Rainbow Wahine volleyball, acknowledged in an interview with KKEA, 1420-AM radio earlier this week that his "secret desire" has been to "go back to the Big West." "
A Big West athletic director in the Big West said:
"I'm just one voice in the Big West Conference, but if Hawaii was interested in joining there would certainly be a lot of support if all the travel budgets could be reasonably worked out in advance." " (HSA)
The Big West AD said that UH moving to the Big West:
"would probably save (Hawaii) a lot of travel expense money by maintaining league travel competition in the state of California." (HSA)
About the Big West, a UH coach said:
"from a money, competition and recruiting standpoint, the Big West makes the most sense for most of our sports." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100930_UH_coaches_favor_Big_West.html
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Billy Ray Stutzmann is the starting left wideout, replacing the injured Rodney Bradley
About how he likes to walk-sprint to the top of Koko Crater in 20-25 minutes, Billy Ray Stutzmann said:
"It's a great workout." (HSA)
About easily making the adjustment to the top left wideout after playing right wideout for UH, Stutzmann said:
"It was fine. I played everywhere in high school. It was getting the footwork down. Once I did that, basically, it was like second nature." (HSA)
About redshirting after spraining his right ankle last year, Stutzmann said:
"Everything happens for a reason. Maybe it was a good thing to redshirt. It helped me get experience under my belt." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Stutzmann went with a dual training program to prepare for this season. He complemented his UH workouts with an exercise program at a local training center. He said the center's isometric exercises helped improve his strength, quickness and agility."
About the isometric exercises, Stutzmann said:
"It took me to a whole new level." (HSA)
HSA Note: "To improve his pass-catching, he works with the JUGS throwing machine. He also carries around small medicine balls (weighing between 2 and 6 pounds) to strengthen his hands and wrists."
About his first TD reception as a Warrior, Stutzmann said:
"When (Bryant Moniz) threw the ball in the air, I knew it was going to be mine." (HSA)
Asked for his initial reaction to his TD, Stutzmann said:
"I felt on top of the world." (HSA)
About how they didn't ask him to move to wideout after his production dropped last year when he was moved to wideout, Kealoha Pilares said:
"They knew not to come to me. That wasn't even an option. I was not going to move. They tried to joke about it, but I said: 'Don't mess with me like that.' " (HSA)
About how it is too difficult for him to change positions, Pilares said:
"In this offense, you need stability. You can face one coverage that looks 30 different ways. The more looks you get at one position, the more you'll know what to expect." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100929_Stutzmann_has_all_the_left_stuff.html
"It's a great workout." (HSA)
About easily making the adjustment to the top left wideout after playing right wideout for UH, Stutzmann said:
"It was fine. I played everywhere in high school. It was getting the footwork down. Once I did that, basically, it was like second nature." (HSA)
About redshirting after spraining his right ankle last year, Stutzmann said:
"Everything happens for a reason. Maybe it was a good thing to redshirt. It helped me get experience under my belt." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Stutzmann went with a dual training program to prepare for this season. He complemented his UH workouts with an exercise program at a local training center. He said the center's isometric exercises helped improve his strength, quickness and agility."
About the isometric exercises, Stutzmann said:
"It took me to a whole new level." (HSA)
HSA Note: "To improve his pass-catching, he works with the JUGS throwing machine. He also carries around small medicine balls (weighing between 2 and 6 pounds) to strengthen his hands and wrists."
About his first TD reception as a Warrior, Stutzmann said:
"When (Bryant Moniz) threw the ball in the air, I knew it was going to be mine." (HSA)
Asked for his initial reaction to his TD, Stutzmann said:
"I felt on top of the world." (HSA)
About how they didn't ask him to move to wideout after his production dropped last year when he was moved to wideout, Kealoha Pilares said:
"They knew not to come to me. That wasn't even an option. I was not going to move. They tried to joke about it, but I said: 'Don't mess with me like that.' " (HSA)
About how it is too difficult for him to change positions, Pilares said:
"In this offense, you need stability. You can face one coverage that looks 30 different ways. The more looks you get at one position, the more you'll know what to expect." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100929_Stutzmann_has_all_the_left_stuff.html
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Warrior Quotes from the Star-Advertiser 9/28/10 (Dustin Blount earns playing time, students are using their free admission to UH games)
About how he doesn't show his frustration with his lack of playing time, Dustin Blount said:
"I don't show it, basically. I stay positive. When my time comes, it comes." (HSA)
About his 4 receptions for 71 yards and his first UH TD in the Charleston Southern game, Blount said about Charleston Southern's D-IAA status:
"It wasn't that big of a deal for me. I was happy the coaches knew I could go in there and perform." (HSA)
Praising Blount, who took his screen pass for a 41-yard TD, David Graves said:
"Dustin is a great player. It's too bad he plays behind All-Americans (Greg Salas and Kealoha Pilares). He definitely has big-play capabilities. He has a great attitude, a great outlook on life. I have a lot of respect for him." (HSA)
About how he had to be held out of the first 3 games of 2008 while waiting for his JC transcripts to be processed, Blount said that when he was finally cleared:
"I decided to redshirt." (HSA)
HSA Note: "In the summer of 2009, he went back to Los Angeles to take care of a family matter. Because he did not have access to a computer, he had to take an "incomplete" for an online class. When he finished the work, the fall semester had started. He then suffered a partially torn hamstring."
About how he played in 4 games last year, Blount said:
"It was a bad year." (HSA)
About how he didn't get discouraged, Blount said:
"The love of the game keeps me going, and my father." (HSA)
About his father Johnnie Ree Blount Jr., a single father of 4, Blount said:
"To me, he was the greatest guy in the world. He made so many sacrifices for his family." (HSA)
About how his father died of "natural causes" in 2005 before Dustin started his senior year, Blount said:
"My father never got to see me play as a (high school) senior. He never got to see me play in college." (HSA)
About his father's wish for his education, Blount said:
"He wanted me to go to college." (HSA)
About getting his bachelor's degree in December, Blount said:
"I'm playing football for my father, and I'm getting a degree for my family. I'm going to be the first one in my family (to earn a college degree). That means a lot." (HSA)
HSA Note: "UH said 1,024 students took advantage of the free tickets and attended Saturday's football victory over Charleston Southern at Aloha Stadium. Meanwhile, 221 students claimed free tickets for the women's volleyball match with Utah State on Thursday and 222 attended the Friday night victory over Nevada."
About how more students are attending their games this year after they made admission free, JD said:
"It is a good beginning, but our goal is still to get more students out to our (events). We had more students fill the (football) buses than we've ever had." (HSA)
About how they filled all 14 UH-chartered buses from campus to Aloha Stadium, where they had just 8-12 buses before per game, JD said:
"Coach (Greg) McMackin said he was pleased with the students' support at the football game and the players noticed it." (HSA)
HSA Note: "But while the volleyball totals were nearly triple last year's average of about 80 per match when students paid a reduced price, the football turnout was down more than 500 from last year's average."
HSA Note: "The UH Board of Regents this summer approved a $50 per semester assessment on students, which is calculated to add $1.85 million per year to the athletic department budget after it begins in January 2011."
HSA Note: "UH said 1,653 students attended the season opener with nationally ranked Southern California even though they had to purchase tickets. Last year UH averaged 1,611 students per football game."
About how Billy Ray Stutzmann will move to left wideout if both Rodney Bradley and Joe Avery cannot play against La Tech, Rolo said:
"Billy Ray showed he could play either side. We'll see where Joe Avery is (health-wise)." (HSA)
About how Dustin Blount deserves more reps, Rolo said:
"I'd like to take a look at Dustin (at wideout). He's good at middle screens. I think he'll be good when he gets the ball in his hands. He'll make people miss. We'll look at all options." (HSA)
About how Lefiti and Tiwanak will continue to platoon at center for at least another week, Gordy Shaw said:
"We'll see how practice works out this week." (HSA)
About how Lefiti played 42 snaps in his first game back from injury, Shaw said:
"He'll be the first guy to tell you he was dog-assed tired after the game. Playing football is a different kind of shape than running (sprints of) 10s and 20s and 30s and 40s." (HSA)
About how he thought he was going to be able to play last week but had to wait until this week for medical clearance, Brett Leonard said:
"I trust (the doctor) more than I trust myself." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Running back Hogan Rosehill will miss the rest of the season after suffering a noncontact knee injury against Charleston Southern. That ends plans for running back Jordan Monico to move to linebacker. Monico leads the UH kickoff team with 10 tackles."
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100928_Free_tickets_initiative_has_good_beginning.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100928_Blounts_wait_is_over.html
"I don't show it, basically. I stay positive. When my time comes, it comes." (HSA)
About his 4 receptions for 71 yards and his first UH TD in the Charleston Southern game, Blount said about Charleston Southern's D-IAA status:
"It wasn't that big of a deal for me. I was happy the coaches knew I could go in there and perform." (HSA)
Praising Blount, who took his screen pass for a 41-yard TD, David Graves said:
"Dustin is a great player. It's too bad he plays behind All-Americans (Greg Salas and Kealoha Pilares). He definitely has big-play capabilities. He has a great attitude, a great outlook on life. I have a lot of respect for him." (HSA)
About how he had to be held out of the first 3 games of 2008 while waiting for his JC transcripts to be processed, Blount said that when he was finally cleared:
"I decided to redshirt." (HSA)
HSA Note: "In the summer of 2009, he went back to Los Angeles to take care of a family matter. Because he did not have access to a computer, he had to take an "incomplete" for an online class. When he finished the work, the fall semester had started. He then suffered a partially torn hamstring."
About how he played in 4 games last year, Blount said:
"It was a bad year." (HSA)
About how he didn't get discouraged, Blount said:
"The love of the game keeps me going, and my father." (HSA)
About his father Johnnie Ree Blount Jr., a single father of 4, Blount said:
"To me, he was the greatest guy in the world. He made so many sacrifices for his family." (HSA)
About how his father died of "natural causes" in 2005 before Dustin started his senior year, Blount said:
"My father never got to see me play as a (high school) senior. He never got to see me play in college." (HSA)
About his father's wish for his education, Blount said:
"He wanted me to go to college." (HSA)
About getting his bachelor's degree in December, Blount said:
"I'm playing football for my father, and I'm getting a degree for my family. I'm going to be the first one in my family (to earn a college degree). That means a lot." (HSA)
HSA Note: "UH said 1,024 students took advantage of the free tickets and attended Saturday's football victory over Charleston Southern at Aloha Stadium. Meanwhile, 221 students claimed free tickets for the women's volleyball match with Utah State on Thursday and 222 attended the Friday night victory over Nevada."
About how more students are attending their games this year after they made admission free, JD said:
"It is a good beginning, but our goal is still to get more students out to our (events). We had more students fill the (football) buses than we've ever had." (HSA)
About how they filled all 14 UH-chartered buses from campus to Aloha Stadium, where they had just 8-12 buses before per game, JD said:
"Coach (Greg) McMackin said he was pleased with the students' support at the football game and the players noticed it." (HSA)
HSA Note: "But while the volleyball totals were nearly triple last year's average of about 80 per match when students paid a reduced price, the football turnout was down more than 500 from last year's average."
HSA Note: "The UH Board of Regents this summer approved a $50 per semester assessment on students, which is calculated to add $1.85 million per year to the athletic department budget after it begins in January 2011."
HSA Note: "UH said 1,653 students attended the season opener with nationally ranked Southern California even though they had to purchase tickets. Last year UH averaged 1,611 students per football game."
About how Billy Ray Stutzmann will move to left wideout if both Rodney Bradley and Joe Avery cannot play against La Tech, Rolo said:
"Billy Ray showed he could play either side. We'll see where Joe Avery is (health-wise)." (HSA)
About how Dustin Blount deserves more reps, Rolo said:
"I'd like to take a look at Dustin (at wideout). He's good at middle screens. I think he'll be good when he gets the ball in his hands. He'll make people miss. We'll look at all options." (HSA)
About how Lefiti and Tiwanak will continue to platoon at center for at least another week, Gordy Shaw said:
"We'll see how practice works out this week." (HSA)
About how Lefiti played 42 snaps in his first game back from injury, Shaw said:
"He'll be the first guy to tell you he was dog-assed tired after the game. Playing football is a different kind of shape than running (sprints of) 10s and 20s and 30s and 40s." (HSA)
About how he thought he was going to be able to play last week but had to wait until this week for medical clearance, Brett Leonard said:
"I trust (the doctor) more than I trust myself." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Running back Hogan Rosehill will miss the rest of the season after suffering a noncontact knee injury against Charleston Southern. That ends plans for running back Jordan Monico to move to linebacker. Monico leads the UH kickoff team with 10 tackles."
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100928_Free_tickets_initiative_has_good_beginning.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100928_Blounts_wait_is_over.html
Monday, September 27, 2010
Rodney Bradley thinks he will play in the La Tech game, La Tech wants the WAC to expand East
About how he thinks that his "strained" left hamstring will not make him miss the La Tech game, Rodney Bradley said:
"I think I'll be able to go." (HSA)
About how he received ice treatment and electrical-stimulation therapy yesterday afternoon, Bradley said:
"I'll be getting therapy the rest of the week." (HSA)
HSA Note: "He said he received several ice packs that he will use at night. He said a determination on his playing status will be made Wednesday or Thursday."
HSA Note: "If Bradley is not available to play, the Warriors have several contingency plans. One of them might not involve Joe Avery, who complained of dizziness after landing awkwardly while attempting a catch Saturday."
About how they will not move Kealoha Pilares to wideoht like they did last year when Bradley was injured, where Pilares' production dropped after moving from slot to wideout, Mouse Davis said:
"We want Kealoha to keep doing what he's doing. We're not going to screw it up." (HSA)
About how Louisiana Tech would like for the WAC to add teams in the central time zone, Louisiana Tech Athletic Director Bruce Van De Velde said:
"I believe it is very important to reduce travel costs and the most appropriate avenue is to have an east and west division. This would mean the WAC would need to add some teams in the central time zone." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Van De Velde would not publicly reveal his "preferences," but they would appear to be Texas San Antonio and Texas State, which would also appeal to New Mexico State, among others."
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100927_injured_bradley_thinks_he_will_play.html
"I think I'll be able to go." (HSA)
About how he received ice treatment and electrical-stimulation therapy yesterday afternoon, Bradley said:
"I'll be getting therapy the rest of the week." (HSA)
HSA Note: "He said he received several ice packs that he will use at night. He said a determination on his playing status will be made Wednesday or Thursday."
HSA Note: "If Bradley is not available to play, the Warriors have several contingency plans. One of them might not involve Joe Avery, who complained of dizziness after landing awkwardly while attempting a catch Saturday."
About how they will not move Kealoha Pilares to wideoht like they did last year when Bradley was injured, where Pilares' production dropped after moving from slot to wideout, Mouse Davis said:
"We want Kealoha to keep doing what he's doing. We're not going to screw it up." (HSA)
About how Louisiana Tech would like for the WAC to add teams in the central time zone, Louisiana Tech Athletic Director Bruce Van De Velde said:
"I believe it is very important to reduce travel costs and the most appropriate avenue is to have an east and west division. This would mean the WAC would need to add some teams in the central time zone." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Van De Velde would not publicly reveal his "preferences," but they would appear to be Texas San Antonio and Texas State, which would also appeal to New Mexico State, among others."
