Praising the progress that Alexander has made, Rolo said:
"You've got to like his progress and I think that is a testament to him (because) from the day he stepped on the island he has been focused on football." (HA)
About how it took him awhile to adjust to UH after transferring from a JC, Rolo said:
"I look back at my experiences and I didn't take it as seriously (at first) as he did. I have a lot of respect for his effort and determination. I mean, from the minute he got here he has competed for the job and been focused on football." (HA)
About Alexander, Mack said:
"He's had a good camp. The good thing about him is that he has been in it the whole time. He's been here all summer working hard. He's first at meetings and has done everything we've asked of him. He's got a strong arm and he's a winner." (HA)
About how Alexander led his team against the team that he coached last year, Rolo said:
"I think he brought them (Santa Rosa) back from a 21-points down against us." (HA)
About how UH gave him his only scholarship offer, Alexander said:
"They were the best option I had and they were telling me I'd have a chance to compete (for the starting) job. I loved the offense because it is similar to what we ran and I liked the schedule. I wanted the opportunity to compete." (HA)
HA Note: "Soares, who is considered to be the Warriors' hardest hitter, has been diagnosed with a torn gastrocnemius, a calf muscle in his left leg. He underwent an MRI yesterday morning and was evaluated by a specialist in the afternoon. Soares, who is wearing a cast, has been told his recovery period is between six and eight weeks. But the injury will not require surgery. Savaiigaea has been diagnosed with a tear in his left triceps. He also is wearing a cast. His recovery period is between four and six weeks."
About his tricep injury, Rocky said:
"It sucks." (HA)
About how surgery cannnot heal his injury, Rocky said:
"Can't sew muscle to a ligament. They want to see if it can heal itself with scar tissues." (HA)
Noting that he missed the latter part of spring training with a leg injury, Rocky said:
"Now this. It's a humbling process. You can't take anything for granted — not that I ever did — but you really appreciate (good health). We'll see what happens." (HA)
About the injuries to Blaze and Rocky, Mack said:
"I feel bad for both of those guys, because they worked really hard this summer and they were playing at the top of their game. Now they have to keep in shape during their rehab and come back to help us defend the WAC championship. Fortunately, we have good depth at both of those positions and we have to move on until they can come back and contribute. (UH trainer Eric Okasaki) and the medical staff did a great job of evaluating (Soares') injury and the doctors were very thorough." (HSB)
About Blaze's injury, Mack said:
"The positive is we have good depth at (the linebacker) position. The negative is we don't have one of our more talented players. I feel bad for Blaze. Hopefully, things will work out." (HA)
HA Note: "Soares is a 2005 Castle High School graduate, He did not play football in 2005 while he was enrolled at a private school. He played two seasons for the Warriors. He has not used a redshirt year. Because he was a partial-qualifier out of high school, he is considered to be a senior. He can earn a fourth season — and second senior year — if he shows significant progress in his college major."
About Blaze, Viliami Nauahi said:
"Blaze's middle name is 'Impact.' " (HA)
About Blaze, Mack said:
"He's a very good player." (HA)
HA Note: "With Soares and Leonard (groin injury) sidelined, Elimimian, who was the Warriors' starting middle linebacker the past three seasons, moved to Leonard's spot at rightside linebacker. Satele was promoted to No. 1 middle linebacker. R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane stepped in for his cousin, Soares, at leftside linebacker. When Leonard is healthy again, he and Elimimian will play on the perimeter, and Satele will remain in the middle. Kiesel-Kauhane, Tyson Kafentzis, Mana Lolotai and Paipai Falemalu will join the rotation."
About their depth at LB, Mack said it is:
"a strong position for us." (HA)
HA Note: "Falemalu, a 2008 Kahuku High School graduate, has ascended the depth chart quickly. Yesterday, Falemalu was the second-team leftside linebacker. Falemalu, who is 6 feet 2 and 240 pounds, has the strength to line up in the tackle box and quickness to drop into pass coverage. Falemalu showed his commitment this summer. A week after his commencement ceremony, he was living in the UH dorms while taking two summer-session classes. He also worked out in the morning, and competed in 7-on-7 drills in the afternoon."
About how things became more difficult when he moved back to his family's home in Hau'ula after the first summer session ended, waking up at 4:30am and on the road at 4:45am, Paipai said:
"I got here at 6." (HA)
About how he wasn't sure about going to UH before they replaced JJ, Paipai said:
"I wasn't sure if I wanted to come here because they didn't have a head coach." (HA)
About how the hiring of Mack convinced him to go to UH, Paipai said:
"He cares about the island boys. I decided to stay home, which is what I always wanted to do." (HA)
"Once (the Warriors) got a coach, I knew where I was going. There's no place like home, playing in front of the family. If you go away, you go home to a lonely dorm. Here, you've got family cheering for you every home game." (HA)
About adjusting to UH, Paipai said:
"It's different coming out of high school because we don't have as complicated plays. It's helpful that I have all the seniors helping me. If I have any questions I can go to them and they help me, show me the ropes. Coach Cal (Lee, defensive coordinator and linebackers) is always there, too." (HSB)
Surprised that he was on the 2nd team yesterday, Paipai said:
"I just found out today when I came on the field. Coach Cal told me to go with the second team and I said, 'That sounds good.' vIt shows that the coaches think I can compete with these guys." (HSB)
About how he's happy to finally get a shot at a starting spot, Brashton (who had a pulled left hamstring in his first two seasons with UH) said:
"It's really sweet, I feel really good right now. Because I might actually get on the field and run with the ones. I've been waiting three years." (HA)
About being their starting MLB right now, Brashton said:
"(My career has) been up and down, with injuries and practicing hard but never seeing the field. But now I'm reaping the rewards of my hard work, so I'm happy right now." (HA)
About the injuries to Adam and Blaze, Brashton said:
"I feel bad for Adam and Blaze, who are injured right now, but we're going to keep on practicing and working for Florida (in the season opener)." (HA)
About how OLB is different than MLB, Sol said:
"At middle linebacker, you just find the guy with the ball and go kill them. (At) outside 'backer you really have to be able to think. You have to play the receivers and our outside 'backers blitz a lot. So you have to be really versatile and really sound." (HSB)
About how he lost his confidence during the past few years, Brashton said:
"I lost confidence a couple years. I talked to my friends and family and they kept pushing me to stay with it. Now I'm getting my chance, finally." (HSB)
About moving Sol to OLB after Blaze's injury, Cal Lee said:
"I think Solly can cover better playing outside. And Brashton would be a better inside guy than an outside guy." (HA)
Cal said that a MLB is typically:
"big and physical and strong and you have to make the calls, you have to be smart. You have to go from sideline to sideline." (HA)
About how his family has a long history with UH, Brashton said:
"With my dad them, Samson (Satele), Hercules (Satele) Amani (Purcell), Mel (Purcell), there's a lot of pressure but I think I can live up to it, because I have two more years to play." (HA)
About how Blaze has become the player they thought he would be, Cal said:
"Maturity and experience, he's grown up. He's become the player we always thought he was. ... A complete player that can run, hit, he's smart, being a leader, all of that. He's showing leadership just by his performance, and to me that's huge." (HA)
HA Note: "Satele said it was a "really bad feeling" because his body wasn't cooperating with his desire to get on the field. To prevent that this season, he included running on the beach to strengthen his legs."
About how Brashton's improvement provides them with depth, Cal Lee said:
"With football, you have injuries, and sometimes things happen. People fall down, get hurt, can't play for whatever reason. We feel very comfortable with (Satele) coming in and playing. And you can never have enough depth. For instance, for the case we are in now. Adam is not here and Blaze is not here, for a guy like Brashton, I feel comfortable with what he can do." (HA)
About how the biggest change for Brashton is his maturity, Cal said:
"I saw progress from day one, and day two, and now that it's his fourth year, he progressed." (HA)
About how he joined UH as a 17-year-old, Brashton said:
"I was really young coming in. ... and I'm 20 now, so I'm kind of more mature." (HA)
About the delay in choosing their starting QB, Rolo said:
"It's their fault. They're making it tough on us. They played great today. It was their best day against our defense." (HA)
"These guys are making it tough." (HSB)
HSB Note: "What did UH's two losing seasons in the June Jones era have in common? The starting quarterback of the season opener was not named early in camp, and did not control the reins for long once the games started."
About the delay in choosing their starting QB, Mack said:
"We want to look one more day. We don't want to rush into it. They're competing, and we don't want to take that competitiveness away from them. We'll make a decision within the next couple of days, probably by Thursday." (HA)
"We're not in a hurry, we just want to make a good choice. This team needs to know who the quarterback is so they can rally around somebody." (HSB)
About having the QBs rotate after taking up to 8 snaps yesterday instead of rotating after every 2 snaps for the rest of training camp, Mack said:
"We changed it up on them. We wanted to try some different things." (HA)
About their QB competition, Rolo said:
"All three made good throws. We need to make a decision to get this team to follow a leader. I told them to make it tough. It would be easier on me if they didn't. Now we have to go with the guy who we think will be the guy." (HA)
Praising Shane Austin and Jake Santos also, Rolo said:
"They haven't gotten a lot of reps, but they're knowledgeable about the offense. Both have the swagger. Even though we don't have a No. 1, we're very deep." (HA)
About how he set up four trash cans 40 yards away from the QBs after practice, where they have to place passes into the bins, Rolo said:
"We put in a new format this year: the four-bucket rule. The middle bucket is eight points. The outside bucket is three points. Any contact is one point." (HA)
About how the team of Austin, Rausch, and Jantz beat the team of Inoke, Alexander, and Santos 13-5, Alexander said:
"They pretty much kicked our ass." (HA)
HA Note: "During Monday's afternoon practice, Jantz received a package during a special ceremony. It was a red No. 15 jersey with the name "Tebow" on the back. For the next two weeks, Jantz will portray Florida's Heisman Trophy quarterback Tim Tebow in drills."
About playing Tebow for the scout team, Jantz said:
"I see it as an opportunity, a big deal. I have the responsibility of getting the defense ready. I'm going to give them the best look I can." (HA)
About how his teammates have nicknamed him "Steele-Bow", Jantz (who has watched hours of tape on Tebow) said:
"They have a fun time with it. It's a fun thing, but it also gets serious." (HA)
About his red "Tebow" jersey, Jantz said:
"(The coaches) gave it to me and just told me to wear it with pride. I take it very seriously, I think it's a big responsibility. Coach talks about how everyone has equal responsibility on the team and I just take this as my role and I'm going to give them a good look." (HSB)
About how his teammates are helping him adjust to his role, Jantz said:
"They call me 'Tim' or call me 'Tebow.' (HSB)
HA Note: "With 30 minutes remaining in a scheduled three-hour practice, it was time to put the freeze on the self-styled "Iceman." McMackin gathered the team, then announced that practice would end early if Dan Kelly converted a field-goal attempt from 53 yards. There were two obstacles for the Iceman: he would kick against the wind and his long-snapper, Jake Ingram, had left to take a final exam."
About how Dan Kelly made the kick to end practice early, Tim Grasso said:
"It was deep, and (against) the wind, and he comes through like he always does." (HA)
About making his kick to allow the team to end practice early, Kelly said:
"A little pressure never does anybody any harm. I enjoy it. I actually wish all the kicks were like that because it makes them more enjoyable. I like the attention." (HSB)
Worried about being injured in the celebration after the kick, Kelly said:
"That was dangerous I was like, 'Dude, just don't land on my feet. Hit me in the head, just don't step on my feet.' I've been hitting the ball really well, today was the first day I had a perfect day. Helluva day not to miss one." (HSB)
About having Farmer serve as his long snapper, Kelly said:
"Everyone on this team can operate. You take out the best snapper in the country in Jake, and you put in Farmer, who's still a damn good snapper, and we get the job done. It's a testament to how much talent there is on this team that nobody really takes into consideration." (HA)
About how his goal this summer was to work on his consistency, Kelly said:
"I'd rather be known as a consistent 45-yards-and-in kind of guy than a long, hit-or-miss kind of guy. That's what I worked on." (HA)
HA Note: "Yesterday's No. 1 center does not believe in shortcuts, especially with his first name. Matagisila Lefiti said he prefers that his name not be shortened to "Sila." Lefiti is making a name as a diligent worker on and off the field. Lefiti, a 2007 graduate of Mater Dei High School, met the NCAA requirements but not UH's entry standards. He was granted conditional acceptance last year if he agreed to redshirt and earn at least a 2.5 grade-point average. He met the challenge. His cumulative GPA is 3.0."
About Lefiti's improvement, Brian Smith said:
"He's come a long way. He's learned a lot. He's got pretty good balance. He anchors well. He's pretty stout for a young guy. He's doing well. He's been a nice surprise." (HA)
About how he didn't play center in high school but has worked hard to become a good center, Lefiti said:
"I wasn't used to the center spot. I worked hard with the (strength) coaches, Tommy (Heffernan) and Mel (deLaura). They helped me get into shape. Brian Smith really helped me with the (line) calls, and showed me what was going on in the (defensive) packages, which I'm really happy for." (HA)
HA Note: "In the spring, Cadiz was a volunteer janitor in the UH weight room, a position that allowed him to watch spring practices and plead daily for a tryout."
About how he wanted to be able to walk-on to the Warriors, Cadiz (2007 Mililani graduate who attended Humboldt State last fall) said:
"It was my dream." (HA)
About having Cadiz make the training camp roster despite not being able to play in games this year, Mack said:
"We were looking for a running back to give us a look when we got to scout teams. He wants to be on this football team. He's a full-speed, 100 percent guy. I know he'll have his heart and soul into making us better." (HA)
About how Mouton helps his after practice, DB Jeramy Bryant said:
"He's a big help, he doesn't hold anything back, he's helping me out a lot. Whenever I have any questions, I just go to him. Just trying to pick his brain before he goes to the league." (HSB)
Praising Bryant, Rich Miano said:
"I'm excited about him, because when you find a guy that's got talent and work ethic and focus, eventually he's going to help us, maybe sooner." (HSB)
HSB Note: "The stadium's 17-year-old JumboTron received a near-$1 million overhaul of its circuitry and computers, allowing the stadium to display a much wider array of replays, scores and statistics. The improvements are scheduled to be done in time for Hawaii's first home game Sept. 6 against Weber State, stadium manager Scott Chan said. The 19x26-foot JumboTron screen itself will remain the same. Flashier and quicker instant replays are now possible, supplemented by ongoing stats and scoring updates from around the country."
