About participating in UH's graduation ceremony, Blaze Soares (the first member of his family to earn a college degreee) said:
"This is a touching moment. I never could see myself graduating and walking the line. This is the best accomplishment in my life. I'm very happy. I'm stoked." (HSA)
Proud of her grandson Blaze, Loretta Szubinski said:
"I'm very proud of him. From starting so low to working his way up, he's really worked hard. He's such a cheerful kid, always happy. He's very respectful to his family." (HSA)
About how he has been working in the music industry (Phat Sounds Productions and D Boy Productions) since he finished playing for UH last year, Blaze said:
"Everything is going good." (HSA)
Abotu how he attended Hawaii Pacific University after graduating from Castle High because he did not earn enough credits in core classes at Castle, Blaze said:
"It was frustrating. I had a lot of other options (out of high school), but Hawaii is where I wanted to play. No other school mattered." (HSA)
About howt he keeps all of his football awards "in a box in my closet", but he will frame his diploma and put it on his wall, Blaze said:
"I'm very proud of this." (HSA)
About going back to school after he was injured last year while trying out with the Seattle Seahawks, Adam Leonard said:
"I was sitting at home (in Seattle) trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I asked Coach Mack about the possibility of coming back to school." (HSA)
About Mack getting him a student manager position that would pay for his tuition and school expenses at UH, Leonard said:
"He wasn't obligated to help me finish up. But he opened it up for me." (HSA)
About how he bought a one-way ticket from Seattle to Honolulu, Leonard said:
"I was determined." (HSA)
About how he completed his bachelor's degree in August but came back in December to participate in UH's graduation ceremony since UH doesn't have a summer graduation ceremony, Leonard said:
"I wanted to come back, get some pictures and make it official." (HSA)
About earning his degree and finishing his UH career with Friday's Hawaii Bowl, Dustin Blount said:
"I'll finally be going out into the world." (HSA)
About how he's recovering from his ACL surgery last month, Ryan Henry said:
"I'm doing better." (HSA)
Australia-raised Adrian Thomas said that he never imagined:
"going to school in the United States. It's been a great experience." (HSA)
About redshirting as a senior in 2009 to focus on school and earning his starting job back this season and going through graduation yesterday, Brysen "Bula" Ginlack said:
"It was hard (not to play in 2009), but it was good in the long run." (HSA)
About earning his speech degree and starting a master's degree next semester, Jett Jasper (who can play 1 more year for UH) said:
"It was a hard road, with a lot of tests, but it was worth it." (HSA)
About being excused from 2 practices to finish school projecgts, Greg Salas said:
"I was in Sinclair Library every day until 2 in the morning. I'm a real procrastinator. I do what it takes to get it done. Getting a degree is a culmination of a great experience here. Now I'm definitely ready for our bowl game." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101219_determined_proud_warriors_receive_diplomas.html
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Feature on the Warrior DL and how close they are
About how their DL are bonded forever, Kamalu Umu (one of 4 members of the DL whose UH career will end with the Hawaii Bowl) said:
"We're brothers for life." (HSA)
About the 4 members of the DL that will not be able to play with them anymore, junior Vaughn Meatoga said:
"It's really sad.Every day is one day less to play with them on the field." (HSA)
About DT coach Tony Tuioti having his 7th child earlier this season, Elliott Purcell said:
"I want to be like Coach Tony." (HSA)
Liko Satele responded:
"You already are." (HSA)
About how he has 2 sons, Purcell said:
"I'm catching up to him." (HSA)
About how a few of their defensive linemen started to do off-field activities together during the offseason and then that grew to include all of the members of the DL and their girlfriends, Meatoga said:
"Our girlfriends are close. We're all close. We have fun with each other, especially on the field. We're so comfortable we don't really talk to each other on the field. We just look at each other, and we know what we're thinking." (HSA)
About how Kaniela Tuipulu (nicknamed "The Bouncer" because of his aggressiveness) broke his paddle when using a standup surfboard, Satele said:
"It was made of carbon Fiberglas. That's a hard thing to break." (HSA)
About how Haku Correa is the protective member of the DL, Meatoga said:
"We were at Koko Head, and Haku was like: 'Get away from the ledge. Everybody move back. You're too close to the end. You guys are going to get hurt.'" (HSA)
About what happened when a player threw a branch into a 40-foot waterfall during a hike on Kauai, Meatoga laughed and said:
"Haku yelled: 'Vaughn, no!' He started panicking. He thought I fell into the water. He doesn't like us to do anything dangerous." (HSA)
About how Umu is nicknamed the "Hustler" by the way he can con teammates, Tuipulotu said:
"He says, 'I don't know how to play this video game,' and then he kills everybody. He's talented. He can do random stuff like drop-kick a football." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Meatoga said defensive tackle Geordon Hanohano is "Gee-O" because "he hates to be called 'Gee-O.'" "
About 5'10" DT Ikaika Mahoe's nickname of the "Doorstop", Meatoga said:
"Know how small a doorstop is, but it can stop a big door? That's Ikaika." (HSA)
About how Paipai Falemalu is called the "Caveman" because of his raw pass-rushing technique, Meatoga said:
"Sometimes we call him 'Geico' because of their caveman commercial." (HSA)
About how Purcell's short attention span earned the nickname "Day Late, Dollar Short", Tuipulotu said:
"You can be finished telling him something, and he'll say, 'What's up?'" (HSA)
About how he organizes pranks on road trips, Meatoga said:
"We sneak into people's rooms, and scare the crap out of them." (HSA)
About how they take game preparation seriously, Meatoga said:
"We're about business. We want to win, and we want to represent the state." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101218_Brothers_for_life.html
"We're brothers for life." (HSA)
About the 4 members of the DL that will not be able to play with them anymore, junior Vaughn Meatoga said:
"It's really sad.Every day is one day less to play with them on the field." (HSA)
About DT coach Tony Tuioti having his 7th child earlier this season, Elliott Purcell said:
"I want to be like Coach Tony." (HSA)
Liko Satele responded:
"You already are." (HSA)
About how he has 2 sons, Purcell said:
"I'm catching up to him." (HSA)
About how a few of their defensive linemen started to do off-field activities together during the offseason and then that grew to include all of the members of the DL and their girlfriends, Meatoga said:
"Our girlfriends are close. We're all close. We have fun with each other, especially on the field. We're so comfortable we don't really talk to each other on the field. We just look at each other, and we know what we're thinking." (HSA)
About how Kaniela Tuipulu (nicknamed "The Bouncer" because of his aggressiveness) broke his paddle when using a standup surfboard, Satele said:
"It was made of carbon Fiberglas. That's a hard thing to break." (HSA)
About how Haku Correa is the protective member of the DL, Meatoga said:
"We were at Koko Head, and Haku was like: 'Get away from the ledge. Everybody move back. You're too close to the end. You guys are going to get hurt.'" (HSA)
About what happened when a player threw a branch into a 40-foot waterfall during a hike on Kauai, Meatoga laughed and said:
"Haku yelled: 'Vaughn, no!' He started panicking. He thought I fell into the water. He doesn't like us to do anything dangerous." (HSA)
About how Umu is nicknamed the "Hustler" by the way he can con teammates, Tuipulotu said:
"He says, 'I don't know how to play this video game,' and then he kills everybody. He's talented. He can do random stuff like drop-kick a football." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Meatoga said defensive tackle Geordon Hanohano is "Gee-O" because "he hates to be called 'Gee-O.'" "
About 5'10" DT Ikaika Mahoe's nickname of the "Doorstop", Meatoga said:
"Know how small a doorstop is, but it can stop a big door? That's Ikaika." (HSA)
About how Paipai Falemalu is called the "Caveman" because of his raw pass-rushing technique, Meatoga said:
"Sometimes we call him 'Geico' because of their caveman commercial." (HSA)
About how Purcell's short attention span earned the nickname "Day Late, Dollar Short", Tuipulotu said:
"You can be finished telling him something, and he'll say, 'What's up?'" (HSA)
About how he organizes pranks on road trips, Meatoga said:
"We sneak into people's rooms, and scare the crap out of them." (HSA)
About how they take game preparation seriously, Meatoga said:
"We're about business. We want to win, and we want to represent the state." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101218_Brothers_for_life.html
Friday, December 17, 2010
UH's defense prepares for the fast-faced Tulsa offense
About how they are preparing for the fast-paced Tulsa offense, Rich Miano said:
"We know one thing; this will be the fastest offense we'll see, and we're preparing for that." (HSA)
HSA Note: "The Golden Hurricane average an offensive play every 23 seconds. In several drives this season, Tulsa has called a play from a no-huddle formation and snapped the ball within 13 seconds."
About the fast pace Tulsa has, Dave Aranda said:
"Tulsa executes at a fast tempo. Good execution, plus the fast tempo, creates problems." (HSA)
About how Tulsa's offense prevents substitutions, which can lead to mistakes by the defense, Aranda said:
"Big plays come when (defensive) guys are worn down or tired. They get confused. ... When guys are gassed, they don't communicate. You get one guy doing this and one guy doing that, and that's when you get into trouble." (HSA)
About how defensive players make mistakes when they are tired, Miano said:
"When you're tired, your mental recognition goes down, and you tend not to see things clearly and not make calls. We've got to communicate with each other, and we've got to get aligned. Being mentally sharp is as important as being in shape physically. This team will test you." (HSA)
About how their top 2 offensive units were matched against their #1 defense during 7-on-7 and team drills, with one unit lining quickly after the other unit just finished a play, Mack said:
"We wanted to go rapid-fire against our No. 1 defense." (HSA)
About how they ran a drill where the scout team offense tried to run 2 plays every minute, with the defensive players having to make quick decisions, Mack said:
"Then (the defensive players) had to figure out which call to make. Tulsa has a fast-paced, no-huddle offense, so we have to have a quick-react, no-huddle defense. The way to do that is to practice fast." (HSA)
About facing the fast-paced Tulsa offense, Mana Silva said:
"We have to be in shape for this game." (HSA)
About how the scout-team offense was shown on Wednesday the list of 30 plays that they would run in Thursday's practice, with every play different, Joey Cadiz (scout RB, TE, and slotback) said:
"We learned a lot real quick." (HSA)
About trying to tire out the first team defense in practice, scout team QB Corey Nielsen said:
"It was about tempo. It was fun getting after them a little bit. It's more of a mental thing than a physical thing." (HSA)
Grateful that they are being prepared in practice to face Tulsa's fast-paced offense, Paipai Falemalu said:
"It was good to get a quicker look because Tulsa runs a no-huddle offense. We're adjusting. The coaches kept on us." (HSA)
About how they will be ready for the game, Kaniela Tuipulotu said:
"We're getting our lungs back. We'll be OK." (HSA)
About how they ran sprints the width of the practice field after their 2-hour practice, Mack said:
"Our guys are in great shape. Tommy (Heffernan, the conditioning coach) has kept them busy. He's making sure they're going to be able to play at a very fast pace." (HSA)
About how their players practiced through their exhaustion, Aranda said:
"The guys were gassed, but they pushed through it. They know what's coming on Christmas Eve. They're getting up for it." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101217_Tulsas_pace_will_tax_Warriors_defense.html
"We know one thing; this will be the fastest offense we'll see, and we're preparing for that." (HSA)
HSA Note: "The Golden Hurricane average an offensive play every 23 seconds. In several drives this season, Tulsa has called a play from a no-huddle formation and snapped the ball within 13 seconds."
About the fast pace Tulsa has, Dave Aranda said:
"Tulsa executes at a fast tempo. Good execution, plus the fast tempo, creates problems." (HSA)
About how Tulsa's offense prevents substitutions, which can lead to mistakes by the defense, Aranda said:
"Big plays come when (defensive) guys are worn down or tired. They get confused. ... When guys are gassed, they don't communicate. You get one guy doing this and one guy doing that, and that's when you get into trouble." (HSA)
About how defensive players make mistakes when they are tired, Miano said:
"When you're tired, your mental recognition goes down, and you tend not to see things clearly and not make calls. We've got to communicate with each other, and we've got to get aligned. Being mentally sharp is as important as being in shape physically. This team will test you." (HSA)
About how their top 2 offensive units were matched against their #1 defense during 7-on-7 and team drills, with one unit lining quickly after the other unit just finished a play, Mack said:
"We wanted to go rapid-fire against our No. 1 defense." (HSA)
About how they ran a drill where the scout team offense tried to run 2 plays every minute, with the defensive players having to make quick decisions, Mack said:
"Then (the defensive players) had to figure out which call to make. Tulsa has a fast-paced, no-huddle offense, so we have to have a quick-react, no-huddle defense. The way to do that is to practice fast." (HSA)
About facing the fast-paced Tulsa offense, Mana Silva said:
"We have to be in shape for this game." (HSA)
About how the scout-team offense was shown on Wednesday the list of 30 plays that they would run in Thursday's practice, with every play different, Joey Cadiz (scout RB, TE, and slotback) said:
"We learned a lot real quick." (HSA)
About trying to tire out the first team defense in practice, scout team QB Corey Nielsen said:
"It was about tempo. It was fun getting after them a little bit. It's more of a mental thing than a physical thing." (HSA)
Grateful that they are being prepared in practice to face Tulsa's fast-paced offense, Paipai Falemalu said:
"It was good to get a quicker look because Tulsa runs a no-huddle offense. We're adjusting. The coaches kept on us." (HSA)
About how they will be ready for the game, Kaniela Tuipulotu said:
"We're getting our lungs back. We'll be OK." (HSA)
About how they ran sprints the width of the practice field after their 2-hour practice, Mack said:
"Our guys are in great shape. Tommy (Heffernan, the conditioning coach) has kept them busy. He's making sure they're going to be able to play at a very fast pace." (HSA)
About how their players practiced through their exhaustion, Aranda said:
"The guys were gassed, but they pushed through it. They know what's coming on Christmas Eve. They're getting up for it." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101217_Tulsas_pace_will_tax_Warriors_defense.html
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Warrior Quotes from the Star-Advertiser 12/16/10 (Players want Mack to get an extension)
About how he feels that Mack deserves a contract extension, Mana Silva said:
"He's doing a great job for our program. Anyone who has done as good a job has earned an extension." (HSA)
Mack said that he would:
"like an extension. We're building this program. These are guys I've brought in here. I want to be able to see the job through." (HSA)
About the program would benefit from him getting an extension, Mack said that an extension is:
"important for recruiting and retaining my staff. (Those are) the two main reasons. The kids want to know you'll be there for the time they'll be there. And (assistant) coaches are on one-year contracts. As long as I'm here, they're here." (HSA)
About how he would like Mack to get an extension, Corey Paredes said:
"Of course. Coach Mack is an awesome coach. He takes care of his players. He treats his players like his own children. ... And he's led us to some victories." (HSA)
Supporting Mack, Luke Ingram said:
"He does take care of his players. If you're a head coach, that's all that counts. You're in it for the players, and not for yourself. He's doing a great job taking care of us. My two years (at UH), he's been here, and he'll be here my last two. And it'll be a good thing for all of the up-and-coming guys out of high school to work with him, too." (HSA)
Comparing their team's resiliency to cockroaches, Bryant Moniz said:
"We're the cockroaches. Everybody thought they killed us last year. They thought we were dead. And then we got up. You know when you think you killed a cockroach, then you come back, and it's gone? That's us. They thought we were dead after last year. We came back. We won 10 games. We're going to a bowl game. They need to get a bigger slipper to kill us." (HSA)
Informed about Moniz's cockroach analogy, Corey Paredes said:
"I like that. That's a good analogy. Cockroaches are resilient. Even though their guts are spilled all over the floor, they're still going." (HSA)
Liking Moniz's cockroach analogy, Alex Green said:
"That's a good one by Mo. Everybody picked us low. We worked hard, and we're in the Top 25. We busted our butts for it." (HSA)
About how he was amazed at the size of cockroaches in Hawaii, Green (who is from Oregon) said:
"I've never seen cockroaches as big as I've seen out here in Hawaii. My first year, I was in training camp, and we were (staying) in the studios. I picked up my phone, and a big cockroach jumped into my bed. And (Hawaii's cockroaches) fly." (HSA)
About how he never saw cockroaches when he grew up in Northern California, Scott Enos said:
"I'd never seen cockroaches until I moved out here. It was a new experience for me. They don't stop. I've tried to kill them, and they keep coming back." (HSA)
About signing and faxing his letter of intent to UH, Cecil Doe said:
"I'm excited about playing for Hawaii." (HSA)
HSA Note: "The Warriors yesterday had their first full practice in nearly two weeks. They play Tulsa in the Dec. 24 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. The break "was good for us," said Moniz, whose Warriors ended their regular season Dec. 4. They had conditioning drills last week. Practices scheduled for the past Monday and Tuesday were canceled because many of the players were taking final exams."