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100927_injured_bradley_thinks_he_will_play.html
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Quotes from the UH-Charleston Southern Game 9/25/10
UH = Official University of Hawaii Athletics web site
HSA = Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Note: ESPN, USA Today, AP, Charleston Southern Athletics' web site, and several other sites that I check for quotes did not have any quotes from the game
---------------------- Quotes from the UH coaches -----------------------
About how this is a great win, Mack said:
"Any win is a great win. It gives us two wins now. And it gives us another win in the right direction." (UH)
Proud of how his players have worked to improve, Mack said:
"We just want to improve technical and fundamental things that maybe the normal fan isn't looking at, but we are that we had to get better at or we wouldn't be the team that we could be. The players really reacted to it, they were together on it and they knew they had to win. They tried to work and get better, and I'm really proud of them." (UH)
About how they were able to play everybody that isn't redshirting, Mack said:
"We played everybody, we played all six quarterbacks, everyone that is eligible that isn't redshirting played in the game. It's a good experience that these guys work as hard as they do and they get some reps playing in front of the fans." (UH)
Asked if their team is ready for WAC play, Mack said:
"We have to continue to get better we have to evaluate this film I'm sure there are mistakes in this game, I think we got closer to being ready, we'll find out next week." (UH)
About how his defense made big plays all game long, Mack said:
"We've always been good since we've been here at making big plays and that was our big emphasis today on defense was to make plays and to make them all game long and I thought the guys did that." (UH)
About how they played the swarming style of defense they want to play, Mack said:
"Its contagious, it's like a personality, like an attacking, swarming defense that gang-tackles and makes big plays with emotion. That's what we want to be at and that's what we preached all week. We didn't care who we played, we had to get to that point and we haven't been (that way) the last year and three games. Today we got back to the style of defensive football that we want to play." (UH)
About how the players were keeping track of the passing TDs that Moniz was racking up in the game, Offensive Coordinator Nick Rolovich (Rolo, who has the UH record of 8 passing TDs in a game) said:
"Somebody — Greg Salas, I think — started yelling out the numbers." (HSA)
About how Moniz doesn't have to worry about setting records, Rolo said:
"He doesn't have to worry. He'll probably get the record before he's done. He'll have a bunch of them." (HSA)
About being able to get all 6 QBs into the game, Rolo said:
"They work hard, and it's good to get them on the big field with the fans and everything." (HSA)
About how Moniz and the rest of their players played well, Rolo said:
"He did a lot of good things.He played well. They all played well. They wanted to have a great game, and they did." (HSA)
About how they wanted to try out one of their trick plays so they used their flea flicker, Rolo said:
"We have a bunch of plays we want to try out. We felt this was a good time to go to one." (HSA)
About how Friday's walk-through was the only time they practiced the flea-flicker, which they named "bum-bye", Rolo said:
"(Former UH safety) Nate Jackson taught me that word when I was a player. He used to always tell me: 'Haole, bum-bye you'll learn.' " (HSA)
Happy that they finally played like how they practiced, Defensive Coordinator Dave Aranda said:
"We've had great practices, all the way back to spring. All the way back to fall camp. We've always created turnovers, always gotten sacks, always tackled well. That hasn't shown up in the games, until today. So my hope is, this is the start of how we play." (HSA)
---------------------- Quotes from the UH players -------------------------
About how they talked all week about getting a big win and improving their red zone and third quarter problems, Bryant Moniz said:
"It was something we talked about all week to get a big win and sharpen up the things we haven't done so good as far as the red zone and the third quarter." (HSA)
About how they put their first team offense in to start the second half to work on their problems they have been having after halftime, Moniz said:
"That's why we came out with the first string in the third quarter. This season we had started off slow in the third quarter, so they wanted to work on that." (HSA)
About their "bum-bye" flea-flicker, Moniz said:
"Yeah, he's Hawaiian Rolovich. It's a good play." (HSA)
"We call it 'Bum-bye, you learn,' " (HSA)
About knowing that he was close to Rolo's 8 TD record, Moniz said:
"I knew, but it wasn't really a big thing to me. We were just joking about it." (HSA)
About how Rolo told him that he wouldn't break his record in this game, Moniz said with a smile:
"He (Rolovich) said he was going to take me out before I could get to (the record)." (HSA)
Thinking more about his 2 interceptions than the TDs he had, Moniz said:
"I didn't worry about the record too much. We had some fun with it. I was thinking more about the picks." (HSA)
"I'm more worried about the two interceptions than the touchdowns we had. I know perfect is hard, but it's something to shoot for." (HSA)
"A win is a win, but I have to work on my picks. Putting up that many touchdowns is good, but my two interceptions overshadowed all of my touchdowns. I have to work on that this week." (HSA)
"You always want to shoot for perfection. I know it's hard to do that. It's a goal of mine. It's something I have to work on." (HSA)
About how Rolo tells the QBs that he'll take them out of the game before they can break his UH record of 8 passing TDs in one game, Shane Austin said:
"We tell him if we get close, he'd better leave us in. But he tells us, 'Nah, I'll take you out before that.' " (HSA)
About getting his first 2 TDs of the season, Greg Salas said:
"I'll take it any way I can get it. I was getting kind of anxious about not scoring. I would lie to you if I said I wasn't thinking about it. But if felt good to finally get in the end zone." (HSA)
About how Moniz was on fire in the first half, Salas said:
"I asked Mo, 'Did you even have an incompletion in the first half?' Even his deflected passes were being caught." (HSA)
About how Louisiana Tech cannot stop their offense, Salas said:
"It doesn't matter what they do. We know they're a better team (than Charleston Southern). But on offense, we think no one can stop us." (HSA)
About selling the run on the flea flicker before he threw the ball back to Moniz, Alex Green said:
"I'm a good actor. I took acting classes in middle school." (HSA)
About how they gained confidence from this blowout win, Green said:
"We always knew we had an explosive offense. We finally put four quarters together. We played a full game. It gave us a little confidence. Now we know we have to bring it every time." (HSA)
About getting to play against his old team (he transferred from Charleston Southern 2 years ago), Kamalu Umu (who tackled the punter before he could punt the ball in the 3rd quarter) said:
"I was excited, and just glad we got this victory. I got nothing against the team, they played hard, played their hearts out. But I'm glad to be here and be a part of this team." (HSA)
About getting into a game again after having to miss the first 3 games with a foot injury, Matagisila Lefiti said:
"It just felt like ... it was an unexplainable feeling to play football again. The foot was great. Just gotta get in condition and work from there." (HSA)
About how their team wants to play like how UH used to play, Jeramy Bryant said:
"We're tired of being embarrassed. We're trying to get back to the old Hawaii, how things used to be around here." (HSA)
About how their DL had to stepped up after their struggles against USC and Colorado, Vaughn Meatoga said:
"We got tired of being 'those guys.' We're tired of being known as the weakness on the team. We were projected to be the strength. We had to step up. Against (Southern California) and Colorado, we kind of flopped here and there. We were sick of being 'those guys,' being picked on, being yelled at, being the liability. I think everybody took it upon themselves to get better and have a good game." (HSA)
About how their defense shut down Charleston Southern, Meatoga said:
"We really didn't take these guys lightly. They scored in the beginning of the game, but other than that, this whole week, we (the defense) were tired of being that whipping boy, tired of being the group that everybody picks on. The focus, the weak spot. We stood up, we took a stand and said that we need this game going into WAC play. Build that confidence, see what we can do." (HSA)
About their play in this game, Corey Paredes said:
"It was a breakout game." (HSA)
About dropping 2 interceptions, backup safety Jordan Gomes said:
"It's going to haunt me for the next week." (HSA)
-------------- Quotes from the Charleston Southern coaches ----------------
About how any margin of loss counts the same, head coach Jay Mills said:
"Whether you lose by 59 or you lose by 1, it's a loss. It still counts the same in the record book." (UH)
"Whether you lose by 59 or one, it's still a loss. It's black and white. It counts the same in the record book." (HSA)
About they learn life lessons from each game, Mills said:
"Football's a great game. It either reveals character or develops character…maybe a combination of both. These are life lessons. There's going to be opportunities where we're going to be on top of people by a similar score, and there have been in the past. And there's opportunities where we're down below. But if you don't learn something, we're bound to repeat the same mistakes in the future." (UH)
Feeling that UH's team in underestimated, Mills said:
"We knew we were playing a very good football team, a team that I think is underestimated, a team that is very sound. They are very sound in all three phases of the game, and they proved it." (HSA)
More impressed with this team than UH's Sugar Bowl team in 2007, Mills said:
"We played a very good team. (Hawai'i) is a team that, I think, is more sound in all three areas of the game than maybe the team we played in 2007. I've been impressed with the discipline they've showed, I've been impressed with the toughness that they've showed, and in all three phases of the game this is a team that we really had tremendous respect for."
(UH)
"I thought (Hawai'i) executed much better on offense in the first half, obviously, in this game than in 2007. I saw a team that is very similar to the team we saw in 2007. I really believe this team has a chance to be very successful as they go into conference play. And we thought that before we came here." (UH)
"I felt like (Hawaii) is a team that I think is more sound in all three areas of the game than maybe the team we played in 2007. Of course, they all had all the accolades with Colt Brennan and so forth, but I've been impressed with the discipline ... and the toughness they have shown (this year)." (HSA)
"I thought they executed much better on offense in this game than in 2007 and made plays. I really believe this team has a chance to be very successful going into conference play." (HSA)
About how their missed opportunities in the first half could have made the game closer, Mills said:
"We had a couple of opportunities (in the first half). If we could have taken advantage of those opportunities, maybe the outcome would have been closer. I don't think it would have determined the end result, but the momentum would have been a little bit different." (UH)
--------------- Quotes from the Charleston Southern players ----------------
About his 2 interceptions in the game, Charles James said:
"Our defensive front gave us a lot of help, and I just wanted to go out there and make plays. I was trying to enjoy myself and have fun, but we've got to get a lot of help even though I felt we took a step up after playing this game." (HSA)
--------------------------- Other Notes from the game -----------------------------
HSA Note: "Around 1,000 Manoa students took advantage of free admission to last night's game, a UH official said. This was the first football game students got free as a benefit of the new student activity fee of $50 per semester."
HSA Note: "Around 220 students on Thursday and Friday attended volleyball matches against Utah State and Nevada free, also as a benefit of the fee."
HSA = Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Note: ESPN, USA Today, AP, Charleston Southern Athletics' web site, and several other sites that I check for quotes did not have any quotes from the game
---------------------- Quotes from the UH coaches -----------------------
About how this is a great win, Mack said:
"Any win is a great win. It gives us two wins now. And it gives us another win in the right direction." (UH)
Proud of how his players have worked to improve, Mack said:
"We just want to improve technical and fundamental things that maybe the normal fan isn't looking at, but we are that we had to get better at or we wouldn't be the team that we could be. The players really reacted to it, they were together on it and they knew they had to win. They tried to work and get better, and I'm really proud of them." (UH)
About how they were able to play everybody that isn't redshirting, Mack said:
"We played everybody, we played all six quarterbacks, everyone that is eligible that isn't redshirting played in the game. It's a good experience that these guys work as hard as they do and they get some reps playing in front of the fans." (UH)
Asked if their team is ready for WAC play, Mack said:
"We have to continue to get better we have to evaluate this film I'm sure there are mistakes in this game, I think we got closer to being ready, we'll find out next week." (UH)
About how his defense made big plays all game long, Mack said:
"We've always been good since we've been here at making big plays and that was our big emphasis today on defense was to make plays and to make them all game long and I thought the guys did that." (UH)
About how they played the swarming style of defense they want to play, Mack said:
"Its contagious, it's like a personality, like an attacking, swarming defense that gang-tackles and makes big plays with emotion. That's what we want to be at and that's what we preached all week. We didn't care who we played, we had to get to that point and we haven't been (that way) the last year and three games. Today we got back to the style of defensive football that we want to play." (UH)
About how the players were keeping track of the passing TDs that Moniz was racking up in the game, Offensive Coordinator Nick Rolovich (Rolo, who has the UH record of 8 passing TDs in a game) said:
"Somebody — Greg Salas, I think — started yelling out the numbers." (HSA)
About how Moniz doesn't have to worry about setting records, Rolo said:
"He doesn't have to worry. He'll probably get the record before he's done. He'll have a bunch of them." (HSA)
About being able to get all 6 QBs into the game, Rolo said:
"They work hard, and it's good to get them on the big field with the fans and everything." (HSA)
About how Moniz and the rest of their players played well, Rolo said:
"He did a lot of good things.He played well. They all played well. They wanted to have a great game, and they did." (HSA)
About how they wanted to try out one of their trick plays so they used their flea flicker, Rolo said:
"We have a bunch of plays we want to try out. We felt this was a good time to go to one." (HSA)
About how Friday's walk-through was the only time they practiced the flea-flicker, which they named "bum-bye", Rolo said:
"(Former UH safety) Nate Jackson taught me that word when I was a player. He used to always tell me: 'Haole, bum-bye you'll learn.' " (HSA)
Happy that they finally played like how they practiced, Defensive Coordinator Dave Aranda said:
"We've had great practices, all the way back to spring. All the way back to fall camp. We've always created turnovers, always gotten sacks, always tackled well. That hasn't shown up in the games, until today. So my hope is, this is the start of how we play." (HSA)
---------------------- Quotes from the UH players -------------------------
About how they talked all week about getting a big win and improving their red zone and third quarter problems, Bryant Moniz said:
"It was something we talked about all week to get a big win and sharpen up the things we haven't done so good as far as the red zone and the third quarter." (HSA)
About how they put their first team offense in to start the second half to work on their problems they have been having after halftime, Moniz said:
"That's why we came out with the first string in the third quarter. This season we had started off slow in the third quarter, so they wanted to work on that." (HSA)
About their "bum-bye" flea-flicker, Moniz said:
"Yeah, he's Hawaiian Rolovich. It's a good play." (HSA)
"We call it 'Bum-bye, you learn,' " (HSA)
About knowing that he was close to Rolo's 8 TD record, Moniz said:
"I knew, but it wasn't really a big thing to me. We were just joking about it." (HSA)
About how Rolo told him that he wouldn't break his record in this game, Moniz said with a smile:
"He (Rolovich) said he was going to take me out before I could get to (the record)." (HSA)
Thinking more about his 2 interceptions than the TDs he had, Moniz said:
"I didn't worry about the record too much. We had some fun with it. I was thinking more about the picks." (HSA)
"I'm more worried about the two interceptions than the touchdowns we had. I know perfect is hard, but it's something to shoot for." (HSA)
"A win is a win, but I have to work on my picks. Putting up that many touchdowns is good, but my two interceptions overshadowed all of my touchdowns. I have to work on that this week." (HSA)
"You always want to shoot for perfection. I know it's hard to do that. It's a goal of mine. It's something I have to work on." (HSA)
About how Rolo tells the QBs that he'll take them out of the game before they can break his UH record of 8 passing TDs in one game, Shane Austin said:
"We tell him if we get close, he'd better leave us in. But he tells us, 'Nah, I'll take you out before that.' " (HSA)
About getting his first 2 TDs of the season, Greg Salas said:
"I'll take it any way I can get it. I was getting kind of anxious about not scoring. I would lie to you if I said I wasn't thinking about it. But if felt good to finally get in the end zone." (HSA)
About how Moniz was on fire in the first half, Salas said:
"I asked Mo, 'Did you even have an incompletion in the first half?' Even his deflected passes were being caught." (HSA)
About how Louisiana Tech cannot stop their offense, Salas said:
"It doesn't matter what they do. We know they're a better team (than Charleston Southern). But on offense, we think no one can stop us." (HSA)
About selling the run on the flea flicker before he threw the ball back to Moniz, Alex Green said:
"I'm a good actor. I took acting classes in middle school." (HSA)
About how they gained confidence from this blowout win, Green said:
"We always knew we had an explosive offense. We finally put four quarters together. We played a full game. It gave us a little confidence. Now we know we have to bring it every time." (HSA)
About getting to play against his old team (he transferred from Charleston Southern 2 years ago), Kamalu Umu (who tackled the punter before he could punt the ball in the 3rd quarter) said:
"I was excited, and just glad we got this victory. I got nothing against the team, they played hard, played their hearts out. But I'm glad to be here and be a part of this team." (HSA)
About getting into a game again after having to miss the first 3 games with a foot injury, Matagisila Lefiti said:
"It just felt like ... it was an unexplainable feeling to play football again. The foot was great. Just gotta get in condition and work from there." (HSA)
About how their team wants to play like how UH used to play, Jeramy Bryant said:
"We're tired of being embarrassed. We're trying to get back to the old Hawaii, how things used to be around here." (HSA)
About how their DL had to stepped up after their struggles against USC and Colorado, Vaughn Meatoga said:
"We got tired of being 'those guys.' We're tired of being known as the weakness on the team. We were projected to be the strength. We had to step up. Against (Southern California) and Colorado, we kind of flopped here and there. We were sick of being 'those guys,' being picked on, being yelled at, being the liability. I think everybody took it upon themselves to get better and have a good game." (HSA)
About how their defense shut down Charleston Southern, Meatoga said:
"We really didn't take these guys lightly. They scored in the beginning of the game, but other than that, this whole week, we (the defense) were tired of being that whipping boy, tired of being the group that everybody picks on. The focus, the weak spot. We stood up, we took a stand and said that we need this game going into WAC play. Build that confidence, see what we can do." (HSA)
About their play in this game, Corey Paredes said:
"It was a breakout game." (HSA)
About dropping 2 interceptions, backup safety Jordan Gomes said:
"It's going to haunt me for the next week." (HSA)
-------------- Quotes from the Charleston Southern coaches ----------------
About how any margin of loss counts the same, head coach Jay Mills said:
"Whether you lose by 59 or you lose by 1, it's a loss. It still counts the same in the record book." (UH)
"Whether you lose by 59 or one, it's still a loss. It's black and white. It counts the same in the record book." (HSA)
About they learn life lessons from each game, Mills said:
"Football's a great game. It either reveals character or develops character…maybe a combination of both. These are life lessons. There's going to be opportunities where we're going to be on top of people by a similar score, and there have been in the past. And there's opportunities where we're down below. But if you don't learn something, we're bound to repeat the same mistakes in the future." (UH)
Feeling that UH's team in underestimated, Mills said:
"We knew we were playing a very good football team, a team that I think is underestimated, a team that is very sound. They are very sound in all three phases of the game, and they proved it." (HSA)
More impressed with this team than UH's Sugar Bowl team in 2007, Mills said:
"We played a very good team. (Hawai'i) is a team that, I think, is more sound in all three areas of the game than maybe the team we played in 2007. I've been impressed with the discipline they've showed, I've been impressed with the toughness that they've showed, and in all three phases of the game this is a team that we really had tremendous respect for."