About their overhaul of the JumboTron, Chan said:
"I would think (it would appeal), now you're giving a broader base of information, you're informed about other games you're interested in, how they might be doing." (HSB)
About what they will be showing on the screen, scoreboard administrator Dave Golz said:
"We'll stick to Top 25. Live video of whatever's in the stadium, and put the (stat) graphics over. We have to put them a little bigger than a (score) ticker so people can read it. We can do things a little more creative, a couple different pages." (HSB)
About how they will have security cameras at various places throughout (and above) the stadium, Chan said:
"We're informing the general public to improve our coverage of our property and for security to have a better view of some of the blind spots we have in the facility." (HSB)
About how a camera with a bird's-eye view above the stadium will help them adjust things to reduce traffic into the parking lot on game days, Chan said:
"We can see as far as Red Hill, and places like Salt Lake Boulevard. It's gonna give us a huge advantage this year." (HSB)
About how they would like to replace some seats each year, Chan said:
"We're trying to step up to the plate and make the seat replacement part of the budget every year." (HSB)
About how they will still have the swap meet on game days, Chan said that he was optimistic that the stadium:
"can address that within the next two or three years."
About how the swap meet will still end at 3pm while the stadium gates open for tailgating parking at 2:30pm on game days, Chan said:
"We need to make sure we're sensitive to the needs of the swap meet vendors as well. We don't want to offset their livelihood. We're working at it, we realize how important it is to the (UH) athletic department, and we realize how important it is to (the stadium) as well, not having two operations overlap." (HSB)
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Gainesville Sun article on UH's travel costs
GS = Gainesville Sun
About how travel costs are hurting UH's budget, Clapp said:
"Like anything else, it's a challenge. We've always been aware with the cost of travel. Right now, there's a heightened awareness. Our coaches and administrators are trying to be creative." (GS)
GS Note: "Clapp said Hawaii's athletic travel budget, at $2.75 million last year, is expected to increase to $3.2 million this year. That accounts for 10.75 percent of Hawaii's athletic budget."
GS Note: "Clapp said the school is trying to offset some of the costs with increased ticket sales and increases in the value of radio and television rights. Hawaii also faces substantial travel costs in recruiting, because many of its athletes come on visits from the mainland."
About how they will still recruit mainland players, Clapp said:
"It will cost more to bring student athletes to visit, but we're making a commitment to recruit the best student-athletes we possibly can. We're not going to back away from that because of the cost of travel." (GS)
About how travel costs are hurting UH's budget, Clapp said:
"Like anything else, it's a challenge. We've always been aware with the cost of travel. Right now, there's a heightened awareness. Our coaches and administrators are trying to be creative." (GS)
GS Note: "Clapp said Hawaii's athletic travel budget, at $2.75 million last year, is expected to increase to $3.2 million this year. That accounts for 10.75 percent of Hawaii's athletic budget."
GS Note: "Clapp said the school is trying to offset some of the costs with increased ticket sales and increases in the value of radio and television rights. Hawaii also faces substantial travel costs in recruiting, because many of its athletes come on visits from the mainland."
About how they will still recruit mainland players, Clapp said:
"It will cost more to bring student athletes to visit, but we're making a commitment to recruit the best student-athletes we possibly can. We're not going to back away from that because of the cost of travel." (GS)
Quotes from the local papers
About how they might select their #1 QB by tomorrow, Mack said:
"I think it's the right time to make the decision." (HA)
About needing to pick their starter, Mack said:
"We need to move on and get one guy the others can look to. (Center) John Estes is the leader of the offensive line. But the quarterback, by the nature of the position, is the leader of the offense, and we need to make a decision. We worked hard on our evaluations. We need to sit down and call the shot. We feel the guy we choose needs more reps. ... It's time we get whoever is the best at the quarterback position." (HA)
"We're going to make a decision later this week. We've got to move on at the quarterback position. Wednesday, Thursday we're going to make a decision, if not sooner. I think it's very competitive. We're on it daily. Evaluating every snap, want to make the right decision. ... The quarterback position is a leadership role. We've got people fighting for the role. That's an important reason we need to make the decision." (HSB)
About how the next few days will be critical for the QB candidates, Ron Lee said:
"The next couple practices will be big. Every practice is big, but we have to eventually make decisions. It's still tight. That's the thing, one guy has a good day, now we have to get it consistently. But they're coming. The practices are getting faster, the tempo is more game-like and that's what we need." (HSB)
Funaki said that the film sessions have taught the QBs to:
"take what the defense gives you. Coach Ron and Coach Rolo have been making emphasis not to get greedy, just take what they give you because that will start to open everything else up. Sometimes we're anticipating a certain throw, and you can't do that, especially in this offense." (HSB)
HA Note: "The chosen quarterback would start against Florida on Aug. 30, and receive about 75 percent of the reps in team passing drills. One player no longer in contention is Tyler Graunke, who has been withheld from team activities while an academic issue remains unsettled. Graunke had hoped to rejoin the team by yesterday. But he was a no-show at practice yesterday. Even if he were to resolve his academic issues, he still would need to file paperwork, take medical examinations and attend orientation sessions — a process that would keep him off the field for another week.
Funaki, Alexander and Rausch have played well as the coaches continue to implement new plays. Rolovich has charted every pass of every practice. He grades each play on a 0-to-5 point system. The categories include footwork, quality of throws, going through progression, decision-making and, even, eye contact. Rolovich then has a comment for every play, some expansive, some in text-message code. Alexander said one comment read: TWTDGY."
About Rolo's TWTDGY comment, Alexander said:
"Take what the defense gives you." (HA)
About Rolo's comments on every play, Inoke said:
"It's very helpful. He points out the little mistakes we do, any mistakes." (HA)
About how he doesn't want to focus the QB competition just on stats, Rolo said:
"It's not all by the numbers. There's leadership, composure, those type of things you can't put a number on. The numbers are the numbers, but there's also the personality thing that's hard to judge. You have to get a feel for that." (HA)
About how he'll be getting an MRI on his sore left triceps, Rocky said:
"We're just waiting to see what it is." (HA)
About being injured now, after he missed the latter part of spring training due to a right leg injury, Rocky said:
"It's frustrating. It sucks it had to be at a time like this. I was getting comfortable again. It's just a game. (Stuff) happens." (HA)
About how he missed the 2nd half of practice yesterday due to a sore right shoulder, Estes said that if it was a game:
"I would have wrapped it and played." (HA)
Unsure how he was injured, Estes said:
"Maybe I got hit wrong or something. When I woke up Sunday morning, it hurt." (HA)
About how he ready to practice, Dustin Blount (who arrived in Hawaii on Saturday and watched yesterday's practice) said:
"Everything is fine. I'm ready to go." (HA)
About Blaze's injury, Mack said:
"I have to look at the plus, and not worry about it until then. That would be really disappointing if he were hurt (badly). But we would move on. We have the players to move on." (HA)
HA Note: "The Warriors were without two-thirds of what they are trumpeting as the best linebacker group in the Western Athletic Conference. Rightside linebacker Adam Leonard did not participate in his third consecutive practice because of tightness in his left hamstring. That forced the Warriors to activate an experiment that was initiated three days ago. Middle linebacker Solomon Elimimian, who was voted as the WAC's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, moved to Leonard's spot on the right side. R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane, who had been practicing on the right side, competed at Soares' position on the left side. And backup Brashton Satele was promoted to No. 1 middle linebacker."
About moving Brashton to starting MLB and having Sol go to OLB, Mack said:
"We moved Solly (Elimimian) outside because Brashton has been playing middle so well. We didn't want to stack Solly and Brashton (on the depth chart). We think Brashton is our fourth best (linebacker). Instead of moving Brashton outside, we were going to (rotate) four linebackers (into three spots). Instead of moving Brashton — who is younger and knows the middle — and make him learn more, it was easier to move Solly. Solly is sharp, and he can play middle and outside. It doubles his chances of going to the next level." (HA)
About how the MLB makes their defensive calls and Sol is in the habit of making the calls even when he moves to OLB, Brashton said:
"Solly's been our middle for years. We catch each other making the same calls." (HA)
HA Note: "They settled on an arrangement in which Elimimian will continue to make the calls."
About moving to OLB, Sol said:
"Whatever the team needs me to do, I'll do. I'm all about winning. If the team wants me to play D-tackle, I'll play D-tackle. If the team wants me to play free safety, I'm there." (HA)
"Whatever coach needs me to do, whatever it is we need to win, I'm ready to do it. If I have to play D-tackle, I'll play D-tackle. Being in a game, if someone goes down, you don't have time to look around, you don't have time to ask questions, you have to be ready. Right now guys are getting ready." (HSB)
About how he knew the OLB responsibilities ever before being moved there, Sol said:
"I watched Adam and Blaze so much I kind of know what to do (on the outside). There are still things I'm trying to get, but coach (Lee) is doing a good job of helping me." (HA)
About his expanded role at practice, Brashton said:
"I'm filling in. I feel for Blaze right now." (HA)
About moving to the first team due to his cousin Blaze's injury, R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane said:
"Unfortunately, Blaze got hurt so some of the new guys had to step up. Things like this happen. You've got to be ready. Hopefully, from now on, we can stay injury-free." (HA)
About their team speed, Florida coach Urban Meyer said:
"We're a wide-open offense and we love to run. If you can't run, there's really not a place for you at the University of Florida." (HA)
About Florida has NFL-like speed, Rich Miano said:
"They (Florida and Georgia) are like the NFL, there is team speed everywhere." (HA)
About Florida's team speed, Cal Lee said:
"They've got team speed across the board and nobody that is slow." (HA)
About the speed on their team, Florida RB coach Kenny Carter said:
"Everybody can run. We were laughing about (cornerback) Joe Haden. He runs a 4.3 40 (yard dash) and he's only the seventh fastest player on our team. That puts things into perspective for you." (HA)
About how they use their speed to create mismatches, Tim Tebow said:
"I believe we're going to have speed, especially at the skill positions on offense. I think we've got a 4.2 guy at every position." (HA)
HA Note: "To underline just how much speed the Gators are blessed with, before the spring game, it is reported UF put up the offer of a scholarship to any student that could beat Rainey in the 40-yard. Five tried. None got their schooling paid for as Rainey blazed to a 4.24. Then, in the game, he broke loose on a 65-yard TD run."
Downplaying the reports that Rainey beat him in their race, Demps (who ran a 10.1 100-meter dash at the Olympic trials) said:
"I won the first race, the second one we kind of stopped and, then, the third race he (Rainey) won." (HA)
About how SJSU wasn't able to find a scholarship for him, Calvin Roberts said:
"San Jose State never came through. ... I think I made the best choice I could make. The man upstairs wanted me to be here, so I made the best of it." (HA)
About how SJSU had to pull his offer due to their low APR, Roberts said:
"They had to remove a scholarship, and I guess I was the one." (HA)
HA Note: "After reaching out to the Warriors, they offered him a scholarship last July. After adjusting to the program's defensive schemes last season, Roberts is practicing as the fifth defensive back in both the okie and nickel packages. He is also on the second unit at cornerback."
About how Roberts will get significant playing time this season, Rich Miano said:
"If we go okie, once (Ryan) Mouton moves inside, then Calvin goes to the corner. So even if he didn't start for us, which he still may, then he would play in our nickel and okie packages." (HA)
About how he liked UH in addition to SJSU, Roberts said:
"I contacted Hawai'i, and we connected. It was out of the blue. I always liked it; I liked my trip over here, but San Jose was so close and I had my baby so I wanted to stay close, but it didn't work out, so I just came back here." (HA)
About how it took about half of last season before things "clicked" for him, Roberts said:
"I started to know the defense and the players, and I adjusted." (HA)
About how it typically takes about a year for a JC player to get comfortable in their system, Miano said:
"He had to learn a new system, techniques, the verbiage is different. We knew he had talent, but he's really made that jump." (HA)
Miano said that one of Roberts' strengths is that:
"he really wants to do good. I call him the hardest working man in show business because he gets out here and you can hear the breath in his voice, the hustle in his talk, the sparkle in his eye." (HA)
Miano said that Roberts and CB Richard Torres are the:
"technicians at corner in terms of doing things correctly." (HA)
About how he worked out Monday through Friday over the summer, Roberts said:
"I kept my speed together and got stronger and worked on my lower body." (HA)
HA Note: "Players like Roberts, Mouton and Jameel Dowling have a sense of urgency because it is their final collegiate season and they are working to reach their potential, Miano said."
About the battle for playing time among their CBs, Miano said:
"If there's one, two, three, four (on the depth chart), then (Roberts is) three and he's not far away from being two. (Ryan) Mouton is just so much more athletic, that he's number one. Calvin could be the number two guy. He and Jameel will battle it out, and J.P. (Davis) isn't that far behind at four. Jeramy Bryant has come a long way, too." (HA)
Thinking about trying out for the UH baseball team in 2009, Roberts (who was a baseball star in high school) said:
"I might give it a try, we'll see how it goes." (HA)
About their injured players, Mack said:
"When you get injuries, that's what depth is all about. Any position that loses somebody, it's unfortunate, but you move on." (HSB)
About how Florida is serving to motivate them in practice, Sol said:
"We've got to get our work in. We've got Florida (in the opener), so that's something that motivates us." (HSB)
Happy with how their vet VL are providing leadership and motivation, DL coach Dave Aranda said:
"Today was a hot day, there were some guys with some aches and pains and it's good to hear Keala (Watson) step up like he did today and (David) Veikune step up like he did today. That, in my opinion, is the strength of our team." (HSB)
About how he tries to lead by example, Veikune said:
"I vocalize when I need to, but I just lead by example on the field and go hard. Keala's the one, he's the talker out there." (HSB)
About their leadership on the DL, Keala Watson said:
"Our D-line is pretty solid, everybody knows what to do, everybody's their own leader." (HSB)
About being a starter this season and how the increased reps are making him better, Veikune said:
"That's why I just have to push harder. Last year during team (periods), I didn't get as many reps, me and Amani would always switch in and out. Now I'm getting in there every single play. I'm getting better, and my technique's looking better." (HSB)
About Veikune's improvement, Aranda said:
"He's a great natural pass rusher, he's great with his hands, run and pass. Where he's made the most improvement is with his footwork in our line slants and our rush stunts." (HSB)
About how their injuries give the healthy players extra reps to get better, Watson said:
"It's hard for the guys who are injured because they can't get the reps. But the guys who are in there, we get double the reps. It'll help us prepare that much better, get our reads down. A lot of things are coming faster, more reaction instead of reading." (HSB)
Praising Josh Leonard, Aranda said:
"Josh has really been a superstar this first part of camp." (HSB)
About how Laeli is hampered by injury, Aranda said:
"We just have to be smart with him. Fale's a great player; we're going to give him the reps he needs, but we're going to condition him in a smart way." (HSB)
Hoping that Fonoti, Rocky, and the rest of their DL are all healthy soon, Aranda said:
"That's the thing, once you start talking about how much depth you have, usually the next thing is all of your depth falls off. We're hoping in the next couple of days to be back to full strength. What it does is it gives a bunch of younger guys a chance to go with the first string." (HSB)
About how Estes' injury made him realize that he needs to be more vocal and help out at center, AhSoon said:
"Just now I thought about it because our starting center went down and I was like, 'Man, we got nobody stepping in'. Of course, the young guys are doing a really good job, but as for me, I thought about asking (offensive line) coach (Brian Smith) about it and I'm going to start snapping some balls (today) just to help out." (HA)
HA Note: "Estes and Tuioti-Mariner both practiced yesterday, but were held out of contact drills. Lefiti, a redshirt freshman out of Mater Dei High School in California, had his moments in the morning session, but AhSoon saw an opportunity to step in and lead his younger teammates."