About how they needed the time off from practice, Alex Green said:
"The rest was needed. We played a 13-game season. We needed a little breather." (HSA)
About how their players played through their injuries this season, Paredes said:
"This team has heart. That's why we're winning. Guys were hurt, but they pushed through the pain. That's our identity." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101216_Players_want_more_McMackin.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101216_Moniz_observes_Warriors_resiliency_Were_the_cockroaches.html
"He's doing a great job for our program. Anyone who has done as good a job has earned an extension." (HSA)
Mack said that he would:
"like an extension. We're building this program. These are guys I've brought in here. I want to be able to see the job through." (HSA)
About the program would benefit from him getting an extension, Mack said that an extension is:
"important for recruiting and retaining my staff. (Those are) the two main reasons. The kids want to know you'll be there for the time they'll be there. And (assistant) coaches are on one-year contracts. As long as I'm here, they're here." (HSA)
About how he would like Mack to get an extension, Corey Paredes said:
"Of course. Coach Mack is an awesome coach. He takes care of his players. He treats his players like his own children. ... And he's led us to some victories." (HSA)
Supporting Mack, Luke Ingram said:
"He does take care of his players. If you're a head coach, that's all that counts. You're in it for the players, and not for yourself. He's doing a great job taking care of us. My two years (at UH), he's been here, and he'll be here my last two. And it'll be a good thing for all of the up-and-coming guys out of high school to work with him, too." (HSA)
Comparing their team's resiliency to cockroaches, Bryant Moniz said:
"We're the cockroaches. Everybody thought they killed us last year. They thought we were dead. And then we got up. You know when you think you killed a cockroach, then you come back, and it's gone? That's us. They thought we were dead after last year. We came back. We won 10 games. We're going to a bowl game. They need to get a bigger slipper to kill us." (HSA)
Informed about Moniz's cockroach analogy, Corey Paredes said:
"I like that. That's a good analogy. Cockroaches are resilient. Even though their guts are spilled all over the floor, they're still going." (HSA)
Liking Moniz's cockroach analogy, Alex Green said:
"That's a good one by Mo. Everybody picked us low. We worked hard, and we're in the Top 25. We busted our butts for it." (HSA)
About how he was amazed at the size of cockroaches in Hawaii, Green (who is from Oregon) said:
"I've never seen cockroaches as big as I've seen out here in Hawaii. My first year, I was in training camp, and we were (staying) in the studios. I picked up my phone, and a big cockroach jumped into my bed. And (Hawaii's cockroaches) fly." (HSA)
About how he never saw cockroaches when he grew up in Northern California, Scott Enos said:
"I'd never seen cockroaches until I moved out here. It was a new experience for me. They don't stop. I've tried to kill them, and they keep coming back." (HSA)
About signing and faxing his letter of intent to UH, Cecil Doe said:
"I'm excited about playing for Hawaii." (HSA)
HSA Note: "The Warriors yesterday had their first full practice in nearly two weeks. They play Tulsa in the Dec. 24 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. The break "was good for us," said Moniz, whose Warriors ended their regular season Dec. 4. They had conditioning drills last week. Practices scheduled for the past Monday and Tuesday were canceled because many of the players were taking final exams."
About how they needed the time off from practice, Alex Green said:
"The rest was needed. We played a 13-game season. We needed a little breather." (HSA)
About how their players played through their injuries this season, Paredes said:
"This team has heart. That's why we're winning. Guys were hurt, but they pushed through the pain. That's our identity." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101216_Players_want_more_McMackin.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101216_Moniz_observes_Warriors_resiliency_Were_the_cockroaches.html
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Greg Salas was named to the AP All-American Third Team
About how he didn't have time to celebrate when his father called to tell him that he was named to the AP All-America Third team yesterday, Greg Salas said:
"I'm working on a paper." (HSA)
HSA Note: "This is UH's final-exam week, and Salas has been working to complete projects necessary for a bachelor's degree. He will participate in Saturday's graduation ceremony."
Proud that his son is graduating on Saturday, Greg's father Mark Salas said:
"That's what makes me the proudest. He gets to graduate. He was looking forward to that this year." (HSA)
About how Salas has earned his All-America honor and has done everything they ask athletes to do, Rolo said:
"He's worked hard to get the All-America honor. He never got into any trouble. He's graduating. Talk about somebody who has gone through college as a student-athlete the right way. I don't know what else you can ask for." (HSA)
About how Greg played all types of sports growing up but loved football best, Mark Salas said:
"He played baseball, basketball, roller-bladed. It wasn't just football. But football was something he loved the most." (HSA)
About how they realized early on that Greg was a gifted athlete, Mark Salas laughed and said:
"I don't know what side of the family that came from. I think we got somebody else's kid. He's special. He's a kid who always did amazing things." (HSA)
About how Greg is a great competitor, Rolo said:
"The thing that sets him apart is his competitiveness, and his desire to win. He likes to have fun, but once he steps inside the lines, he's very focused on winning and making the play. He yearns to be the guy who makes the play." (HSA)
About how he tried to model his play after Charles Woodson, who he was a fan of after attending the Rose Bowl where Woodson starred on both offense and defense, Salas said:
"I never thought about college when I was first trying out (for Pop Warner)." (HSA)
About how Greg formed close friendships that has stayed strong, Mark Salas said:
"His childhood friends are still his friends. They'll always be his friends." (HSA)
About his high school teammate Joey Lipp that signed with UH when he did in 2006, Salas said:
"I've known him since second or third grade. We had X-Men cards. We played around at recess. We went over to his house to swim. He had a big swimming pool with a diving board." (HSA)
HSA Note: "At UH, they formed a core group of friends -- safety Spencer Smith, slotbacks Kealoha Pilares and Rick Taylor, defensive back Leroy Lutu Jr., and former Warriors Matt Mielke and Travis Smith."
About how he stays loyal to his core group of friends, Salas said:
"I'm a loyal friend -- to the friends back home and the friends I've met out here. If we're not at my apartment, we're at Kealoha's or Spencer's house, watching TV or playing video games or writing papers." (HSA)
About how UH appealed to him on his recruiting trip, Salas said:
"My father wanted me to go away and experience something as different as possible. He told me: 'You're not going to have many opportunities like this for free.' I've had a great time out here. And to get (an All-America honor), to be thought of as one of the best players in the country, I'm humbled and honored. I'm thankful to my teammates, coaches, family and friends. A lot of people have contributed to my success, and helped me become the man I am today." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101215_Greg_Salas_All-American.html
"I'm working on a paper." (HSA)
HSA Note: "This is UH's final-exam week, and Salas has been working to complete projects necessary for a bachelor's degree. He will participate in Saturday's graduation ceremony."
Proud that his son is graduating on Saturday, Greg's father Mark Salas said:
"That's what makes me the proudest. He gets to graduate. He was looking forward to that this year." (HSA)
About how Salas has earned his All-America honor and has done everything they ask athletes to do, Rolo said:
"He's worked hard to get the All-America honor. He never got into any trouble. He's graduating. Talk about somebody who has gone through college as a student-athlete the right way. I don't know what else you can ask for." (HSA)
About how Greg played all types of sports growing up but loved football best, Mark Salas said:
"He played baseball, basketball, roller-bladed. It wasn't just football. But football was something he loved the most." (HSA)
About how they realized early on that Greg was a gifted athlete, Mark Salas laughed and said:
"I don't know what side of the family that came from. I think we got somebody else's kid. He's special. He's a kid who always did amazing things." (HSA)
About how Greg is a great competitor, Rolo said:
"The thing that sets him apart is his competitiveness, and his desire to win. He likes to have fun, but once he steps inside the lines, he's very focused on winning and making the play. He yearns to be the guy who makes the play." (HSA)
About how he tried to model his play after Charles Woodson, who he was a fan of after attending the Rose Bowl where Woodson starred on both offense and defense, Salas said:
"I never thought about college when I was first trying out (for Pop Warner)." (HSA)
About how Greg formed close friendships that has stayed strong, Mark Salas said:
"His childhood friends are still his friends. They'll always be his friends." (HSA)
About his high school teammate Joey Lipp that signed with UH when he did in 2006, Salas said:
"I've known him since second or third grade. We had X-Men cards. We played around at recess. We went over to his house to swim. He had a big swimming pool with a diving board." (HSA)
HSA Note: "At UH, they formed a core group of friends -- safety Spencer Smith, slotbacks Kealoha Pilares and Rick Taylor, defensive back Leroy Lutu Jr., and former Warriors Matt Mielke and Travis Smith."
About how he stays loyal to his core group of friends, Salas said:
"I'm a loyal friend -- to the friends back home and the friends I've met out here. If we're not at my apartment, we're at Kealoha's or Spencer's house, watching TV or playing video games or writing papers." (HSA)
About how UH appealed to him on his recruiting trip, Salas said:
"My father wanted me to go away and experience something as different as possible. He told me: 'You're not going to have many opportunities like this for free.' I've had a great time out here. And to get (an All-America honor), to be thought of as one of the best players in the country, I'm humbled and honored. I'm thankful to my teammates, coaches, family and friends. A lot of people have contributed to my success, and helped me become the man I am today." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101215_Greg_Salas_All-American.html
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
RB Will Gregory commits to the Warriors!
About committing to UH, Will Gregory said:
"I think it's a great school for me. I knew for a long, long time I wanted to go to Hawaii." (HSA)
About his great-uncle George Lumpkin, who has been with UH 37 seasons as a player and coach, Gregory said:
"He's always talking to me about school. He doesn't talk to me about football." (HSA)
About how RB coach Brian Smith recruited him, Gregory said:
"He's a good guy. He came to my house. My family likes him, too." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Gregory said he is 6 feet, about 200 pounds, and is capable of running 40 yards in less than 4.5 seconds. Yesterday, he was named to the California Interscholastic Federation all-star team."
About how Arizona, Cal, and Washington have been trying to recruit him as a DB but he will play RB for UH, Gregory said:
"I like DB, but I love running back." (HSA)
About choosing UH over his offers from BSU, Nevada and San Diego State, Gregory said:
"I like their offense a lot. And I like what they do with their running back." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101214_Running_back_prospect_hopes_to_fill_Greens_1000-yard_shoes.html
"I think it's a great school for me. I knew for a long, long time I wanted to go to Hawaii." (HSA)
About his great-uncle George Lumpkin, who has been with UH 37 seasons as a player and coach, Gregory said:
"He's always talking to me about school. He doesn't talk to me about football." (HSA)
About how RB coach Brian Smith recruited him, Gregory said:
"He's a good guy. He came to my house. My family likes him, too." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Gregory said he is 6 feet, about 200 pounds, and is capable of running 40 yards in less than 4.5 seconds. Yesterday, he was named to the California Interscholastic Federation all-star team."
About how Arizona, Cal, and Washington have been trying to recruit him as a DB but he will play RB for UH, Gregory said:
"I like DB, but I love running back." (HSA)
About choosing UH over his offers from BSU, Nevada and San Diego State, Gregory said:
"I like their offense a lot. And I like what they do with their running back." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101214_Running_back_prospect_hopes_to_fill_Greens_1000-yard_shoes.html
Saturday, December 11, 2010
UH sealed the deals for the MWC in football and Big West in all other sports!
SDUT = San Diego Union-Tribune
UH = University of Hawaii Athletics web site
About joining the MWC for football and Big West for all other sports, JD said:
"This is what our coaches and what our fans want, and we delivered." (HSA)
About changing conferences for UH, UH President M.R.C. Greenwood said:
"People don't like change, but this is a change for the positive." (HSA)
JD said that the geography of the WAC was moving east:
"and the concern I had was eventually some of those schools would start asking for travel subsidies because of the cost, for them, to travel to Hawaii." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Instead, UH will participate in "cost sharing" — meaning it will pay subsidies — for Mountain West and Big West schools traveling to Hawaii. The payments will involve only airfare, not hotel stays, according to UH officials."
HSA Note: "Big West Commissioner Dennis Farrell said "there will be costs" UH will pay to visiting Big West teams. "It will happen," he said, although an amount has not been decided. UH will relinquish the television rights to its sports to the Mountain West and Big West. UH currently earns $450,000 annually as its share of a deal between the WAC and sports cable-television network ESPN. In addition, UH earns roughly $2.5 million, mostly from pay-per-view subscriptions, in a deal with Oceanic Time Warner Cable and television station KFVE."
HSA Note: "However, each Mountain West team receives about $1.45 million a year from the national television deal. And with the loss of three key members, UH, if it had chosen to remain in the WAC, would receive a reduced share, probably about $100,000 annually, from the WAC's deal with ESPN."
JD said that when the leadership committee was debating whether or not to lose the WAC:
"we couldn't afford not to do it." (HSA)
About UH leaving the WAC, Karl Benson said:
"This was not unexpected. ... At this point we'll have to move forward." (HSA)
HSA Note: "With teams prepared to switch conferences, Farrell met with the leaders of Big West schools in February and March to "start making contingency plans." In April, Farrell and Donovan were on the same flight. They reminisced about the 12 years UH women's teams spent in the Big West. In June, Boise State announced it would leave the WAC. In August, Fresno State and Nevada did the same. Farrell and Donovan then met to discuss the possibility of UH joining the Big West in sports other than football. In October, Howard Karr, chairman of the UH Board of Regents, and Greenwood formed what would be dubbed the "leadership committee." Rockne Freitas, UH vice president of academic affairs, was summoned to be what Karr called the "traveling liaison." "
About comparing new D-I member Bakersfield with UH, Big West Commissioner Dennis Farrell said:
"It became obvious Hawaii was the right fit for us." (HSA)
About the 2 rectangular placards in holiday gift wrapping at their news conference, having the logos of the MWC and Big West, JD said:
"It's the best Christmas present I could possibly dream of." (HSA)
About how the Big West is a great baseball conference, UH baseball head coach Mike Trapasso said:
"Not only does the Big West have multiple teams in the regionals every year. But some years multiple teams in the College World Series." (HSA)
About the importance of the reduced travel time for UH athletes, JD said:
"On average, we're looking at one less day traveling for each trip for all sports. That means less missed classes." (HSA)
About how the Big West was attractive to UH, UH President M.R.C. Greenwood said:
"That's one of the things we found especially attractive about the Big West. Our teams playing closer to home and in a conference where the academic standards are pretty high." (HSA)
About inviting UH to the MWC for football, Thompson said:
"The Mountain West Conference is very pleased to gain the University of Hawai'i as a football-only member beginning with the 2012 season. Hawai'i's outstanding football program and television value fit perfectly with the MWC's strategic initiatives for the future direction of the conference. We look forward to adding the Warriors to the MWC family." (UH)
Announcing the UH has been added to the Big West, UC-Irvine Chancellor and Chair of the Big West Board of Directors, Dr. Michael Drake said:
"We are excited and pleased with the addition of Hawai'i to the Big West Conference. In assessing Hawai'i, the Board carefully considered and was impressed by both its legacy of athletic success and its commitment to academic excellence." (UH)
About adding UH to the Big West, Farrell said:
"It is a tremendous day for the Big West Conference. I am personally thrilled because I remember well the participation of the University of Hawai'i's women's sports teams in the past and really look forward to the revival of that competition." (UH)
About UH joining the MWC and Big West, Greenwood said:
"We are delighted that the Mountain West Conference and the Big West Conference have formally invited our teams to be a part of their exciting and innovative conferences. We are so pleased that the discussions we announced were underway last month have now led to this pivotal step today.