(UH)
"I thought (Hawai'i) executed much better on offense in the first half, obviously, in this game than in 2007. I saw a team that is very similar to the team we saw in 2007. I really believe this team has a chance to be very successful as they go into conference play. And we thought that before we came here." (UH)
"I felt like (Hawaii) is a team that I think is more sound in all three areas of the game than maybe the team we played in 2007. Of course, they all had all the accolades with Colt Brennan and so forth, but I've been impressed with the discipline ... and the toughness they have shown (this year)." (HSA)
"I thought they executed much better on offense in this game than in 2007 and made plays. I really believe this team has a chance to be very successful going into conference play." (HSA)
About how their missed opportunities in the first half could have made the game closer, Mills said:
"We had a couple of opportunities (in the first half). If we could have taken advantage of those opportunities, maybe the outcome would have been closer. I don't think it would have determined the end result, but the momentum would have been a little bit different." (UH)
--------------- Quotes from the Charleston Southern players ----------------
About his 2 interceptions in the game, Charles James said:
"Our defensive front gave us a lot of help, and I just wanted to go out there and make plays. I was trying to enjoy myself and have fun, but we've got to get a lot of help even though I felt we took a step up after playing this game." (HSA)
--------------------------- Other Notes from the game -----------------------------
HSA Note: "Around 1,000 Manoa students took advantage of free admission to last night's game, a UH official said. This was the first football game students got free as a benefit of the new student activity fee of $50 per semester."
HSA Note: "Around 220 students on Thursday and Friday attended volleyball matches against Utah State and Nevada free, also as a benefit of the fee."
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Quotes before the UH-Charleston Southern game 9/25/10
About how the evaluations of their players have been completed over the past 3 games, Mack said:
"We're going to play our best players." (HSA)
About becoming an effective blocker, Alex Green said:
"Right now I'm focused on helping the team win. If it's blocking, I'll do that." (HSA)
About how he was at a fast-food restaurant when a friend pointed out a poster featuring UH sports legends that included his father Mario Monico, a star baseball player for UH, Jordan Monico said:
"That was pretty cool." (HSA)
About getting 7 tackles on kickoffs in their first 3 games this season (UH's high for kickoff tackles was 13 in 13 games last season by Mike Wadsworth), Monico said:
"I have to go all out. I only have a limited amount of plays. I'll use all of my energy during those times." (HSA)
Trying to describe their offense, Charleston Southern QB A.J. Toscano said:
"It's complicated. It's a spread, but we have option, and we can throw, and ..." (HSA)
About using a no-huddle offense out of the shotgun, Toscano said:
"It's easier to get away from the big linemen." (HSA)
About giving their DBs a quiz on the coverages, checks, and assignments the night before each game, Rich Miano said:
"It's a way to know if they've studied our game plan. It's a way to see if they know their alignments and assignments. And it makes you feel better as a coach when you see continual progress with their grades." (HSA)
About how players with good grades tend to play the best, Miano said:
"To be honest, the guys who are starting usually are the guys who have the best grades. This was a few years back, but the (NFL) teams with the most degrees were the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. Those were the teams that were the most successful at the time. When you are focused, when you are doing the details of your assignments -- and anticipating nuances and checks -- you're probably going to be successful. Smart teams win football games." (HSA)
About how their goal is to get their players to be "football smart", avoiding penalties while doing their assignments correctly, Miano said:
"When you turn on the (game) film on Sunday, or whatever day you turn the game film on, it's the team that made the fewest mistakes that usually wins. If you can get guys who can progressively make fewer and fewer mistakes -- where everybody is in their gap, where everybody knows where their drop is -- we'll be a hell of a defense. We'll win a lot of championships." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Miano said the players receive DVDs with breakdowns of opposing teams, allowing them to study on their own."
About how he gives the QBs "tip sheets" to review the night before the game and meets with them to discuss different situations, Rolo said:
"That helps you get a feel of where the quarterbacks are. It's more of a review sheet. The quarterbacks are pretty dialed in." (HSA)
About how he gives his OL a quiz the night before the game, Gordy Shaw said:
"It's really not a test; it's a final preparation mentally for what is about to take place in a game. I give it to them the night before. We go over it in the morning to catch any final detail that we might not be all on the same page with." (HSA)
About how the information he gives the OL includes "the winning edges", with a list of 10 to 15 essential keys and inspirational quotes, Shaw said:
"Most players are like me. I can't sleep the night before a game. I think (the package) allows them to visualize what they need to do." (HSA)
HSA Note: "CSU's deal, valued at upwards of $250,000, is, in some ways, as good as nationally ranked Wisconsin got in 2005 and was originally contracted to get last year. It is on a par with what Navy received last year with a bigger traveling party. Not only is UH contracted to provide the buses to take the Buccaneers to and from the airport, practices and games, but, according to the contract, "Pearl Harbor, Hanauma Bay and possible luau," too."
About the great deal that UH Athletic Director Herman Frazier gave them in 2007, Charleston Southern AD Hank Small said:
"They were motivated -- and so were we." (HSA)
HSA Note: "The Buccaneers called with an interest and were willing to take him off the hook for one of those games -- but at a price. Small gave him the 2007 game, but not before getting the very favorable financial terms plus what UH hasn't given any other FCS opponent in a quarter-century, a second game and at the guarantee of the same or better rates."
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/ferdswords/20100925_Charleston_Southern_knows_a_thing_or_2_about_leverage.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100925_Coaches_quiz_defenders_about_coverage_under_Friday_lights.html
"We're going to play our best players." (HSA)
About becoming an effective blocker, Alex Green said:
"Right now I'm focused on helping the team win. If it's blocking, I'll do that." (HSA)
About how he was at a fast-food restaurant when a friend pointed out a poster featuring UH sports legends that included his father Mario Monico, a star baseball player for UH, Jordan Monico said:
"That was pretty cool." (HSA)
About getting 7 tackles on kickoffs in their first 3 games this season (UH's high for kickoff tackles was 13 in 13 games last season by Mike Wadsworth), Monico said:
"I have to go all out. I only have a limited amount of plays. I'll use all of my energy during those times." (HSA)
Trying to describe their offense, Charleston Southern QB A.J. Toscano said:
"It's complicated. It's a spread, but we have option, and we can throw, and ..." (HSA)
About using a no-huddle offense out of the shotgun, Toscano said:
"It's easier to get away from the big linemen." (HSA)
About giving their DBs a quiz on the coverages, checks, and assignments the night before each game, Rich Miano said:
"It's a way to know if they've studied our game plan. It's a way to see if they know their alignments and assignments. And it makes you feel better as a coach when you see continual progress with their grades." (HSA)
About how players with good grades tend to play the best, Miano said:
"To be honest, the guys who are starting usually are the guys who have the best grades. This was a few years back, but the (NFL) teams with the most degrees were the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. Those were the teams that were the most successful at the time. When you are focused, when you are doing the details of your assignments -- and anticipating nuances and checks -- you're probably going to be successful. Smart teams win football games." (HSA)
About how their goal is to get their players to be "football smart", avoiding penalties while doing their assignments correctly, Miano said:
"When you turn on the (game) film on Sunday, or whatever day you turn the game film on, it's the team that made the fewest mistakes that usually wins. If you can get guys who can progressively make fewer and fewer mistakes -- where everybody is in their gap, where everybody knows where their drop is -- we'll be a hell of a defense. We'll win a lot of championships." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Miano said the players receive DVDs with breakdowns of opposing teams, allowing them to study on their own."
About how he gives the QBs "tip sheets" to review the night before the game and meets with them to discuss different situations, Rolo said:
"That helps you get a feel of where the quarterbacks are. It's more of a review sheet. The quarterbacks are pretty dialed in." (HSA)
About how he gives his OL a quiz the night before the game, Gordy Shaw said:
"It's really not a test; it's a final preparation mentally for what is about to take place in a game. I give it to them the night before. We go over it in the morning to catch any final detail that we might not be all on the same page with." (HSA)
About how the information he gives the OL includes "the winning edges", with a list of 10 to 15 essential keys and inspirational quotes, Shaw said:
"Most players are like me. I can't sleep the night before a game. I think (the package) allows them to visualize what they need to do." (HSA)
HSA Note: "CSU's deal, valued at upwards of $250,000, is, in some ways, as good as nationally ranked Wisconsin got in 2005 and was originally contracted to get last year. It is on a par with what Navy received last year with a bigger traveling party. Not only is UH contracted to provide the buses to take the Buccaneers to and from the airport, practices and games, but, according to the contract, "Pearl Harbor, Hanauma Bay and possible luau," too."
About the great deal that UH Athletic Director Herman Frazier gave them in 2007, Charleston Southern AD Hank Small said:
"They were motivated -- and so were we." (HSA)
HSA Note: "The Buccaneers called with an interest and were willing to take him off the hook for one of those games -- but at a price. Small gave him the 2007 game, but not before getting the very favorable financial terms plus what UH hasn't given any other FCS opponent in a quarter-century, a second game and at the guarantee of the same or better rates."
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/ferdswords/20100925_Charleston_Southern_knows_a_thing_or_2_about_leverage.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100925_Coaches_quiz_defenders_about_coverage_under_Friday_lights.html
Friday, September 24, 2010
Ka Leo Feature on Vaughn Meatoga
KL = Ka Leo
DT coach Tony Tuioti said that what he likes about the Warrior defense is that:
"all of (the) guys are young and anxious to work and help this team in any way they can." (KL)
About how Vaughn Meatoga is the leader of UH's defense, Tuioti said:
"(He) is a leader of our defense." (KL)
About how he had to overcome jealousy from teammates when he started playing football in Kalaheo, Kauai, Meatoga said:
"I started playing pop warner on Kauaʻi in fifth grade and I remember I used to hate it. All the guys that played for a while picked on me because I took their positions. The coaches liked me because I was tall and lanky. Eventually I got over it and started liking football." (KL)
About how he moved to Oahu for his freshman year of high school to attend Kamehameha (he helped them to a state title in 2005 and was 2nd team all-state in 2007) and had to adjust to his new lifestyle, Meatoga said:
"School and life in general was a lot different. iving in the dorms you have to grow up faster, do your own laundry and learn time management." (KL)
About how it was hard to be away from home and try to make the football team, Meatoga said:
"Football was overwhelming – trying to make one of two teams out of about 200 kids (trying out). I was only 5-foot-7 (my) freshman year so I didn't have a lot of confidence." (KL)
About how he worked hard to make the team, Meatoga said:
"I like football and I wanted to get good at it." (KL)
about how his parents are his inspiration and gave his his work ethic, Meatoga said:
"Whatever I did, my parents would help me. They went out and got me books to study and when I wanted to give up they reminded me of my goals and that everything has a purpose. At 5-years-old, I would help my dad mow lawns and cut down trees. He instilled hard work in me." (KL)
About how his mother passed away during his freshman year at UH but she never out of his mind, Meatoga said:
"My mom always said to never be satisfied. Whenever I had a good game she always told me you could have worked harder. It brings back the point that there is always room for improvement." (KL)
About how he honors his mother during every year, Meatoga said:
"Every time I make a play I point up to the sky for my mom." (KL)
KL Note: "Meatoga has a younger sister and brother; whenever he feels like quitting he thinks of his goal – to give them a good life. He said his influence on them reminds him of why he works so hard."
About how his dad and siblings try to see every game even though they live on Kauai, Meatoga said:
"They flew out to New York and Colorado to see me play." (KL)
About how Meatoga is important to their team, Tuioti said:
"We've got a lot of players that lead in their own way, but Vaughn is the vocal leader and the heartbeat of the group." (KL)
http://www.kaleo.org/sports/meatoga-the-heartbeat-of-warrior-d-line-1.2341585
DT coach Tony Tuioti said that what he likes about the Warrior defense is that:
"all of (the) guys are young and anxious to work and help this team in any way they can." (KL)
About how Vaughn Meatoga is the leader of UH's defense, Tuioti said:
"(He) is a leader of our defense." (KL)
About how he had to overcome jealousy from teammates when he started playing football in Kalaheo, Kauai, Meatoga said:
"I started playing pop warner on Kauaʻi in fifth grade and I remember I used to hate it. All the guys that played for a while picked on me because I took their positions. The coaches liked me because I was tall and lanky. Eventually I got over it and started liking football." (KL)
About how he moved to Oahu for his freshman year of high school to attend Kamehameha (he helped them to a state title in 2005 and was 2nd team all-state in 2007) and had to adjust to his new lifestyle, Meatoga said:
"School and life in general was a lot different. iving in the dorms you have to grow up faster, do your own laundry and learn time management." (KL)
About how it was hard to be away from home and try to make the football team, Meatoga said:
"Football was overwhelming – trying to make one of two teams out of about 200 kids (trying out). I was only 5-foot-7 (my) freshman year so I didn't have a lot of confidence." (KL)
About how he worked hard to make the team, Meatoga said:
"I like football and I wanted to get good at it." (KL)
about how his parents are his inspiration and gave his his work ethic, Meatoga said:
"Whatever I did, my parents would help me. They went out and got me books to study and when I wanted to give up they reminded me of my goals and that everything has a purpose. At 5-years-old, I would help my dad mow lawns and cut down trees. He instilled hard work in me." (KL)
About how his mother passed away during his freshman year at UH but she never out of his mind, Meatoga said:
"My mom always said to never be satisfied. Whenever I had a good game she always told me you could have worked harder. It brings back the point that there is always room for improvement." (KL)
About how he honors his mother during every year, Meatoga said:
"Every time I make a play I point up to the sky for my mom." (KL)
KL Note: "Meatoga has a younger sister and brother; whenever he feels like quitting he thinks of his goal – to give them a good life. He said his influence on them reminds him of why he works so hard."
About how his dad and siblings try to see every game even though they live on Kauai, Meatoga said:
"They flew out to New York and Colorado to see me play." (KL)
About how Meatoga is important to their team, Tuioti said:
"We've got a lot of players that lead in their own way, but Vaughn is the vocal leader and the heartbeat of the group." (KL)
http://www.kaleo.org/sports/meatoga-the-heartbeat-of-warrior-d-line-1.2341585
Feature on Po'okela Ahmad
Downplaying his fumble recovery of a punt during the Colorado game, Po'okela Ahmad said it was
"just being in the right place at the right time." (HSA)
About Ahmad's fumble recovery, Chris Tormey said:
"It was good effort, good release technique. He used his hands and wrapped himself around the football. He did a lot of things right on that play." (HSA)
About sharing reps with Aaron Brown at strong side LB, Ahmad said:
"I see it as an opportunity to play my position more instead of just special teams. I see it as making my mark and trying to prove I'm good enough to be out there and I'm ready." (HSA)
About how Ahmad is valuable to the team, Dave Aranda said:
"He'd always be a guy who would know what to do and know where to be. Now he's translating that into making some plays. He can go on both sides so he's real valuable. ... Po'okela's had to go through it the hard way. I have a lot of respect for him." (HSA)
About Aaron Brown missing fall camp due to injury, Aranda said:
"It hurt him not being around for (camp) so there's still some learning and some reps he needs to get under his belt and we're doing that as we go. There's certain guys when you blitz them, things happen. (Brown's) one of those guys, we want to put him where the action is. Po'okela has shown he can be one of those guys." (HSA)
About how they need to play better on defense, Ahmad said:
"What it really was was mental breakdowns and us not playing the way we practice like the coaches said. We've been practicing really hard and really good, and come game time it's like we're not really the same team. We just have to transfer whatever we practice onto the field." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100924_Ahmad_has_a_knack_for_being_in_the_right_place.html
"just being in the right place at the right time." (HSA)
About Ahmad's fumble recovery, Chris Tormey said:
"It was good effort, good release technique. He used his hands and wrapped himself around the football. He did a lot of things right on that play." (HSA)
About sharing reps with Aaron Brown at strong side LB, Ahmad said:
"I see it as an opportunity to play my position more instead of just special teams. I see it as making my mark and trying to prove I'm good enough to be out there and I'm ready." (HSA)
About how Ahmad is valuable to the team, Dave Aranda said:
"He'd always be a guy who would know what to do and know where to be. Now he's translating that into making some plays. He can go on both sides so he's real valuable. ... Po'okela's had to go through it the hard way. I have a lot of respect for him." (HSA)
About Aaron Brown missing fall camp due to injury, Aranda said:
"It hurt him not being around for (camp) so there's still some learning and some reps he needs to get under his belt and we're doing that as we go. There's certain guys when you blitz them, things happen. (Brown's) one of those guys, we want to put him where the action is. Po'okela has shown he can be one of those guys." (HSA)
About how they need to play better on defense, Ahmad said:
"What it really was was mental breakdowns and us not playing the way we practice like the coaches said. We've been practicing really hard and really good, and come game time it's like we're not really the same team. We just have to transfer whatever we practice onto the field." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100924_Ahmad_has_a_knack_for_being_in_the_right_place.html
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Warrior Quotes from the Star-Advertiser 9/23/10 (5 sports made a profit, Salas targeted less, team practiced in the rain)
Happy that 5 sports (football, men's basketball, baseball, men's and women's volleyball) made a profit last year, JD said:
"We're glad that five of our sports appear to be showing profits on direct revenues and expenses. The coaches and staff have done a good job keeping (expenses) under control." (HSA)
Happy with the profit made by men's volleyball and baseball after years of losses, JD said:
"They are trending positively for the future." (HSA)
About how Salas has been getting a lot less passes thrown his way this season, waiting until the 13th play against Colorado for a pass his way and the middle of the 2nd quarter against USC and just being targeted 4 times in the 4th quarter in 3 games, Rolo said:
"Last year, with everything that happened, we had to feed him a little bit. He made a lot of plays for us. (This season) I think the guys have gotten better around him. ... I think the confidence has spread out. The talent has evened out. The hard work all around makes it difficult for someone to key on one player. It opens up the offense." (HSA)
About how defenses are focused on Salas and that opens things up for their other receivers, Bryant Moniz said:
"Everybody is concerned about Greg after what happened last year. It opens it up for the other guys. Now everybody is having good games. Greg doesn't have as many touchdowns as last year, but he's still getting a lot of catches, and helping the other receivers." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Of the 30 plays when he was the intended receiver, Salas has made catches 80 percent of the time, a higher efficiency rating than the ones achieved by former Warriors Davone Bess, Ashley Lelie, Ryan Grice-Mullins and Chad Owens."