About helping out at C, AhSoon said:
"It's a chance for me as a senior to step up and do what I got to do. There's a lot of pressure on the young guys reading defenses and they're learning to trust what they see." (HA)
About how their OL struggled yesterrday, Brian Smith said:
"I thought offensively we were a little slow today. We've got to pick up our tempo. We've got some starters dinged up so young guys are getting some reps, so you try to stay on those guys." (HA)
HA Note: "The extra work fits perfectly into Smith's plan for the season. He hopes to have "seven or eight" guys rotating in and out each game to keep everyone fresh. Two of those players are juniors Aaron Kia and Laupepa Letuli, who are locked in a battle for AhSoon's old spot at left tackle."
About how the starting spot at LT is up for grabs, even though Kia took all of the first team reps yesterday, Smith said:
"It's real close. We'll get "Pepa" some more reps so that they're evened out." (HA)
About how it took him a few days to shake off the rust due to how injury forced him to miss spring training, Letuli said:
"The first few days I felt kind of off. I wasn't used to feeling my body move a certain way, but it's been a good week for me. I just need to fix my mistakes, that's all I can do right now." (HA)
Critical of his performance in camp, Kia said:
"I'm my own worst critic. I'll tell you right now I'm doing horrible. That's why I've got to keep pushing. I don't want to lose my spot." (HA)
About having two "sudden-change" conditioning drills yesterday in camp, when before they only had one per practice, Inoke said:
"I wasn't expecting that one at all." (HSB)
About the 2 "sudden-change" conditioning drills yesterday, Mack said:
"Those are both hard. You saw the big guys running at the end? They're running like a mother." (HSB)
About how he and many teammates watched the K-1 fights on Saturday night, AhSoon said:
"I'm like aw man (Puu) is going to kick his (butt). But right when (Saki) came out with those leg kicks and combos, I was like no way, that guy is fast. Speed kills." (HSB)
About how he won't try kickboxing in the future, AhSoon said:
"Not me man. I use stones to throw at people. I don't fight." (HSB)
About how he skipped the K-1 matches, Kia said:
"I wanted to (watch), but I ended up just sleeping the whole time." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Offensive lineman Kainoa LaCount will sit out this season and plans to enroll at UH for the spring semester. LaCount, a heralded offensive line prospect, returned home on Sunday and said he'll finish his associate's degree at College of the Canyons with online courses this fall and is looking to play in 2009."
"I think it's the right time to make the decision." (HA)
About needing to pick their starter, Mack said:
"We need to move on and get one guy the others can look to. (Center) John Estes is the leader of the offensive line. But the quarterback, by the nature of the position, is the leader of the offense, and we need to make a decision. We worked hard on our evaluations. We need to sit down and call the shot. We feel the guy we choose needs more reps. ... It's time we get whoever is the best at the quarterback position." (HA)
"We're going to make a decision later this week. We've got to move on at the quarterback position. Wednesday, Thursday we're going to make a decision, if not sooner. I think it's very competitive. We're on it daily. Evaluating every snap, want to make the right decision. ... The quarterback position is a leadership role. We've got people fighting for the role. That's an important reason we need to make the decision." (HSB)
About how the next few days will be critical for the QB candidates, Ron Lee said:
"The next couple practices will be big. Every practice is big, but we have to eventually make decisions. It's still tight. That's the thing, one guy has a good day, now we have to get it consistently. But they're coming. The practices are getting faster, the tempo is more game-like and that's what we need." (HSB)
Funaki said that the film sessions have taught the QBs to:
"take what the defense gives you. Coach Ron and Coach Rolo have been making emphasis not to get greedy, just take what they give you because that will start to open everything else up. Sometimes we're anticipating a certain throw, and you can't do that, especially in this offense." (HSB)
HA Note: "The chosen quarterback would start against Florida on Aug. 30, and receive about 75 percent of the reps in team passing drills. One player no longer in contention is Tyler Graunke, who has been withheld from team activities while an academic issue remains unsettled. Graunke had hoped to rejoin the team by yesterday. But he was a no-show at practice yesterday. Even if he were to resolve his academic issues, he still would need to file paperwork, take medical examinations and attend orientation sessions — a process that would keep him off the field for another week.
Funaki, Alexander and Rausch have played well as the coaches continue to implement new plays. Rolovich has charted every pass of every practice. He grades each play on a 0-to-5 point system. The categories include footwork, quality of throws, going through progression, decision-making and, even, eye contact. Rolovich then has a comment for every play, some expansive, some in text-message code. Alexander said one comment read: TWTDGY."
About Rolo's TWTDGY comment, Alexander said:
"Take what the defense gives you." (HA)
About Rolo's comments on every play, Inoke said:
"It's very helpful. He points out the little mistakes we do, any mistakes." (HA)
About how he doesn't want to focus the QB competition just on stats, Rolo said:
"It's not all by the numbers. There's leadership, composure, those type of things you can't put a number on. The numbers are the numbers, but there's also the personality thing that's hard to judge. You have to get a feel for that." (HA)
About how he'll be getting an MRI on his sore left triceps, Rocky said:
"We're just waiting to see what it is." (HA)
About being injured now, after he missed the latter part of spring training due to a right leg injury, Rocky said:
"It's frustrating. It sucks it had to be at a time like this. I was getting comfortable again. It's just a game. (Stuff) happens." (HA)
About how he missed the 2nd half of practice yesterday due to a sore right shoulder, Estes said that if it was a game:
"I would have wrapped it and played." (HA)
Unsure how he was injured, Estes said:
"Maybe I got hit wrong or something. When I woke up Sunday morning, it hurt." (HA)
About how he ready to practice, Dustin Blount (who arrived in Hawaii on Saturday and watched yesterday's practice) said:
"Everything is fine. I'm ready to go." (HA)
About Blaze's injury, Mack said:
"I have to look at the plus, and not worry about it until then. That would be really disappointing if he were hurt (badly). But we would move on. We have the players to move on." (HA)
HA Note: "The Warriors were without two-thirds of what they are trumpeting as the best linebacker group in the Western Athletic Conference. Rightside linebacker Adam Leonard did not participate in his third consecutive practice because of tightness in his left hamstring. That forced the Warriors to activate an experiment that was initiated three days ago. Middle linebacker Solomon Elimimian, who was voted as the WAC's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, moved to Leonard's spot on the right side. R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane, who had been practicing on the right side, competed at Soares' position on the left side. And backup Brashton Satele was promoted to No. 1 middle linebacker."
About moving Brashton to starting MLB and having Sol go to OLB, Mack said:
"We moved Solly (Elimimian) outside because Brashton has been playing middle so well. We didn't want to stack Solly and Brashton (on the depth chart). We think Brashton is our fourth best (linebacker). Instead of moving Brashton outside, we were going to (rotate) four linebackers (into three spots). Instead of moving Brashton — who is younger and knows the middle — and make him learn more, it was easier to move Solly. Solly is sharp, and he can play middle and outside. It doubles his chances of going to the next level." (HA)
About how the MLB makes their defensive calls and Sol is in the habit of making the calls even when he moves to OLB, Brashton said:
"Solly's been our middle for years. We catch each other making the same calls." (HA)
HA Note: "They settled on an arrangement in which Elimimian will continue to make the calls."
About moving to OLB, Sol said:
"Whatever the team needs me to do, I'll do. I'm all about winning. If the team wants me to play D-tackle, I'll play D-tackle. If the team wants me to play free safety, I'm there." (HA)
"Whatever coach needs me to do, whatever it is we need to win, I'm ready to do it. If I have to play D-tackle, I'll play D-tackle. Being in a game, if someone goes down, you don't have time to look around, you don't have time to ask questions, you have to be ready. Right now guys are getting ready." (HSB)
About how he knew the OLB responsibilities ever before being moved there, Sol said:
"I watched Adam and Blaze so much I kind of know what to do (on the outside). There are still things I'm trying to get, but coach (Lee) is doing a good job of helping me." (HA)
About his expanded role at practice, Brashton said:
"I'm filling in. I feel for Blaze right now." (HA)
About moving to the first team due to his cousin Blaze's injury, R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane said:
"Unfortunately, Blaze got hurt so some of the new guys had to step up. Things like this happen. You've got to be ready. Hopefully, from now on, we can stay injury-free." (HA)
About their team speed, Florida coach Urban Meyer said:
"We're a wide-open offense and we love to run. If you can't run, there's really not a place for you at the University of Florida." (HA)
About Florida has NFL-like speed, Rich Miano said:
"They (Florida and Georgia) are like the NFL, there is team speed everywhere." (HA)
About Florida's team speed, Cal Lee said:
"They've got team speed across the board and nobody that is slow." (HA)
About the speed on their team, Florida RB coach Kenny Carter said:
"Everybody can run. We were laughing about (cornerback) Joe Haden. He runs a 4.3 40 (yard dash) and he's only the seventh fastest player on our team. That puts things into perspective for you." (HA)
About how they use their speed to create mismatches, Tim Tebow said:
"I believe we're going to have speed, especially at the skill positions on offense. I think we've got a 4.2 guy at every position." (HA)
HA Note: "To underline just how much speed the Gators are blessed with, before the spring game, it is reported UF put up the offer of a scholarship to any student that could beat Rainey in the 40-yard. Five tried. None got their schooling paid for as Rainey blazed to a 4.24. Then, in the game, he broke loose on a 65-yard TD run."
Downplaying the reports that Rainey beat him in their race, Demps (who ran a 10.1 100-meter dash at the Olympic trials) said:
"I won the first race, the second one we kind of stopped and, then, the third race he (Rainey) won." (HA)
About how SJSU wasn't able to find a scholarship for him, Calvin Roberts said:
"San Jose State never came through. ... I think I made the best choice I could make. The man upstairs wanted me to be here, so I made the best of it." (HA)
About how SJSU had to pull his offer due to their low APR, Roberts said:
"They had to remove a scholarship, and I guess I was the one." (HA)
HA Note: "After reaching out to the Warriors, they offered him a scholarship last July. After adjusting to the program's defensive schemes last season, Roberts is practicing as the fifth defensive back in both the okie and nickel packages. He is also on the second unit at cornerback."
About how Roberts will get significant playing time this season, Rich Miano said:
"If we go okie, once (Ryan) Mouton moves inside, then Calvin goes to the corner. So even if he didn't start for us, which he still may, then he would play in our nickel and okie packages." (HA)
About how he liked UH in addition to SJSU, Roberts said:
"I contacted Hawai'i, and we connected. It was out of the blue. I always liked it; I liked my trip over here, but San Jose was so close and I had my baby so I wanted to stay close, but it didn't work out, so I just came back here." (HA)
About how it took about half of last season before things "clicked" for him, Roberts said:
"I started to know the defense and the players, and I adjusted." (HA)
About how it typically takes about a year for a JC player to get comfortable in their system, Miano said:
"He had to learn a new system, techniques, the verbiage is different. We knew he had talent, but he's really made that jump." (HA)
Miano said that one of Roberts' strengths is that:
"he really wants to do good. I call him the hardest working man in show business because he gets out here and you can hear the breath in his voice, the hustle in his talk, the sparkle in his eye." (HA)
Miano said that Roberts and CB Richard Torres are the:
"technicians at corner in terms of doing things correctly." (HA)
About how he worked out Monday through Friday over the summer, Roberts said:
"I kept my speed together and got stronger and worked on my lower body." (HA)
HA Note: "Players like Roberts, Mouton and Jameel Dowling have a sense of urgency because it is their final collegiate season and they are working to reach their potential, Miano said."
About the battle for playing time among their CBs, Miano said:
"If there's one, two, three, four (on the depth chart), then (Roberts is) three and he's not far away from being two. (Ryan) Mouton is just so much more athletic, that he's number one. Calvin could be the number two guy. He and Jameel will battle it out, and J.P. (Davis) isn't that far behind at four. Jeramy Bryant has come a long way, too." (HA)
Thinking about trying out for the UH baseball team in 2009, Roberts (who was a baseball star in high school) said:
"I might give it a try, we'll see how it goes." (HA)
About their injured players, Mack said:
"When you get injuries, that's what depth is all about. Any position that loses somebody, it's unfortunate, but you move on." (HSB)
About how Florida is serving to motivate them in practice, Sol said:
"We've got to get our work in. We've got Florida (in the opener), so that's something that motivates us." (HSB)
Happy with how their vet VL are providing leadership and motivation, DL coach Dave Aranda said:
"Today was a hot day, there were some guys with some aches and pains and it's good to hear Keala (Watson) step up like he did today and (David) Veikune step up like he did today. That, in my opinion, is the strength of our team." (HSB)
About how he tries to lead by example, Veikune said:
"I vocalize when I need to, but I just lead by example on the field and go hard. Keala's the one, he's the talker out there." (HSB)
About their leadership on the DL, Keala Watson said:
"Our D-line is pretty solid, everybody knows what to do, everybody's their own leader." (HSB)
About being a starter this season and how the increased reps are making him better, Veikune said:
"That's why I just have to push harder. Last year during team (periods), I didn't get as many reps, me and Amani would always switch in and out. Now I'm getting in there every single play. I'm getting better, and my technique's looking better." (HSB)
About Veikune's improvement, Aranda said:
"He's a great natural pass rusher, he's great with his hands, run and pass. Where he's made the most improvement is with his footwork in our line slants and our rush stunts." (HSB)
About how their injuries give the healthy players extra reps to get better, Watson said:
"It's hard for the guys who are injured because they can't get the reps. But the guys who are in there, we get double the reps. It'll help us prepare that much better, get our reads down. A lot of things are coming faster, more reaction instead of reading." (HSB)
Praising Josh Leonard, Aranda said:
"Josh has really been a superstar this first part of camp." (HSB)
About how Laeli is hampered by injury, Aranda said:
"We just have to be smart with him. Fale's a great player; we're going to give him the reps he needs, but we're going to condition him in a smart way." (HSB)
Hoping that Fonoti, Rocky, and the rest of their DL are all healthy soon, Aranda said:
"That's the thing, once you start talking about how much depth you have, usually the next thing is all of your depth falls off. We're hoping in the next couple of days to be back to full strength. What it does is it gives a bunch of younger guys a chance to go with the first string." (HSB)
About how Estes' injury made him realize that he needs to be more vocal and help out at center, AhSoon said:
"Just now I thought about it because our starting center went down and I was like, 'Man, we got nobody stepping in'. Of course, the young guys are doing a really good job, but as for me, I thought about asking (offensive line) coach (Brian Smith) about it and I'm going to start snapping some balls (today) just to help out." (HA)
HA Note: "Estes and Tuioti-Mariner both practiced yesterday, but were held out of contact drills. Lefiti, a redshirt freshman out of Mater Dei High School in California, had his moments in the morning session, but AhSoon saw an opportunity to step in and lead his younger teammates."