The people of Hawai'i deserve a first-rate athletics program. We have been overjoyed by the positive reaction our wonderful citizens have had to this possibility. Now that the invitations are official, we are even more delighted. We believe joining the Mountain West Conference will bring much joy to our football fans as well as contribute to the successful future that, by working together, we all seek to enhance at the University of Hawai'i." (UH)
About the importance of this day to UH Athletics, JD said:
"This is an historic day in UH Athletics. As much as we have enjoyed our 31-year relationship with the Western Athletic Conference, this hybrid arrangement will allow us to continue traditional rivalries that our fans have grown to enjoy, and keep a footprint in the Western United States, where much of our recruiting base lies." (UH)
About UH joining the MWC and Big West, Howard Karr (Chair of UH's Board of Regents) said:
"We are proud to see the University of Hawai'i advancing in all aspects of campus life, and campus life most definitely includes athletics." (UH)
About how it is great for the football team to go to the MWC,Mack said:
"This is great news for our football program to be able to continue rivalries with Fresno State, Boise State, and Nevada along with the other great programs of the Mountain West Conference. Our fans will enjoy the high level of competition in the league and our players will be able to play on a national scale. This is an exciting day for our football program and we look forward to success in the Mountain West Conference." (UH)
About how being in the Big West will be great for their softball team, UH softball head coach Bob Coolen said:
"Returning to the Big West is great for our program because of the strength and competitiveness of the teams in the conference. It will also be a welcome change because of the easier travel involved with all teams being up and down the California coast. With our current recruiting base primarily in California, it will give our players more opportunities to play in front of family and friends during our conference season. Rejoining the Big West will also allow us to renew our rivalries with Long Beach State, CS Fullerton, and UOP." (UH)
About how their team is excited to rejoin the Big West, women's basketball coach Dana Takahara-Dias said:
"The women's basketball team is very excited to rejoin the Big West Conference. We have had prior success in the Big West, having won back-to-back conference titles in 1992-93 and 1993-94 and look to renew old rivalries. Geographically, it will offer our athletes much easier travel and will be able to spend more time in classes as well." (UH)
Excited for their team and fans for joining the Big West, women's volleyball head coach Dave Shoji said:
"I'm excited for our program and am especially excited for our families and fans who will have the opportunity to come to more of our games on the mainland. We are looking forward to renewing some old rivalries as we have great history with Cal Poly, UOP, and Long Beach State. I think it will be a more competitive conference which will help with our RPI and our national prominence. We recruit heavily in California and this will enhance our chances to get top talent to come to play for the University of Hawai'i. In terms of travel, it means just taking one flight instead of two or three plus a drive to get to our destination—it will be a lot easier on the team." (UH)
About joining the Big West, men's basketball head coach Gib Arnold said:
"We're looking forward to the new challenges that joining the Big West brings. We'll be able to build new rivalries with other West Coast schools and it allows our student-athletes from California a greater opportunity to play in front of family and friends." (UH)
About joining the big West, women's water polo head coach Michel Roy said:
"This an incredible opportunity for our team. We're very familiar with the teams in the Big West and now we'll be able to compete with them in conference. I'm confident we'll continue a high level of competition and I couldn't be more happy in joining the conference." (UH)
Excited to be joining the Big West, baseball head coach Mike Trapasso said:
"This is an exciting move for our baseball program. Two things it provides us is a stronger conference, top to bottom, and the travel will be so much easier for us. We will now be able to recruit in areas where we weren't having much success. Altogether it's a win-win situation for us." (UH)
About how the MWC might expand by 1 or 2 more schools in the near future, San Diego State President Stephen Weber said:
"The really interesting questions are going to be what we start thinking about in January. The first question would be: would we like to add more programs? If so, the question is whether it's one or two (programs in addition to Hawaii). Beyond that, a question is where those programs would be. Do we want to stay in Texas, or do we want to look elsewhere?" (SDUT)
About how he doesn't expect the MWC to make decisions in January, Weber said that if the board is:
"serious about looking at a couple of teams, we'd probably do that through the rest of spring and make a decision in June." (SDUT)
About how the MWC will have to see if other schools will increase their revenue, SDSU AD Jim Sterk said:
"The league is going to analyze the situation and see if there's anything else that makes sense." (SDUT)
SDUT Note: "In Hawaii's case, Weber said Hawaii brings $2.2 million TV revenue that now will be added to the MWC revenue-sharing pot. To offset travel costs, Sterk said Hawaii would pay $150,000 to $175,000 per trip to teams that play there."
About inviting UH to the MWC, MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson said:
"Hawaii's outstanding football program and television value fit perfectly with the MWC's strategic initiatives for the future direction of the conference." (SDUT)
About moving to the MWC, JD said:
"We couldn't afford not to do it." (SDUT)
About how he doesn't expect MWC TV revenue to decrease even after they lose Utah, BYU, and TCU, Weber said:
"Let's be clear: the market in Utah is pretty small; that's not a big marketplace. While there would have been a market in Dallas-Fort Worth (with TCU), it wasn't being accessed (because the league's TV network, The Mtn., lacks cable distribution there)." (SDUT)
Asked if SDSU was committed to staying in the MWC, Weber said:
"No comment." (SDUT)
About how they do not have the chance to go anywhere else they might like to go to (read: Pac-12), Sterk said:
"no offers are on the table." (SDUT)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/furtherreview/20101211_The_conference_dealing_is_done_so_you_can_exhale.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/hawaiinews/20101211_uh_accepts_pricey_move.html
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/dec/10/mountain-west-still-may-grow-beyond-hawaii/
http://hawaiiathletics.com/news/2010/12/10/GEN_1210103731.aspx
UH = University of Hawaii Athletics web site
About joining the MWC for football and Big West for all other sports, JD said:
"This is what our coaches and what our fans want, and we delivered." (HSA)
About changing conferences for UH, UH President M.R.C. Greenwood said:
"People don't like change, but this is a change for the positive." (HSA)
JD said that the geography of the WAC was moving east:
"and the concern I had was eventually some of those schools would start asking for travel subsidies because of the cost, for them, to travel to Hawaii." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Instead, UH will participate in "cost sharing" — meaning it will pay subsidies — for Mountain West and Big West schools traveling to Hawaii. The payments will involve only airfare, not hotel stays, according to UH officials."
HSA Note: "Big West Commissioner Dennis Farrell said "there will be costs" UH will pay to visiting Big West teams. "It will happen," he said, although an amount has not been decided. UH will relinquish the television rights to its sports to the Mountain West and Big West. UH currently earns $450,000 annually as its share of a deal between the WAC and sports cable-television network ESPN. In addition, UH earns roughly $2.5 million, mostly from pay-per-view subscriptions, in a deal with Oceanic Time Warner Cable and television station KFVE."
HSA Note: "However, each Mountain West team receives about $1.45 million a year from the national television deal. And with the loss of three key members, UH, if it had chosen to remain in the WAC, would receive a reduced share, probably about $100,000 annually, from the WAC's deal with ESPN."
JD said that when the leadership committee was debating whether or not to lose the WAC:
"we couldn't afford not to do it." (HSA)
About UH leaving the WAC, Karl Benson said:
"This was not unexpected. ... At this point we'll have to move forward." (HSA)
HSA Note: "With teams prepared to switch conferences, Farrell met with the leaders of Big West schools in February and March to "start making contingency plans." In April, Farrell and Donovan were on the same flight. They reminisced about the 12 years UH women's teams spent in the Big West. In June, Boise State announced it would leave the WAC. In August, Fresno State and Nevada did the same. Farrell and Donovan then met to discuss the possibility of UH joining the Big West in sports other than football. In October, Howard Karr, chairman of the UH Board of Regents, and Greenwood formed what would be dubbed the "leadership committee." Rockne Freitas, UH vice president of academic affairs, was summoned to be what Karr called the "traveling liaison." "
About comparing new D-I member Bakersfield with UH, Big West Commissioner Dennis Farrell said:
"It became obvious Hawaii was the right fit for us." (HSA)
About the 2 rectangular placards in holiday gift wrapping at their news conference, having the logos of the MWC and Big West, JD said:
"It's the best Christmas present I could possibly dream of." (HSA)
About how the Big West is a great baseball conference, UH baseball head coach Mike Trapasso said:
"Not only does the Big West have multiple teams in the regionals every year. But some years multiple teams in the College World Series." (HSA)
About the importance of the reduced travel time for UH athletes, JD said:
"On average, we're looking at one less day traveling for each trip for all sports. That means less missed classes." (HSA)
About how the Big West was attractive to UH, UH President M.R.C. Greenwood said:
"That's one of the things we found especially attractive about the Big West. Our teams playing closer to home and in a conference where the academic standards are pretty high." (HSA)
About inviting UH to the MWC for football, Thompson said:
"The Mountain West Conference is very pleased to gain the University of Hawai'i as a football-only member beginning with the 2012 season. Hawai'i's outstanding football program and television value fit perfectly with the MWC's strategic initiatives for the future direction of the conference. We look forward to adding the Warriors to the MWC family." (UH)
Announcing the UH has been added to the Big West, UC-Irvine Chancellor and Chair of the Big West Board of Directors, Dr. Michael Drake said:
"We are excited and pleased with the addition of Hawai'i to the Big West Conference. In assessing Hawai'i, the Board carefully considered and was impressed by both its legacy of athletic success and its commitment to academic excellence." (UH)
About adding UH to the Big West, Farrell said:
"It is a tremendous day for the Big West Conference. I am personally thrilled because I remember well the participation of the University of Hawai'i's women's sports teams in the past and really look forward to the revival of that competition." (UH)
About UH joining the MWC and Big West, Greenwood said:
"We are delighted that the Mountain West Conference and the Big West Conference have formally invited our teams to be a part of their exciting and innovative conferences. We are so pleased that the discussions we announced were underway last month have now led to this pivotal step today.
The people of Hawai'i deserve a first-rate athletics program. We have been overjoyed by the positive reaction our wonderful citizens have had to this possibility. Now that the invitations are official, we are even more delighted. We believe joining the Mountain West Conference will bring much joy to our football fans as well as contribute to the successful future that, by working together, we all seek to enhance at the University of Hawai'i." (UH)
About the importance of this day to UH Athletics, JD said:
"This is an historic day in UH Athletics. As much as we have enjoyed our 31-year relationship with the Western Athletic Conference, this hybrid arrangement will allow us to continue traditional rivalries that our fans have grown to enjoy, and keep a footprint in the Western United States, where much of our recruiting base lies." (UH)
About UH joining the MWC and Big West, Howard Karr (Chair of UH's Board of Regents) said:
"We are proud to see the University of Hawai'i advancing in all aspects of campus life, and campus life most definitely includes athletics." (UH)
About how it is great for the football team to go to the MWC,Mack said:
"This is great news for our football program to be able to continue rivalries with Fresno State, Boise State, and Nevada along with the other great programs of the Mountain West Conference. Our fans will enjoy the high level of competition in the league and our players will be able to play on a national scale. This is an exciting day for our football program and we look forward to success in the Mountain West Conference." (UH)
About how being in the Big West will be great for their softball team, UH softball head coach Bob Coolen said:
"Returning to the Big West is great for our program because of the strength and competitiveness of the teams in the conference. It will also be a welcome change because of the easier travel involved with all teams being up and down the California coast. With our current recruiting base primarily in California, it will give our players more opportunities to play in front of family and friends during our conference season. Rejoining the Big West will also allow us to renew our rivalries with Long Beach State, CS Fullerton, and UOP." (UH)
About how their team is excited to rejoin the Big West, women's basketball coach Dana Takahara-Dias said:
"The women's basketball team is very excited to rejoin the Big West Conference. We have had prior success in the Big West, having won back-to-back conference titles in 1992-93 and 1993-94 and look to renew old rivalries. Geographically, it will offer our athletes much easier travel and will be able to spend more time in classes as well." (UH)
Excited for their team and fans for joining the Big West, women's volleyball head coach Dave Shoji said:
"I'm excited for our program and am especially excited for our families and fans who will have the opportunity to come to more of our games on the mainland. We are looking forward to renewing some old rivalries as we have great history with Cal Poly, UOP, and Long Beach State. I think it will be a more competitive conference which will help with our RPI and our national prominence. We recruit heavily in California and this will enhance our chances to get top talent to come to play for the University of Hawai'i. In terms of travel, it means just taking one flight instead of two or three plus a drive to get to our destination—it will be a lot easier on the team." (UH)
About joining the Big West, men's basketball head coach Gib Arnold said:
"We're looking forward to the new challenges that joining the Big West brings. We'll be able to build new rivalries with other West Coast schools and it allows our student-athletes from California a greater opportunity to play in front of family and friends." (UH)
About joining the big West, women's water polo head coach Michel Roy said:
"This an incredible opportunity for our team. We're very familiar with the teams in the Big West and now we'll be able to compete with them in conference. I'm confident we'll continue a high level of competition and I couldn't be more happy in joining the conference." (UH)
Excited to be joining the Big West, baseball head coach Mike Trapasso said:
"This is an exciting move for our baseball program. Two things it provides us is a stronger conference, top to bottom, and the travel will be so much easier for us. We will now be able to recruit in areas where we weren't having much success. Altogether it's a win-win situation for us." (UH)
About how the MWC might expand by 1 or 2 more schools in the near future, San Diego State President Stephen Weber said:
"The really interesting questions are going to be what we start thinking about in January. The first question would be: would we like to add more programs? If so, the question is whether it's one or two (programs in addition to Hawaii). Beyond that, a question is where those programs would be. Do we want to stay in Texas, or do we want to look elsewhere?" (SDUT)
About how he doesn't expect the MWC to make decisions in January, Weber said that if the board is:
"serious about looking at a couple of teams, we'd probably do that through the rest of spring and make a decision in June." (SDUT)
About how the MWC will have to see if other schools will increase their revenue, SDSU AD Jim Sterk said:
"The league is going to analyze the situation and see if there's anything else that makes sense." (SDUT)
SDUT Note: "In Hawaii's case, Weber said Hawaii brings $2.2 million TV revenue that now will be added to the MWC revenue-sharing pot. To offset travel costs, Sterk said Hawaii would pay $150,000 to $175,000 per trip to teams that play there."