About how moved from left wideout to slot before last season and defenses overlooked him, Salas said:
"I didn't have any attention toward me (from defenses). I was new at the slot. I was able to make the most of it. (This year) I don't know if I'm getting doubled more. I don't know if (defenses) are paying more attention to me. I don't think I'm sneaking up on anybody this year." (HSA)
About UH's promotional campaign for him including the website catchgregsalas.com, Salas said it:
"is all for fun. I don't think about that kind of stuff. When I go out there, I'm thinking about football." (HSA)
About being a team captain, Salas smiled and said:
"I can't mess around as much in practice. I try to lead by example, and play as hard as I can." (HSA)
About practicing in the rain yesterday, Bryant Moniz said:
"It's not a big deal. It rains all of the time in Wahiawa, at least two times out of the week. I grew up in the rain." (HSA)
About how they want to correct the things they have done wrong in their first 3 games, Mack said:
"We want to refine everything, and correct any mistakes we've done in the last three weeks." (HSA)
Asked what the weather forecast is for tomorrow's practice, Moniz said:
"It doesn't matter. We want to be an all-weather team." (HSA)
Not bothered by the rain, DT Siasau Matagiese (who transferred from Portland State) said:
"Rain is nice. I'd rather be cold than hot." (HSA)
HSA Note: "The Waimea High graduate played for Portland State last year, and began pondering a transfer after the Vikings' coaching staff was fired in December. He participated in spring training before requesting -- and receiving -- a release from his football scholarship."
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100923_Scoreless_slotback_Salas_opens_field_for_other_receivers.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100923_Warriors_weather_wet_practice.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100923_Money_talks_in_Manoa.html
"We're glad that five of our sports appear to be showing profits on direct revenues and expenses. The coaches and staff have done a good job keeping (expenses) under control." (HSA)
Happy with the profit made by men's volleyball and baseball after years of losses, JD said:
"They are trending positively for the future." (HSA)
About how Salas has been getting a lot less passes thrown his way this season, waiting until the 13th play against Colorado for a pass his way and the middle of the 2nd quarter against USC and just being targeted 4 times in the 4th quarter in 3 games, Rolo said:
"Last year, with everything that happened, we had to feed him a little bit. He made a lot of plays for us. (This season) I think the guys have gotten better around him. ... I think the confidence has spread out. The talent has evened out. The hard work all around makes it difficult for someone to key on one player. It opens up the offense." (HSA)
About how defenses are focused on Salas and that opens things up for their other receivers, Bryant Moniz said:
"Everybody is concerned about Greg after what happened last year. It opens it up for the other guys. Now everybody is having good games. Greg doesn't have as many touchdowns as last year, but he's still getting a lot of catches, and helping the other receivers." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Of the 30 plays when he was the intended receiver, Salas has made catches 80 percent of the time, a higher efficiency rating than the ones achieved by former Warriors Davone Bess, Ashley Lelie, Ryan Grice-Mullins and Chad Owens."
About how moved from left wideout to slot before last season and defenses overlooked him, Salas said:
"I didn't have any attention toward me (from defenses). I was new at the slot. I was able to make the most of it. (This year) I don't know if I'm getting doubled more. I don't know if (defenses) are paying more attention to me. I don't think I'm sneaking up on anybody this year." (HSA)
About UH's promotional campaign for him including the website catchgregsalas.com, Salas said it:
"is all for fun. I don't think about that kind of stuff. When I go out there, I'm thinking about football." (HSA)
About being a team captain, Salas smiled and said:
"I can't mess around as much in practice. I try to lead by example, and play as hard as I can." (HSA)
About practicing in the rain yesterday, Bryant Moniz said:
"It's not a big deal. It rains all of the time in Wahiawa, at least two times out of the week. I grew up in the rain." (HSA)
About how they want to correct the things they have done wrong in their first 3 games, Mack said:
"We want to refine everything, and correct any mistakes we've done in the last three weeks." (HSA)
Asked what the weather forecast is for tomorrow's practice, Moniz said:
"It doesn't matter. We want to be an all-weather team." (HSA)
Not bothered by the rain, DT Siasau Matagiese (who transferred from Portland State) said:
"Rain is nice. I'd rather be cold than hot." (HSA)
HSA Note: "The Waimea High graduate played for Portland State last year, and began pondering a transfer after the Vikings' coaching staff was fired in December. He participated in spring training before requesting -- and receiving -- a release from his football scholarship."
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100923_Scoreless_slotback_Salas_opens_field_for_other_receivers.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100923_Warriors_weather_wet_practice.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100923_Money_talks_in_Manoa.html
The Hawaii Bowl will take UH whether or not they are in the WAC
About how the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl will take UH as long as they are bowl eligible no matter if they are in the WAC or not, Starwood Hotels VP Keith Vieira said:
"I think during these trying (economic) times, as we go through difficult decisions on what schedules and conferences are going to lay ahead of us, we want to make sure coach and the team knows we have their back." (HSA)
About how the Hawaii Bowl will be there for UH whether or not it is in the WAC, Pete Derzis (senior VP of ERT) said:
"Our intent is to go where UH goes." (HSA)
Thankful for the support by ESPN and Sheraton, JD said:
"I can't thank you enough for stepping up and the statement you are making by the extension of three years." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Derzis said he and Donovan have had "general discussion about (other) opportunities" but said it was "very premature" to reveal them. He said ERT and UH have not discussed a possible TV contract, since the school is still covered by its WAC agreement. A separate TV deal would be necessary for UH to help underwrite independence."
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100923_Sheraton_has_Warriors_back.html
"I think during these trying (economic) times, as we go through difficult decisions on what schedules and conferences are going to lay ahead of us, we want to make sure coach and the team knows we have their back." (HSA)
About how the Hawaii Bowl will be there for UH whether or not it is in the WAC, Pete Derzis (senior VP of ERT) said:
"Our intent is to go where UH goes." (HSA)
Thankful for the support by ESPN and Sheraton, JD said:
"I can't thank you enough for stepping up and the statement you are making by the extension of three years." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Derzis said he and Donovan have had "general discussion about (other) opportunities" but said it was "very premature" to reveal them. He said ERT and UH have not discussed a possible TV contract, since the school is still covered by its WAC agreement. A separate TV deal would be necessary for UH to help underwrite independence."
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100923_Sheraton_has_Warriors_back.html
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Charleston Southern learned in 2007 that they need a bye week after traveling to Hawaii
CPC = Charleston Post and Courier
About how they will enjoy Hawaii while they are in town for the football game, head coach Jay Mills said:
"It's not just about the game, but a cultural and educational trip as well. We're going to Pearl Harbor, we'll have a luau and we will take the guys snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean before we head back." (CPC)
About how UH has played a tough schedule so far and may have a more complete team than in 2007, Mills said:
"They are 1-2, but they've played very impressive people. When Colt Brennan was there, he got a lot of attention along with their offense. But this might be more of a complete team than they had in 2007." (CPC)
About how they learned in 2007 that they need a bye week after traveling to Hawaii, Mills said:
"When we came back last time, we were wiped out for a while. We had a night game the next week, and we needed every moment to get ready. I'd say we've learned a little more about jet lag along the way." (CPC)
About how an assistant coach told him during the third quarter of last week's game that he was a grandfather, Mills said:
"He said, 'Coach, I think you are a grandpa.' And then my wife came sprinting down the sideline with her cell phone." (CPC)
About how he talked with his daughter on the phone during the break between 3rd and 4th quarters, Mills said:
"And then I called the next play in the same breath. What a special weekend. My staff gave me a game ball, but my daughter did all the work." (CPC)
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/sep/22/luau-snorkeling-and-football-await-buccaneers/
About how they will enjoy Hawaii while they are in town for the football game, head coach Jay Mills said:
"It's not just about the game, but a cultural and educational trip as well. We're going to Pearl Harbor, we'll have a luau and we will take the guys snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean before we head back." (CPC)
About how UH has played a tough schedule so far and may have a more complete team than in 2007, Mills said:
"They are 1-2, but they've played very impressive people. When Colt Brennan was there, he got a lot of attention along with their offense. But this might be more of a complete team than they had in 2007." (CPC)
About how they learned in 2007 that they need a bye week after traveling to Hawaii, Mills said:
"When we came back last time, we were wiped out for a while. We had a night game the next week, and we needed every moment to get ready. I'd say we've learned a little more about jet lag along the way." (CPC)
About how an assistant coach told him during the third quarter of last week's game that he was a grandfather, Mills said:
"He said, 'Coach, I think you are a grandpa.' And then my wife came sprinting down the sideline with her cell phone." (CPC)
About how he talked with his daughter on the phone during the break between 3rd and 4th quarters, Mills said:
"And then I called the next play in the same breath. What a special weekend. My staff gave me a game ball, but my daughter did all the work." (CPC)
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/sep/22/luau-snorkeling-and-football-await-buccaneers/
Warrior Quotes from the Star-Advertiser 9/22/10
About how the altitude affects players and gives teams a home-field advantage, Ashley Lelie said:
"It takes a lot out of you. It definitely affects you. Teams would come in and they'd be dead tired. It was a great home-field advantage. When I came back from the offseason it would always take at least one week to get used to it. Until then I'd be getting headaches and bloody noses, waking up with blood all over the pillow." (HSA)
About being a visiting player in Denver when he played for Oakland, Lelie said:
"I felt it after that first adrenaline rush early in the game. It's not just in your head. If you have less oxygen and you're not used to it you can't perform as well." (HSA)
About how he was caught from behind at the 3 during their first drive in the Colorado game, Kealoha Pilares said:
"Yeah, I just died. I felt like how I felt in Vegas. I really don't know if it was the altitude or the travel." (HSA)
"If we're playing out here, I score. But it's said and done. We just have to be prepared for this Saturday." (HSA)
About how Matagisila Lefiti will play in the Charleston Southern game but Bronson Tiwanak will start, Gordy Shaw said:
"Sila looked good today. In Sila's mind, he's been football-ready for three weeks. To play football, he's not physically in shape to play a whole game yet. The plan will be to watch him this week in practice. If he's good to go, then Bronson will start and Sila will go in for a couple of series, and we'll rotate them through, and see how it goes." (HSA)
About how he is okay with not starting, Lefiti said:
"I'm fine with that. I have to stay confident and believe in myself." (HSA)
About Brett Leonard and he got the players left behind to work out while the team was on their 12-day road trip, Lefiti said:
"It was getting back and hitting each other. It was good. The younger guys got some work in, too." (HSA)
About how he was 300 pounds before his injury and is now at 290, Lefiti said:
"Hopefully, with all of the training-table food I've been missing for the past three weeks, it'll help pick up my weight in five days. That's how the Samoan blood is. Once you eat, you get big." (HSA)
About how he will receive medical clearance to practice next week, Leonard said:
"I'm doing some stuff to get the knee stronger and into playing shape." (HSA)
Leonard said that working out with the younger players last week:
"helped me get back into the rhythm. I'll be good to go next week." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Strong safety Spencer Smith, who suffered two fractures in his right forearm in Hawaii's win against Army, said he expects to return in five weeks."
About how he will enroll at UH in January, giving up hs BYU scholarship and walking on to UH, RB Malosi Te'o said:
"I'm very excited to be back home, where my wife and I originally intended to be. We just made the big move to come back home." (HSA)
About how his wife wanted him to move back to Hawaii, Te'o said:
"Happy wife, happy life." (HSA)
About how they only have 1 sack and 3 QB hurries total in their 3 games, with their blitzing not being effective, Dave Aranda said:
"We should be a very good blitzing team. Honestly, at one point, we were. Right now, we're not. We've got to get that fixed, and get that fixed in a hurry." (HSA)
About how Colorado only used a 3-step drop out of a shotgun formation, Cal Lee said:
"To Colorado's benefit, they didn't sit back there forever. They got (the pass) out pretty fast. Three steps from the (shot)gun you're not going to get many sacks." (HSA)
About how they will have their first team D play more against their first-team offense instead of the scout team, Aranda said:
"We've got to get more good versus good. There's something to be said about seeing the looks you're going to be seeing on Saturday (by practicing against the scouts). But then, what our blitzing situation brings us, there's something to be said about good versus good, and speed versus speed. That's something we've talked about." (HSA)
HSA Note: "The Warriors also are going with smaller rotations at defensive end and linebacker. The emergence of Po'okela Ahmad, a junior linebacker, has triggered a chain of events in which Paipai Falemalu has reclaimed the starting job -- for now -- at defensive right end."
About how he bulked up to 260 pounds early this summer when he was a starting DE, but then had to lose weight when he was told he would be used in the hybrid LB/end position, Paipai Falemalu said:
"Honestly, I can gain and lose weight as I choose. If I want to gain weight, I eat more than I usually do and work out more. To lose weight, I run more instead of lifting more." (HSA)
About how they could move Paipai back to DE with Aaron Brown back from injury and Ahmad taking Brown's duties in nickel packages, Aranda said:
"We felt (Falemalu) could be best served getting all of his reps in one spot. He doesn't have to learn two or three different positions. He can learn one position -- where he can play fast." (HSA)
About how Paipai plays hard, Cal Lee said:
"He's got a motor you don't find too often in players. It just keeps on running, and it doesn't stop until the whistle." (HSA)
About how Aaron Brown will start at left-side LB, backed up by Ahmad, Aranda said:
"We have a few guys who are playmakers. Aaron is one of those guys. When he's in the game, he makes plays. He is a very good blitzer. We have guys who are blitzers. We're going to get back to that." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/columnists/furtherreview/20100922_Back_at_sea_level_Warriors_must_play_with_attitude.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100922_Lefiti_will_play_against_Charleston_Southern.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100922_Sacks_therapy.html
"It takes a lot out of you. It definitely affects you. Teams would come in and they'd be dead tired. It was a great home-field advantage. When I came back from the offseason it would always take at least one week to get used to it. Until then I'd be getting headaches and bloody noses, waking up with blood all over the pillow." (HSA)
About being a visiting player in Denver when he played for Oakland, Lelie said:
"I felt it after that first adrenaline rush early in the game. It's not just in your head. If you have less oxygen and you're not used to it you can't perform as well." (HSA)
About how he was caught from behind at the 3 during their first drive in the Colorado game, Kealoha Pilares said:
"Yeah, I just died. I felt like how I felt in Vegas. I really don't know if it was the altitude or the travel." (HSA)
"If we're playing out here, I score. But it's said and done. We just have to be prepared for this Saturday." (HSA)
About how Matagisila Lefiti will play in the Charleston Southern game but Bronson Tiwanak will start, Gordy Shaw said:
"Sila looked good today. In Sila's mind, he's been football-ready for three weeks. To play football, he's not physically in shape to play a whole game yet. The plan will be to watch him this week in practice. If he's good to go, then Bronson will start and Sila will go in for a couple of series, and we'll rotate them through, and see how it goes." (HSA)
About how he is okay with not starting, Lefiti said:
"I'm fine with that. I have to stay confident and believe in myself." (HSA)
About Brett Leonard and he got the players left behind to work out while the team was on their 12-day road trip, Lefiti said:
"It was getting back and hitting each other. It was good. The younger guys got some work in, too." (HSA)
About how he was 300 pounds before his injury and is now at 290, Lefiti said:
"Hopefully, with all of the training-table food I've been missing for the past three weeks, it'll help pick up my weight in five days. That's how the Samoan blood is. Once you eat, you get big." (HSA)
About how he will receive medical clearance to practice next week, Leonard said:
"I'm doing some stuff to get the knee stronger and into playing shape." (HSA)
Leonard said that working out with the younger players last week:
"helped me get back into the rhythm. I'll be good to go next week." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Strong safety Spencer Smith, who suffered two fractures in his right forearm in Hawaii's win against Army, said he expects to return in five weeks."
About how he will enroll at UH in January, giving up hs BYU scholarship and walking on to UH, RB Malosi Te'o said:
"I'm very excited to be back home, where my wife and I originally intended to be. We just made the big move to come back home." (HSA)
About how his wife wanted him to move back to Hawaii, Te'o said:
"Happy wife, happy life." (HSA)
About how they only have 1 sack and 3 QB hurries total in their 3 games, with their blitzing not being effective, Dave Aranda said:
"We should be a very good blitzing team. Honestly, at one point, we were. Right now, we're not. We've got to get that fixed, and get that fixed in a hurry." (HSA)
About how Colorado only used a 3-step drop out of a shotgun formation, Cal Lee said:
"To Colorado's benefit, they didn't sit back there forever. They got (the pass) out pretty fast. Three steps from the (shot)gun you're not going to get many sacks." (HSA)
About how they will have their first team D play more against their first-team offense instead of the scout team, Aranda said:
"We've got to get more good versus good. There's something to be said about seeing the looks you're going to be seeing on Saturday (by practicing against the scouts). But then, what our blitzing situation brings us, there's something to be said about good versus good, and speed versus speed. That's something we've talked about." (HSA)
HSA Note: "The Warriors also are going with smaller rotations at defensive end and linebacker. The emergence of Po'okela Ahmad, a junior linebacker, has triggered a chain of events in which Paipai Falemalu has reclaimed the starting job -- for now -- at defensive right end."