About helping out at C, AhSoon said:
"It's a chance for me as a senior to step up and do what I got to do. There's a lot of pressure on the young guys reading defenses and they're learning to trust what they see." (HA)
About how their OL struggled yesterrday, Brian Smith said:
"I thought offensively we were a little slow today. We've got to pick up our tempo. We've got some starters dinged up so young guys are getting some reps, so you try to stay on those guys." (HA)
HA Note: "The extra work fits perfectly into Smith's plan for the season. He hopes to have "seven or eight" guys rotating in and out each game to keep everyone fresh. Two of those players are juniors Aaron Kia and Laupepa Letuli, who are locked in a battle for AhSoon's old spot at left tackle."
About how the starting spot at LT is up for grabs, even though Kia took all of the first team reps yesterday, Smith said:
"It's real close. We'll get "Pepa" some more reps so that they're evened out." (HA)
About how it took him a few days to shake off the rust due to how injury forced him to miss spring training, Letuli said:
"The first few days I felt kind of off. I wasn't used to feeling my body move a certain way, but it's been a good week for me. I just need to fix my mistakes, that's all I can do right now." (HA)
Critical of his performance in camp, Kia said:
"I'm my own worst critic. I'll tell you right now I'm doing horrible. That's why I've got to keep pushing. I don't want to lose my spot." (HA)
About having two "sudden-change" conditioning drills yesterday in camp, when before they only had one per practice, Inoke said:
"I wasn't expecting that one at all." (HSB)
About the 2 "sudden-change" conditioning drills yesterday, Mack said:
"Those are both hard. You saw the big guys running at the end? They're running like a mother." (HSB)
About how he and many teammates watched the K-1 fights on Saturday night, AhSoon said:
"I'm like aw man (Puu) is going to kick his (butt). But right when (Saki) came out with those leg kicks and combos, I was like no way, that guy is fast. Speed kills." (HSB)
About how he won't try kickboxing in the future, AhSoon said:
"Not me man. I use stones to throw at people. I don't fight." (HSB)
About how he skipped the K-1 matches, Kia said:
"I wanted to (watch), but I ended up just sleeping the whole time." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Offensive lineman Kainoa LaCount will sit out this season and plans to enroll at UH for the spring semester. LaCount, a heralded offensive line prospect, returned home on Sunday and said he'll finish his associate's degree at College of the Canyons with online courses this fall and is looking to play in 2009."
Monday, August 11, 2008
Feature on Greg Salas
HSB Note: "Greg Salas searched frantically. It was the second half of Hawaii's tight contest with Nevada in Reno last year, and Jason Rivers, the starter at "X" receiver (left wideout) got hurt and needed to come out of the game. Salas, Rivers' backup, was in disbelief - he couldn't find his helmet, when at last an opportunity had arisen. Hawaii was forced to call a timeout to get the harried second-year freshman in the game."
About costing them a timeout during their 28-26 win at Nevada, Salas said:
"I got yelled at and everything. I was pretty bummed out, I thought it might have cost us the game." (HSB)
HSB Note: "He swears to this day that one of the linemen must have knocked his helmet back onto the track around the Mackay Stadium field. Meanwhile, during the game, backup quarterback Inoke Funaki couldn't stop laughing. He and Salas shared a bond as reserves as part of the "sideline crew," as the QB put it, and the two also connected for their first career touchdowns on a 24-yarder against Northern Colorado earlier that year."
About how he and Salas joke during games about how they would be going in, Inoke said:
"We would always fake-call like he was going to go in. It was like the boy who cried wolf." (HSB)
About wanting to avoid the Nevada situation again, Salas said:
"Hopefully this year I won't have to do that again." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Salas went home to Chino, Calif., over the summer and trained with his old Chino High School quarterback, AJ Gracia, focusing on improving his speed and strength."
About the change in Salas' work ethic, Ron Lee said:
"I think he was a little too laid-back (last year), which is kinda his personality. I think he's beginning to understand what it's all about as far as practice, preparation. As far as understanding, the route-running, he's so far along. He's gonna have a huge year - I really feel this will be a breakout year for him." (HSB)
HSB Note: "The results have been laid bare for all to see during the Warriors' first week of fall camp in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. Salas handled a low grab in stride for a would-be touchdown on Friday, then managed extra efforts for two more possible scores Saturday."
About how he's still preparing as if he doesn't have a starting spot locked up, Salas said:
"I'm still approaching it as everybody still has the same shot, which everybody does. I'm just trying to act like I'm second, still. I'm just trying to push myself. Definitely I knew I'd have an opportunity this year, and knew I'd have to work for it." (HSB)
About how Salas' personality helped him adjust to Hawaii, Inoke said:
"He has kind of a, I'd say, local-boy mentality. That's how I kind of see him being. If I didn't know he was from California I could easily mistake him for being one of the boys from around here." (HSB)
Agreeing with what Inoke said:
"I'm just a fun guy who likes being friendly with everybody. "It doesn't surprise me much (for him to say that)." (HSB)
About how the Nevada incident will not happen this year to Salas, Inoke said:
"This year he'll have his helmet on his head, not under the bench." (HSB)
About costing them a timeout during their 28-26 win at Nevada, Salas said:
"I got yelled at and everything. I was pretty bummed out, I thought it might have cost us the game." (HSB)
HSB Note: "He swears to this day that one of the linemen must have knocked his helmet back onto the track around the Mackay Stadium field. Meanwhile, during the game, backup quarterback Inoke Funaki couldn't stop laughing. He and Salas shared a bond as reserves as part of the "sideline crew," as the QB put it, and the two also connected for their first career touchdowns on a 24-yarder against Northern Colorado earlier that year."
About how he and Salas joke during games about how they would be going in, Inoke said:
"We would always fake-call like he was going to go in. It was like the boy who cried wolf." (HSB)
About wanting to avoid the Nevada situation again, Salas said:
"Hopefully this year I won't have to do that again." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Salas went home to Chino, Calif., over the summer and trained with his old Chino High School quarterback, AJ Gracia, focusing on improving his speed and strength."
About the change in Salas' work ethic, Ron Lee said:
"I think he was a little too laid-back (last year), which is kinda his personality. I think he's beginning to understand what it's all about as far as practice, preparation. As far as understanding, the route-running, he's so far along. He's gonna have a huge year - I really feel this will be a breakout year for him." (HSB)
HSB Note: "The results have been laid bare for all to see during the Warriors' first week of fall camp in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. Salas handled a low grab in stride for a would-be touchdown on Friday, then managed extra efforts for two more possible scores Saturday."
About how he's still preparing as if he doesn't have a starting spot locked up, Salas said:
"I'm still approaching it as everybody still has the same shot, which everybody does. I'm just trying to act like I'm second, still. I'm just trying to push myself. Definitely I knew I'd have an opportunity this year, and knew I'd have to work for it." (HSB)
About how Salas' personality helped him adjust to Hawaii, Inoke said:
"He has kind of a, I'd say, local-boy mentality. That's how I kind of see him being. If I didn't know he was from California I could easily mistake him for being one of the boys from around here." (HSB)
Agreeing with what Inoke said:
"I'm just a fun guy who likes being friendly with everybody. "It doesn't surprise me much (for him to say that)." (HSB)
About how the Nevada incident will not happen this year to Salas, Inoke said:
"This year he'll have his helmet on his head, not under the bench." (HSB)
Veni Manu commits to the Warriors!
About giving his commitment to the Warriors, Mililani DE Veni Manu said:
"I'm very happy to be a Warrior. I think coach (Greg McMackin) is a great coach, and I want to play for him." (HA)
HA Note: "Manu is 6 feet 4 and 227 pounds. At this year's Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance combine, Manu bench pressed 225 pounds 17 times. He has been rated as a 3-star prospect. His father, Tika Manu, was a defensive end at Utah who went on to play for the Miami Dolphins."
About Veni, Mililani coach Darnell Arceneaux said:
"He's a great kid. He's always got a smile on his face. You love to coach a kid like him because he always wants to get better. He's constantly asking questions. When his position coach speaks, his eyes and ears are on his coach. You can see he wants to become a good football player." (HA)
About Ma'a Tanuvasa (former DL at UH and in the NFL who is his position coach), Veni said:
"He's a really good coach. He helps me out a lot." (HA)
About how Veni has a good motor, Arceneaux said:
"He's got one of those drives. He loves to play the game, and play it as hard as he can. He's got a motor that doesn't stop. He doesn't like coming out of the game. He loves to compete. He's one of those guys who makes the guys around him better. When you make people around you better, you know you're dealing with someone special. He's a gifted athlete." (HA)
About how Veni is one of a few Mililani players who should transition easily to D I-A football, Arceneaux said:
"He's a man already. I'm blessed to have a couple of kids like that. They could be playing college football right now, at least competing with those type of student-athletes. (Manu has) the build and he's learning the game. That's the part you like to see. He doesn't just use his size, he uses his techniques. He's very fundamental. He's only going to get better when he gets around the UH coaches. Coach McMackin has worked with former NFL stars like Warren Sapp and different guys like that. D-line coaches like (UH's) Dave Aranda and Ikaika Malloe are only going to help further grow his process of being a complete lineman." (HA)
About how Veni will be one of Mililani's team captains this season, Arceneaux said:
"He's not a guy of many words, but when he says something, everybody listens. He makes his point. He's not an 'I' guy. He's not flashy. He just wants to go out there and play football. He wants to do his job to the fullest, and make his defense a better defense by his play." (HA)
About how he knew that he would choose UH after attending their camp last month, Veni said:
"UH is all I wanted. The biggest thing is I like Coach Mack as a coach and as a person. He's super cool. And staying home was another big thing." (HA)
HA Note: "UH already has received 2009 commitments from wideout Billy Ray Stutzmann of Saint Louis School, slotback Deondre Powell and quarterback Corey Nielsen of Gahr High School in California, defensive end Kimo Makaula of Punahou School, and linebacker T.J. Alofipo of Silverado High School in Las Vegas."
Praising Veni, Arceneaux said:
"He's a player you love to coach." (HSB)
"He's not very flashy in what he does, he doesn't need all the glamour, he's an old-school throwback. He just puts his pads on and goes out and plays football. He's a very coachable kid, always looking to learn more about the game. He's a leader by example, and when he speaks all the kids listen. He's just a great kid and I'm glad things are working out for him." (HSB)
"I'm very happy to be a Warrior. I think coach (Greg McMackin) is a great coach, and I want to play for him." (HA)
HA Note: "Manu is 6 feet 4 and 227 pounds. At this year's Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance combine, Manu bench pressed 225 pounds 17 times. He has been rated as a 3-star prospect. His father, Tika Manu, was a defensive end at Utah who went on to play for the Miami Dolphins."
About Veni, Mililani coach Darnell Arceneaux said:
"He's a great kid. He's always got a smile on his face. You love to coach a kid like him because he always wants to get better. He's constantly asking questions. When his position coach speaks, his eyes and ears are on his coach. You can see he wants to become a good football player." (HA)
About Ma'a Tanuvasa (former DL at UH and in the NFL who is his position coach), Veni said:
"He's a really good coach. He helps me out a lot." (HA)
About how Veni has a good motor, Arceneaux said:
"He's got one of those drives. He loves to play the game, and play it as hard as he can. He's got a motor that doesn't stop. He doesn't like coming out of the game. He loves to compete. He's one of those guys who makes the guys around him better. When you make people around you better, you know you're dealing with someone special. He's a gifted athlete." (HA)
About how Veni is one of a few Mililani players who should transition easily to D I-A football, Arceneaux said:
"He's a man already. I'm blessed to have a couple of kids like that. They could be playing college football right now, at least competing with those type of student-athletes. (Manu has) the build and he's learning the game. That's the part you like to see. He doesn't just use his size, he uses his techniques. He's very fundamental. He's only going to get better when he gets around the UH coaches. Coach McMackin has worked with former NFL stars like Warren Sapp and different guys like that. D-line coaches like (UH's) Dave Aranda and Ikaika Malloe are only going to help further grow his process of being a complete lineman." (HA)
About how Veni will be one of Mililani's team captains this season, Arceneaux said:
"He's not a guy of many words, but when he says something, everybody listens. He makes his point. He's not an 'I' guy. He's not flashy. He just wants to go out there and play football. He wants to do his job to the fullest, and make his defense a better defense by his play." (HA)
About how he knew that he would choose UH after attending their camp last month, Veni said:
"UH is all I wanted. The biggest thing is I like Coach Mack as a coach and as a person. He's super cool. And staying home was another big thing." (HA)
HA Note: "UH already has received 2009 commitments from wideout Billy Ray Stutzmann of Saint Louis School, slotback Deondre Powell and quarterback Corey Nielsen of Gahr High School in California, defensive end Kimo Makaula of Punahou School, and linebacker T.J. Alofipo of Silverado High School in Las Vegas."