About inviting UH to the MWC, MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson said:
"Hawaii's outstanding football program and television value fit perfectly with the MWC's strategic initiatives for the future direction of the conference." (SDUT)
About moving to the MWC, JD said:
"We couldn't afford not to do it." (SDUT)
About how he doesn't expect MWC TV revenue to decrease even after they lose Utah, BYU, and TCU, Weber said:
"Let's be clear: the market in Utah is pretty small; that's not a big marketplace. While there would have been a market in Dallas-Fort Worth (with TCU), it wasn't being accessed (because the league's TV network, The Mtn., lacks cable distribution there)." (SDUT)
Asked if SDSU was committed to staying in the MWC, Weber said:
"No comment." (SDUT)
About how they do not have the chance to go anywhere else they might like to go to (read: Pac-12), Sterk said:
"no offers are on the table." (SDUT)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/furtherreview/20101211_The_conference_dealing_is_done_so_you_can_exhale.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/hawaiinews/20101211_uh_accepts_pricey_move.html
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/dec/10/mountain-west-still-may-grow-beyond-hawaii/
http://hawaiiathletics.com/news/2010/12/10/GEN_1210103731.aspx
Friday, December 10, 2010
Feature article on Rich Miano
About the fierce competition he faced with the Jets when he joined
them as a 6th-round pick and rosters were cut from 49 to 45 adn the
USFL was collapsing which flooded the market with available players,
Rich MIano said:
"I report to camp and there are 120 guys out there and I'm sixth
string. I remember the first week we were in a dormitory and almost
the whole floor got cut. I was like the only one left." (HSA)
them as a 6th-round pick and rosters were cut from 49 to 45 adn the
USFL was collapsing which flooded the market with available players,
Rich MIano said:
"I report to camp and there are 120 guys out there and I'm sixth
string. I remember the first week we were in a dormitory and almost
the whole floor got cut. I was like the only one left." (HSA)
About how he was told that he was cut on the final day of camp, the
day before his birthday, Miano said:
"I get home that night, and there were only three TV stations at the
time, and they were all reporting that I had gotten cut. But the next
day my dad woke me up and said, 'Happy birthday, son. The Houston
Oilers just picked you up.'" (HSA)
About how the Jets called him to let him know they were reclaiming him
a few hours after the Oilers claimed him, Miano said:
"They made me fly back that day because they had a game with the
Raiders in Los Angeles. I flew something like 18,000 miles that
weekend, and The New York Times wrote a story about how even pilots
aren't allowed to fly that much. I flew back to New York, then to Los
Angeles, then back to New York. But in our second game I had two
interceptions and now I'm leading the American Football Conference in
interceptions 14 days after getting cut. Amazing." (HSA)
Asked if the team's performance surprised him after they were picked
to finish near the bottom of the WAC before the season, Miano said:
"As a coach, you always want to be optimistic about your opportunities
every year, and you want to think that you can win every game -- even
though things don't always work out that way.
I will say this: Coming into this year, we as coaches knew we had
tremendous, skilled athletes and that (quarterback) Bryant Moniz was
going to be really, really good -- much better than most people
probably anticipated. We also knew the receivers and the running backs
had a lot of potential, so if the line could hold together and come
along -- and that was what we thought could take some time -- then we
could be an explosive offense.
Defensively, we were excited about actually having guys coming back
because the previous year we had 11 new starters. I had never seen
that happen at any level of football, where you had to replace the
entire defensive team. So we knew we'd be better defensively, but
again, there are so many intangibles that you can't control. So while
the pundits and prognosticators have been surprised by how the team
has performed, it hasn't been a surprise to us. We're extremely
pleased, but we're not surprised." (HSA)
Asked what he felt about UH renewing rivalries in the MWC that he
competed against when his UH teams were in the WAC, Miano said:
"I think about our fan base, the loyal fans from the '70s and '80s,
when this program was just starting to get going. We had some great
games against teams like BYU, of course, and Air Force and Wyoming and
San Diego State. ... It was a great time to be a football player at
UH, and I think it was a really exciting time for the sports fans in
the state.
Now we've come full circle ... different name, same teams. I think
it's a great conference. I really believe we had to (leave the WAC)
from a football and an Athletics Department standpoint. This gives us
credibility and stability. I think the old fans will appreciate the
rivalries we'll be renewing and enjoy continuing the rivalries we now
have with Fresno State and Nevada and Boise State.
I also think it was important to the state that we remained a
Division-I program. I really don't believe the people of Hawaii want
or would support a I-AA program, and right now we have a saturated WAC
that seems to be not adding ... you know ... I'm sure (Denver,
Texas-San Antonio and Texas State will) be quality members eventually;
they could be the next Boise States and Nevadas that were I-AA at one
time. But I really believe our program needs to be in a strong
Division-I conference at this time." (HSA)
Asked what was going through his mind during the speculation about
what UH should do after Fresno State and Nevada joined Boise State in
leaving the WAC, Miano said:
"I think there was tremendous trepidation in not knowing if this
program was going to exist anymore on the level it had.
As a coach, obviously, you have to be thinking if this league doesn't
become stronger and we have no possibility of moving, everything from
attendance to television rights to sponsorships ... it could possibly
be the end of everything we have here.
As an assistant coach you're always on a one-year contract anyway, but
this was more important for me because I bleed green. This is my home.
This is my alma mater. This is where I've worked for the last 12
years. Even as a professional football player, I always wanted to
eventually come back and coach and help the youth of Hawaii.
I also thought back to those doomsday scenarios during the Fred
vonAppen days (UH head coach, 1996-98), when people were asking, "Do
we really want a Division-I team?"
I just couldn't see how that would succeed." (HSA)
Asked if he felt there was a real danger that their football program
could have ended, Miano said:
"Oh, most definitely. And you have to give credit to the powers that
be -- the president (M.R.C. Greenwood), (Vice President) Rockne
Freitas, (Board of Regents Executive Administrator) Keith Amemiya,
(Athletic Director) Jim Donovan, the chancellor (Virginia Hinshaw) --
all the people who made this thing work.
It was getting scary, especially in recruiting. It was tough, because
you had to sell the recruits on scenarios. Other (teams') coaches were
telling the kids: "Well, look who's in their conference. Look at who
they'll be playing. Are they ever going to be on ESPN again? Are they
still going to be relevant?" So we're out there and we're having to
create these scenarios where maybe we're going to the Mountain West or
maybe we're going independent and be able to play whoever we want. So
the timing (of joining the Mountain West) couldn't have been better."
(HSA)
Asked how the UH football program changed from when he played, Miano said:
"One thing is that when I was a senior, our average attendance was
47,000 ... and I'm not saying we haven't been able to captivate the
fans as much because I think they're still there. It's just that they
have a lot of different avenues available to view us. But that (2008)
Sugar Bowl year ... it was something else, something we haven't seen
since maybe the Fabulous Five in the way it just captivated the whole
community.
Back in my days we played some big teams like USC, and we had a couple
of big victories, but we didn't get to play in bowl games. There
wasn't a proliferation of bowl games, so unless you went 11-1 or 10-2,
you weren't going anywhere.
But this has always been a successful program. It's had ups and downs,
but right now, if you're a recruit, why wouldn't you want to come
here? It's the most beautiful place on the Earth, we have great
facilities, great fans, we're going to be playing great competition in
our new conference.
But it's our job -- it's Coach (Greg) McMackin's job, it's our job as
assistant coaches -- to be the stewards of this program and continue
to move it forward.
People think getting to a BCS bowl game is once in a lifetime, but why
couldn't we do it again? Boise State's done it. Utah's done it. If we
had won that (Sugar Bowl) game, it would have transcended anything
that happened before in Hawaii sports. People would still be talking
about it 20, 30, 50 years down the line.
But we didn't get it done, so the way I look at it, we still have some
unfinished business." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/columnists/20101210_Rich_Miano.html
JC WR Chris Gant commits to the Warriors!
About how he is prepared to do the haka, Chris Gant said:
"I know how to do the haka. We did it my freshman year (at Bishop Alemany High in Mission Hills, Calif.)." (HSA)
Excited about committing to the Warriors, Gant said:
"I'm very excited to play for them. I had my eye on Hawaii as my school since the eighth grade." (HSA)
HSA Note: "From ESPN telecasts, Gant said, he became a fan of the Warriors' four-wide passing offense. He said he followed former UH quarterback Colt Brennan and slotback Davone Bess."
About what he got to do during his recruiting trip, Gant said:
"We got to experience the game-day things. I experienced the meetings and riding on the bus (to the game) and the stadium. It was fun." (HSA)
Gant said that he was impressed with:
"the players and the coaches and the fans and the stadium. I liked everything. There wasn't anything I didn't like about the trip."
HSA Note: "This past season, Gant had 81 receptions for 1,134 yards and 17 touchdowns. In two seasons with the Raiders, he has 145 catches and 33 touchdowns. He was named to the 2010 All-Western State Conference first team. Gant said he is 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds."
Asked what his 40-yard dash time is, Gant said:
"I was hand-timed at 4.4 (seconds)." (HSA)
About how he played basketball when he was growing up, first dunking in the summer before he started high school, Gant said:
"When I was 10, I was going up against 6-footers." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Gant first dunked in the summer before his freshman year of high school. He said he received interest from Nevada, Fresno State, New Mexico State and Wyoming, but said he made his decision during his UH visit."
About how he loved his UH recruiting visit, Gant said:
"I loved it. I loved how everybody is together. I love the fans." (HSA)
About how his teammates call him "King Gant", Gant said:
"My mother's maiden name is King. I got a tattoo for that, and everybody started calling me King Gant." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101210_JC_receiver_commits_to_Warriors.html
"I know how to do the haka. We did it my freshman year (at Bishop Alemany High in Mission Hills, Calif.)." (HSA)
Excited about committing to the Warriors, Gant said:
"I'm very excited to play for them. I had my eye on Hawaii as my school since the eighth grade." (HSA)
HSA Note: "From ESPN telecasts, Gant said, he became a fan of the Warriors' four-wide passing offense. He said he followed former UH quarterback Colt Brennan and slotback Davone Bess."
About what he got to do during his recruiting trip, Gant said:
"We got to experience the game-day things. I experienced the meetings and riding on the bus (to the game) and the stadium. It was fun." (HSA)
Gant said that he was impressed with:
"the players and the coaches and the fans and the stadium. I liked everything. There wasn't anything I didn't like about the trip."
HSA Note: "This past season, Gant had 81 receptions for 1,134 yards and 17 touchdowns. In two seasons with the Raiders, he has 145 catches and 33 touchdowns. He was named to the 2010 All-Western State Conference first team. Gant said he is 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds."
Asked what his 40-yard dash time is, Gant said:
"I was hand-timed at 4.4 (seconds)." (HSA)
About how he played basketball when he was growing up, first dunking in the summer before he started high school, Gant said:
"When I was 10, I was going up against 6-footers." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Gant first dunked in the summer before his freshman year of high school. He said he received interest from Nevada, Fresno State, New Mexico State and Wyoming, but said he made his decision during his UH visit."
About how he loved his UH recruiting visit, Gant said:
"I loved it. I loved how everybody is together. I love the fans." (HSA)
About how his teammates call him "King Gant", Gant said:
"My mother's maiden name is King. I got a tattoo for that, and everybody started calling me King Gant." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101210_JC_receiver_commits_to_Warriors.html
Thursday, December 9, 2010
OL Ben Dew from New Zealand committed to the Warriors!
About committing to the Warriors, Ben Dew said:
"It's a good fit for me." (HSA)
"I'm excited to play for the Warriors." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Dew, who lives in Auckland, New Zealand, will be reunited with his sister, Rebecca Dew, a member of the Rainbow Wahine basketball team. Ben Dew said he will take UH classes beginning in January, then go on scholarship in July."
HSA Note: "Dew was born in Gainesville, Fla., and has lived in Tennessee, New Zealand and, for one year, in Hawaii. In July 2009, he caught the UH coaches' attention when he attended the Warriors' Big Man's Camp for football linemen."
About how Dew learned football quickly when he played for Word of Life Academy in the 2009 football season, his only semester at that school and his first year playing organized football, Joe Onosai (who was head coach there then) said:
"He caught on so quickly. I was pretty amazed at how he progressed. I was most impressed he was such a mature young man. I felt like we had a 25-year-old on the offensive line." (HA)
HSA Note: "After the 2009 fall semester ended, the Dew family moved to New Zealand. Dew said he was home-schooled there, although he competed in rugby leagues. Arizona, UCLA and Wyoming expressed interest in Dew, but he was set with his decision."
About how he ignored interest from other recruiters, Dew said:
"I planned to go to Hawaii." (HSA)
About how he likes Hawaii, Dew said:
"I like (Hawaii's) beaches, but most of all, I like the people. They're very family-oriented. They are -- what's the saying? -- ohana." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Dew said he is 6 feet 4 and 300 pounds. He can bench press 355 pounds. He also is skilled in rugby and basketball."
About Dew, Onosai said:
"He's a beast. He's a big boy. He's a very feisty competitor. He's going to be a great addition to Hawaii's offensive line." (HSA)
Comparing Dew to Colin Scotts, who played for UH and was the first Australian to be drafted by the NFL, Onosai said:
Onosai said Dew is comparable to Colin Scotts, a former Warrior who reportedly was the first Australian to be drafted by the National Football League. Scotts played tight end and defensive end for the St. Louis Cardinals.
"He's a reserved Colin Scotts. He's a good athlete. He's a rugby player. He's very quick for his size. He can play both sides of the ball, but I think his future is on the offensive line. He's big, strong and fast. And he's maturing." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/Big_man_commits_to_hold_line_for_offense.html
"It's a good fit for me." (HSA)
"I'm excited to play for the Warriors." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Dew, who lives in Auckland, New Zealand, will be reunited with his sister, Rebecca Dew, a member of the Rainbow Wahine basketball team. Ben Dew said he will take UH classes beginning in January, then go on scholarship in July."
HSA Note: "Dew was born in Gainesville, Fla., and has lived in Tennessee, New Zealand and, for one year, in Hawaii. In July 2009, he caught the UH coaches' attention when he attended the Warriors' Big Man's Camp for football linemen."
About how Dew learned football quickly when he played for Word of Life Academy in the 2009 football season, his only semester at that school and his first year playing organized football, Joe Onosai (who was head coach there then) said:
"He caught on so quickly. I was pretty amazed at how he progressed. I was most impressed he was such a mature young man. I felt like we had a 25-year-old on the offensive line." (HA)
HSA Note: "After the 2009 fall semester ended, the Dew family moved to New Zealand. Dew said he was home-schooled there, although he competed in rugby leagues. Arizona, UCLA and Wyoming expressed interest in Dew, but he was set with his decision."
About how he ignored interest from other recruiters, Dew said:
"I planned to go to Hawaii." (HSA)
About how he likes Hawaii, Dew said:
"I like (Hawaii's) beaches, but most of all, I like the people. They're very family-oriented. They are -- what's the saying? -- ohana." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Dew said he is 6 feet 4 and 300 pounds. He can bench press 355 pounds. He also is skilled in rugby and basketball."
About Dew, Onosai said:
"He's a beast. He's a big boy. He's a very feisty competitor. He's going to be a great addition to Hawaii's offensive line." (HSA)
Comparing Dew to Colin Scotts, who played for UH and was the first Australian to be drafted by the NFL, Onosai said:
Onosai said Dew is comparable to Colin Scotts, a former Warrior who reportedly was the first Australian to be drafted by the National Football League. Scotts played tight end and defensive end for the St. Louis Cardinals.