About how he bulked up to 260 pounds early this summer when he was a starting DE, but then had to lose weight when he was told he would be used in the hybrid LB/end position, Paipai Falemalu said:
"Honestly, I can gain and lose weight as I choose. If I want to gain weight, I eat more than I usually do and work out more. To lose weight, I run more instead of lifting more." (HSA)
About how they could move Paipai back to DE with Aaron Brown back from injury and Ahmad taking Brown's duties in nickel packages, Aranda said:
"We felt (Falemalu) could be best served getting all of his reps in one spot. He doesn't have to learn two or three different positions. He can learn one position -- where he can play fast." (HSA)
About how Paipai plays hard, Cal Lee said:
"He's got a motor you don't find too often in players. It just keeps on running, and it doesn't stop until the whistle." (HSA)
About how Aaron Brown will start at left-side LB, backed up by Ahmad, Aranda said:
"We have a few guys who are playmakers. Aaron is one of those guys. When he's in the game, he makes plays. He is a very good blitzer. We have guys who are blitzers. We're going to get back to that." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/columnists/furtherreview/20100922_Back_at_sea_level_Warriors_must_play_with_attitude.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100922_Lefiti_will_play_against_Charleston_Southern.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100922_Sacks_therapy.html
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Corey Paredes has played all 210 defensive plays that UH has had this season
HSA Note: "Paredes, a junior from Castle High, has played every defensive down, a total of 1 hour, 51 minutes, 41 seconds."
About never coming out of the game, Corey Paredes said:
"Rest is all fine and dandy, but I'm trying to help my team. The best thing I can do is stay on the field and make plays." (HSA)
About how Corey plays hard on every play, Dave Aranda said:
"We haven't had a play where he's been cruising or anything. He plays hard all of the time." (HSA)
About how there are times when he is fatigued, such as during the Colorado game, Corey said:
"When you come to situations like that, you have to say, 'This is football. You cannot give up,' That's the mentality you have to have. That's how I am. You train year-round just to play these 13 games. To sell yourself short in a game, to say you're tired, to say you want a break, you can't think like that on defense. We have to get 11 guys on defense wanting to play all game, not backing out, just wanting to win and kill guys." (HSA)
About how they haven't had a chance to rest Corey, Aranda said:
"There hasn't been a situation where I thought we could be without him. We'd like to get him some breathers coming up. He's been a guy we've been leaning on." (HSA)
HSA Note: "The past two weeks, Paredes' role has expanded. He now makes the defensive calls, a job usually handled by the middle linebacker. Paredes plays middle in UH's nickel defenses, but right-side linebacker in the Warriors' 4-3 base scheme. The coaches felt Paredes had more experience in recognizing offenses than George Daily-Lyles, a freshman middle linebacker."
About how all the LBs contribute to their play-calling, Corey said:
"We all have different angles, so we see different things. We work together." (HSA)
About how Corey is increasing his leadership role, Aranda said:
"He's been starting to speak his mind and take on a bigger leadership role, which we need him to do. He's been our guy so far." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100921_Our_guy_Paredes_plays_every_snap_on_defense_--_all_210.html
About never coming out of the game, Corey Paredes said:
"Rest is all fine and dandy, but I'm trying to help my team. The best thing I can do is stay on the field and make plays." (HSA)
About how Corey plays hard on every play, Dave Aranda said:
"We haven't had a play where he's been cruising or anything. He plays hard all of the time." (HSA)
About how there are times when he is fatigued, such as during the Colorado game, Corey said:
"When you come to situations like that, you have to say, 'This is football. You cannot give up,' That's the mentality you have to have. That's how I am. You train year-round just to play these 13 games. To sell yourself short in a game, to say you're tired, to say you want a break, you can't think like that on defense. We have to get 11 guys on defense wanting to play all game, not backing out, just wanting to win and kill guys." (HSA)
About how they haven't had a chance to rest Corey, Aranda said:
"There hasn't been a situation where I thought we could be without him. We'd like to get him some breathers coming up. He's been a guy we've been leaning on." (HSA)
HSA Note: "The past two weeks, Paredes' role has expanded. He now makes the defensive calls, a job usually handled by the middle linebacker. Paredes plays middle in UH's nickel defenses, but right-side linebacker in the Warriors' 4-3 base scheme. The coaches felt Paredes had more experience in recognizing offenses than George Daily-Lyles, a freshman middle linebacker."
About how all the LBs contribute to their play-calling, Corey said:
"We all have different angles, so we see different things. We work together." (HSA)
About how Corey is increasing his leadership role, Aranda said:
"He's been starting to speak his mind and take on a bigger leadership role, which we need him to do. He's been our guy so far." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100921_Our_guy_Paredes_plays_every_snap_on_defense_--_all_210.html
Other quotes from the Star-Advertiser (#1 C Lefiti is cleared to play)
About being medically cleared to practice today, #1 center Matagisila Lefiti said:
"I'm ready to put on the pads and crack some heads." (HSA)
About the fracture in his left foot, Lefiti said:
"The littlest thing is the biggest thing for an offensive lineman. You're always on your feet." (HSA)
Lefiti said that being sidelined:
"irritated the hell out of me." (HSA)
About how Lefiti will get reps with the first team once he returns, Lefiti said:
"We're going to battle. Bronson is looking solid. I have to give it my all. I can't come in there and mess around. He's been a solid center for us for three games. We'll see what happens. ... I think we're going to be together at the 1s. We'll see who the best man is." (HSA)
About how they will not be practicing in full pads today, Lefiti said:
"I was so upset we weren't going full gear (for today's practice). I was like, 'What, no full gear? Just helmets and jerseys? Oh, damn.' I was looking forward to putting all of my gear on, taping it up, and going out there and learning." (HSA)
About how they are considering "less substituting" and using just 3 DTs and 3 DEs each game, Mack said:
"That's what we're thinking right now." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100921_Lefiti_cleared_to_play_ready_to_compete_for_job.html
"I'm ready to put on the pads and crack some heads." (HSA)
About the fracture in his left foot, Lefiti said:
"The littlest thing is the biggest thing for an offensive lineman. You're always on your feet." (HSA)
Lefiti said that being sidelined:
"irritated the hell out of me." (HSA)
About how Lefiti will get reps with the first team once he returns, Lefiti said:
"We're going to battle. Bronson is looking solid. I have to give it my all. I can't come in there and mess around. He's been a solid center for us for three games. We'll see what happens. ... I think we're going to be together at the 1s. We'll see who the best man is." (HSA)
About how they will not be practicing in full pads today, Lefiti said:
"I was so upset we weren't going full gear (for today's practice). I was like, 'What, no full gear? Just helmets and jerseys? Oh, damn.' I was looking forward to putting all of my gear on, taping it up, and going out there and learning." (HSA)
About how they are considering "less substituting" and using just 3 DTs and 3 DEs each game, Mack said:
"That's what we're thinking right now." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100921_Lefiti_cleared_to_play_ready_to_compete_for_job.html
Monday, September 20, 2010
Chad Owens turned this week's game around with a 80-yard punt return TD
Can = canoe.ca (SLAM! Sports)
About how their head coach tore into them at halftime when they were down 6-0, telling them they had not played well enough, Chad Owens said that he would respond:
"I said I'm going to make this play, and I went out there and it happens. The unit made it so easy. It was the easiest punt return touchdown I have ever had. It was amazing." (Can)
About how Chad's TD completely changed the game and turned the 6-0 deficit to a 7-6 lead, Toronto head coach Jim Barker said:
"It totally changed the game. That guy is the best in the league." (Can)
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Toronto/2010/09/20/15408301.html
About how their head coach tore into them at halftime when they were down 6-0, telling them they had not played well enough, Chad Owens said that he would respond:
"I said I'm going to make this play, and I went out there and it happens. The unit made it so easy. It was the easiest punt return touchdown I have ever had. It was amazing." (Can)
About how Chad's TD completely changed the game and turned the 6-0 deficit to a 7-6 lead, Toronto head coach Jim Barker said:
"It totally changed the game. That guy is the best in the league." (Can)
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Toronto/2010/09/20/15408301.html
Dave Aranda criticized UH's missed tackles and breakdowns in the Colorado game
Unhappy with how they lost the game, defensive coordinator Dave Aranda said:
"What really puts a bad taste in my mouth is, one, losing the game and, two, the last two touchdowns that were given up. Those were really kind of inexcusable things." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Assignment breakdowns resulted in scoring passes of 73 and 23 yards to turn a 17-13 UH deficit into a rout."
About how they didn't tackle well during Colorado's 2 TD drives (where they got 113 of their 252 rushing yards in the game) to start the second half, Aranda said:
"Our tackling wasn't good in those first two drives." (HSA)
About their missed assignments in the Colorado game, Aranda said:
"I thought there would be some carryover from playing assignment football (against Army). We have to get back to that." (HSA)
About how they will eliminate the mistakes, Aranda said:
"There are plays we left on the field. That's a lesson. We'll get it fixed." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Aranda praised strongside linebacker Corey Paredes, who had 16 tackles and played every defensive snap, and nickel back John Hardy-Tuliau and weakside linebacker Aaron Brown."
About how true freshman John Hardy-Tuilau earned his first start as a Warriors and ended up with 7 tackles and a forced fumble, Dave Aranda said:
"He's a guy who's earned it." (HSA)
About how Aaron Brown had 8 tackles, including 1 for loss, Aranda said:
"He'll get better with more time." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100920_breakdowns_missed_tackles_draw_criticism_from_aranda.html
"What really puts a bad taste in my mouth is, one, losing the game and, two, the last two touchdowns that were given up. Those were really kind of inexcusable things." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Assignment breakdowns resulted in scoring passes of 73 and 23 yards to turn a 17-13 UH deficit into a rout."
About how they didn't tackle well during Colorado's 2 TD drives (where they got 113 of their 252 rushing yards in the game) to start the second half, Aranda said:
"Our tackling wasn't good in those first two drives." (HSA)
About their missed assignments in the Colorado game, Aranda said:
"I thought there would be some carryover from playing assignment football (against Army). We have to get back to that." (HSA)
About how they will eliminate the mistakes, Aranda said:
"There are plays we left on the field. That's a lesson. We'll get it fixed." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Aranda praised strongside linebacker Corey Paredes, who had 16 tackles and played every defensive snap, and nickel back John Hardy-Tuliau and weakside linebacker Aaron Brown."
About how true freshman John Hardy-Tuilau earned his first start as a Warriors and ended up with 7 tackles and a forced fumble, Dave Aranda said:
"He's a guy who's earned it." (HSA)
About how Aaron Brown had 8 tackles, including 1 for loss, Aranda said:
"He'll get better with more time." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20100920_breakdowns_missed_tackles_draw_criticism_from_aranda.html
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Quotes from the UH-Colorado 9/18/2010
UH = University of Hawaii Athletics web site
Col = University of Colorado Athletics web site
HSA = Honolulu Star-Advertiser
AP = Associated Press
DP = Denver Post
DC = Daily Camera
LTC = Longmont Times-Call
------------------------ Quotes from the UH coaches ------------------------
Evaluating the game and highlighting the 21 points they should have had to start the game, Mack said:
"We had some missed opportunities, and we have to be able to capitalize on those opportunities. It's a difference of one inch and three inches. That was a key point in the ball game. We should have had 21 points. The defense was playing well; I don't believe they scored before the second half. It should have been 21-0 at halftime. We didn't get that much done. We got the turnovers and things were going good for us [in the first half]. The second half, we gave up that first drive. We knew we had to hold them the first drive and not give them any momentum. I give Colorado credit. I thought we won the first half and they won the second half. I thought they did a great job and made some good adjustments [in the second half]. They made the plays in the second half and we didn't. We couldn't contain the quarterback. We knew we had to contain the quarterback all week and we didn't contain him and they threw the touchdown pass that put it out of reach. It was a close game; I thought we could come back until that play." (Col, UH)
"We had some missed opportunities." (HSA)
Praising Colorado's adjustments at halftime (UH won the first half 10-0 and lost the second half 31-3), Mack said:
"I give Colorado great credit. I think Coach Hawkins did a great job and made some fantastic adjustments at half time. He had his guys ready to play in the second half. As much as I feel we dominated in the first half, we didn't take our opportunities." (Col, UH, DP)
"I give Colorado great credi. I think Coach Hawkins did a great job and made some fantastic adjustments at halftime. He had his guys ready to play in the second half." (HSA)
"They made the plays in the second half, and we didn't." (HSA)
About their problems in the second half, Mack said:
"In the second half, we made a lot of mental mistakes. And when you make mental mistakes, like penalties, you're tired. You're mentally tired." (HSA)
About Colorado going to their no-huddle offense, Mack said:
"I thought they were really smart going to the no-huddle because our guys got really gassed. We wore down. We were out of gas." (HSA)
About their problems in the red zone, Mack said:
"We were going to run option. We went under center, and we don't go under center much, but we missed the snap. We had the option going in because their defensive line is physical. We ran against it and threw; but we were going to run the option and fumbled the snap on one of them. Give their defense credit, that's not much area. They did a good job." (Col, UH)
About being on the road, Mack said:
"We don't make any excuses. We just got outplayed in the second half. In the first half I thought we played as well as we ever have, without getting those two touchdowns. I just didn't feel we finished very strongly. And it's not necessarily because of us; I think we got outplayed by Colorado in the second half." (Col, UH)
Praising Colorado's run game, Mack said:
"[Rodney Stewart] is a good runner, number one, and what you have to do is stop them at the line of scrimmage. If you let him out in the open field, he's very dangerous. In the first half it worked and in the second half it wasn't as good." (Col, UH)
About how they focused at halftime on stopping Colorado's opening drive of the second half, Mack said:
"We knew we had to hold them, not give them any momentum." (HSA)
HSA Note: "The implosion came after two plays. With CU facing a third and 4, the Warriors brought in two players, but exited only one. They could not get the 12th defender off the field in time, leading to 5-yard penalty and an automatic first down."
About how Colorado drove 80 yards for a TD to start the second half, Mack said:
"We needed a stop, and they go 80 yards."
About how missing coming up with nothing during their first two red zone possessions wore on them mentally when the score became close, offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich (Rolo) said:
"I don't think we can let opportunities get away. That's the fatigue: knowing we left 14 points right there. That starts to wear on you when things start to get close." (HSA)
About calling all running plays on their first drive when they were near the goal line, Rolo said:
"I feel we should be able to get half a yard." (HSA)
About Colorado's 73-yard TD pass when the score was 17-13 and Colorado had a 3rd-and-8, with UH blitzing from the left side and Colorado's QB was able to roll out to the other side, defensive coordinator Dave Aranda said:
"We should have kept contain on that quarterback, but he got out of the pocket." (HSA)
About how Kealoha Pilares projects as a slot receiver in the NFL, Rich Miano said:
"I think NFL teams are going more to three wide receivers. Wes Welker. Davone Bess. Kealoha is that type of player. I think the (NFL) schemes fit what he does." (HSA)
------------------------ Quotes from the UH players --------------------------
About the two fumbles in the first half, Bryant Moniz said:
"The first one was just a miscommunication with me and the center, while I was trying to call the play. He ended up snapping the ball before I actually called for the snap. The second one I just took my eyes off the ball, trying to read the defense. We had to go with a silent count today. It was definitely a big game and the crowd here. So it was a little different trying to wait for the ball, while reading the defense." (Col, UH)
About Tiwanak snapping the ball on 4th down at the goal line when he was under center trying to call out a play, Moniz said:
"It was loud, and (Tiwanak) really couldn't hear me. When he thought I said 'hut,' I was calling a play." (HSA)
About how he mishandled the shotgun snap during their first drive of the second half when they had the ball on the 10-yard-line, resulting in a safety to make the game 10-9, Moniz said:
"It slipped through my hands. I was trying to read the defense. The defense was moving while the ball was snapped. It was a lack of concentration on my part." (HSA)
About leaving so many points on the board, Moniz said:
"It definitely was an issue. Two times, within five yards of the goal line, they stopped us, and that really hurt us. We put points on the board one of those times; it would have been a whole different ball game." (Col, UH)
"Two times within five yards of the goal line, they stopped us, and that really hurt us. We put points on the board one of those times, I think it would have been a whole different ball game." (DC)
"We were right there, inside the 5 twice, and came away with nothing. It's really embarrassing. Really. ... If we walk away with 14 points right there, it might be a whole different story." (HSA)
About Colorado's goal line defense on their first 2 drives, Moniz said:
"They really just out-toughed us on that. I was pretty much handing off the ball and just trying to get into the end zone. We were only two or three yards away. It didn't bother us, but we were discouraged that we didn't get any points. We just kept playing offense, but in the end it really hurt us." (Col, UH, DC)
About Colorado's defense, Moniz said:
"We were able to move the ball nicely. We put together some drives; throw the ball here and there. But in the end they could hold us. We would have long drives but we couldn't finish the drives. That's what cost us." (Col, UH)
Asked about effects of altitude and being away from home, Moniz said:
"I didn't really feel any effects from the altitude. I felt pretty comfortable out there, we just got in a hole because we didn't put up any points in the beginning of the game. We dug ourselves a big hole." (Col, UH)
About how Pilares trying to improve his speed will help his NFL chances, Moniz said:
"He's smooth, and he's fun to watch. But if he gets faster, that's going to help his stock a lot more." (HSA)
About how he didn't care about his individual stats (6 catches for 117 yards and a TD), Kealoha Pilares said:
"We have to (bleeping) win games now. We gave away too many opportunities. We're a better football team than that." (HSA)
Not thinking about a potential NFL career, Pilares said:
"It's a distraction. When the time comes, it comes. Right now, it's UH." (HSA)
About how he knew after his first practice at UH that he had to get stronger, Pilares said:
"Going up against Blaze (Soares) and David Veikune, I knew I had to get stronger. It was a totally different game for me. It shocked me. I realized I wasn't in high school anymore." (HSA)
HSA Note: "He spent more time in the weight room. In team testing the past spring, he power-cleaned 356 pounds, a team best."