Praising Veni, Arceneaux said:
"He's a player you love to coach." (HSB)
"He's not very flashy in what he does, he doesn't need all the glamour, he's an old-school throwback. He just puts his pads on and goes out and plays football. He's a very coachable kid, always looking to learn more about the game. He's a leader by example, and when he speaks all the kids listen. He's just a great kid and I'm glad things are working out for him." (HSB)
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Quotes from the local papers
About having slotback Ryan Henry with the scout-team offense for a defensive drill yesterday, Mack said:
"That was a mistake. He misunderstood. As soon as I saw that, I said, 'Go back down there (with the top-tier receivers).' We sent him right back. He's one of our top receivers. He's going to be a great player for us." (HA)
Happy with their first week, where they implemented half of their offense, their tough physical-fitness program, and instilled their "tough-mother" mentality, Mack said:
"The coaches are coaching hard and the players are playing hard, so I thought it was a good first week. We're going to be leaving in (a little more than) two weeks (for the season-opener against Florida). There's a sense of urgency out there." (HA)
HA Note: "By the end of this week, a No. 1 quarterback will be picked. That player will receive 75 percent of the snaps during passing drills. Tyler Graunke, who started two games last season as the primary backup to Colt Brennan, continues to be withheld from team activities until he resolves academic issues. Graunke was scheduled to take a test last Friday that would help him gain reinstatement."
Praising Letuli's performance yesterday, Mack said:
"He was an animal. He had the best day of anybody. He played football like football should be played — with vicious, violent, controlled effort. I was really happy with Laupepa. I think he found himself. That's a key position. Kia and Laupepa are competing for that spot. Laupepa took a step up in going after it." (HA)
About how he has a second medical appointment for his right leg injury, with no timetable to return, Heun said:
"I feel I'm getting stronger. I'm powering off of it more than I was. I'm hopeful." (HA)
About how they might not need a power back since LWJ and Libre have improved as blockers, Mack said:
"We don't care if it's a big back as long as he can block. That's the most important thing. ... I'd rather play the best running backs." (HA)
About how Khevin Peoples might have worked his way into a shot at playing time at RB, Mack said:
"He was on our scout team. We like him as a running back. He's been getting reps with the (first and second teams)." (HA)
About the delay in getting into UH, with some of his JC units not transferring, Kainoa LaCount said:
"It was all kinds of stuff happening with credits." (HA)
HA Note: "LaCount said he will correct the deficiencies and be ready to compete in the spring semester. LaCount has not used a redshirt year. He still has two seasons of eligibility. LaCount is 6 feet 7 and 290 pounds. He signed with Oregon State as a Kailua High School senior, but ended up going to College of the Canyons."
HA Note: "Four other members of the 2008 recruiting class — linebacker Art Laurel, safety Christian Vasconcellos, wideout/safety Earvin Sione and defensive end Alema Tachibana — will grayshirt this semester."
Surprised when he was awarded a football scholarship during a team meeting on Friday, Ryan Perry said:
"I didn't know that was coming at all. That was a blessing." (HA)
About how Mack said that his scholarship was a reward for his work in the classroom, as he has a 3.7 GPA, Perry said:
"Hopefully, the younger guys will follow that example. Hard work, pride and perseverance really work." (HA)
About how he has Erb's Palsy, a nerve-damage condition where he cannot straighten his right arm, Perry said:
"The doctor had to pull me out by the arm, and it caused Erb's Palsy." (HA)
HA Note: "Last semester, Perry took 18 credits. He signed up for 15 units this semester, which will enable him to graduate in December."
About how he's worked as a camera operator for PBS, including the "Leahey and Leahey Show", Perry said:
"Those guys are great. It's funny. I got to see some of our guys come through." (HA)
HA Note: "Greg Salas, the No. 1 left wideout, drew oohs with two acrobatic catches yesterday. For one of them, he made, in "Top Gun" parlance, an "inverted dive." "
Downplaying the praise of his catches, Salas said:
"It was just a couple of catches." (HA)
About his work in the offseason, Salas said:
"I worked on my speed and footwork." (HA)
About how he got his mohawk haircut at the urging of his mother when he was back home, Salas said:
"I have a barber back home. Now I don't know who's going to do it for me." (HA)
About how the Florida game is in less than 3 weeks, Mack said:
"There's a sense of urgency. It's getting close." (HSB)
About the first week of camp, Alexander said:
"It was a pretty good first week. I'm pretty sore now, so I know what to expect now coming out. I learned a lot and corrected a lot of mistakes. Obviously, I want to win that starting job, but the biggest thing for me is to just focus on myself and try to improve every day and if that happens then I think I'll be in pretty good shape." (HSB)
HSB Note: "The Warriors resume practice tomorrow with the first of three sets of two-a-days this week (Wednesday and Friday are the others). McMackin said the Warriors will continue to work on their base packages, have a scrimmage on their 18th practice of camp, then turn their attention to installing the game plan for Florida."
About how they are looking for depth by the Florida game, Mack said:
"We're looking closely to identify maybe 18 guys on offense and 18 guys on defense who we can put in the ballgame to keep everybody fresh." (HSB)
About his plans for today, their first day off during camp, Alexander said:
"Sleep." (HSB)
About taking 3 summer school classes as he tries to get his sociology degree in December, Jameel Dowling said:
"It seems overwhelming, but I'm blessed that I have a coach who understands that I'm trying to get my degree and I respect him for letting me have that opportunity to go to school and come out when I could. It's kind of good. It's a good thing to stay focused." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Summer school ends on Thursday, giving Dowling about a week-and-a-half to concentrate solely on football before the start of the fall semester on Aug. 25. Although his class schedule kept him out of two practices last week, Dowling is a front-runner for a starting cornerback spot as he looks to make the most of his lone season in Manoa."
About the difference between Oregon's state-of-the-art facilities and those at UH, Dowling said:
"That's different as far as the material (aspect), ... I really don't care about the material, it's all football and school." (HSB)
Comfortable after staying in Hawaii over the summer to learn the system, Dowling said:
"I stayed here in the summer so I learned everything, so I'm more comfortable out there than in the spring." (HSB)
Excited about Dowling, Mack said:
"I'm excited about him. He's quick and tall, he's going to be tough to throw at." (HSB)
Dowling said that school is:
"my main focus. I want to get to the next level, but I know if I handle school and get my degree better opportunities will open for me." (HSB)
Hoping to use his degree to work with youths, as he remembers fondly the influence the local Boys and Girls Club had on shaping him, Dowling said:
"They helped give me something instead of just being on the streets. Just gave me somewhere to go, somewhere to go play basketball, interact with other kids." (HSB)
Asked why he didn't transfer after being down in the depth chart for so long, Bain said:
"A lot of people asked me that, even when I was a freshman. There were so many guys ahead of me. Jay Ferg, Davone, a whole bunch of people. But people came and went. If you do something, do it all the way. I'm not going to pull out halfway through the race." (HSB)
Asked if he he thought of transferring, Washington said:
"Transfer? Oh yeah, I thought about it. Most definitely. I had that transfer thing in my mind. But that's thinking negatively. I'm here for a reason." (HSB)
About how they will rotate WRs, unlike how JJ had the starters play the whole game, Ron Lee said:
"We used to practice with four guys. Now we're practicing with 12. Everybody's going hard and fast. That makes us better." (HSB)
About having to share time with the backups now that he's the starter, Washington said:
"The more you get frustrated, the more you put yourself in a hole." (HSB)
About how Washington and Bain waited for their chance to start and are working hard, Ron Lee said:
"They waited a long time. Now they have the chance and they're seizing the moment. They're practicing hard, and so are the other guys." (HSB)
About how he still needs to improve, Bain said:
"I know I've got my little idiosyncrasies to work out." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Several players sat out with various ailments. Tight hamstrings kept linebacker Adam Leonard, receiver Daniel Lofton and defensive end John Fonoti on the sideline another day. Guards Lafu Tuioti-Mariner and Raphael Ieru were also out of action, moving junior Ray Hisatake into the first unit. Hisatake had moved from tackle to guard earlier in the week."
About how their injured players will benefit from the day off, Mack said:
"We've got tweaks and stuff. We'll give them Sunday off. We worked them hard this week and we'll get back to working hard next week." (HSB)
About his back injury, Heun said:
"It's really frustrating, but I just have to get the rehab. The more rehab the quicker I'll be back." (HSB)
About how they had a few confrontations during practice yesterday, Mack said:
"We had to pull them apart a few times, but that's natural. They're getting ready for battle." (HSB)
About how they put their practice altercations behind them, Cameron Allen-Jones said:
"You're going to have your problems and conflicts. But it's just like a family. You always make up. So we're all cool. No grudges. It's football." (HSB)
About how he'll spend some of his free time watching the Olympic swimming competition, Aaron Kia said:
"I don't really know much about who's in it. But I definitely want to see it." (HSB)
About how he and his brother Micah (a starting OL at UCLA) were outstanding competitive age-group and high school swimmers at Mililani, Aaron Kia said:
"I was in the 50 and 100 free. My brother did the breaststroke." (HSB)
About awarding scholarships to 3 walk-ons who are outstanding academically, Mack said:
Scholarships awarded
"Because of their achievements on and off the field. We gave them to three walk-ons. I really wanted to make a statement that guys have opportunities to get scholarships, and that academics are really important to us." (HSB)
"That was a mistake. He misunderstood. As soon as I saw that, I said, 'Go back down there (with the top-tier receivers).' We sent him right back. He's one of our top receivers. He's going to be a great player for us." (HA)
Happy with their first week, where they implemented half of their offense, their tough physical-fitness program, and instilled their "tough-mother" mentality, Mack said:
"The coaches are coaching hard and the players are playing hard, so I thought it was a good first week. We're going to be leaving in (a little more than) two weeks (for the season-opener against Florida). There's a sense of urgency out there." (HA)
HA Note: "By the end of this week, a No. 1 quarterback will be picked. That player will receive 75 percent of the snaps during passing drills. Tyler Graunke, who started two games last season as the primary backup to Colt Brennan, continues to be withheld from team activities until he resolves academic issues. Graunke was scheduled to take a test last Friday that would help him gain reinstatement."
Praising Letuli's performance yesterday, Mack said:
"He was an animal. He had the best day of anybody. He played football like football should be played — with vicious, violent, controlled effort. I was really happy with Laupepa. I think he found himself. That's a key position. Kia and Laupepa are competing for that spot. Laupepa took a step up in going after it." (HA)
About how he has a second medical appointment for his right leg injury, with no timetable to return, Heun said:
"I feel I'm getting stronger. I'm powering off of it more than I was. I'm hopeful." (HA)
About how they might not need a power back since LWJ and Libre have improved as blockers, Mack said:
"We don't care if it's a big back as long as he can block. That's the most important thing. ... I'd rather play the best running backs." (HA)
About how Khevin Peoples might have worked his way into a shot at playing time at RB, Mack said:
"He was on our scout team. We like him as a running back. He's been getting reps with the (first and second teams)." (HA)
About the delay in getting into UH, with some of his JC units not transferring, Kainoa LaCount said:
"It was all kinds of stuff happening with credits." (HA)
HA Note: "LaCount said he will correct the deficiencies and be ready to compete in the spring semester. LaCount has not used a redshirt year. He still has two seasons of eligibility. LaCount is 6 feet 7 and 290 pounds. He signed with Oregon State as a Kailua High School senior, but ended up going to College of the Canyons."
HA Note: "Four other members of the 2008 recruiting class — linebacker Art Laurel, safety Christian Vasconcellos, wideout/safety Earvin Sione and defensive end Alema Tachibana — will grayshirt this semester."
Surprised when he was awarded a football scholarship during a team meeting on Friday, Ryan Perry said:
"I didn't know that was coming at all. That was a blessing." (HA)
About how Mack said that his scholarship was a reward for his work in the classroom, as he has a 3.7 GPA, Perry said:
"Hopefully, the younger guys will follow that example. Hard work, pride and perseverance really work." (HA)
About how he has Erb's Palsy, a nerve-damage condition where he cannot straighten his right arm, Perry said:
"The doctor had to pull me out by the arm, and it caused Erb's Palsy." (HA)
HA Note: "Last semester, Perry took 18 credits. He signed up for 15 units this semester, which will enable him to graduate in December."
About how he's worked as a camera operator for PBS, including the "Leahey and Leahey Show", Perry said:
"Those guys are great. It's funny. I got to see some of our guys come through." (HA)
HA Note: "Greg Salas, the No. 1 left wideout, drew oohs with two acrobatic catches yesterday. For one of them, he made, in "Top Gun" parlance, an "inverted dive." "
Downplaying the praise of his catches, Salas said:
"It was just a couple of catches." (HA)
About his work in the offseason, Salas said:
"I worked on my speed and footwork." (HA)
About how he got his mohawk haircut at the urging of his mother when he was back home, Salas said:
"I have a barber back home. Now I don't know who's going to do it for me." (HA)
About how the Florida game is in less than 3 weeks, Mack said:
"There's a sense of urgency. It's getting close." (HSB)
About the first week of camp, Alexander said:
"It was a pretty good first week. I'm pretty sore now, so I know what to expect now coming out. I learned a lot and corrected a lot of mistakes. Obviously, I want to win that starting job, but the biggest thing for me is to just focus on myself and try to improve every day and if that happens then I think I'll be in pretty good shape." (HSB)
HSB Note: "The Warriors resume practice tomorrow with the first of three sets of two-a-days this week (Wednesday and Friday are the others). McMackin said the Warriors will continue to work on their base packages, have a scrimmage on their 18th practice of camp, then turn their attention to installing the game plan for Florida."
About how they are looking for depth by the Florida game, Mack said:
"We're looking closely to identify maybe 18 guys on offense and 18 guys on defense who we can put in the ballgame to keep everybody fresh." (HSB)
About his plans for today, their first day off during camp, Alexander said:
"Sleep." (HSB)
About taking 3 summer school classes as he tries to get his sociology degree in December, Jameel Dowling said:
"It seems overwhelming, but I'm blessed that I have a coach who understands that I'm trying to get my degree and I respect him for letting me have that opportunity to go to school and come out when I could. It's kind of good. It's a good thing to stay focused." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Summer school ends on Thursday, giving Dowling about a week-and-a-half to concentrate solely on football before the start of the fall semester on Aug. 25. Although his class schedule kept him out of two practices last week, Dowling is a front-runner for a starting cornerback spot as he looks to make the most of his lone season in Manoa."