"He's a reserved Colin Scotts. He's a good athlete. He's a rugby player. He's very quick for his size. He can play both sides of the ball, but I think his future is on the offensive line. He's big, strong and fast. And he's maturing." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/Big_man_commits_to_hold_line_for_offense.html
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
WRs Trevor Davis and Cecil Doe committed to the Warriors!
HSA Note: "Trevor Davis of Alhambra High in Martinez, Calif., and Cecil Doe of North Dakota State College of Science said they notified the UH coaches of their decisions. Davis will join the Warriors on his birthday (the Fourth of July), enrolling in the school's bridge summer session. Doe will join UH in January and participate in the Warriors' offseason conditioning program and spring training."
About committing to the Warriors after his recruiting visit last weekend, 6'1", 165-pound Davis (who said he can run the 40 in 4.45 seconds and has run 100 meters in 10.9 seconds) said:
"I just love the campus and the team and the atmosphere. I've talked to (mainland college) coaches. Sometimes I'll believe them, sometimes I won't. But I believe in Hawaii's coaches. They always told me the straight-up truth about everything." (HSA)
About his recruiting visit, Davis said:
"They gave us a lot of free time. I went to the beach. I tried not to think about how nice Hawaii is. I wanted to find other reasons." (HSA)
About how UH players told him that the team was not separated into cliques, something he saw at other schools, Davis said:
"Everyone is cool. Everyone gets along They're really a team." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Davis said he turned down a scholarship from Idaho to commit to UH.}
About how he was contacted by Syracuse, Davis said:
"But I told them I'm going to Hawaii." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Doe, who was raised in Maple Grove, Minn., had been on UH assistant coach Gordy Shaw's radar for a while. Shaw was a longtime line coach at the University of Minnesota. Doe said Shaw had kept track, even when Doe played for a junior college that had a limited passing game. Doe has the build (6-3, 212 pounds) and speed (4.4 over 40 yards) to conjure comparisons to UH wideouts Rodney Bradley and Darius Bright."
About how he loved Hawaii's scenery, Doe said:
"When I first walked out of the (Honolulu International) airport, everything was so beautiful. I saw the trees, and they were so different from what I'm used to seeing. I like the whole atmosphere, the whole place. It's a beautiful place, especially the facilities. And the people are so kind and accepting." (HSA)
About going to UH's football banquet on Sunday, Doe said:
"There was a piano (in the hotel lobby), and I got on there. I can't help myself. I play by ear. I don't read music. When I hear something in my head, I start playing it. Besides sports, that's what I like to do." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101208_2_receivers_offer_commitments_to_play_at_UH.html
About committing to the Warriors after his recruiting visit last weekend, 6'1", 165-pound Davis (who said he can run the 40 in 4.45 seconds and has run 100 meters in 10.9 seconds) said:
"I just love the campus and the team and the atmosphere. I've talked to (mainland college) coaches. Sometimes I'll believe them, sometimes I won't. But I believe in Hawaii's coaches. They always told me the straight-up truth about everything." (HSA)
About his recruiting visit, Davis said:
"They gave us a lot of free time. I went to the beach. I tried not to think about how nice Hawaii is. I wanted to find other reasons." (HSA)
About how UH players told him that the team was not separated into cliques, something he saw at other schools, Davis said:
"Everyone is cool. Everyone gets along They're really a team." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Davis said he turned down a scholarship from Idaho to commit to UH.}
About how he was contacted by Syracuse, Davis said:
"But I told them I'm going to Hawaii." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Doe, who was raised in Maple Grove, Minn., had been on UH assistant coach Gordy Shaw's radar for a while. Shaw was a longtime line coach at the University of Minnesota. Doe said Shaw had kept track, even when Doe played for a junior college that had a limited passing game. Doe has the build (6-3, 212 pounds) and speed (4.4 over 40 yards) to conjure comparisons to UH wideouts Rodney Bradley and Darius Bright."
About how he loved Hawaii's scenery, Doe said:
"When I first walked out of the (Honolulu International) airport, everything was so beautiful. I saw the trees, and they were so different from what I'm used to seeing. I like the whole atmosphere, the whole place. It's a beautiful place, especially the facilities. And the people are so kind and accepting." (HSA)
About going to UH's football banquet on Sunday, Doe said:
"There was a piano (in the hotel lobby), and I got on there. I can't help myself. I play by ear. I don't read music. When I hear something in my head, I start playing it. Besides sports, that's what I like to do." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101208_2_receivers_offer_commitments_to_play_at_UH.html
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Ellis Henderson committed to the Warriors!
About how he committed to UH after his recruiting visit to UH, Ellis Henderson said:
"Everything felt right about Hawaii. I like the family atmosphere. I'm glad I made the choice." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Henderson said he received scholarship offers from Washington State, Southern Methodist, Idaho and Montana. He said he had been in discussions with Washington."
About why he chose UH, Henderson said:
"I wanted to go somewhere where I felt comfortable. I felt that in Hawaii." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Henderson said he is 6 feet and 180 pounds. Dawgman.com, a Washington-based scouting service, said Henderson is capable of running 40 yards in 4.45 seconds and has a vertical jump of 36 inches."
HSA Note: "Henderson's parents and UH running back Alex Green's father are friends. Henderson said he has been told he will compete at slotback in training camp. The Warriors' starting slotbacks, Greg Salas and Kealoha Pilares, are seniors who will be completing their NCAA eligibility with the Dec. 24 Hawaii Bowl. Henderson, a center fielder for Skyview's baseball team, has been told he also will be allowed to play that sport at UH. His second cousin is Rickey Henderson, a Hall of Fame outfielder and baseball's career leader in steals and runs scored."
About how Hawaii's beaches were a factor in him choosing UH, Henderson said that he learned to surf (wearing a wetsuit even in the summer) because his parents owned a second home near Oregon's Cannon Beach and:
"It was worth it." (HSA)
About his coaches often refer to him as "Easy", Henderson said:
"I don't really have a nickname." (HSA)
Three Warriors (2 walk-ons) made the All-WAC first team
First team All-WAC:
Greg Salas
Mana Silva
Corey Paredes
Second team All-WAC:
Bryant Moniz
Alex Green
Kealoha Pilares
Adrian Thomas
Laupepa Letuli
Kaniela Tuipulotu
Scott Enos
HSA Note: "The nine WAC head coaches selected the All-WAC teams. A coach was allowed to nominate players from his team, but not vote for them."
About having so many Warriors named to the All-WAC team, Mack said:
"Almost half of our starters got recognition. I'm proud of them. That's a real compliment to the entire program. I'm glad our opposing coaches felt that way about them." (HSA)
About leading the nation with 1,675 receiving yards and setting the school record for most career receiving yards, Greg Salas said about the record:
"It does mean something to me." (HSA)
About how he didn't let his injuries stop him from contributing, Salas said:
"You take a couple of aspirins before the game, and the adrenaline is running. It's not too bad during the game. But after the game, it hurts. You have to suck it up." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Paredes endured injuries to his left shoulder, legs and ankles. With daily treatment -- his father is a chiropractor -- Paredes has managed 11.08 tackles per game. He is fifth nationally with 6.46 solo tackles per game. Silva is No. 1 nationally with eight interceptions. He set the UH career record with 14 picks."
About how he dreamed of being a QB when he grew up in Hilo, Mana Silva (who was a QB at Kamehameha-Hawaii) said:
"I always dreamed of being like a Bryant Moniz, a quarterback. When I first came out of high school, there was nothing on the table for me. I didn't have a scholarship at all. I had to walk on at Oregon State. It wasn't working out there at all. I walked on at UH." (HSA)
About how he is grateful for his wife's support, Silva said:
"My wife is a rock for myself. She made a lot of sacrifices. She put a lot of hopes and aspirations on a slight delay for now. I'm very grateful to her." (HSA)
About how he had the nickname of "Detour" in high school because he ran out of bounds when he scrambled, Silva said:
"Hopefully, I'm a stop sign now." (HSA)
About being named to the second team, Alex Green (leading the nation in yards per carry, 8.78) said:
"It feels good. We worked hard for this. This is for everybody." (HSA)
Kealoha Pilares called his second-team selection a:
"team award. I'm proud of all of those guys." (HSA)
About being named to the second team, Adrian Thomas said:
"I'm pretty humbled by (the selection)." (HSA)
About being named to the second team, Laupepa Letuli said:
"I'm surprised. But I'm happy." (HSA)
Asked about the leadership he has been providing the team, Kaniela Tuipulotu said:
"I do what I do. I didn't plan on it happening." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101207_Warriors_crack_All-WAC.html
Monday, December 6, 2010
Warrior Quotes from the Star-Advertiser 12/6/10
About how they led the nation with 23 interceptions without getting any in their first 3 games, Rich Miano said:
"The really incredible thing is we had no interceptions the first three games. We went from last in the nation to first in the nation." (HSA)
HSA Note: "UH is No. 1 nationally among 120 Division I teams with 36 turnovers gained and No. 2 in turnover margin."
About how they will take their bowl game preparation seriously, Rolo said:
"We're not going there to party." (HSA)
About how they changed their goal from just making a bowl game to winning a bowl game, Kealoha Pilares said:
"Our goal each season used to be to get to a bowl, but after that Notre Dame loss, we've changed it to win the game. This one is really important." (HSA)
About how they want to win their bowl game because it is on national TV, Rich Miano pointed out that:
"the last few times we've been on national TV, we haven't played up to our potential. So, winning the bowl game is our only goal right now." (HSA)
"We're proud of what we accomplished. We're going to enjoy (the end of the regular season) for 48 hours and then start to focus on the bowl game because we know the season isn't going to be complete unless we win." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/columnists/furtherreview/20101206_ball_hungry_d_made_the_difference_in_warriors_surprising_season.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/ferdswords/20101206_warriors_stress_bowl_win_to_complete_the_season.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101206_moniz_scores_team_mvp.html
"The really incredible thing is we had no interceptions the first three games. We went from last in the nation to first in the nation." (HSA)
HSA Note: "UH is No. 1 nationally among 120 Division I teams with 36 turnovers gained and No. 2 in turnover margin."
About how they will take their bowl game preparation seriously, Rolo said:
"We're not going there to party." (HSA)
About how they changed their goal from just making a bowl game to winning a bowl game, Kealoha Pilares said:
"Our goal each season used to be to get to a bowl, but after that Notre Dame loss, we've changed it to win the game. This one is really important." (HSA)
About how they want to win their bowl game because it is on national TV, Rich Miano pointed out that:
"the last few times we've been on national TV, we haven't played up to our potential. So, winning the bowl game is our only goal right now." (HSA)
"We're proud of what we accomplished. We're going to enjoy (the end of the regular season) for 48 hours and then start to focus on the bowl game because we know the season isn't going to be complete unless we win." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/columnists/furtherreview/20101206_ball_hungry_d_made_the_difference_in_warriors_surprising_season.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/ferdswords/20101206_warriors_stress_bowl_win_to_complete_the_season.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101206_moniz_scores_team_mvp.html
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Quotes from the UH-UNLV game 12/4/10
HSA = Honolulu Star-Advertiser
AP = Associated Press
Note: UH's website and UNLV's website did not have any postgame quotes, and USA Today did not have any postgame quotes so they are not credited above.