About how he needs to be able to learn how to run faster, Pilares said:
"I think I still don't know how to run. I run just to run. There's a technique to running faster. It's more of a science than anything." (HSA)
About how Colorado's strategy was for their DL to dive toward UH's OL's shins when UH was trying to run the ball in from the 1-yard-line, Bronson Tiwanak said:
"There was no way we could get a push because they were diving into our legs." (HSA)
About the fumbled snap on 4th-and-goal from the 1, Tiwanak said:
"Put it on me. That shouldn't have happened." (HSA)
Asked about the difference in the second half, Paipai Falemalu said:
"They pretty much gave us the same game plan in the second half, our defense just came out flat. We need to capitalize on the plays when they come to us. Like our coaches tell us, 'when the plays come to us we need to take advantage.' We had some missed assignments, that was the difference in the second half." (Col, UH)
About Colorado's no huddle offense, Paipai said:
"It wasn't too bad. I think we just had issues getting lined up and getting the plays from the sideline. It wasn't that big of a deal for us." (Col, UH)
About shutting down Colorado's offense in the first half, Paipai said:
"It was a really good half. I don't know what happened to us in the second half. We need to finish." (Col, UH)
Asked if they were tired near the end of the game, Paipai said:
"We weren't really warn down. A lot of people think it's the elevation, but it's not. It feels the same to me as playing in Hawaii. The road trip didn't affect us that much either. Like our coaches say we just need to finish. That's the main thing for us." (Col, UH)
About how fatigue was not a factor in this game, Kaniela Tuipulotu said:
"That's not an excuse for us. We have to be disciplined. We have to read our keys and be men about it. We're out here to play hard and win, and we weren't able to do that. Any loss is a disappointment, but this was worse because we had 'em, and we let 'em get away." (HSA)
---------------------- Quotes from the Colorado coaches ------------------
Evaluating the game, Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins said:
"It was good for these guys to get a little confidence and get a little wind underneath their wings. The ball came off of Toney Clemons and you know Scotty (McKnight) got it and you know why not, we haven't had a whole lot of luck. So it was good for them to get a little of that. It was a tough start we turned the ball over, we had some penalties, that kind of stuff. I thought our defense was absolutely stellar; once again they made some tremendous stops. They got a missed field goal, a stop on the goal line and a safety. It was fun to see their hard work rewarded and it reinforced the stuff that I have been talking about." (Col, UH, DC)
"I thought our defense obviously was absolutely stellar once again." (DC)
About how their team got a little confidence from this win, Hawkins said:
"It was good for these guys to get a little confidence and get a little wind underneath their wings." (LTC)
About Colorado's offense, Hawkins said:
"I thought we established some offensive continuity, we missed some opportunities to be sure." (Col, UH)
Asked about their improved play after halftime, Hawkins said:
"We did a good job in doing the no-huddle. We felt it was definitely a key to it. We just got a little tempo going. We talked about hard work and passion and you have to have a little of it to get going. But you also have to have results to keep feeding that. It is hard to just stay passionate and you are not getting a lot of results. I thought that is just what happened, we came out and set the tone early on. The offense got a lot of confidence and got back into the full of it, and our defense made some big plays and got us back into the game. Once we got a little mojo going we were rolling and I think that has been a little bit of the key to us not being able to garnish some of it. It has been very hard for those guys, we talked about last week's game and how we just couldn't get any momentum going ever and it became tough, and on this day they definitely showed up, offensively in the second half and defensively the entire game." (Col, UH)
"People always talk about emotion and passion, and you have to have a little of that to get going, but you also have to have some results to keep feeding that. It's hard to just stay passionate when you're not getting a lot of results. ... Once they got a little mojo going, they were rolling." (DC)
"(Offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau) did a good job of going no-huddle. We really felt like that was probably a key to it. But, we just got a little tempo going. People always talk about emotion and passion. You have to have a little of that to get going, but you also have to have some results to keep feeding that. We came out and set the tone early on. The offense got a lot of confidence and got back in the flow of it. Once they got a little mojo going, they were rolling." (LTC)
About the adversity their team faced, Hawkins said:
"Lord knows we have had our share of adversity, again to their credit they have never bagged in and they have never quit. They have never doubted and they keep coming back. Those of you guys that are around them on a day-to-day basis, I'm surprised people say 'hey you guys are so fired up, you guys are so positive,' and they are a good group of guys that way. They had their backs up against the wall a little bit and to have that put on them and to have them answer, that is not only season changing but also life changing and it affects a lot of things. I told them earlier in the week that it is interesting of the teams that I have been on before that it seems like there is one play that really just tips off the whole deal and gets it going. Fortunately we had a couple such as the safety on defense and Toney Clemons with Tyler (Hansen) scrambling around a little bit and obviously the bounced pass. Like I said, you kind of need some of those breakthrough moments and we got them." (Col, UH, DP)
"To their credit, they`ve never bagged it and they`ve never quit. They have never doubted and they keep coming back. To have their backs up against the wall a little bit, and to have them answer, that is not only season changing but also life changing." (DC)
"To their credit, these guys have never bagged it. They've never quit." (LTC)
About Smith catching Pilares from behind to prevent a TD on UH's first possession, Hawkins said:
"For (Smith) not to quit, that was big. (Pilares is) not slow. That guy can roll." (HSA)
Praising Bryant Moniz, Hawkins said:
"That kid is not slow, that guy can roll. I thought our defense played extremely hard the whole game. They got a couple plays, but when you fling it around like them they are going to get some plays and we talked about that, not really getting hung up on 'alright they got a first down, they got you on a play, ok just keep coming back, you got to keep getting to the quarterback, you have to keep hitting the receivers when he throws one up at some point.' For him (the QB) not to quit, neither did Jalil (Brown), that was big we obviously kept them off the scoreboard." (Col, UH)
About how they were able to stop UH from running, Hawkins said:
"That was real big, that takes a lot of pressure off of the back end so they don't have to, people get things done up front and they can just focus on covering more and not having to do extra things with the guys in the back." (Col, UH)
Asked if they will use the no-huddle offense in the future, Hawkins said:
"We'll see, it was obviously a good tempo change for us today. It was great for our offensive staff to get that going, we talked about it a little during the week that this might be the time for us to get it going. But yeah we practice that every day. Part of the reason why we have been huddling up a little bit and even this year we have some newer guys on the perimeter. It is just to get all eleven guys in the huddle and on the same page to hear the same play and that kind of thing. They did a good job." (Col, UH)
"We did a good job in doing the no-huddle. We felt it was definitely a key to it. We just got a little tempo going. We talked about hard work and passion and you have to have a little of it to get going." (DP)
"We practice it every day. We thought we might break it out this week." (DP)
About having 2 players with at least 100 yards rushing, Hawkins said:
"Our O-line just dominated, our O-line was moving the line of scrimmage. I thought our offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau did a good job of being patient with it and staying in there and our O-line did a good job of answering. We were dominating the line of scrimmage." (Col, UH)
Asked about the similarity of schemes he used today compared to when he was at Boise State, Hawkins said:
"They were a little bit different because the guy is in the pistol, he is not in the gun any more so that kind of changes the stuff that you will do on defense. We are not exactly the same on defense as we were then but they are going to redirect everything they do based on what they see and that is always the same. They are always going to convert every route and make it the correct route based on coverage that you run." (Col, UH)
Asked if they ran the no-huddle offense because of the altitude, Hawkins said:
"We kind of felt that a little bit, even in the first half that they were breathing and our guys wanted to get going and throw a rock under the gas pedal and get moving." (Col, UH)
Asked why Colorado used so many short passes, Hawkins said:
"Just trying to get him (Hansen) into a rhythm and get comfortable back there. We are trying to regain his confidence so I thought it was a good idea." (Col, UH)
Asked why he had a nose injury, Hawkins said:
"We got a little hyped up before the game but I'm an old fullback so I'm used to playing with a broken nose. I told Miguel to keep an eye on me but I was ready." (Col, UH)
"We got a little hyped before the game. But I'm an old fullback. I'm used to playing with a bloody nose." (DC)
"We got a little hyped. I'm used to playing with a bloody nose." (HSA)
DC Note: "The Colorado football coach suffered a cut and bloodied nose in a raucous pregame locker room when he head-butted a player who was already wearing a helmet before the Buffs hosted Hawaii in the home opener."
Asked if a game like this will erase the criticism from the previous week, Hawkins said:
"No, got to keep moving forward." (Col, UH)
"No. No, gotta keep moving forward." (HSA)
"No. You've got to keep moving forward." (LTC)
Asked about Brian Lockridge, Hawkins said:
"Speedy is a good back but so is Brian. I thought Justin Torres came in and did a good job but Brian is fast and he is a guy that can get it up into the seam. He is not afraid to pour it up inside so it is great to see him get some opportunities. We are going to need all of those guys as the season goes on because it wears on you too much." (Col, UH)
Asked about how Lockridge runs downhill, Hawkins said:
"That is his deal, he kind of just bends over and smokes it. He is not afraid to pour it up in there. That is what makes him a good kick returner too, he is not afraid, he will just pour it through the smoke." (Col, UH)
Asked if getting Paul Richardson more involved was part of their plan, Hawkins said:
"Yeah we want to keep bringing him along. He obviously did a nice job on the two-point play. We kind of had a little bit of an issue because Toney Clemons was kind of hurt at that point so we had to sub out a little different then we practiced it and he did a good job in rallying it." (Col, UH)
About the bloody nose that Hawkins had before the game, RB coach Darian Hagan said:
"I heard about it and saw how bloody he was. I saw his nose all jacked up and I'm like, 'You OK,' and he said, '(Heck) yeah I'm OK. I didn't go down.'" (LTC)
--------------------- Quotes from the Colorado players ---------------------
Asked about their second half adjustments, OL Ryan Miller said:
"We wanted to really come out and run the ball and show we could run the ball. That's what we did; we came out and we ran the ball. So next weekend, I think we should come out and run the ball." (Col, UH, DC)
Asked about their running backs, Miller said:
"It feels awesome. Just to have B-Lock [Brian Lockridge] and Speedy [Rodney Stewart] and [J.T.] Torres, too, get in there, just pounded it up in the holes. It's an awesome feeling, and thanks a lot to those guys. The running backs, they followed the blocks and that's always a huge thing." (Col, UH)
Asked about their first half struggles, Miller said:
"We were killing ourselves. We weren't firing on all cylinders. We know we're a better team than that; we're better than the penalties and the turnovers. Then we came out and we proved that." (Col, UH)
Asked about their defense, Miller said:
"That's huge; our D has been playing awesome lately." (Col, UH)
About winning this game despite recent criticism, Miller said:
"I think we've taken a lot of criticism that we've earned, but then we came out and we ran the ball. So, I'm sorry, haters." (Col, DP, UH, DC, LTC)
Happy with how they stuck with the run in the game, Miller said:
"It`s always nice when you have a game plan to actually come out and follow the game plan." (DC)
Asked about their first half struggles, RB Rodney Stewart said:
"We were making little mistakes. Our team has a lot of confidence and I don't know what made us show it, but in the second half we were better than those guys. We knew we were better than those guys so we came out and executed and did the little things we needed to do. I was playing well which made everyone else play well." (Col, UH)
"We knew we were a better team. The big players stepped up and made big plays." (HSA)
Asked about bouncing back after his fumble, Stewart said:
"Stuff happens. We were playing well and then I think we were unlucky. It happens to a lot of teams. We needed a spark and that's what I wanted to do in the second half." (Col, UH)
"It is encouraging that we stuck with it. Good players, when you have a fumble or throw an interception, you just have to come back and pick it up and not get discouraged. That`s exactly what I did." (DC)
Asked about their OL, Stewart said:
"I think our offensive line is good. We might have a bad game, but a lot of teams might have a bad game. So I don't think we should talk about our offensive line being bad; they just had a bad game [against Cal], and today they had a good game. The more good games they have, the more successful we'll be." (Col, UH)
About how they knew that they could run against, Stewart said:
"Stats don`t lie and a lot of teams have run the ball well on them. We have good backs, so we knew we were going to come out and do the same thing." (DC)
About their running play called "push", Stewart said:
"What the linemen try to do is push everybody to one side. It's designed for me to cut back." (HSA)
About how they are much better at home than on the road, Stewart said:
"I think if we played Cal at home we would have won. We`ve just got to figure this road thing out and we`ll be all right." (DC)
About how they needed to win by a large margin to help their confidence, Stewart said:
"We needed it big. We needed a game that wasn't close so that we know we're good." (LTC)
Asked about stopping the deep passes, CB Jalil Brown said:
"We knew eventually that short yards wouldn't end up winning the game. So we were concentrating on stopping the deep pass first then coming up on the short routes and making plays." (Col, UH)
Asked about their goal line stand early in the game, Brown said:
"That was a big drive to show we're a good defense. To be down at the two- or three-yard line, for the defense to come through and hold them it shows them that the defense is ready to play." (Col, UH)
Asked about UH's team fatigue, Brown said:
"In the second half, we saw a lot of their guys bent over and grabbing their knees, breathing hard." (Col, UH)
Asked about how winning felt, Brown said:
"It's great, it's awesome. Especially coming off last week. It shows that we're still ready to play and we still have confidence." (Col, UH)
About how the early goal line stands gave their defense confidence and momentum the rest of the game, CB Jimmy Smith said:
"It gave us momentum throughout the whole game because it gave our D-line confidence that they could stop them. They had all the momentum at that point, and we stopped them so close." (DC)
About catching Kealoha Pilares from behind at the end of his 80-yard reception to prevent a TD even though he started 15 yards behind Pilares, Smith said:
"Those hustle plays are the plays the coaches are harping on in practice. In fact, you can`t even practice if you`re not running to the ball." (DC)
Feeling like they did a good job against UH's offense, Smith said:
"As much as they pass, which is a whole lot, I think we did a decent job. The loss to Cal last week was a debacle, but it didn`t prove we were a bad team. It was just everything went wrong for us. This week things went right in the second half." (DC)
"We knew it was our D versus their O. Our defense was up to the challenge and obviously came out on top today." (LTC)
About how they were desperate win this game, Smith said:
"It was a desperate win. This was a must win. Every game is a must win; this was a we have to win, no questions asked." (LTC)
Asked about bouncing back after the Cal loss, OL Nate Solder said:
"We had to. We had to come back from last week and responded in a positive way. That's what we did all week in practice. That was a lot of energy and a lot of hard work. I think the second half was just a reflection of what we've been told all week. It's going to come down to us as the O-line. We've got to step up and impose our will on the other team. It's something we hadn't done and I think it's something we did at times today." (Col, UH)
"We had to. We had to come back from last week and respond in a positive way." (LTC)
About having two 100-yard rushers for the first time since 2002, Solder said:
"I was extremely proud of that. We can do that every week because we have the guys that can do that because we have great players." (Col, UH)
Asked about their strong defensive play, ILB Michael Sipili said:
"We just stayed poised and were patient. We kind of knew something was coming and we did our job, knowing that everything should fall into place." (Col, UH)
About how he and BJ Beatty were playing against former friends, Sipili said:
"It's a special game because it's something we can talk about after college too, playing against your old teammates and also enemies from high school. It's a good win for the Colorado Buffaloes, but it's a lifetime win for us island guys." (Col, UH)
Asked about his game, TB Brian Lockridge said:
"It doesn't do much for my confidence. I came in with high hopes of what we can do as a team, which you saw in the second half. They gave me the opportunity to run the ball and that's what I did." (Col, UH)
Happy that the coaches stuck with the runs, Lockridge said:
"The run game is crucial. It helps out the pass game and everything else. Once we get the run game going, we`re good. I'm glad they stuck with it. That`s them just having faith in the players, and we came out and proved we could do it." (DC)
Asked about the first half, OLB, B.J. Beatty said:
"Defensively, we were holding up. Our offense came on the second half and you saw what they did. They were running up points and we said we have to do something on defense and we took it upon ourselves to stone them in the second half." (Col, UH)
Asked about their defense in the first quarter, Beatty said:
"They hit that long play, we huddled, we said 'We'll bend but not break, they're not going to get out to a huge lead like their other games, 21-0 at Army,' we took it upon ourselves to take that moment and make a statement. The crowd was behind us, we looked at each other in confidence and we said 'This is where we'll win this game, they want to get in the goal line, we'll show them what we can do and make a statement.' " (Col, UH)
Asked about playing against UH, Beatty said:
"I was excited playing my good friends, old teammates. For me it's great because I can brag for the rest of my life on them. Now I can say I beat them all in college. It's exciting for my teammates, seeing how they came out and played. I loved the atmosphere." (Col, UH)
About how Smith catching Pilares from behind fired up their defense when UH started at the 3-yard-line after the Smith tackle, Beatty said:
"They hit that big play and we huddled up and said we're going to bend, but not break. We took it upon ourselves to make a statement. This is where we're going to win the game." (HSA)
About Hawkins injuring his nose when head-butting players with helmets before the game, Beatty said:
"I think he wanted to play." (HSA)
"He was ready to go today. I think he wanted to play." (DC)
Asked about their first half, QB Tyler Hansen said:
"It was just one play here or there killing drives. Speedy had a fumble, the snap went through my legs, a penalty here or there. We had things that were working, just one play that would kill a drive." (Col, UH)
"We were doing everything we wanted to do; it was just one play here and there that was killing drives." (LTC)
About scoring TDs in 4 of their first 5 drives of the second half, Hansen said:
"It shows us we can be an explosive team, we can be a great team. Just go out there and play and have fun." (LTC)
Asked about Toney Clemons' TD, Hansen said:
"We practice scramble drill every week, he did whatever he was coached. Scotty was about the same place, but I had Clemons behind him so I choose him to throw the ball to. I think Scotty was kind of mad I didn't throw to him." (Col, UH)
Asked about their OL, Hansen said:
"This week they had a fire, a little something extra to them. They played great all week, not just today. Mike Iltis playing center, he has some fire and we need that. They were embarrassed last week, they wanted to have a good showing and they did that." (Col, UH)
Asked about his confidence in the first half, Hansen said:
"It wasn't that bad, it was stuff we were doing. We were executing, completing the ball, running the ball well, it was just one play here or there. It wasn't that frustrating, I knew we could clean that up and we did. It's just frustrating. We need to take this momentum into Georgia. We have a bye week. We need to use it, use this win, get people healthy, prepare for Georgia and get a win. We need to use this, it shows we can be explosive, we need to keep it going." (Col, UH)
About how they need to take the momentum from this win to prepare for their next game against Georgia, Hansen said:
"We need to take this momentum into Georgia. We have a bye week. We need to use it, use this win, get people healthy, prepare for Georgia and get a win. We need to use this, it shows we can be explosive, we need to keep it going." (DP)
"We just have to keep this thing going and use this as momentum for Georgia. I think this bye week comes at a perfect time. Now we can use this win, get our guys healthy, prepare for Georgia and hopefully get a win against Georgia." (LTC)
Hansen said that they knew that UH was getting tired when the:
"oxygen tanks were brought on the field, we knew they were gassed." (DP)
Asked what happened at halftime, WR Scotty McKnight said:
"All of our position coaches got into us and then coach Kiesau got us together as an offense. We knew what we were doing on offense was unacceptable. The defense was playing great. It was a lot like in the past. We know we have a lot of potential, and you saw that in the second half with 31 points. If just gives us the confidence that if we put two halves together, that's 50 or 60 points. We know we have the ability to do that, so Coach Kiesau and our position coaches put a fire under us it transitioned onto the field and we played better." (Col, UH)
"We knew what we were doing on offense was unacceptable. The defense was playing great." (DC)
Asked about the altitude being an advantage, McKnight said:
"It was pretty noticeable, when after their first drive, they need oxygen carts brought on the field. It's tough. Coming from California, I know, it's tough. That's what we can use to our advantage, we're all in great shape and have been running at altitude. You'll see that more in the future, it was to our advantage today. They got gassed and our offensive line was blowing them 6 or 7 yards off the ball. Not taking anything from the backs, but they were opening up huge holes for them. It's nothing against Hawai'i, you just can't train like that at home." (Col, UH)
"Those guys were gassed and our offensive line was blowing them 6 or 7 yards off the line." (HSA)
Asked about Toney Clemons' TD, McKnight said:
"At first, I saw the ball in the air 'What is Tyler doing?' and then I saw Tony and said 'OK, great decision, he's really fast, then Clem took it to the house and scored. It's so refreshing to see somebody take it 70 plus to the house, that hasn't happened a lot. (Col, UH)
"I'm open. At first I see the ball ... 'What is he doing? Oh, good decision.'" (HSA)
"It`s so refreshing to see someone take it 70-plus to the house. That hasn`t happened a lot." (DC)
DC Note: "Hansen connected with Clemons on a 73-yard touchdown pass down the west sideline. It was the longest offensive play for the Buffs in the Hawkins era."