About the difference between Oregon's state-of-the-art facilities and those at UH, Dowling said:
"That's different as far as the material (aspect), ... I really don't care about the material, it's all football and school." (HSB)
Comfortable after staying in Hawaii over the summer to learn the system, Dowling said:
"I stayed here in the summer so I learned everything, so I'm more comfortable out there than in the spring." (HSB)
Excited about Dowling, Mack said:
"I'm excited about him. He's quick and tall, he's going to be tough to throw at." (HSB)
Dowling said that school is:
"my main focus. I want to get to the next level, but I know if I handle school and get my degree better opportunities will open for me." (HSB)
Hoping to use his degree to work with youths, as he remembers fondly the influence the local Boys and Girls Club had on shaping him, Dowling said:
"They helped give me something instead of just being on the streets. Just gave me somewhere to go, somewhere to go play basketball, interact with other kids." (HSB)
Asked why he didn't transfer after being down in the depth chart for so long, Bain said:
"A lot of people asked me that, even when I was a freshman. There were so many guys ahead of me. Jay Ferg, Davone, a whole bunch of people. But people came and went. If you do something, do it all the way. I'm not going to pull out halfway through the race." (HSB)
Asked if he he thought of transferring, Washington said:
"Transfer? Oh yeah, I thought about it. Most definitely. I had that transfer thing in my mind. But that's thinking negatively. I'm here for a reason." (HSB)
About how they will rotate WRs, unlike how JJ had the starters play the whole game, Ron Lee said:
"We used to practice with four guys. Now we're practicing with 12. Everybody's going hard and fast. That makes us better." (HSB)
About having to share time with the backups now that he's the starter, Washington said:
"The more you get frustrated, the more you put yourself in a hole." (HSB)
About how Washington and Bain waited for their chance to start and are working hard, Ron Lee said:
"They waited a long time. Now they have the chance and they're seizing the moment. They're practicing hard, and so are the other guys." (HSB)
About how he still needs to improve, Bain said:
"I know I've got my little idiosyncrasies to work out." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Several players sat out with various ailments. Tight hamstrings kept linebacker Adam Leonard, receiver Daniel Lofton and defensive end John Fonoti on the sideline another day. Guards Lafu Tuioti-Mariner and Raphael Ieru were also out of action, moving junior Ray Hisatake into the first unit. Hisatake had moved from tackle to guard earlier in the week."
About how their injured players will benefit from the day off, Mack said:
"We've got tweaks and stuff. We'll give them Sunday off. We worked them hard this week and we'll get back to working hard next week." (HSB)
About his back injury, Heun said:
"It's really frustrating, but I just have to get the rehab. The more rehab the quicker I'll be back." (HSB)
About how they had a few confrontations during practice yesterday, Mack said:
"We had to pull them apart a few times, but that's natural. They're getting ready for battle." (HSB)
About how they put their practice altercations behind them, Cameron Allen-Jones said:
"You're going to have your problems and conflicts. But it's just like a family. You always make up. So we're all cool. No grudges. It's football." (HSB)
About how he'll spend some of his free time watching the Olympic swimming competition, Aaron Kia said:
"I don't really know much about who's in it. But I definitely want to see it." (HSB)
About how he and his brother Micah (a starting OL at UCLA) were outstanding competitive age-group and high school swimmers at Mililani, Aaron Kia said:
"I was in the 50 and 100 free. My brother did the breaststroke." (HSB)
About awarding scholarships to 3 walk-ons who are outstanding academically, Mack said:
Scholarships awarded
"Because of their achievements on and off the field. We gave them to three walk-ons. I really wanted to make a statement that guys have opportunities to get scholarships, and that academics are really important to us." (HSB)
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Quotes from the local papers (8/9)
About awarding schoarships to Mana Silva, Royce Pollard, and Ryan Perry, with only Silva #1 on the depth chart but each with strong performances in the classroom, Mack said:
"We take academics very seriously. They earned the scholarships because they take academics seriously." (HA)
HA Note: "Perry is not listed on the depth chart. He is not even a starter on special teams. But Perry, a senior, has a cumulative grade-point average of 3.7, and he has never missed a team meeting."
HA Note: "Pollard, a second-year freshman, is listed No. 2 on the depth chart at right wideout, behind Malcolm Lane. With Lane recovering from nagging ailments, Pollard has received extensive work in training camp. Pollard has a 3.39 cumulative grade-point average."
HA Note: "Silva, who is projected to start at strong safety, has impressed coaches with his range, football IQ and aggressiveness. Silva, who is a pre-med major, also caught their attention with his 3.04 cumulative GPA."
Praising their walk-on program, Mack said:
"We're proud of our walk-on program. We think it's the best in the country. The best example is Rich Miano." (HA)
HA Note: "Miano, who is the associate head coach, joined UH initially as a walk-on. He played 11 seasons in the NFL. He now coordinates UH's walk-on program."
About how reputations are made in the 1-on-1 drills between the OL and DL, Mack said:
"That's a big-pride drill. That's the fundamentals of the game right there." (HA)
HA Note: "With teammates ringing the turf-war area, the participants cannot escape scrutiny. Yesterday's first one-on-one drills of the five-day-old training camp had bragging — and ragging — rights at stake."
About the 1-on-1 drill between OL and DL, OL Raphael Ieru said:
"Everybody wants to see it. It's an awesome drill." (HA)
HA Note: "Defensive tackle Josh Leonard set the tone by speed-rushing past center Matagisila Lefiti to touch the tackling dummy, which served as the finish line. Right tackle Keoni Steinhoff and defensive left end David Veikune dueled for four seconds. The most animated matchup was between left tackle Laupepa Letuli and defensive right end Elliott Purcell. They refused to disengage, and then when they did, both came out swinging."
About how he liked the little scraps in practice, Mack said:
"We've got a bunch of tough mothers. That's who you want to go to battle with. We had a couple of little skirmishes. I like that. Right now I'd rather pull them apart than have to push them the other way. We've got some emotional players and some passionate players, and I like that. That's why I like coaching here." (HA)
About the 1-on-1 drill, Letuli said:
"You have to do your best. If you want that starting spot, you have to do what it takes to get it. You can't say it. You have to show it by action." (HA)
About establishing himself in this camp after being hampered by injury in the spring, Estes said:
"During spring, I got my ass kicked. I didn't squat. I couldn't run. I don't even know why I did spring ball. ... In spring ball, honestly, when I was getting beat, my confidence was shot. This whole offseason it made me train harder to get my hamstring better. It's so important. I didn't realize how important it was until I was getting beat on one-on-ones so badly. Now that I have my leg back, I'm feeling really good, and I got my confidence back." (HA)
HA Note: "Estes blocked well against two of the toughest interior pass-rushers — defensive tackles Keala "Walrus" Watson and Tuika Tufaga."
Looking for their OL to be more aggressive, Mack said:
"I'm going to let my personality drift over to the offense. We have to be a bunch of tough mothers. I'll try to stay away from the quarterbacks. They have their own personality." (HA)
About blocking for FGs with Blaze and Mouton rushing on his side, Nauahi said:
"We've got Blaze coming through my gap, (and) I'm like, 'Oh.' And we've got Ryan Mouton coming off the side, so it's like, 'hoo.' It's a challenge. Blaze is tough. Blaze's middle name is 'Impact.' " (HA)
Happy that Mack spoke in favor of the JV programs, Dave Shoji said:
"I'm glad Greg actually went down and spoke to them. I don't think there's any doubt that we (agree) with what he said." (HA)
"He wasn't thinking about himself ... which is the kind of guy he is." (HA)
About his fiancee Stephanie Gautier and their 5-month-old Sylen Gautier Kamakakuokalani Kiesel-Kauhane, R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane said:
"I'm blessed. Now that we have a kid together, I have to take care of my family. Everything falls into place now that football is here and family is here. I just love it, I love it." (HA)
About his "tweaked" hamstring that was injured in Thursday's practice, Adam Leonard said:
"It's fine, I didn't pull it, so I'm just going to take a couple of days off and be ready to go hopefully. It's pretty sore, but I have good strength in it and it's just a matter of getting it stretched and loosening it up." (HA)
About feeling comfortable taking Adam's place in practice with the first team, R.J. said:
"Unfortunately, Adam got hurt. It doesn't mean that I'll be there. I'll just take my time and make sure I'm ready so if it does happen in the game I'll make sure I'll be there." (HA)
Adam said that R.J. has been:
"doing a good job every day out here and I'm excited for him. I know he's a good player and no matter what happens during the season, if anyone gets injured, we have great linebackers who can step in and play great for us." (HA)
Praising R.J., Blaze said:
"I consider R.J. a starter... He's just as good as all of us. He's probably the strongest linebacker we have." (HA)
About how R.J.'s work ethic motivates the team, Blaze said:
"He's a really mellow guy. He has a great work ethic. He inspires others." (HA)
About how he and R.J. are cousins, with their grandparents being siblings, Blaze said:
"We don't see it as a competition between me and him. We're family and we try to push each other. If I go down I know my cousin has my back and he's going to step right in there and do great." (HA)
Approving of the two additions that R.J. has added to their family, Blaze said:
"It's always good to have a new member of the family. Steph is a great girl. And R.J.'s baby is cute, he's a big boy." (HA)
About proposing to Gautier (who he's been with for 6 years) under mistletoe at Honolulu Hale's Christmas tree exhibit, R.J. said:
"I didn't tell her, but I told her to take a picture under the mistletoe, and while she was looking up (at it), I proposed to her, and we kissed under the mistletoe. I had to do the whole nine yards. I made sure I did it right. It was a blessed moment." (HA)
Looking forward to contributing at Florida, R.J. said:
"The Swamp, there's nothing like it, you're challenging the conditions. I have to work my game up so we won't miss a beat. In spring you're getting to know the new plays and then in fall you just have to be ready. It's a whole different level." (HSB)
About having R.J. ready to step in for him, Adam said:
"It just shows how deep we are. I have full confidence in him, Tyson (Kafentzis) and Brashton (Satele) to step in at any point in the season and there will be no fall off." (HA)
HSB Note: "Also getting first-team reps were guard Raphael Ieru in place of Lafu Tuioti-Mariner (calf) and defensive end Elliott Purcell for John Fonoti (hamstring). First-team cornerbacks Ryan Mouton and Jameel Dowling also had classes in the morning. Before Mouton made it out for the latter portion of practice, Calvin Roberts and JoPierre Davis were the first corners in the rotation."
About how their players understand that classes come before practice, Mack said:
"That's one of our big deals, we want to graduate our students. We're working hard to make sure they understand that they don't have to feel guilty about going to class. We'll make it up on the football side of it." (HSB)
About his improved performance now that he's healthy, Estes said:
"It's a lot better now that I've fixed my hamstring. I can actually hunker down a little bit. Last spring I'd just get bullrushed every time because I didn't have legs. When you're (in the team period), you're going to try your hardest. But when it's one-on-one, you know everyone's watching. People on the hill, coaches, everyone on the line, they're all watching you." (HSB)
About how Estes is critical to their offense, Mack said:
"I would say he's the focal point of our offense, he's who we all circle around. He's a great player, he's a quiet leader and he's very well respected. When he's in there, we're a whole different offense. He sets the tone." (HSB)
About how Kia and Letuli have a tight race for the starting LT spot, Brian Smith said:
"it's going to keep getting tighter. Those two are going to get a lot of reps. I'm planning on playing all three of those (tackles). We're planning on going to Florida with eight to 10 linemen ready to play. (Letuli's) had a real good start of camp. We'll keep pushing him and getting him reps and keep him learning. He should be a big-time contributor for us." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Smith also pointed to junior Ray Hisatake as one who enjoyed a solid day. Hisatake began camp in the tackle race, but Smith said he's adapted well in moving to guard this week."
HSB Note: "Last year, Leonard arrived on campus planning to play defensive end and weighed in at 265. He was moved inside to tackle, where he posted 21/2 sacks and recovered three fumbles. This summer, he concentrated on putting on weight - checking in at 305 - to hold up better against double teams. He said training at Velocity Sports Performance in Sacramento, Calif., helped him maintain quickness while carrying more weight."
About gaining weight, Josh Leonard said:
"I just ate a lot of meals, a lot of protein shakes. Ate Burger King every day. I was recruited for D-end, never played inside before. So when they shoved me inside it was a new thing because I used to one-on-ones instead of being double teamed. Now I've got a year under my belt to get used to that." (HSB)
Pleased with the effort their DL and OL gave, Mack said:
"(The offensive lineman have) really improved their technique and fundamentals. I give Brian Smith a lot of credit, he's getting those guys going. That's a competitive drill. We had to pull some guys off of each other, which is just what I want. I don't want to have to push them together, I'd rather pull them apart." (HSB)
About how he and Lewis Walker (both true freshmen CBs) have been comparing notes as they try to learn the defense, Steven Christian said:
"He was pretty much the first freshman I met when I got here. I'm pretty sure we're going to be growing up with that position for the next few years. We sit next to each other in meetings, everything, and during practice when we see 7-on-7 and everything, we talk, try to figure out what the coverage is and try to correlate what we're supposed to do in certain situations." (HSB)
About their freshmen CBs, Rich Miano said:
"I think one thing these guys have is they're all bright, young kids, including Kawika Ornellas (5-9, 170, Mililani HS). They've gotta pick up what we do a lot faster than most people. Just physically, they gotta continue to get better and their time will come." (HSB)
About how the vets have been very helpful at answering their questions, Walker said:
"Every day (for advice), no matter what, they open up (for) questions, no matter what I have to say. They always help me out, if they see something wrong they try to fix it. It's just kind of like another coach out there." (HSB)
Hinting that the true freshmen CBs Walker and Christian might be redshirted, Miano said:
"They're very good players, but these young kids are very smart, they're coachable, they're talented, and they're gonna be the future. But the future may not be right now." (HSB)
About how their special teams are ahead of last year at this point, Dan Kelly said:
"I feel the whole special teams unit is light-years ahead of where we were last year. Last year was kind of a learning process getting used to (holder/punter Tim Grasso), getting used to Jake (Ingram). This year it seems like we're exactly where we left off and we're in midseason form." (HSB)
"We take academics very seriously. They earned the scholarships because they take academics seriously." (HA)
HA Note: "Perry is not listed on the depth chart. He is not even a starter on special teams. But Perry, a senior, has a cumulative grade-point average of 3.7, and he has never missed a team meeting."
HA Note: "Pollard, a second-year freshman, is listed No. 2 on the depth chart at right wideout, behind Malcolm Lane. With Lane recovering from nagging ailments, Pollard has received extensive work in training camp. Pollard has a 3.39 cumulative grade-point average."
HA Note: "Silva, who is projected to start at strong safety, has impressed coaches with his range, football IQ and aggressiveness. Silva, who is a pre-med major, also caught their attention with his 3.04 cumulative GPA."