---------------- Quotes from the UH coaches --------------------
About how last year's 1-point loss to UNLV motivated them for this game, Rich Miano said:
"No question, in my 12 years here I think that's the first time we ever lost a game on the last play of the game. These guys kind of derailed our dreams." (HSA)
About all the injuries that UNLV had, Miano said:
"We're a physical team, first and foremost." (HSA)
About how their adjusted after UNLV scored their early TD, Miano said:
"We've had kind of one of those (give-away) drives in a few games this year. Make a couple of mistakes, and make the adjustments. "Dave (defensive coordinator Aranda) does a great job up there calling the plays. Just gotta hang in there and be patient. These guys, it means too much to them to not play well, to not let these seniors go out with a victory. ... It was very important for us to make sure they went out the right way." (HSA)
About how their WRs had a lot of time to get open because UNLV rushed just 3 defensive linemen, Offensive Coordinator Nick Rolovich (Rolo) said:
"The receivers were able to get to open areas." (HSA)
About how they used a running play earlier in the game to set up a TD pass to Pilares, Rolo said with a smile:
"They pay me to do that." (HSA)
About how last year Salas studied Ashley Lelie, Rolo said:
"He was interested in not only the record but what Ashley did to get there, how he worked and prepared." (HSA)
When Greg Salas came out of the game, Ashley Lelie asked him if he broke Lelie's UH and WAC single-season reception yardage record (1,713):
"Well, did you get it ... did you get it? (HSA)
About how there are some records he has that Salas won't break, Lelie said:
"I've still got the touchdown (19 in a season) and yards gained (per game, 142.8) records. He's not going to get those." (HSA)
When Lelie was told that Salas did not break hsi record, Mouse Davis said:
"Yeah, Ashley said, 'You mean I have to come back for one more game to see him break my record?'" (HSA)
About starting an all-senior OL, Gordy Shaw said:
"It was a great tribute to those five guys and what they've been through. It's just an interesting group of guys. They all had their stories." (HSA)
--------------- Quotes from the UH players ----------------------
About how they wanting to finish the game strong, Bryant Moniz said:
"We wanted to finish this game off with a bang." (HSA)
About how they wanted revenge for last year's loss, Moniz said:
"Check. This was another team we lost to last year, and we wanted to get it back. And we did. In a big way. We had that list of all the teams we had to beat. We worked so hard. We got to cross that one off." (HSA
About how they will be ready for Tulsa in the Hawaii Bowl, Moniz said:
"We'll be ready for them. We're definitely on a roll again, back on track getting these W's." (AP)
About his 54-yard TD pass to Salas, Moniz said:
"I was squeezing a little bit on that one, but I got the pass in there. It was nice." (HSA)
About granting Kainoa LaCount's request to carry the Hawaiian flag out of the tunnel before their senior night game, Bryant Moniz said:
"I wanted him to have that. I had goose bumps standing behind him watching him." (HSA)
Praising their senior OL, Moniz said:
"They did an excellent job. All of our success is because of them. And I appreciate them. I'm going to miss them." (HSA)
About starting all seniors on their OL, LaCount said:
"That was great, it meant a lot to us. Except for me and Bronson, those guys were together for all five years and I'm honored to play with them and thank them for bringing me in with them." (HSA)
About how this game was for their seniors, junior LT Austin Hansen said:
"This was for the seniors. This is for the guys who gave five years of their lives, dedicated 100 percent for this program. That's 5:30 mornings year 'round. That's heartbreak. That's reading stories about how bad you are. That's working your butt off when nobody believes in you. That's what this night was all about. And the 10 wins? That's the bonus on top." (HSA)
About how he needs just 39 reception yards to break Lelie's UH single-season reception yardage record and just 3 catches to break Davone Bess' single-season reception record (108), Greg Salas said:
"I can wait. The main thing was we won the game and got (win) No. 10." (HSA)
About how Lelie wants him to break his records, Salas said:
"He (Lelie) wants me to get it (and) he's happy for me. I know he's been a great help." (HSA)
About how he redshirted in 2006 and didn't play much in 2007 because of the outstanding play by Bess, Rivers, RGM, and other Warrior receivers, Salas said:
"I never thought about the records back then; they seemed so far away." (HSA)
About how they wanted revenge for last year's loss to UNLV, Salas said:
"We owed them some payback after we lost by one up there last year, so there was definitely still motivation for us." (AP)
About scoring their first TD with an acrobatic, leaping catch, Royce Pollard said:
"You don't think about it, it just happens. When the ball is up there, you have to catch it. I have faith. It worked out the way it was supposed to work out." (HSA)
About how they won their 10th game, Rodney Bradley said:
"This was big for us. It puts this team's name in the history books, along with the other Hawaii teams that won 10 games. This is a reward for our hard work. It gives us momentum for the bowl game." (HSA)
About UNLV's early TD to tie the score at 7 got them to tighten up their defense, Kaniela Tuipulotu said:
"We had one, two slip-ups when they scored, but I know the effort's always going to be there in every game, so it's nothing to worry about. Of course, they hit us hard with that pass, so we knew we had to tighten some things up. Up front, we always put it on top of ourselves. We had to get our pass rush going and I felt we got better pressure as the game went on." (HSA)
About their defensive strategy to stop UNLV's offense, Tuipulotu said:
"Hit 'em in the mouth. And contain them from going outside." (HSA)
About breaking the UH career interception record with his 14th interception (8th this season), Mana Silva said:
"I was very pleased I did it back at home. At New Mexico State (the previous week) I dropped two. It was kind of frustrating, but to finally get it at home was fitting." (HSA)
About kissing their WAC championship trophy after the game, Silva said:
"I always thought about Michael Jordan, and how he always kissed one of his championship trophies. I finally got to do it. Know what? It feels great." (HSA)
About getting a good return of his INT after being teased by his teammates after some of his previous INT returns, Silva said:
"I finally got a good return." (HSA)
Wishing that he had kept the football after his UH-record 14th INT, Silva said:
"I forgot to get the ball. That would have been a nice souvenir." (HSA)
Saying that this team is better than the 11-3 team in 2006 and the 12-1 team in 2007 that he was on, Spencer Smith said:
"This is the best team I've been on here. Maybe not talent-wise, but execution and playing together, yes." (HSA)
About how they wanted revenge on UNLV, Richard Torres said:
"A LOT of us had this game circled on our calendars since last season. We felt like we owed them some payback." (HSA)
About how the 60-yard TD pass that UNLV had that tied the game at 7 woke them up, Torres said:
"It was a little bit of a wake-up call. We knew they were coming to play. Despite the record, we knew it was a good team. We knew it on film, and that really woke us up and got us saying we had to settle down and play our game." (HSA)
About getting the first INT for UH in the game, Torres said:
"I broke on the ball, and started drooling." (HSA)
About making all 100 PATs that he's tried in his UH career, Scott Enos said:
"It's been a long season, a lot of fun, and the offense has been putting up a lot of points, giving me a lot of opportunities. I couldn't thank them any more. It's been awesome." (HSA)
About how his 100th PAT in the final minutes of the game was a great way for him to end his senior night, Enos said:
"I think it did. Just getting to that century mark, it felt great." (HSA)
About how they did well in every phase on the game, Luke Ingram said:
"Everybody played great. Offense did great. Defense did great. We had great coverage on kickoffs. We got the 10th win. The seniors seemed happy. It was an awesome night." (HSA)
-------------- Quotes from the UNLV coaches -------------------
About how they need to recruit to build their team, UNLV head coach Bobby Hauck said:
"We need to get on the road and recruit," said Hauck, who was hired as head coach less than a year ago after leading Montana to an 80-17 record in seven seasons. "We're good at the recruiting game ... at six o'clock Monday morning we'll be out and about catching up on recruiting." (HSA)
Not happy with their 2-11 season but seeing signs of progress for their future, Hauck said:
"We're not very pleased with the win total, certainly, but I'm not displeased with where we are going. We're building this program up from ground zero ... but I've seen signs that we've got a chance some day to be a good football team." (HSA)
About how he and his Montana staff were going to get Greg Salas to commit to them in 2006 until UH got his commitment, Hauck said:
"We thought we were the only ones on him until Hawaii stole him from us at the very end of recruiting. We thought we had him down to the last week and they swooped in and got him." (HSA)
Praising UH for their excellent season, Hauck said:
"Hawaii is a good team, we have a lot of respect for the job they've done, what a year they've had. They knew going into the season that they could have a good year, but they went out and did it." (AP)
--------------- Quotes from the UNLV players --------------------
About how he made their team as a 5th-string walk-on QB as a freshman and now is second on their school's all-time list in passing yards, TD passes and rushing yards by a QB, Omar Clayton said:
"I almost didn't have a career playing football in college. It's really hard for me to feel sad about playing my last game because every game I was able to start and every time I made a play I took it as a gift because I didn't have any offers." (HSA)
About how having their running game shut down hurt their offense, Clayton said:
"We struggled with our ground game and didn't want to get to a point where we were playing behind the chains. Our lack of a run game on first and second down really hurt us." (HSA)
About how he provided senior leadership for their young team, Clayton said:
"My job was just to be the quarterback, which means being a leader. My job was to keep these guys motivated, whatever the scoreboard said, and keep these guys working hard to get better." (HSA)
---------------------- Quotes from others --------------------------
Excited to face UH in the Hawaii Bowl, Tulsa coach Todd Graham said:
"We're very excited about the opportunity to go to the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl and play a quality opponent in a 9-3 Hawaii team. Hawaii is ranked in the Top 25 nationally, and for us getting the opportunity to win a bowl game like this against a Top 25 team would be awesome for our program." (HSA)
"For us getting the opportunity to win a bowl game like this against a top 25 team would be awesome for our program. Hawaii is a very tough team. They have a tremendous program and some great players." (AP)
Praising UH, Graham said:
"Hawaii is a very tough team. They have a tremendous program and some great players. Hawaii does a great job and have had some big-time wins. The location is a very special destination for us and naturally playing such a great team in Hawaii and having an opportunity to compete for a big win is huge for our program." (HSA)
About how he wants the MWC to expand to 12 football teams, UNLV President Neal Smatresk said:
"I think we need to secure the future of the league and make sure we have a strong league that can ultimately compete for a Bowl Championship Series position and can produce winning teams." (HSA)
About how they can expand beyond adding UH to be their 10th team, Smatresk said:
"I believe there's room for more than we currently have. Personally, I like the number 12." (HSA)
AP = Associated Press
Note: UH's website and UNLV's website did not have any postgame quotes, and USA Today did not have any postgame quotes so they are not credited above.
---------------- Quotes from the UH coaches --------------------
About how last year's 1-point loss to UNLV motivated them for this game, Rich Miano said:
"No question, in my 12 years here I think that's the first time we ever lost a game on the last play of the game. These guys kind of derailed our dreams." (HSA)
About all the injuries that UNLV had, Miano said:
"We're a physical team, first and foremost." (HSA)
About how their adjusted after UNLV scored their early TD, Miano said:
"We've had kind of one of those (give-away) drives in a few games this year. Make a couple of mistakes, and make the adjustments. "Dave (defensive coordinator Aranda) does a great job up there calling the plays. Just gotta hang in there and be patient. These guys, it means too much to them to not play well, to not let these seniors go out with a victory. ... It was very important for us to make sure they went out the right way." (HSA)
About how their WRs had a lot of time to get open because UNLV rushed just 3 defensive linemen, Offensive Coordinator Nick Rolovich (Rolo) said:
"The receivers were able to get to open areas." (HSA)
About how they used a running play earlier in the game to set up a TD pass to Pilares, Rolo said with a smile:
"They pay me to do that." (HSA)
About how last year Salas studied Ashley Lelie, Rolo said:
"He was interested in not only the record but what Ashley did to get there, how he worked and prepared." (HSA)
When Greg Salas came out of the game, Ashley Lelie asked him if he broke Lelie's UH and WAC single-season reception yardage record (1,713):
"Well, did you get it ... did you get it? (HSA)
About how there are some records he has that Salas won't break, Lelie said:
"I've still got the touchdown (19 in a season) and yards gained (per game, 142.8) records. He's not going to get those." (HSA)
When Lelie was told that Salas did not break hsi record, Mouse Davis said:
"Yeah, Ashley said, 'You mean I have to come back for one more game to see him break my record?'" (HSA)
About starting an all-senior OL, Gordy Shaw said:
"It was a great tribute to those five guys and what they've been through. It's just an interesting group of guys. They all had their stories." (HSA)
--------------- Quotes from the UH players ----------------------
About how they wanting to finish the game strong, Bryant Moniz said:
"We wanted to finish this game off with a bang." (HSA)
About how they wanted revenge for last year's loss, Moniz said:
"Check. This was another team we lost to last year, and we wanted to get it back. And we did. In a big way. We had that list of all the teams we had to beat. We worked so hard. We got to cross that one off." (HSA
About how they will be ready for Tulsa in the Hawaii Bowl, Moniz said:
"We'll be ready for them. We're definitely on a roll again, back on track getting these W's." (AP)
About his 54-yard TD pass to Salas, Moniz said:
"I was squeezing a little bit on that one, but I got the pass in there. It was nice." (HSA)
About granting Kainoa LaCount's request to carry the Hawaiian flag out of the tunnel before their senior night game, Bryant Moniz said:
"I wanted him to have that. I had goose bumps standing behind him watching him." (HSA)
Praising their senior OL, Moniz said:
"They did an excellent job. All of our success is because of them. And I appreciate them. I'm going to miss them." (HSA)
About starting all seniors on their OL, LaCount said:
"That was great, it meant a lot to us. Except for me and Bronson, those guys were together for all five years and I'm honored to play with them and thank them for bringing me in with them." (HSA)
About how this game was for their seniors, junior LT Austin Hansen said:
"This was for the seniors. This is for the guys who gave five years of their lives, dedicated 100 percent for this program. That's 5:30 mornings year 'round. That's heartbreak. That's reading stories about how bad you are. That's working your butt off when nobody believes in you. That's what this night was all about. And the 10 wins? That's the bonus on top." (HSA)
About how he needs just 39 reception yards to break Lelie's UH single-season reception yardage record and just 3 catches to break Davone Bess' single-season reception record (108), Greg Salas said:
"I can wait. The main thing was we won the game and got (win) No. 10." (HSA)
About how Lelie wants him to break his records, Salas said:
"He (Lelie) wants me to get it (and) he's happy for me. I know he's been a great help." (HSA)
About how he redshirted in 2006 and didn't play much in 2007 because of the outstanding play by Bess, Rivers, RGM, and other Warrior receivers, Salas said:
"I never thought about the records back then; they seemed so far away." (HSA)
About how they wanted revenge for last year's loss to UNLV, Salas said:
"We owed them some payback after we lost by one up there last year, so there was definitely still motivation for us." (AP)
About scoring their first TD with an acrobatic, leaping catch, Royce Pollard said:
"You don't think about it, it just happens. When the ball is up there, you have to catch it. I have faith. It worked out the way it was supposed to work out." (HSA)
About how they won their 10th game, Rodney Bradley said:
"This was big for us. It puts this team's name in the history books, along with the other Hawaii teams that won 10 games. This is a reward for our hard work. It gives us momentum for the bowl game." (HSA)
About UNLV's early TD to tie the score at 7 got them to tighten up their defense, Kaniela Tuipulotu said:
"We had one, two slip-ups when they scored, but I know the effort's always going to be there in every game, so it's nothing to worry about. Of course, they hit us hard with that pass, so we knew we had to tighten some things up. Up front, we always put it on top of ourselves. We had to get our pass rush going and I felt we got better pressure as the game went on." (HSA)
About their defensive strategy to stop UNLV's offense, Tuipulotu said:
"Hit 'em in the mouth. And contain them from going outside." (HSA)
About breaking the UH career interception record with his 14th interception (8th this season), Mana Silva said:
"I was very pleased I did it back at home. At New Mexico State (the previous week) I dropped two. It was kind of frustrating, but to finally get it at home was fitting." (HSA)
About kissing their WAC championship trophy after the game, Silva said:
"I always thought about Michael Jordan, and how he always kissed one of his championship trophies. I finally got to do it. Know what? It feels great." (HSA)
About getting a good return of his INT after being teased by his teammates after some of his previous INT returns, Silva said:
"I finally got a good return." (HSA)
Wishing that he had kept the football after his UH-record 14th INT, Silva said:
"I forgot to get the ball. That would have been a nice souvenir." (HSA)
Saying that this team is better than the 11-3 team in 2006 and the 12-1 team in 2007 that he was on, Spencer Smith said:
"This is the best team I've been on here. Maybe not talent-wise, but execution and playing together, yes." (HSA)
About how they wanted revenge on UNLV, Richard Torres said:
"A LOT of us had this game circled on our calendars since last season. We felt like we owed them some payback." (HSA)
About how the 60-yard TD pass that UNLV had that tied the game at 7 woke them up, Torres said:
"It was a little bit of a wake-up call. We knew they were coming to play. Despite the record, we knew it was a good team. We knew it on film, and that really woke us up and got us saying we had to settle down and play our game." (HSA)
About getting the first INT for UH in the game, Torres said:
"I broke on the ball, and started drooling." (HSA)
About making all 100 PATs that he's tried in his UH career, Scott Enos said:
"It's been a long season, a lot of fun, and the offense has been putting up a lot of points, giving me a lot of opportunities. I couldn't thank them any more. It's been awesome." (HSA)
About how his 100th PAT in the final minutes of the game was a great way for him to end his senior night, Enos said:
"I think it did. Just getting to that century mark, it felt great." (HSA)
About how they did well in every phase on the game, Luke Ingram said:
"Everybody played great. Offense did great. Defense did great. We had great coverage on kickoffs. We got the 10th win. The seniors seemed happy. It was an awesome night." (HSA)
-------------- Quotes from the UNLV coaches -------------------
About how they need to recruit to build their team, UNLV head coach Bobby Hauck said:
"We need to get on the road and recruit," said Hauck, who was hired as head coach less than a year ago after leading Montana to an 80-17 record in seven seasons. "We're good at the recruiting game ... at six o'clock Monday morning we'll be out and about catching up on recruiting." (HSA)
Not happy with their 2-11 season but seeing signs of progress for their future, Hauck said:
"We're not very pleased with the win total, certainly, but I'm not displeased with where we are going. We're building this program up from ground zero ... but I've seen signs that we've got a chance some day to be a good football team." (HSA)
About how he and his Montana staff were going to get Greg Salas to commit to them in 2006 until UH got his commitment, Hauck said:
"We thought we were the only ones on him until Hawaii stole him from us at the very end of recruiting. We thought we had him down to the last week and they swooped in and got him." (HSA)
Praising UH for their excellent season, Hauck said:
"Hawaii is a good team, we have a lot of respect for the job they've done, what a year they've had. They knew going into the season that they could have a good year, but they went out and did it." (AP)
--------------- Quotes from the UNLV players --------------------
About how he made their team as a 5th-string walk-on QB as a freshman and now is second on their school's all-time list in passing yards, TD passes and rushing yards by a QB, Omar Clayton said:
"I almost didn't have a career playing football in college. It's really hard for me to feel sad about playing my last game because every game I was able to start and every time I made a play I took it as a gift because I didn't have any offers." (HSA)
About how having their running game shut down hurt their offense, Clayton said:
"We struggled with our ground game and didn't want to get to a point where we were playing behind the chains. Our lack of a run game on first and second down really hurt us." (HSA)
About how he provided senior leadership for their young team, Clayton said:
"My job was just to be the quarterback, which means being a leader. My job was to keep these guys motivated, whatever the scoreboard said, and keep these guys working hard to get better." (HSA)
---------------------- Quotes from others --------------------------
Excited to face UH in the Hawaii Bowl, Tulsa coach Todd Graham said:
"We're very excited about the opportunity to go to the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl and play a quality opponent in a 9-3 Hawaii team. Hawaii is ranked in the Top 25 nationally, and for us getting the opportunity to win a bowl game like this against a Top 25 team would be awesome for our program." (HSA)
"For us getting the opportunity to win a bowl game like this against a top 25 team would be awesome for our program. Hawaii is a very tough team. They have a tremendous program and some great players." (AP)
Praising UH, Graham said:
"Hawaii is a very tough team. They have a tremendous program and some great players. Hawaii does a great job and have had some big-time wins. The location is a very special destination for us and naturally playing such a great team in Hawaii and having an opportunity to compete for a big win is huge for our program." (HSA)
About how he wants the MWC to expand to 12 football teams, UNLV President Neal Smatresk said:
"I think we need to secure the future of the league and make sure we have a strong league that can ultimately compete for a Bowl Championship Series position and can produce winning teams." (HSA)
About how they can expand beyond adding UH to be their 10th team, Smatresk said:
"I believe there's room for more than we currently have. Personally, I like the number 12." (HSA)
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Quotes before the UH-UNLV game 12/4/10
Declining to say if he approached UH first or if UH approached him first about UH joining the MWC, UNLV President Neal Smatresk said:
"What's the expression? 'Great minds think along the same channel'?" (HSA)
"Personally, I've been an advocate for Hawaii joining the league and I hope we can get this resolved so we can all prepare as we need to for the things we have to do." (HSA)
HSA Note: "It was Smatresk, we are told, who brought UH and the MWC together. It was Smatresk, vice chair of the MWC Board of Directors, who hosted the first face-to-face meeting between UH vice president Rockne Freitas and MWC commissioner Craig Thompson in Las Vegas and has talked up the benefits of such a union."