Asked about his TD, McKnight said:
"I understand why it happens. It's good karma. I treat people so well, I'm such a nice guy, it just comes back to you at some point, lucky for me it's just happened on the field a few times. On that play, I'm a decoy. I'm not a read, the ball just popped up, I said 'thanks bud,' I caught it and scored. I told everybody in the lockerrom why I thought it happened and they don't believe me either." (Col, UH)
"I'm a decoy on that play. I'm not even in the read. The ball was calling my name." (HSA)
About what they do on the field is more important than what they talk about in interviews, McKnight said:
"It's not about what you talk about, it's what you go out and do." (LTC)
Asked about the student support, McKnight said:
"We just have to keep winning. Everybody will keep supporting us if we win. It shows if we do what the coaches tell us to do, we can be explosive on offense and great on defense. We have full confidence in this coaching staff. We can be a great team. If we keep winning, people will respect and understand that." (Col, UH)
"We've just got to keep winning. Everyone will keep supporting us if we keep winning." (LTC)
About how they gave up a lot of yards to UH but not many points, DE Nick Kasa said:
"They`re going to get yards, that`s all they do is get yards through the air. But we did a good job of stopping them from getting points." (DC)
Col = University of Colorado Athletics web site
HSA = Honolulu Star-Advertiser
AP = Associated Press
DP = Denver Post
DC = Daily Camera
LTC = Longmont Times-Call
------------------------ Quotes from the UH coaches ------------------------
Evaluating the game and highlighting the 21 points they should have had to start the game, Mack said:
"We had some missed opportunities, and we have to be able to capitalize on those opportunities. It's a difference of one inch and three inches. That was a key point in the ball game. We should have had 21 points. The defense was playing well; I don't believe they scored before the second half. It should have been 21-0 at halftime. We didn't get that much done. We got the turnovers and things were going good for us [in the first half]. The second half, we gave up that first drive. We knew we had to hold them the first drive and not give them any momentum. I give Colorado credit. I thought we won the first half and they won the second half. I thought they did a great job and made some good adjustments [in the second half]. They made the plays in the second half and we didn't. We couldn't contain the quarterback. We knew we had to contain the quarterback all week and we didn't contain him and they threw the touchdown pass that put it out of reach. It was a close game; I thought we could come back until that play." (Col, UH)
"We had some missed opportunities." (HSA)
Praising Colorado's adjustments at halftime (UH won the first half 10-0 and lost the second half 31-3), Mack said:
"I give Colorado great credit. I think Coach Hawkins did a great job and made some fantastic adjustments at half time. He had his guys ready to play in the second half. As much as I feel we dominated in the first half, we didn't take our opportunities." (Col, UH, DP)
"I give Colorado great credi. I think Coach Hawkins did a great job and made some fantastic adjustments at halftime. He had his guys ready to play in the second half." (HSA)
"They made the plays in the second half, and we didn't." (HSA)
About their problems in the second half, Mack said:
"In the second half, we made a lot of mental mistakes. And when you make mental mistakes, like penalties, you're tired. You're mentally tired." (HSA)
About Colorado going to their no-huddle offense, Mack said:
"I thought they were really smart going to the no-huddle because our guys got really gassed. We wore down. We were out of gas." (HSA)
About their problems in the red zone, Mack said:
"We were going to run option. We went under center, and we don't go under center much, but we missed the snap. We had the option going in because their defensive line is physical. We ran against it and threw; but we were going to run the option and fumbled the snap on one of them. Give their defense credit, that's not much area. They did a good job." (Col, UH)
About being on the road, Mack said:
"We don't make any excuses. We just got outplayed in the second half. In the first half I thought we played as well as we ever have, without getting those two touchdowns. I just didn't feel we finished very strongly. And it's not necessarily because of us; I think we got outplayed by Colorado in the second half." (Col, UH)
Praising Colorado's run game, Mack said:
"[Rodney Stewart] is a good runner, number one, and what you have to do is stop them at the line of scrimmage. If you let him out in the open field, he's very dangerous. In the first half it worked and in the second half it wasn't as good." (Col, UH)
About how they focused at halftime on stopping Colorado's opening drive of the second half, Mack said:
"We knew we had to hold them, not give them any momentum." (HSA)
HSA Note: "The implosion came after two plays. With CU facing a third and 4, the Warriors brought in two players, but exited only one. They could not get the 12th defender off the field in time, leading to 5-yard penalty and an automatic first down."
About how Colorado drove 80 yards for a TD to start the second half, Mack said:
"We needed a stop, and they go 80 yards."
About how missing coming up with nothing during their first two red zone possessions wore on them mentally when the score became close, offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich (Rolo) said:
"I don't think we can let opportunities get away. That's the fatigue: knowing we left 14 points right there. That starts to wear on you when things start to get close." (HSA)
About calling all running plays on their first drive when they were near the goal line, Rolo said:
"I feel we should be able to get half a yard." (HSA)
About Colorado's 73-yard TD pass when the score was 17-13 and Colorado had a 3rd-and-8, with UH blitzing from the left side and Colorado's QB was able to roll out to the other side, defensive coordinator Dave Aranda said:
"We should have kept contain on that quarterback, but he got out of the pocket." (HSA)
About how Kealoha Pilares projects as a slot receiver in the NFL, Rich Miano said:
"I think NFL teams are going more to three wide receivers. Wes Welker. Davone Bess. Kealoha is that type of player. I think the (NFL) schemes fit what he does." (HSA)
------------------------ Quotes from the UH players --------------------------
About the two fumbles in the first half, Bryant Moniz said:
"The first one was just a miscommunication with me and the center, while I was trying to call the play. He ended up snapping the ball before I actually called for the snap. The second one I just took my eyes off the ball, trying to read the defense. We had to go with a silent count today. It was definitely a big game and the crowd here. So it was a little different trying to wait for the ball, while reading the defense." (Col, UH)
About Tiwanak snapping the ball on 4th down at the goal line when he was under center trying to call out a play, Moniz said:
"It was loud, and (Tiwanak) really couldn't hear me. When he thought I said 'hut,' I was calling a play." (HSA)
About how he mishandled the shotgun snap during their first drive of the second half when they had the ball on the 10-yard-line, resulting in a safety to make the game 10-9, Moniz said:
"It slipped through my hands. I was trying to read the defense. The defense was moving while the ball was snapped. It was a lack of concentration on my part." (HSA)
About leaving so many points on the board, Moniz said:
"It definitely was an issue. Two times, within five yards of the goal line, they stopped us, and that really hurt us. We put points on the board one of those times; it would have been a whole different ball game." (Col, UH)
"Two times within five yards of the goal line, they stopped us, and that really hurt us. We put points on the board one of those times, I think it would have been a whole different ball game." (DC)
"We were right there, inside the 5 twice, and came away with nothing. It's really embarrassing. Really. ... If we walk away with 14 points right there, it might be a whole different story." (HSA)
About Colorado's goal line defense on their first 2 drives, Moniz said:
"They really just out-toughed us on that. I was pretty much handing off the ball and just trying to get into the end zone. We were only two or three yards away. It didn't bother us, but we were discouraged that we didn't get any points. We just kept playing offense, but in the end it really hurt us." (Col, UH, DC)
About Colorado's defense, Moniz said:
"We were able to move the ball nicely. We put together some drives; throw the ball here and there. But in the end they could hold us. We would have long drives but we couldn't finish the drives. That's what cost us." (Col, UH)
Asked about effects of altitude and being away from home, Moniz said:
"I didn't really feel any effects from the altitude. I felt pretty comfortable out there, we just got in a hole because we didn't put up any points in the beginning of the game. We dug ourselves a big hole." (Col, UH)
About how Pilares trying to improve his speed will help his NFL chances, Moniz said:
"He's smooth, and he's fun to watch. But if he gets faster, that's going to help his stock a lot more." (HSA)
About how he didn't care about his individual stats (6 catches for 117 yards and a TD), Kealoha Pilares said:
"We have to (bleeping) win games now. We gave away too many opportunities. We're a better football team than that." (HSA)
Not thinking about a potential NFL career, Pilares said:
"It's a distraction. When the time comes, it comes. Right now, it's UH." (HSA)
About how he knew after his first practice at UH that he had to get stronger, Pilares said:
"Going up against Blaze (Soares) and David Veikune, I knew I had to get stronger. It was a totally different game for me. It shocked me. I realized I wasn't in high school anymore." (HSA)
HSA Note: "He spent more time in the weight room. In team testing the past spring, he power-cleaned 356 pounds, a team best."
About how he needs to be able to learn how to run faster, Pilares said:
"I think I still don't know how to run. I run just to run. There's a technique to running faster. It's more of a science than anything." (HSA)
About how Colorado's strategy was for their DL to dive toward UH's OL's shins when UH was trying to run the ball in from the 1-yard-line, Bronson Tiwanak said:
"There was no way we could get a push because they were diving into our legs." (HSA)
About the fumbled snap on 4th-and-goal from the 1, Tiwanak said:
"Put it on me. That shouldn't have happened." (HSA)
Asked about the difference in the second half, Paipai Falemalu said:
"They pretty much gave us the same game plan in the second half, our defense just came out flat. We need to capitalize on the plays when they come to us. Like our coaches tell us, 'when the plays come to us we need to take advantage.' We had some missed assignments, that was the difference in the second half." (Col, UH)
About Colorado's no huddle offense, Paipai said:
"It wasn't too bad. I think we just had issues getting lined up and getting the plays from the sideline. It wasn't that big of a deal for us." (Col, UH)
About shutting down Colorado's offense in the first half, Paipai said:
"It was a really good half. I don't know what happened to us in the second half. We need to finish." (Col, UH)
Asked if they were tired near the end of the game, Paipai said:
"We weren't really warn down. A lot of people think it's the elevation, but it's not. It feels the same to me as playing in Hawaii. The road trip didn't affect us that much either. Like our coaches say we just need to finish. That's the main thing for us." (Col, UH)
About how fatigue was not a factor in this game, Kaniela Tuipulotu said:
"That's not an excuse for us. We have to be disciplined. We have to read our keys and be men about it. We're out here to play hard and win, and we weren't able to do that. Any loss is a disappointment, but this was worse because we had 'em, and we let 'em get away." (HSA)
---------------------- Quotes from the Colorado coaches ------------------
Evaluating the game, Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins said:
"It was good for these guys to get a little confidence and get a little wind underneath their wings. The ball came off of Toney Clemons and you know Scotty (McKnight) got it and you know why not, we haven't had a whole lot of luck. So it was good for them to get a little of that. It was a tough start we turned the ball over, we had some penalties, that kind of stuff. I thought our defense was absolutely stellar; once again they made some tremendous stops. They got a missed field goal, a stop on the goal line and a safety. It was fun to see their hard work rewarded and it reinforced the stuff that I have been talking about." (Col, UH, DC)
"I thought our defense obviously was absolutely stellar once again." (DC)
About how their team got a little confidence from this win, Hawkins said:
"It was good for these guys to get a little confidence and get a little wind underneath their wings." (LTC)
About Colorado's offense, Hawkins said:
"I thought we established some offensive continuity, we missed some opportunities to be sure." (Col, UH)
Asked about their improved play after halftime, Hawkins said:
"We did a good job in doing the no-huddle. We felt it was definitely a key to it. We just got a little tempo going. We talked about hard work and passion and you have to have a little of it to get going. But you also have to have results to keep feeding that. It is hard to just stay passionate and you are not getting a lot of results. I thought that is just what happened, we came out and set the tone early on. The offense got a lot of confidence and got back into the full of it, and our defense made some big plays and got us back into the game. Once we got a little mojo going we were rolling and I think that has been a little bit of the key to us not being able to garnish some of it. It has been very hard for those guys, we talked about last week's game and how we just couldn't get any momentum going ever and it became tough, and on this day they definitely showed up, offensively in the second half and defensively the entire game." (Col, UH)
"People always talk about emotion and passion, and you have to have a little of that to get going, but you also have to have some results to keep feeding that. It's hard to just stay passionate when you're not getting a lot of results. ... Once they got a little mojo going, they were rolling." (DC)
"(Offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau) did a good job of going no-huddle. We really felt like that was probably a key to it. But, we just got a little tempo going. People always talk about emotion and passion. You have to have a little of that to get going, but you also have to have some results to keep feeding that. We came out and set the tone early on. The offense got a lot of confidence and got back in the flow of it. Once they got a little mojo going, they were rolling." (LTC)
About the adversity their team faced, Hawkins said:
"Lord knows we have had our share of adversity, again to their credit they have never bagged in and they have never quit. They have never doubted and they keep coming back. Those of you guys that are around them on a day-to-day basis, I'm surprised people say 'hey you guys are so fired up, you guys are so positive,' and they are a good group of guys that way. They had their backs up against the wall a little bit and to have that put on them and to have them answer, that is not only season changing but also life changing and it affects a lot of things. I told them earlier in the week that it is interesting of the teams that I have been on before that it seems like there is one play that really just tips off the whole deal and gets it going. Fortunately we had a couple such as the safety on defense and Toney Clemons with Tyler (Hansen) scrambling around a little bit and obviously the bounced pass. Like I said, you kind of need some of those breakthrough moments and we got them." (Col, UH, DP)
"To their credit, they`ve never bagged it and they`ve never quit. They have never doubted and they keep coming back. To have their backs up against the wall a little bit, and to have them answer, that is not only season changing but also life changing." (DC)
"To their credit, these guys have never bagged it. They've never quit." (LTC)
About Smith catching Pilares from behind to prevent a TD on UH's first possession, Hawkins said:
"For (Smith) not to quit, that was big. (Pilares is) not slow. That guy can roll." (HSA)
Praising Bryant Moniz, Hawkins said:
"That kid is not slow, that guy can roll. I thought our defense played extremely hard the whole game. They got a couple plays, but when you fling it around like them they are going to get some plays and we talked about that, not really getting hung up on 'alright they got a first down, they got you on a play, ok just keep coming back, you got to keep getting to the quarterback, you have to keep hitting the receivers when he throws one up at some point.' For him (the QB) not to quit, neither did Jalil (Brown), that was big we obviously kept them off the scoreboard." (Col, UH)
About how they were able to stop UH from running, Hawkins said:
"That was real big, that takes a lot of pressure off of the back end so they don't have to, people get things done up front and they can just focus on covering more and not having to do extra things with the guys in the back." (Col, UH)
Asked if they will use the no-huddle offense in the future, Hawkins said:
"We'll see, it was obviously a good tempo change for us today. It was great for our offensive staff to get that going, we talked about it a little during the week that this might be the time for us to get it going. But yeah we practice that every day. Part of the reason why we have been huddling up a little bit and even this year we have some newer guys on the perimeter. It is just to get all eleven guys in the huddle and on the same page to hear the same play and that kind of thing. They did a good job." (Col, UH)
"We did a good job in doing the no-huddle. We felt it was definitely a key to it. We just got a little tempo going. We talked about hard work and passion and you have to have a little of it to get going." (DP)
"We practice it every day. We thought we might break it out this week." (DP)
About having 2 players with at least 100 yards rushing, Hawkins said:
"Our O-line just dominated, our O-line was moving the line of scrimmage. I thought our offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau did a good job of being patient with it and staying in there and our O-line did a good job of answering. We were dominating the line of scrimmage." (Col, UH)
Asked about the similarity of schemes he used today compared to when he was at Boise State, Hawkins said:
"They were a little bit different because the guy is in the pistol, he is not in the gun any more so that kind of changes the stuff that you will do on defense. We are not exactly the same on defense as we were then but they are going to redirect everything they do based on what they see and that is always the same. They are always going to convert every route and make it the correct route based on coverage that you run." (Col, UH)
Asked if they ran the no-huddle offense because of the altitude, Hawkins said:
"We kind of felt that a little bit, even in the first half that they were breathing and our guys wanted to get going and throw a rock under the gas pedal and get moving." (Col, UH)
Asked why Colorado used so many short passes, Hawkins said:
"Just trying to get him (Hansen) into a rhythm and get comfortable back there. We are trying to regain his confidence so I thought it was a good idea." (Col, UH)
Asked why he had a nose injury, Hawkins said:
"We got a little hyped up before the game but I'm an old fullback so I'm used to playing with a broken nose. I told Miguel to keep an eye on me but I was ready." (Col, UH)
"We got a little hyped before the game. But I'm an old fullback. I'm used to playing with a bloody nose." (DC)
"We got a little hyped. I'm used to playing with a bloody nose." (HSA)
DC Note: "The Colorado football coach suffered a cut and bloodied nose in a raucous pregame locker room when he head-butted a player who was already wearing a helmet before the Buffs hosted Hawaii in the home opener."