Praising their walk-on program, Mack said:
"We're proud of our walk-on program. We think it's the best in the country. The best example is Rich Miano." (HA)
HA Note: "Miano, who is the associate head coach, joined UH initially as a walk-on. He played 11 seasons in the NFL. He now coordinates UH's walk-on program."
About how reputations are made in the 1-on-1 drills between the OL and DL, Mack said:
"That's a big-pride drill. That's the fundamentals of the game right there." (HA)
HA Note: "With teammates ringing the turf-war area, the participants cannot escape scrutiny. Yesterday's first one-on-one drills of the five-day-old training camp had bragging — and ragging — rights at stake."
About the 1-on-1 drill between OL and DL, OL Raphael Ieru said:
"Everybody wants to see it. It's an awesome drill." (HA)
HA Note: "Defensive tackle Josh Leonard set the tone by speed-rushing past center Matagisila Lefiti to touch the tackling dummy, which served as the finish line. Right tackle Keoni Steinhoff and defensive left end David Veikune dueled for four seconds. The most animated matchup was between left tackle Laupepa Letuli and defensive right end Elliott Purcell. They refused to disengage, and then when they did, both came out swinging."
About how he liked the little scraps in practice, Mack said:
"We've got a bunch of tough mothers. That's who you want to go to battle with. We had a couple of little skirmishes. I like that. Right now I'd rather pull them apart than have to push them the other way. We've got some emotional players and some passionate players, and I like that. That's why I like coaching here." (HA)
About the 1-on-1 drill, Letuli said:
"You have to do your best. If you want that starting spot, you have to do what it takes to get it. You can't say it. You have to show it by action." (HA)
About establishing himself in this camp after being hampered by injury in the spring, Estes said:
"During spring, I got my ass kicked. I didn't squat. I couldn't run. I don't even know why I did spring ball. ... In spring ball, honestly, when I was getting beat, my confidence was shot. This whole offseason it made me train harder to get my hamstring better. It's so important. I didn't realize how important it was until I was getting beat on one-on-ones so badly. Now that I have my leg back, I'm feeling really good, and I got my confidence back." (HA)
HA Note: "Estes blocked well against two of the toughest interior pass-rushers — defensive tackles Keala "Walrus" Watson and Tuika Tufaga."
Looking for their OL to be more aggressive, Mack said:
"I'm going to let my personality drift over to the offense. We have to be a bunch of tough mothers. I'll try to stay away from the quarterbacks. They have their own personality." (HA)
About blocking for FGs with Blaze and Mouton rushing on his side, Nauahi said:
"We've got Blaze coming through my gap, (and) I'm like, 'Oh.' And we've got Ryan Mouton coming off the side, so it's like, 'hoo.' It's a challenge. Blaze is tough. Blaze's middle name is 'Impact.' " (HA)
Happy that Mack spoke in favor of the JV programs, Dave Shoji said:
"I'm glad Greg actually went down and spoke to them. I don't think there's any doubt that we (agree) with what he said." (HA)
"He wasn't thinking about himself ... which is the kind of guy he is." (HA)
About his fiancee Stephanie Gautier and their 5-month-old Sylen Gautier Kamakakuokalani Kiesel-Kauhane, R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane said:
"I'm blessed. Now that we have a kid together, I have to take care of my family. Everything falls into place now that football is here and family is here. I just love it, I love it." (HA)
About his "tweaked" hamstring that was injured in Thursday's practice, Adam Leonard said:
"It's fine, I didn't pull it, so I'm just going to take a couple of days off and be ready to go hopefully. It's pretty sore, but I have good strength in it and it's just a matter of getting it stretched and loosening it up." (HA)
About feeling comfortable taking Adam's place in practice with the first team, R.J. said:
"Unfortunately, Adam got hurt. It doesn't mean that I'll be there. I'll just take my time and make sure I'm ready so if it does happen in the game I'll make sure I'll be there." (HA)
Adam said that R.J. has been:
"doing a good job every day out here and I'm excited for him. I know he's a good player and no matter what happens during the season, if anyone gets injured, we have great linebackers who can step in and play great for us." (HA)
Praising R.J., Blaze said:
"I consider R.J. a starter... He's just as good as all of us. He's probably the strongest linebacker we have." (HA)
About how R.J.'s work ethic motivates the team, Blaze said:
"He's a really mellow guy. He has a great work ethic. He inspires others." (HA)
About how he and R.J. are cousins, with their grandparents being siblings, Blaze said:
"We don't see it as a competition between me and him. We're family and we try to push each other. If I go down I know my cousin has my back and he's going to step right in there and do great." (HA)
Approving of the two additions that R.J. has added to their family, Blaze said:
"It's always good to have a new member of the family. Steph is a great girl. And R.J.'s baby is cute, he's a big boy." (HA)
About proposing to Gautier (who he's been with for 6 years) under mistletoe at Honolulu Hale's Christmas tree exhibit, R.J. said:
"I didn't tell her, but I told her to take a picture under the mistletoe, and while she was looking up (at it), I proposed to her, and we kissed under the mistletoe. I had to do the whole nine yards. I made sure I did it right. It was a blessed moment." (HA)
Looking forward to contributing at Florida, R.J. said:
"The Swamp, there's nothing like it, you're challenging the conditions. I have to work my game up so we won't miss a beat. In spring you're getting to know the new plays and then in fall you just have to be ready. It's a whole different level." (HSB)
About having R.J. ready to step in for him, Adam said:
"It just shows how deep we are. I have full confidence in him, Tyson (Kafentzis) and Brashton (Satele) to step in at any point in the season and there will be no fall off." (HA)
HSB Note: "Also getting first-team reps were guard Raphael Ieru in place of Lafu Tuioti-Mariner (calf) and defensive end Elliott Purcell for John Fonoti (hamstring). First-team cornerbacks Ryan Mouton and Jameel Dowling also had classes in the morning. Before Mouton made it out for the latter portion of practice, Calvin Roberts and JoPierre Davis were the first corners in the rotation."
About how their players understand that classes come before practice, Mack said:
"That's one of our big deals, we want to graduate our students. We're working hard to make sure they understand that they don't have to feel guilty about going to class. We'll make it up on the football side of it." (HSB)
About his improved performance now that he's healthy, Estes said:
"It's a lot better now that I've fixed my hamstring. I can actually hunker down a little bit. Last spring I'd just get bullrushed every time because I didn't have legs. When you're (in the team period), you're going to try your hardest. But when it's one-on-one, you know everyone's watching. People on the hill, coaches, everyone on the line, they're all watching you." (HSB)
About how Estes is critical to their offense, Mack said:
"I would say he's the focal point of our offense, he's who we all circle around. He's a great player, he's a quiet leader and he's very well respected. When he's in there, we're a whole different offense. He sets the tone." (HSB)
About how Kia and Letuli have a tight race for the starting LT spot, Brian Smith said:
"it's going to keep getting tighter. Those two are going to get a lot of reps. I'm planning on playing all three of those (tackles). We're planning on going to Florida with eight to 10 linemen ready to play. (Letuli's) had a real good start of camp. We'll keep pushing him and getting him reps and keep him learning. He should be a big-time contributor for us." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Smith also pointed to junior Ray Hisatake as one who enjoyed a solid day. Hisatake began camp in the tackle race, but Smith said he's adapted well in moving to guard this week."
HSB Note: "Last year, Leonard arrived on campus planning to play defensive end and weighed in at 265. He was moved inside to tackle, where he posted 21/2 sacks and recovered three fumbles. This summer, he concentrated on putting on weight - checking in at 305 - to hold up better against double teams. He said training at Velocity Sports Performance in Sacramento, Calif., helped him maintain quickness while carrying more weight."
About gaining weight, Josh Leonard said:
"I just ate a lot of meals, a lot of protein shakes. Ate Burger King every day. I was recruited for D-end, never played inside before. So when they shoved me inside it was a new thing because I used to one-on-ones instead of being double teamed. Now I've got a year under my belt to get used to that." (HSB)
Pleased with the effort their DL and OL gave, Mack said:
"(The offensive lineman have) really improved their technique and fundamentals. I give Brian Smith a lot of credit, he's getting those guys going. That's a competitive drill. We had to pull some guys off of each other, which is just what I want. I don't want to have to push them together, I'd rather pull them apart." (HSB)
About how he and Lewis Walker (both true freshmen CBs) have been comparing notes as they try to learn the defense, Steven Christian said:
"He was pretty much the first freshman I met when I got here. I'm pretty sure we're going to be growing up with that position for the next few years. We sit next to each other in meetings, everything, and during practice when we see 7-on-7 and everything, we talk, try to figure out what the coverage is and try to correlate what we're supposed to do in certain situations." (HSB)
About their freshmen CBs, Rich Miano said:
"I think one thing these guys have is they're all bright, young kids, including Kawika Ornellas (5-9, 170, Mililani HS). They've gotta pick up what we do a lot faster than most people. Just physically, they gotta continue to get better and their time will come." (HSB)
About how the vets have been very helpful at answering their questions, Walker said:
"Every day (for advice), no matter what, they open up (for) questions, no matter what I have to say. They always help me out, if they see something wrong they try to fix it. It's just kind of like another coach out there." (HSB)
Hinting that the true freshmen CBs Walker and Christian might be redshirted, Miano said:
"They're very good players, but these young kids are very smart, they're coachable, they're talented, and they're gonna be the future. But the future may not be right now." (HSB)
About how their special teams are ahead of last year at this point, Dan Kelly said:
"I feel the whole special teams unit is light-years ahead of where we were last year. Last year was kind of a learning process getting used to (holder/punter Tim Grasso), getting used to Jake (Ingram). This year it seems like we're exactly where we left off and we're in midseason form." (HSB)
Friday, August 8, 2008
Quotes from the local papers
About how he'll undergo medical tests for his lower-back injury that has kept him from participating in the past 3 training camp practices, Heun said about his return:
"Hopefully, it's sooner than later. They think it's a disc thing going on, but they're not really sure what the deal is." (HA)
About Heun's back injury, RB coach Alex Gerke said:
"Anytime you deal with a back, it's hard. You've got to be cautious. Football is where he is now. But he's got a full life to live. We want to make sure that things get treated correctly." (HA)
About how he "tweaked" his back while training this summer, Heun said:
"I didn't really take care of it right away." (HA)
About how he aggravated his injury during a drill Monday (the first day of camp), Heun said:
"I was trying to make a cut, and I just dropped. don't really have strength on my right side. (The injury) caused everything to cramp up." (HA)
About how his condition has improved every day, Heun said:
"They've got me doing all kinds of rehab. I'm trying to get back in place." (HA)
About how his strained abdomen (injured while training) has kept him out of contact drills, David Farmer said:
"It was one of those things. I hope it gets better." (HA)
About how Farmer had to wear full gear (yesterday was the first in shoulder pads) despite not participating in contact grills, Gerke said:
"All of his appendages are still on him. He can suit up." (HA)
About Gerke, Mack said:
"Gerke is a tough mother. He demands a lot. Just like Dave was injured today, but he had him out there in full pads. He's going to have the running backs tougher than heck. And they're running well." (HA)
About how his RBs have to block well, Gerke said:
"Being a long-time line coach, you have one mentality to coach with. The bottom line is you've got to be a tough nut. You've got to be physical, and nothing can affect you mentally." (HA)
About how LWJ has improved in his blocking, Gerke said:
"It's one of those deals where you have no choice. He's got to do that." (HA)
About how the RBs have been motivated by the LBs in contact drills, LWJ said:
"They hit us, they knock us back, and we hear it from them. When meetings come around, we're getting yelled at by the coach. We're tired of it. We've got to hit back as much as (the linebackers) hit us. We've got the best linebackers, in my opinion, in the nation. If we stick them, we're going to be able to stick other guys. ... That's how I see it." (HA)
About the progress that the RBs have made, Gerke said:
"This is only Day 4. The guys have a long, long way to go. The only problem we'll have is if they think they've arrived. As long as they keep their nose on the grindstone, we should be OK." (HA)
HA Note: "The message is not lost on Libre, who appears to be the most physically fit of the running backs. Libre said he felt compelled to work on improving his strength and punch — the open-handed blocking technique — during summer workouts. In addition to weight training, Libre worked on one-on-one blocking drills against teammates, and hitting the heavy punching bag."
About how Libre is in the best shape of their RBs, LWJ said:
"We haven't peaked yet (except for) Libre (who is) in the best shape. We have a lot of things we have to get acclimated with — who's going to be our quarterback and with our line. We've got to become one. Once we become one, everything is going to fall into place." (HA)
HA Note: "Once again, leftside linebacker Blaze Soares came up with the defensive play of yesterday's practice. In the 7-on-7 drill, slotback Aaron Bain caught a pass from Jake Santos. Soares hit Bain, knocking free Bain's helmet."
About his hit on Bain, Blaze said:
"It wasn't intentional. He just came across the middle. I was there. I gave him a nice whack, and apparently his helmet came off." (HA)
About getting to throw the ball a lot as the scout team QB, Steele Jantz said:
"This is why I'm here." (HA)
HA Note: "Jantz probably would have been at a Pac-10 school if he had not suffered a broken fibia during Nevada Union High's second game last year. He already had received offers from Nevada and San Jose State, and Oregon State and California had expressed strong interest. He underwent surgery in which a rod was inserted into his left leg. By then, all of the offers were pulled."
HA Note: "Slotback Rick Taylor is the answer to this trivia question: Who is the only receiver to have caught passes from former UH quarterback Colt Brennan and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow? It is why Taylor said he is "working and I'm praying" to be included on the Warriors' travel roster to Florida. Taylor and Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, were teammates at Nease High School in Florida. As a grayshirt, Taylor delayed enrolling at UH until January 2006. He spent the 2005 fall semester as an assistant at Nease, grading videos of the offense, and tutoring the receivers. Tebow was a senior on that team."
About Tebow, Taylor said:
"He's a good quarterback, a good human being, a good Christian and a good teammate." (HA)
About competing at right slotback with Bain and Pilares ahead of him, Taylor said:
"Right now the depth chart is in pencil. Along with a pencil, you've got an eraser. People are moving up and down. That makes the competition good. When Davone (Bess) and Ryan (Grice-Mullins) were here, they were pretty much set. It was a little tougher to compete. It's good now that the competition is open." (HA)
HA Note: "Kicker Brett Symonds proudly announced that he weighs 147 pounds. Symonds, a freshman who will eventually succeed senior kicker Dan "The Iceman" Kelly, weighed 143 when reported to UH last Saturday."