HSA Note: " "A champion of our cause," is how one UH administrator termed Smatresk's involvement. At the Bachman Hall press conference announcing the UH-MWC discussions last month, UH president M.R.C. Greenwood saluted Smatresk as "one of our own." That was a reference to his years (2004-07) at UH as vice chancellor for academic affairs, a period in which he formed friendships with a number of administrators, including Freitas."
Smatresk said that during his time at UH that:
"(personally), from a football perspective, I think, Hawaii has had a long record of competitive programs. I think the football team can play in most leagues in the country. And, in my opinion, there's always been a little extra pizzazz or sparkle around a Hawaii contest that we think could draw television viewership and expand our market." (HSA)
"When I hear that 'Hawaii Five-O' (song), it still gets the blood pumping." (HSA)
About his good feelings towards UH, Smatresk said:
"Once you've been part of Hawaii, I think a little aloha stays with you." (HSA)
About how they were able to move Greg Salas from wideout to slot because he runs with short strides for a tall receiver, Mouse Davis said:
"His natural steps are a little shorter. You want the long striders to play outside." (HSA)
About how he naturally runs with shorter steps, Salas said:
"That's the style I run with. You can make sudden movements. Luckily, it helps me out. It definitely makes it easier to avoid people." (HSA)
About how their DTs read which one of the two gaps they are supposed to attack on each play and then absorb up to 2 blockers, Dave Aranda said:'
"Our DTs get push." (HSA)
Praising Kaniela Tuipulotu's play this season, Aranda said:
"He shows consistency every play." (HSA)
About losing 30 pounds since recovering from shoulder surgery and earning a starting spot, Tuipulotu said:
"I got rid of the bad weight. And I get a lot of help from Vaughn (Meatoga). He takes a lot of pressure off me because (blockers) pay attention to him. He makes my job easier." (HSA)
About how they decided to not have Rodney Bradley return punts in the NMSU game because the NMSU punted short and the game was too important, Chris Tormey said:
"We decided to go with Greg (Salas), because he wanted the best ball security we could get." (HSA)
About how they want to earn their 10th victory of the season by beating UNLV, Bryant Moniz said:
"All we're thinking is: Just win. We just want to get (victory) No. 10. That would be the reward for the hard work we've put in. A 10-win season hasn't been done too much. It's hard to come by at any level." (HSA)
About the last regular season game of his 6-year Warrior career, Laupepa Letuli said:
"It went really fast." (HSA)
About their seniors, Rich Miano said:
"These seniors have helped us on the field, and we've tried to help them off the field." (HSA)
About how they have raised money to allow every football player to attend summer school, create a bridge session for summer school, and expand the tutoring program, Miano sid:
"With the resources we have, everyone should be able to graduate." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101204_Warriors_just_want_10.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/ferdswords/20101204_Give_a_cheer_for_Smatresk_who_fought_for_old_Hawaii.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101204_UNLV_got_bowled_over_by_its_rugged_schedule.html
"What's the expression? 'Great minds think along the same channel'?" (HSA)
"Personally, I've been an advocate for Hawaii joining the league and I hope we can get this resolved so we can all prepare as we need to for the things we have to do." (HSA)
HSA Note: "It was Smatresk, we are told, who brought UH and the MWC together. It was Smatresk, vice chair of the MWC Board of Directors, who hosted the first face-to-face meeting between UH vice president Rockne Freitas and MWC commissioner Craig Thompson in Las Vegas and has talked up the benefits of such a union."
HSA Note: " "A champion of our cause," is how one UH administrator termed Smatresk's involvement. At the Bachman Hall press conference announcing the UH-MWC discussions last month, UH president M.R.C. Greenwood saluted Smatresk as "one of our own." That was a reference to his years (2004-07) at UH as vice chancellor for academic affairs, a period in which he formed friendships with a number of administrators, including Freitas."
Smatresk said that during his time at UH that:
"(personally), from a football perspective, I think, Hawaii has had a long record of competitive programs. I think the football team can play in most leagues in the country. And, in my opinion, there's always been a little extra pizzazz or sparkle around a Hawaii contest that we think could draw television viewership and expand our market." (HSA)
"When I hear that 'Hawaii Five-O' (song), it still gets the blood pumping." (HSA)
About his good feelings towards UH, Smatresk said:
"Once you've been part of Hawaii, I think a little aloha stays with you." (HSA)
About how they were able to move Greg Salas from wideout to slot because he runs with short strides for a tall receiver, Mouse Davis said:
"His natural steps are a little shorter. You want the long striders to play outside." (HSA)
About how he naturally runs with shorter steps, Salas said:
"That's the style I run with. You can make sudden movements. Luckily, it helps me out. It definitely makes it easier to avoid people." (HSA)
About how their DTs read which one of the two gaps they are supposed to attack on each play and then absorb up to 2 blockers, Dave Aranda said:'
"Our DTs get push." (HSA)
Praising Kaniela Tuipulotu's play this season, Aranda said:
"He shows consistency every play." (HSA)
About losing 30 pounds since recovering from shoulder surgery and earning a starting spot, Tuipulotu said:
"I got rid of the bad weight. And I get a lot of help from Vaughn (Meatoga). He takes a lot of pressure off me because (blockers) pay attention to him. He makes my job easier." (HSA)
About how they decided to not have Rodney Bradley return punts in the NMSU game because the NMSU punted short and the game was too important, Chris Tormey said:
"We decided to go with Greg (Salas), because he wanted the best ball security we could get." (HSA)
About how they want to earn their 10th victory of the season by beating UNLV, Bryant Moniz said:
"All we're thinking is: Just win. We just want to get (victory) No. 10. That would be the reward for the hard work we've put in. A 10-win season hasn't been done too much. It's hard to come by at any level." (HSA)
About the last regular season game of his 6-year Warrior career, Laupepa Letuli said:
"It went really fast." (HSA)
About their seniors, Rich Miano said:
"These seniors have helped us on the field, and we've tried to help them off the field." (HSA)
About how they have raised money to allow every football player to attend summer school, create a bridge session for summer school, and expand the tutoring program, Miano sid:
"With the resources we have, everyone should be able to graduate." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101204_Warriors_just_want_10.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/ferdswords/20101204_Give_a_cheer_for_Smatresk_who_fought_for_old_Hawaii.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101204_UNLV_got_bowled_over_by_its_rugged_schedule.html
Friday, December 3, 2010
Warrior Quotes from the Star-Advertiser 12/3/10 (5 seniors are graduating in December)
About already earning his bachelor's degree, Jeramy Bryant said:
"If you go to class, you're going to learn something." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Bryant, safeties Mana Silva and Spencer Smith, offensive tackle Laupepa Letuli and defensive end Elliott Purcell already have earned bachelor's degrees."
Praising the 5 Warriors that have already earned their bachelor's degrees, Rich Miano said:
"We're proud of them. They accepted the challenge of doing well on the field and in the classroom." (HSA)
About staying up 28 straight hours while working on a chemistry project this week, Mana Silva said:
"It's always good when you immerse yourself in difficult things, especially the sciences. You can learn a lot. My favorite is biology, and the human body. It intrigues me how we are as human beings, inside of us and outside, socially and mentally." (HSA)
About how he has difficulty reading as late as the 6th grade, being assigned specialists and tutors and undergoing medical testing (which showed no neurological problems), Silva said:
"It took me a while to get up to speed." (HSA)
"My mom reminds me of the time I couldn't read. It goes to show you can continue to improve in any aspect." (HSA)
About how one day in middle school his childhood reading problem went away, Silva said:
"I started to learn at an accelerated level." (HSA)
HSA Note: "He made the honor roll at Kamehameha-Hawaii. At UH, he has a cumulative grade-point average above 3.5. He aspires to a career in medicine."
HSA Note: "When their son was 2, Ginna and Mel Smith decided to invest in the Florida Plan, a college fund available to Florida natives. The way the plan works is contributions to the fund are accepted through a student's senior year of high school. The money then goes toward a student's tuition at a Florida university. The bonus is contributors are charged the tuition rate of the year when their child was 2. For the Smiths, that meant if Spencer attended a Florida university, he would only pay the school's 1990 tuition rate. Spencer Smith was eligible for the fund, even though he was born in Clearwater, Fla., but eventually moved to Georgia."
About how his parents received their money back from the fund because he got a football scholarship from UH in 2006, Spencer Smith said:
"It was a win-win situation." (HSA)
Asked if the refund covered all of the plane tickets to see Spencer play, Mel Smith said:
"Not quite." (HSA)
About earning his degree this past summer, Smith said:
"If you go to class, you'll find something to learn, even if you don't want to." (HSA)
About attending parent-teacher conferences for his son (who is in preschool) now, Elliott Purcell said:
"I remember my parents taking me to teacher conferences. Now I do the same with my son -- and I'm still in school." (HSA)
Purcell said that being a father helped him:
"buckle down and focus on school work. I use it as motivation." (HSA)
About how he likes going home after a long day of school, practice, and meetings, Purcell said:
"That's when I can spend time with my sons." (HSA)
About how their secondary takes school seriously, Bryant said:
"We're having a competition. The secondary is trying to get the most guys graduated." (HSA)
About how his UH recruiter (George Lumpkin) helped motivated him in school, Bryant said:
"Coach Lumpkin was on my butt all of the time trying to get me to graduate. I try to do well in every single class." (HSA)
About how Mack has implemented a program that helps their players take 2 summer school classes every year, Bryant said:
"That really helped." (HSA)
About how he was an average student in high school but found that JC classes were much more demanding, Bryant said:
"I hit the harsh reality. I really worked at school after that." (HSA)
About how he has been at UH a long time, Laupepa Letuli said:
"I was here when Derek Faavi was here." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Letuli was recruited by Mike Cavanaugh, who resigned shortly after Letuli signed in February 2005. At UH, Letuli has had five line coaches: Wes Suan, Dennis McKnight, Brian Smith, Alex Gerke and, now, Gordy Shaw. Letuli also has played running back, defensive end, four of the five offensive line positions, and tight end. Because of a variety of injuries, Letuli was allowed back as a sixth-year senior this season. He is considering participating in UH's Pro Day in March. Then again, he took part in last year's Pro Day. He also has a future as a musician."
About his 6 years as a Warrior, Letuli (who graduated with his bachelor's degree last May) said:
"It went by fast. That's why they say college is the best time of your life. It's true. I had a lot of fun." (HSA)
About turning his hair from blonde to jet black, Brent Rausch said:
"I do it every once in a while. My hair was black when I first came here." (HSA)
About how his playing career has a number of roadblocks but he will get his sociology degree in May, Rausch said:
"I pretty much had some ups and downs, had a little bit of a rough career here, but I got an education. I'm still positive about it. It's cool." (HSA)
Praising Rausch for how he handled his lack of playing time, Rolo said:
"He's really matured and appreciated his experience. It was probably not the whole experience he was looking for, but he stayed positive, has been a good teammate." (HSA)
About how he's not going to start thinking about the Hawaii Bowl until after the UNLV game, Mack said:
"We're going to meet on the bowl on Monday. Until then I'm not even thinking about the bowl. I'm just thinking about UNLV. We're truly taking one game at a time and that's what we've prepared for." (HSA)
About how they are concerned about UNLV freshman kickoff returner Marcus Sullivan, Chris Tormey said:
"He's got excellent vision and patience, and reads blocking schemes well." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101203_5_seniors_walk_the_walk.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101203_Rausch_back_in_black_coming_full_circle.html
"If you go to class, you're going to learn something." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Bryant, safeties Mana Silva and Spencer Smith, offensive tackle Laupepa Letuli and defensive end Elliott Purcell already have earned bachelor's degrees."
Praising the 5 Warriors that have already earned their bachelor's degrees, Rich Miano said:
"We're proud of them. They accepted the challenge of doing well on the field and in the classroom." (HSA)
About staying up 28 straight hours while working on a chemistry project this week, Mana Silva said:
"It's always good when you immerse yourself in difficult things, especially the sciences. You can learn a lot. My favorite is biology, and the human body. It intrigues me how we are as human beings, inside of us and outside, socially and mentally." (HSA)
About how he has difficulty reading as late as the 6th grade, being assigned specialists and tutors and undergoing medical testing (which showed no neurological problems), Silva said:
"It took me a while to get up to speed." (HSA)
"My mom reminds me of the time I couldn't read. It goes to show you can continue to improve in any aspect." (HSA)
About how one day in middle school his childhood reading problem went away, Silva said:
"I started to learn at an accelerated level." (HSA)
HSA Note: "He made the honor roll at Kamehameha-Hawaii. At UH, he has a cumulative grade-point average above 3.5. He aspires to a career in medicine."
HSA Note: "When their son was 2, Ginna and Mel Smith decided to invest in the Florida Plan, a college fund available to Florida natives. The way the plan works is contributions to the fund are accepted through a student's senior year of high school. The money then goes toward a student's tuition at a Florida university. The bonus is contributors are charged the tuition rate of the year when their child was 2. For the Smiths, that meant if Spencer attended a Florida university, he would only pay the school's 1990 tuition rate. Spencer Smith was eligible for the fund, even though he was born in Clearwater, Fla., but eventually moved to Georgia."