Asked if a game like this will erase the criticism from the previous week, Hawkins said:
"No, got to keep moving forward." (Col, UH)
"No. No, gotta keep moving forward." (HSA)
"No. You've got to keep moving forward." (LTC)
Asked about Brian Lockridge, Hawkins said:
"Speedy is a good back but so is Brian. I thought Justin Torres came in and did a good job but Brian is fast and he is a guy that can get it up into the seam. He is not afraid to pour it up inside so it is great to see him get some opportunities. We are going to need all of those guys as the season goes on because it wears on you too much." (Col, UH)
Asked about how Lockridge runs downhill, Hawkins said:
"That is his deal, he kind of just bends over and smokes it. He is not afraid to pour it up in there. That is what makes him a good kick returner too, he is not afraid, he will just pour it through the smoke." (Col, UH)
Asked if getting Paul Richardson more involved was part of their plan, Hawkins said:
"Yeah we want to keep bringing him along. He obviously did a nice job on the two-point play. We kind of had a little bit of an issue because Toney Clemons was kind of hurt at that point so we had to sub out a little different then we practiced it and he did a good job in rallying it." (Col, UH)
About the bloody nose that Hawkins had before the game, RB coach Darian Hagan said:
"I heard about it and saw how bloody he was. I saw his nose all jacked up and I'm like, 'You OK,' and he said, '(Heck) yeah I'm OK. I didn't go down.'" (LTC)
--------------------- Quotes from the Colorado players ---------------------
Asked about their second half adjustments, OL Ryan Miller said:
"We wanted to really come out and run the ball and show we could run the ball. That's what we did; we came out and we ran the ball. So next weekend, I think we should come out and run the ball." (Col, UH, DC)
Asked about their running backs, Miller said:
"It feels awesome. Just to have B-Lock [Brian Lockridge] and Speedy [Rodney Stewart] and [J.T.] Torres, too, get in there, just pounded it up in the holes. It's an awesome feeling, and thanks a lot to those guys. The running backs, they followed the blocks and that's always a huge thing." (Col, UH)
Asked about their first half struggles, Miller said:
"We were killing ourselves. We weren't firing on all cylinders. We know we're a better team than that; we're better than the penalties and the turnovers. Then we came out and we proved that." (Col, UH)
Asked about their defense, Miller said:
"That's huge; our D has been playing awesome lately." (Col, UH)
About winning this game despite recent criticism, Miller said:
"I think we've taken a lot of criticism that we've earned, but then we came out and we ran the ball. So, I'm sorry, haters." (Col, DP, UH, DC, LTC)
Happy with how they stuck with the run in the game, Miller said:
"It`s always nice when you have a game plan to actually come out and follow the game plan." (DC)
Asked about their first half struggles, RB Rodney Stewart said:
"We were making little mistakes. Our team has a lot of confidence and I don't know what made us show it, but in the second half we were better than those guys. We knew we were better than those guys so we came out and executed and did the little things we needed to do. I was playing well which made everyone else play well." (Col, UH)
"We knew we were a better team. The big players stepped up and made big plays." (HSA)
Asked about bouncing back after his fumble, Stewart said:
"Stuff happens. We were playing well and then I think we were unlucky. It happens to a lot of teams. We needed a spark and that's what I wanted to do in the second half." (Col, UH)
"It is encouraging that we stuck with it. Good players, when you have a fumble or throw an interception, you just have to come back and pick it up and not get discouraged. That`s exactly what I did." (DC)
Asked about their OL, Stewart said:
"I think our offensive line is good. We might have a bad game, but a lot of teams might have a bad game. So I don't think we should talk about our offensive line being bad; they just had a bad game [against Cal], and today they had a good game. The more good games they have, the more successful we'll be." (Col, UH)
About how they knew that they could run against, Stewart said:
"Stats don`t lie and a lot of teams have run the ball well on them. We have good backs, so we knew we were going to come out and do the same thing." (DC)
About their running play called "push", Stewart said:
"What the linemen try to do is push everybody to one side. It's designed for me to cut back." (HSA)
About how they are much better at home than on the road, Stewart said:
"I think if we played Cal at home we would have won. We`ve just got to figure this road thing out and we`ll be all right." (DC)
About how they needed to win by a large margin to help their confidence, Stewart said:
"We needed it big. We needed a game that wasn't close so that we know we're good." (LTC)
Asked about stopping the deep passes, CB Jalil Brown said:
"We knew eventually that short yards wouldn't end up winning the game. So we were concentrating on stopping the deep pass first then coming up on the short routes and making plays." (Col, UH)
Asked about their goal line stand early in the game, Brown said:
"That was a big drive to show we're a good defense. To be down at the two- or three-yard line, for the defense to come through and hold them it shows them that the defense is ready to play." (Col, UH)
Asked about UH's team fatigue, Brown said:
"In the second half, we saw a lot of their guys bent over and grabbing their knees, breathing hard." (Col, UH)
Asked about how winning felt, Brown said:
"It's great, it's awesome. Especially coming off last week. It shows that we're still ready to play and we still have confidence." (Col, UH)
About how the early goal line stands gave their defense confidence and momentum the rest of the game, CB Jimmy Smith said:
"It gave us momentum throughout the whole game because it gave our D-line confidence that they could stop them. They had all the momentum at that point, and we stopped them so close." (DC)
About catching Kealoha Pilares from behind at the end of his 80-yard reception to prevent a TD even though he started 15 yards behind Pilares, Smith said:
"Those hustle plays are the plays the coaches are harping on in practice. In fact, you can`t even practice if you`re not running to the ball." (DC)
Feeling like they did a good job against UH's offense, Smith said:
"As much as they pass, which is a whole lot, I think we did a decent job. The loss to Cal last week was a debacle, but it didn`t prove we were a bad team. It was just everything went wrong for us. This week things went right in the second half." (DC)
"We knew it was our D versus their O. Our defense was up to the challenge and obviously came out on top today." (LTC)
About how they were desperate win this game, Smith said:
"It was a desperate win. This was a must win. Every game is a must win; this was a we have to win, no questions asked." (LTC)
Asked about bouncing back after the Cal loss, OL Nate Solder said:
"We had to. We had to come back from last week and responded in a positive way. That's what we did all week in practice. That was a lot of energy and a lot of hard work. I think the second half was just a reflection of what we've been told all week. It's going to come down to us as the O-line. We've got to step up and impose our will on the other team. It's something we hadn't done and I think it's something we did at times today." (Col, UH)
"We had to. We had to come back from last week and respond in a positive way." (LTC)
About having two 100-yard rushers for the first time since 2002, Solder said:
"I was extremely proud of that. We can do that every week because we have the guys that can do that because we have great players." (Col, UH)
Asked about their strong defensive play, ILB Michael Sipili said:
"We just stayed poised and were patient. We kind of knew something was coming and we did our job, knowing that everything should fall into place." (Col, UH)
About how he and BJ Beatty were playing against former friends, Sipili said:
"It's a special game because it's something we can talk about after college too, playing against your old teammates and also enemies from high school. It's a good win for the Colorado Buffaloes, but it's a lifetime win for us island guys." (Col, UH)
Asked about his game, TB Brian Lockridge said:
"It doesn't do much for my confidence. I came in with high hopes of what we can do as a team, which you saw in the second half. They gave me the opportunity to run the ball and that's what I did." (Col, UH)
Happy that the coaches stuck with the runs, Lockridge said:
"The run game is crucial. It helps out the pass game and everything else. Once we get the run game going, we`re good. I'm glad they stuck with it. That`s them just having faith in the players, and we came out and proved we could do it." (DC)
Asked about the first half, OLB, B.J. Beatty said:
"Defensively, we were holding up. Our offense came on the second half and you saw what they did. They were running up points and we said we have to do something on defense and we took it upon ourselves to stone them in the second half." (Col, UH)
Asked about their defense in the first quarter, Beatty said:
"They hit that long play, we huddled, we said 'We'll bend but not break, they're not going to get out to a huge lead like their other games, 21-0 at Army,' we took it upon ourselves to take that moment and make a statement. The crowd was behind us, we looked at each other in confidence and we said 'This is where we'll win this game, they want to get in the goal line, we'll show them what we can do and make a statement.' " (Col, UH)
Asked about playing against UH, Beatty said:
"I was excited playing my good friends, old teammates. For me it's great because I can brag for the rest of my life on them. Now I can say I beat them all in college. It's exciting for my teammates, seeing how they came out and played. I loved the atmosphere." (Col, UH)
About how Smith catching Pilares from behind fired up their defense when UH started at the 3-yard-line after the Smith tackle, Beatty said:
"They hit that big play and we huddled up and said we're going to bend, but not break. We took it upon ourselves to make a statement. This is where we're going to win the game." (HSA)
About Hawkins injuring his nose when head-butting players with helmets before the game, Beatty said:
"I think he wanted to play." (HSA)
"He was ready to go today. I think he wanted to play." (DC)
Asked about their first half, QB Tyler Hansen said:
"It was just one play here or there killing drives. Speedy had a fumble, the snap went through my legs, a penalty here or there. We had things that were working, just one play that would kill a drive." (Col, UH)
"We were doing everything we wanted to do; it was just one play here and there that was killing drives." (LTC)
About scoring TDs in 4 of their first 5 drives of the second half, Hansen said:
"It shows us we can be an explosive team, we can be a great team. Just go out there and play and have fun." (LTC)
Asked about Toney Clemons' TD, Hansen said:
"We practice scramble drill every week, he did whatever he was coached. Scotty was about the same place, but I had Clemons behind him so I choose him to throw the ball to. I think Scotty was kind of mad I didn't throw to him." (Col, UH)
Asked about their OL, Hansen said:
"This week they had a fire, a little something extra to them. They played great all week, not just today. Mike Iltis playing center, he has some fire and we need that. They were embarrassed last week, they wanted to have a good showing and they did that." (Col, UH)
Asked about his confidence in the first half, Hansen said:
"It wasn't that bad, it was stuff we were doing. We were executing, completing the ball, running the ball well, it was just one play here or there. It wasn't that frustrating, I knew we could clean that up and we did. It's just frustrating. We need to take this momentum into Georgia. We have a bye week. We need to use it, use this win, get people healthy, prepare for Georgia and get a win. We need to use this, it shows we can be explosive, we need to keep it going." (Col, UH)
About how they need to take the momentum from this win to prepare for their next game against Georgia, Hansen said:
"We need to take this momentum into Georgia. We have a bye week. We need to use it, use this win, get people healthy, prepare for Georgia and get a win. We need to use this, it shows we can be explosive, we need to keep it going." (DP)
"We just have to keep this thing going and use this as momentum for Georgia. I think this bye week comes at a perfect time. Now we can use this win, get our guys healthy, prepare for Georgia and hopefully get a win against Georgia." (LTC)
Hansen said that they knew that UH was getting tired when the:
"oxygen tanks were brought on the field, we knew they were gassed." (DP)
Asked what happened at halftime, WR Scotty McKnight said:
"All of our position coaches got into us and then coach Kiesau got us together as an offense. We knew what we were doing on offense was unacceptable. The defense was playing great. It was a lot like in the past. We know we have a lot of potential, and you saw that in the second half with 31 points. If just gives us the confidence that if we put two halves together, that's 50 or 60 points. We know we have the ability to do that, so Coach Kiesau and our position coaches put a fire under us it transitioned onto the field and we played better." (Col, UH)
"We knew what we were doing on offense was unacceptable. The defense was playing great." (DC)
Asked about the altitude being an advantage, McKnight said:
"It was pretty noticeable, when after their first drive, they need oxygen carts brought on the field. It's tough. Coming from California, I know, it's tough. That's what we can use to our advantage, we're all in great shape and have been running at altitude. You'll see that more in the future, it was to our advantage today. They got gassed and our offensive line was blowing them 6 or 7 yards off the ball. Not taking anything from the backs, but they were opening up huge holes for them. It's nothing against Hawai'i, you just can't train like that at home." (Col, UH)
"Those guys were gassed and our offensive line was blowing them 6 or 7 yards off the line." (HSA)
Asked about Toney Clemons' TD, McKnight said:
"At first, I saw the ball in the air 'What is Tyler doing?' and then I saw Tony and said 'OK, great decision, he's really fast, then Clem took it to the house and scored. It's so refreshing to see somebody take it 70 plus to the house, that hasn't happened a lot. (Col, UH)
"I'm open. At first I see the ball ... 'What is he doing? Oh, good decision.'" (HSA)
"It`s so refreshing to see someone take it 70-plus to the house. That hasn`t happened a lot." (DC)
DC Note: "Hansen connected with Clemons on a 73-yard touchdown pass down the west sideline. It was the longest offensive play for the Buffs in the Hawkins era."
Asked about his TD, McKnight said:
"I understand why it happens. It's good karma. I treat people so well, I'm such a nice guy, it just comes back to you at some point, lucky for me it's just happened on the field a few times. On that play, I'm a decoy. I'm not a read, the ball just popped up, I said 'thanks bud,' I caught it and scored. I told everybody in the lockerrom why I thought it happened and they don't believe me either." (Col, UH)
"I'm a decoy on that play. I'm not even in the read. The ball was calling my name." (HSA)
About what they do on the field is more important than what they talk about in interviews, McKnight said:
"It's not about what you talk about, it's what you go out and do." (LTC)
Asked about the student support, McKnight said:
"We just have to keep winning. Everybody will keep supporting us if we win. It shows if we do what the coaches tell us to do, we can be explosive on offense and great on defense. We have full confidence in this coaching staff. We can be a great team. If we keep winning, people will respect and understand that." (Col, UH)
"We've just got to keep winning. Everyone will keep supporting us if we keep winning." (LTC)
About how they gave up a lot of yards to UH but not many points, DE Nick Kasa said:
"They`re going to get yards, that`s all they do is get yards through the air. But we did a good job of stopping them from getting points." (DC)
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