About how his parents received their money back from the fund because he got a football scholarship from UH in 2006, Spencer Smith said:
"It was a win-win situation." (HSA)
Asked if the refund covered all of the plane tickets to see Spencer play, Mel Smith said:
"Not quite." (HSA)
About earning his degree this past summer, Smith said:
"If you go to class, you'll find something to learn, even if you don't want to." (HSA)
About attending parent-teacher conferences for his son (who is in preschool) now, Elliott Purcell said:
"I remember my parents taking me to teacher conferences. Now I do the same with my son -- and I'm still in school." (HSA)
Purcell said that being a father helped him:
"buckle down and focus on school work. I use it as motivation." (HSA)
About how he likes going home after a long day of school, practice, and meetings, Purcell said:
"That's when I can spend time with my sons." (HSA)
About how their secondary takes school seriously, Bryant said:
"We're having a competition. The secondary is trying to get the most guys graduated." (HSA)
About how his UH recruiter (George Lumpkin) helped motivated him in school, Bryant said:
"Coach Lumpkin was on my butt all of the time trying to get me to graduate. I try to do well in every single class." (HSA)
About how Mack has implemented a program that helps their players take 2 summer school classes every year, Bryant said:
"That really helped." (HSA)
About how he was an average student in high school but found that JC classes were much more demanding, Bryant said:
"I hit the harsh reality. I really worked at school after that." (HSA)
About how he has been at UH a long time, Laupepa Letuli said:
"I was here when Derek Faavi was here." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Letuli was recruited by Mike Cavanaugh, who resigned shortly after Letuli signed in February 2005. At UH, Letuli has had five line coaches: Wes Suan, Dennis McKnight, Brian Smith, Alex Gerke and, now, Gordy Shaw. Letuli also has played running back, defensive end, four of the five offensive line positions, and tight end. Because of a variety of injuries, Letuli was allowed back as a sixth-year senior this season. He is considering participating in UH's Pro Day in March. Then again, he took part in last year's Pro Day. He also has a future as a musician."
About his 6 years as a Warrior, Letuli (who graduated with his bachelor's degree last May) said:
"It went by fast. That's why they say college is the best time of your life. It's true. I had a lot of fun." (HSA)
About turning his hair from blonde to jet black, Brent Rausch said:
"I do it every once in a while. My hair was black when I first came here." (HSA)
About how his playing career has a number of roadblocks but he will get his sociology degree in May, Rausch said:
"I pretty much had some ups and downs, had a little bit of a rough career here, but I got an education. I'm still positive about it. It's cool." (HSA)
Praising Rausch for how he handled his lack of playing time, Rolo said:
"He's really matured and appreciated his experience. It was probably not the whole experience he was looking for, but he stayed positive, has been a good teammate." (HSA)
About how he's not going to start thinking about the Hawaii Bowl until after the UNLV game, Mack said:
"We're going to meet on the bowl on Monday. Until then I'm not even thinking about the bowl. I'm just thinking about UNLV. We're truly taking one game at a time and that's what we've prepared for." (HSA)
About how they are concerned about UNLV freshman kickoff returner Marcus Sullivan, Chris Tormey said:
"He's got excellent vision and patience, and reads blocking schemes well." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101203_5_seniors_walk_the_walk.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101203_Rausch_back_in_black_coming_full_circle.html
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Feature on Bronsno Tiwanak
About how he formally began martial arts training when he was 7 but he was around it all his life, Bronson Tiwanak said:
"I've been around it since I was born. Pretty much once you're part of the family, you're in." (HSA)
HSA Note: "HIs grandfather, Marino Tiwanak, founded the C.H.A. 3 Kenpo Association, which is now run by his father, Michael. Through study and practice, Bronson steadily climbed the ranks to his current position as a second-degree black belt."
HSA Note: "A walk-on transfer to UH from Fresno City College, Tiwanak first had to try out for a spot on the roster. He then contributed on the scout team as the fourth-string center a year ago and became the top backup last spring. When Sila Lefiti suffered a foot injury in the Warriors' final spring scrimmage, Tiwanak moved into the starting unit and hasn't budged since."
About starting every game this season for UH, Tiwanak said:
"I can't explain how much it means to me. I couldn't have imagined my senior year going this way. The way things turned out, I'm just grateful I had the opportunity." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Still a nonscholarship player, Tiwanak is UH's nominee for the Rudy Award. The award is presented annually to "student-athletes who demonstrate exemplary character, courage, contribution and commitment." "
About how he talked with the nervous Tiwanak before their season opener against USC, Gordy Shaw said:
"I said, 'I wouldn't start you if I didn't think you were ready.' That's the last time we had that conversation, and he's done very well." (HSA)
About how his first snap against USC is something he will never forget, Tiwanak said:
"There was so much adrenaline going through my body it wasn't even funny. I just saw USC guys lined up across from me and I was thinking, 'This is it, this is big-time college football right here.' I said I have to step up, can't let anybody down." (HSA)
About how his kenpo training has given him an advantage when he faces DTs, Tiwanak said:
"Balance is key, being able to hold your ground, and as far as your hand work, striking, being accurate with your punches." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Tiwanak continues to train and teach at C.H.A 3 (short for Central Hawaiian Activities) in the offseason, and he hopes to continue to move up the levels in the sport introduced to him by his father and grandfather."
About Tiwanak's family, Shaw said:
"His family will have a lot of great things to be proud of when this is all over with." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101202_Holding_the_line.html
"I've been around it since I was born. Pretty much once you're part of the family, you're in." (HSA)
HSA Note: "HIs grandfather, Marino Tiwanak, founded the C.H.A. 3 Kenpo Association, which is now run by his father, Michael. Through study and practice, Bronson steadily climbed the ranks to his current position as a second-degree black belt."
HSA Note: "A walk-on transfer to UH from Fresno City College, Tiwanak first had to try out for a spot on the roster. He then contributed on the scout team as the fourth-string center a year ago and became the top backup last spring. When Sila Lefiti suffered a foot injury in the Warriors' final spring scrimmage, Tiwanak moved into the starting unit and hasn't budged since."
About starting every game this season for UH, Tiwanak said:
"I can't explain how much it means to me. I couldn't have imagined my senior year going this way. The way things turned out, I'm just grateful I had the opportunity." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Still a nonscholarship player, Tiwanak is UH's nominee for the Rudy Award. The award is presented annually to "student-athletes who demonstrate exemplary character, courage, contribution and commitment." "
About how he talked with the nervous Tiwanak before their season opener against USC, Gordy Shaw said:
"I said, 'I wouldn't start you if I didn't think you were ready.' That's the last time we had that conversation, and he's done very well." (HSA)
About how his first snap against USC is something he will never forget, Tiwanak said:
"There was so much adrenaline going through my body it wasn't even funny. I just saw USC guys lined up across from me and I was thinking, 'This is it, this is big-time college football right here.' I said I have to step up, can't let anybody down." (HSA)
About how his kenpo training has given him an advantage when he faces DTs, Tiwanak said:
"Balance is key, being able to hold your ground, and as far as your hand work, striking, being accurate with your punches." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Tiwanak continues to train and teach at C.H.A 3 (short for Central Hawaiian Activities) in the offseason, and he hopes to continue to move up the levels in the sport introduced to him by his father and grandfather."
About Tiwanak's family, Shaw said:
"His family will have a lot of great things to be proud of when this is all over with." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101202_Holding_the_line.html
Other Warrior Quotes 12/2/10
About how the 6'3" Phillip Payne made a leaping catch over him to score the winning TD in last year's UNLV game, 5'9" Tank Hopkins said:
"It was a good play. He made a good play." (HSA)
About redshirting this season in order to let his hip injury heal, Hopkins said:
"It was hard because I wanted to be out there. As time went on, I said, 'This is OK. This is going to help me.'" (HSA)
About how he did not have time to try for a musical career, Kainoa LaCount (whose grandfather is Tau Greig, a member of Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner, 'Elua Kane) said:
"I was too busy playing (sports)." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101202_Green_wins_Capital_One_online_award.html
"It was a good play. He made a good play." (HSA)
About redshirting this season in order to let his hip injury heal, Hopkins said:
"It was hard because I wanted to be out there. As time went on, I said, 'This is OK. This is going to help me.'" (HSA)
About how he did not have time to try for a musical career, Kainoa LaCount (whose grandfather is Tau Greig, a member of Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner, 'Elua Kane) said:
"I was too busy playing (sports)." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101202_Green_wins_Capital_One_online_award.html
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Kicker Scott Enos has been dealing with arthritis in his lower back all season that makes it painful to kick
About dealing with his arthritis in his lower back that makes him wince every time he kicks the ball, Scott Enos (who has never missed a PAT during his 25-game UH career, with his 92 consecutive PATs setting a UH record) said:
"I get physical therapy every day." (HSA)
"I've been hurt all season. I'm always limping off on kickoffs because my arthritis is hurting me. It started probably after the USC game. I've been feeling it all year." (HSA)
By playing through the discomfort, Enos, a senior, allows the Warriors to redshirt Tyler Hadden, a freshman.
About how he had to play through the pain so that UH could redshirt freshman Tyler Hadden, Enos said:
"They need me to kick." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Enos said he receives daily ice treatments and electrical-stimulation sessions. Each Monday, he runs. He does light exercises on Tuesdays."
About how he resumes kicking on Wednesdays, trying 30 FGs and 10 kickoffs each week in practice, Enos said:
"I go back to work Wednesday." (HSA)
About how he feels the day after the game, Enos smiled and said:
"I'm hurting." (HSA)
Praising Enos, Luke Ingram said:
"It takes a real athlete to do what he does to get ready, and still do the job." (HSA)
About how PATs should be automatic, Enos said:
"You can't miss." (HSA)
About how a kicker has to remain positive, Enos said:
"When you're kicking, you don't want to have any negativity in your mind.You want to b lock all of that out." (HSA)
About how before each PAT he goes to the spot where the ball will be held then takes 3 steps back and 2 steps to the left, Enos said:
"I shrug my shoulders to relax my body, and turn my shoulders into the proper alignment, and kick. Those motions get me focused." (HSA)
About the inspiration he has in his locker, Enos said:
"I have an autographed picture of Jason Elam there." (HSA)
HSA Note: "It is, in fact, a photo copy. The original is in his family's home in Granite Bay, Calif. Enos and his father used to collect autographs. Several years ago, his father mailed a request to Elam, who responded quickly. As soon as he was assigned a UH locker, Enos taped the copy of the photo. Underneath, there is a Michael Jordan quote: "Some people want it to happen, some people wish it would happen, some people make it happen." "
About the quote from Michael Jordan in his locker, Enos said:
"It's something that I keep there for motivation." (HSA)
Asked who was the first to request his autograph, Enos said:
"Probably from my parents. They always like to have me sign things." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101201_Mister_Automatic.html
"I get physical therapy every day." (HSA)
"I've been hurt all season. I'm always limping off on kickoffs because my arthritis is hurting me. It started probably after the USC game. I've been feeling it all year." (HSA)
By playing through the discomfort, Enos, a senior, allows the Warriors to redshirt Tyler Hadden, a freshman.
About how he had to play through the pain so that UH could redshirt freshman Tyler Hadden, Enos said:
"They need me to kick." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Enos said he receives daily ice treatments and electrical-stimulation sessions. Each Monday, he runs. He does light exercises on Tuesdays."
About how he resumes kicking on Wednesdays, trying 30 FGs and 10 kickoffs each week in practice, Enos said:
"I go back to work Wednesday." (HSA)
About how he feels the day after the game, Enos smiled and said:
"I'm hurting." (HSA)
Praising Enos, Luke Ingram said:
"It takes a real athlete to do what he does to get ready, and still do the job." (HSA)
About how PATs should be automatic, Enos said:
"You can't miss." (HSA)
About how a kicker has to remain positive, Enos said:
"When you're kicking, you don't want to have any negativity in your mind.You want to b lock all of that out." (HSA)
About how before each PAT he goes to the spot where the ball will be held then takes 3 steps back and 2 steps to the left, Enos said:
"I shrug my shoulders to relax my body, and turn my shoulders into the proper alignment, and kick. Those motions get me focused." (HSA)
About the inspiration he has in his locker, Enos said:
"I have an autographed picture of Jason Elam there." (HSA)
HSA Note: "It is, in fact, a photo copy. The original is in his family's home in Granite Bay, Calif. Enos and his father used to collect autographs. Several years ago, his father mailed a request to Elam, who responded quickly. As soon as he was assigned a UH locker, Enos taped the copy of the photo. Underneath, there is a Michael Jordan quote: "Some people want it to happen, some people wish it would happen, some people make it happen." "
About the quote from Michael Jordan in his locker, Enos said:
"It's something that I keep there for motivation." (HSA)
Asked who was the first to request his autograph, Enos said:
"Probably from my parents. They always like to have me sign things." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101201_Mister_Automatic.html
Jake Heun reflects on his Warrior career
About how bird poop landed on his shoulder during his first day in Hawaii, Jake Heun laughed and said:
"I was like, 'This is a great start.' People told me that was good luck. They lied." (HSA)
Rolo responded:
"That's Jake." (HSA)
About how Rolo recruited his and he was Mack's first recruit as a UH head coach, Heun said:
"Rolo (Rolovich) came out here, and he knew I needed some place to get to in the spring. My folks weren't too stoked on me staying in Alaska for a semester. These other schools wanted me to wait until summer. Rolo called me and said: 'Hey, get on a plane if you want to play running back.' I was like, 'Hell, yeah.' It's been an interesting ride." (HSA)
About how he suffered a herniated disc while weight training on the second day of training camp in 2008 (he missed that entire season), Heun said:
"My whole (left) leg went numb for six months." (HSA)
Heun said that in the spring of 2009:
"Four out of five neurologists said I shouldn't play anymore. It kind of sucks when you're never really what you used to be." (HSA)
About how he moved from RB to LB/DE instead of quitting, Heun said:
"I love football. I wasn't going to let some doctors tell me I couldn't play football." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Heun's time on defense has diminished this season as the Warriors went to a quicker scheme. But Heun has been a valuable member of special teams, an occasional linebacker, and, the past month, has practiced at running back."
Reflecting on his Warrior career, Heun said:
"It was definitely worth it. I got my education taken care of. I got to meet some good guys, and we've played some good ball. I'm glad I can go out on top." (HSA)
About how he plans to compete in MMA after earning his bachelor's degree in European Studies in May, Heun said:
"I want to fight in cages and travel. I want to fight people in every country." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101202_Heuns_UH_stay_has_been_worth_it.html
"I was like, 'This is a great start.' People told me that was good luck. They lied." (HSA)
Rolo responded:
"That's Jake." (HSA)
About how Rolo recruited his and he was Mack's first recruit as a UH head coach, Heun said:
"Rolo (Rolovich) came out here, and he knew I needed some place to get to in the spring. My folks weren't too stoked on me staying in Alaska for a semester. These other schools wanted me to wait until summer. Rolo called me and said: 'Hey, get on a plane if you want to play running back.' I was like, 'Hell, yeah.' It's been an interesting ride." (HSA)
About how he suffered a herniated disc while weight training on the second day of training camp in 2008 (he missed that entire season), Heun said:
"My whole (left) leg went numb for six months." (HSA)
Heun said that in the spring of 2009:
"Four out of five neurologists said I shouldn't play anymore. It kind of sucks when you're never really what you used to be." (HSA)
About how he moved from RB to LB/DE instead of quitting, Heun said:
"I love football. I wasn't going to let some doctors tell me I couldn't play football." (HSA)
HSA Note: "Heun's time on defense has diminished this season as the Warriors went to a quicker scheme. But Heun has been a valuable member of special teams, an occasional linebacker, and, the past month, has practiced at running back."
Reflecting on his Warrior career, Heun said:
"It was definitely worth it. I got my education taken care of. I got to meet some good guys, and we've played some good ball. I'm glad I can go out on top." (HSA)
About how he plans to compete in MMA after earning his bachelor's degree in European Studies in May, Heun said:
"I want to fight in cages and travel. I want to fight people in every country." (HSA)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sports/sportsnews/20101202_Heuns_UH_stay_has_been_worth_it.html
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