About how he thought about quitting football when his girlfriend got pregnant, but instead his child has served as an inspiration to him, Elliott Purcell said:
"I was thinking about not playing because my girlfriend was pregnant and I didn't know what to do in that situation. I didn't know how to handle football and a kid. I was still young. I talked to some of the coaches and they told me that having a kid would make me work harder. And it turns out, things worked out. It helped me a lot. It changed my whole life around, in terms of working hard and not being so lazy. Studying harder, all that kind of stuff." (HA)
HA Note: "Purcell practiced with the first unit yesterday because starting right end John Fonoti is out with an injured hamstring. Fonoti "popped" his hamstring during Wednesday's conditioning drills and said he would be out for a week to a week and a half."
About having to sit out practices due to his injured hamstring, Fonoti said:
"I'm going to try to get out earlier than that but I don't want to get out too early and pull it again and make it worse." (HA)
About Purcell, Fonoti said:
"He's doing good so far. He said he just needs to work on his plays a little bit. I don't know what he's talking about because he did good today." (HA)
About how Purcell (who he calls a "natural pass rusher") is one of 3 players looking to be the top backup to Fonoti, DE coach Dave Aranda said:
"The defensive end depth is something that's an issue right now in camp. There's opportunity for a bunch of guys in that mix. Elliott is in that mix, C.J. Allen-Jones is in the mix, Cameron Allen-Jones is in that mix, and so really, to see those three compete, it's been good so far." (HA)
HA Note: "After practice, Purcell sat with his girlfriend, Keani Santos, and 10-month-old son Taimane — which means diamond in Samoan — in the grass hills near the field, soaking up the limited time he had with his family during fall camp."
About his son Taimane, Purcell said:
"My son, I always think of him. I always try to do better because of him. I always try to do better in school because of him. He made me a better person. At the same time, it's hard, because football takes me away from my family. I know this is my family here, but it takes a lot away from my son. I don't want to miss his first step and his first words, but at the same time it's better for him." (HA)
About how practicing with the first team was different, Purcell said:
"It felt good; it was pretty fast. Faster than twos and threes." (HA)
About Purcell, Aranda (who added that Purcell has all the tools but needs to be more consistent) said:
"He's focused and there's been a vigor in him so far this camp and it speaks well for his future here." (HA)
About his need for consistency, Purcell said:
"I do a lot of good things, just not consecutively. It's like, spurts, so I just have to put it together." (HA)
About how Purcell reminds him of a Texas Tech player named Aaron Hunt (who was at Texas Tech when he and Mack coached there), Aranda said:
"And Aaron, it finally clicked for him to be consistent, and he's the Big 12 leader in sacks to this day. The talent level is there for Elliott." (HA)
HA Note: "It was apparent to UH coaches in 2007, when they moved Purcell from the scout team midway through the season, and still awarded him with the award for 2007 defensive scout team player of the year."
Aranda said that the 6'3", 250-pound Purcell:
"is very soft spoken, he's honest, he's up front with you, humble, and very respectful. And when he gets on the field he lets it go, so it's good to see." (HA)
About their first day in pads, Sol said:
"Any time you've been out of the game five months and you put the helmet on and shoulder pads and get ready to go, that's exciting. A lot of positions are open and a lot of guys are competing for those positions, so the intensity is even higher. And we've got Florida (on Aug. 30). We know the intensity has to be up every play." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Soares met slot receiver Aaron Bain coming across the middle, and even though he pulled up on the hit the impact was enough to pop Bain's helmet off. The bottom line, though, Bain held on to the ball."
About Blaze's hit on him, Bain said:
"We all expect to get one of those every now and then, but it's all good. That means every one's practicing at a high level. You always have to look out for Blaze. The job is to catch the rock, so I had to go up and get it." (HSB)
Pleased with their progress, Mack said:
"We're right where we should be. We've been getting a little better. We're not close to where we want to be, but we're moving along as scheduled." (HSB)
About how it was hard to gain the 20-30 pounds he needed to gain during the offseason, C.J. Allen-Jones said:
"It was hard to do it. I think it's a lot harder to gain weight and keep it than to lose it. I can lose weight easily." (HSB)
Praising C.J., Inoke said:
"He's got that speed, you know, big legs. He came back a lot bigger, and I think it was a good move to bring him down from linebacker to defensive end. He's going to do some great things." (HSB)
Praising C.J.'s development, Dave Aranda said:
"We expected great things from C.J. coming in to this fall camp and he has exceeded our expectations. We had a meeting (Wednesday) morning, talking about who's done what, and C.J. was the guy who around the room everyone was saying he's really shown up to play." (HSB)
About switching to DE, C.J. said:
"We've got the three best linebackers in the nation. We had a lot of competition and stuff (at linebacker). They run fast and they hit hard and they're all smart. So I figured I'd move down and help the team any way I can." (HSB)
About switching to DE, C.J. said:
"It's definitely less thinking. Just one gap in front of you, kick the guy's tail in front of you and get that quarterback." (HSB)
About celebrating a TD run in practice, LWJ said:
"I was just trying to have fun, trying to make practice as fun as possible. We're really working hard and sometimes people forget to have fun." (HSB)
About how they haven't practiced running much in practice so far, LWJ said:
"I was just waiting to see when we were going to run the rock, but once we did we have to do what we can. Whatever the coaches want, that's all I'm trying to do. If they want us to block we're going to block our butts off; if they want us to run we're going to run." (HSB)
About how Elliott Purcell took advantage of the practice reps he got due to injuries to others on the DL, Aranda said:
"He took advantage of it; he had his best day today. Elliott's issue has always been consistency, the talent level's there." (HSB)
About their depth at DT, Aranda said:
"We're real fortunate with our defensive tackle depth, so we're looking at guys working with different guys. That's a luxury we have." (HSB)
About their improvement on offense, Ron Lee said:
"I liked the way the quarterbacks are coming. We'll see if they keep improving. We have to make some decisions by Saturday. It's going to be tough decisions. The guys are working hard, they're competing, that's the big thing. Our defense is such a good defense, we're getting a good look." (HSB)
Happy that someone put his Warrior Bowl TD on YouTube, Kia said:
"Someone put it on the Internet. I don't know who, just someone on the Internet. Tell whoever made it I said thanks." (HSB)
HSB Note: "I'm struggling to catch up to Generation Text, but I do know how to use YouTube. I quickly became the 746th viewer of "Aaron Kia's Big Adventure," produced by someone named WarriorMojo. So, WarriorMojo, Aaron Kia says thanks."
Asked if he ever thought of catching passes as a TE, Kia said:
"I'd love to try that, but my focus now is on doing the best I can at left tackle." (HSB)
"Hopefully, it's sooner than later. They think it's a disc thing going on, but they're not really sure what the deal is." (HA)
About Heun's back injury, RB coach Alex Gerke said:
"Anytime you deal with a back, it's hard. You've got to be cautious. Football is where he is now. But he's got a full life to live. We want to make sure that things get treated correctly." (HA)
About how he "tweaked" his back while training this summer, Heun said:
"I didn't really take care of it right away." (HA)
About how he aggravated his injury during a drill Monday (the first day of camp), Heun said:
"I was trying to make a cut, and I just dropped. don't really have strength on my right side. (The injury) caused everything to cramp up." (HA)
About how his condition has improved every day, Heun said:
"They've got me doing all kinds of rehab. I'm trying to get back in place." (HA)
About how his strained abdomen (injured while training) has kept him out of contact drills, David Farmer said:
"It was one of those things. I hope it gets better." (HA)
About how Farmer had to wear full gear (yesterday was the first in shoulder pads) despite not participating in contact grills, Gerke said:
"All of his appendages are still on him. He can suit up." (HA)
About Gerke, Mack said:
"Gerke is a tough mother. He demands a lot. Just like Dave was injured today, but he had him out there in full pads. He's going to have the running backs tougher than heck. And they're running well." (HA)
About how his RBs have to block well, Gerke said:
"Being a long-time line coach, you have one mentality to coach with. The bottom line is you've got to be a tough nut. You've got to be physical, and nothing can affect you mentally." (HA)
About how LWJ has improved in his blocking, Gerke said:
"It's one of those deals where you have no choice. He's got to do that." (HA)
About how the RBs have been motivated by the LBs in contact drills, LWJ said:
"They hit us, they knock us back, and we hear it from them. When meetings come around, we're getting yelled at by the coach. We're tired of it. We've got to hit back as much as (the linebackers) hit us. We've got the best linebackers, in my opinion, in the nation. If we stick them, we're going to be able to stick other guys. ... That's how I see it." (HA)
About the progress that the RBs have made, Gerke said:
"This is only Day 4. The guys have a long, long way to go. The only problem we'll have is if they think they've arrived. As long as they keep their nose on the grindstone, we should be OK." (HA)
HA Note: "The message is not lost on Libre, who appears to be the most physically fit of the running backs. Libre said he felt compelled to work on improving his strength and punch — the open-handed blocking technique — during summer workouts. In addition to weight training, Libre worked on one-on-one blocking drills against teammates, and hitting the heavy punching bag."
About how Libre is in the best shape of their RBs, LWJ said:
"We haven't peaked yet (except for) Libre (who is) in the best shape. We have a lot of things we have to get acclimated with — who's going to be our quarterback and with our line. We've got to become one. Once we become one, everything is going to fall into place." (HA)
HA Note: "Once again, leftside linebacker Blaze Soares came up with the defensive play of yesterday's practice. In the 7-on-7 drill, slotback Aaron Bain caught a pass from Jake Santos. Soares hit Bain, knocking free Bain's helmet."
About his hit on Bain, Blaze said:
"It wasn't intentional. He just came across the middle. I was there. I gave him a nice whack, and apparently his helmet came off." (HA)
About getting to throw the ball a lot as the scout team QB, Steele Jantz said:
"This is why I'm here." (HA)
HA Note: "Jantz probably would have been at a Pac-10 school if he had not suffered a broken fibia during Nevada Union High's second game last year. He already had received offers from Nevada and San Jose State, and Oregon State and California had expressed strong interest. He underwent surgery in which a rod was inserted into his left leg. By then, all of the offers were pulled."
HA Note: "Slotback Rick Taylor is the answer to this trivia question: Who is the only receiver to have caught passes from former UH quarterback Colt Brennan and Florida quarterback Tim Tebow? It is why Taylor said he is "working and I'm praying" to be included on the Warriors' travel roster to Florida. Taylor and Tebow, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, were teammates at Nease High School in Florida. As a grayshirt, Taylor delayed enrolling at UH until January 2006. He spent the 2005 fall semester as an assistant at Nease, grading videos of the offense, and tutoring the receivers. Tebow was a senior on that team."
About Tebow, Taylor said:
"He's a good quarterback, a good human being, a good Christian and a good teammate." (HA)
About competing at right slotback with Bain and Pilares ahead of him, Taylor said:
"Right now the depth chart is in pencil. Along with a pencil, you've got an eraser. People are moving up and down. That makes the competition good. When Davone (Bess) and Ryan (Grice-Mullins) were here, they were pretty much set. It was a little tougher to compete. It's good now that the competition is open." (HA)
HA Note: "Kicker Brett Symonds proudly announced that he weighs 147 pounds. Symonds, a freshman who will eventually succeed senior kicker Dan "The Iceman" Kelly, weighed 143 when reported to UH last Saturday."
About how he thought about quitting football when his girlfriend got pregnant, but instead his child has served as an inspiration to him, Elliott Purcell said:
"I was thinking about not playing because my girlfriend was pregnant and I didn't know what to do in that situation. I didn't know how to handle football and a kid. I was still young. I talked to some of the coaches and they told me that having a kid would make me work harder. And it turns out, things worked out. It helped me a lot. It changed my whole life around, in terms of working hard and not being so lazy. Studying harder, all that kind of stuff." (HA)
HA Note: "Purcell practiced with the first unit yesterday because starting right end John Fonoti is out with an injured hamstring. Fonoti "popped" his hamstring during Wednesday's conditioning drills and said he would be out for a week to a week and a half."
About having to sit out practices due to his injured hamstring, Fonoti said:
"I'm going to try to get out earlier than that but I don't want to get out too early and pull it again and make it worse." (HA)
About Purcell, Fonoti said:
"He's doing good so far. He said he just needs to work on his plays a little bit. I don't know what he's talking about because he did good today." (HA)
About how Purcell (who he calls a "natural pass rusher") is one of 3 players looking to be the top backup to Fonoti, DE coach Dave Aranda said:
"The defensive end depth is something that's an issue right now in camp. There's opportunity for a bunch of guys in that mix. Elliott is in that mix, C.J. Allen-Jones is in the mix, Cameron Allen-Jones is in that mix, and so really, to see those three compete, it's been good so far." (HA)
HA Note: "After practice, Purcell sat with his girlfriend, Keani Santos, and 10-month-old son Taimane — which means diamond in Samoan — in the grass hills near the field, soaking up the limited time he had with his family during fall camp."
About his son Taimane, Purcell said:
"My son, I always think of him. I always try to do better because of him. I always try to do better in school because of him. He made me a better person. At the same time, it's hard, because football takes me away from my family. I know this is my family here, but it takes a lot away from my son. I don't want to miss his first step and his first words, but at the same time it's better for him." (HA)
About how practicing with the first team was different, Purcell said:
"It felt good; it was pretty fast. Faster than twos and threes." (HA)
About Purcell, Aranda (who added that Purcell has all the tools but needs to be more consistent) said:
"He's focused and there's been a vigor in him so far this camp and it speaks well for his future here." (HA)
About his need for consistency, Purcell said:
"I do a lot of good things, just not consecutively. It's like, spurts, so I just have to put it together." (HA)
About how Purcell reminds him of a Texas Tech player named Aaron Hunt (who was at Texas Tech when he and Mack coached there), Aranda said:
"And Aaron, it finally clicked for him to be consistent, and he's the Big 12 leader in sacks to this day. The talent level is there for Elliott." (HA)
HA Note: "It was apparent to UH coaches in 2007, when they moved Purcell from the scout team midway through the season, and still awarded him with the award for 2007 defensive scout team player of the year."
Aranda said that the 6'3", 250-pound Purcell:
"is very soft spoken, he's honest, he's up front with you, humble, and very respectful. And when he gets on the field he lets it go, so it's good to see." (HA)
About their first day in pads, Sol said:
"Any time you've been out of the game five months and you put the helmet on and shoulder pads and get ready to go, that's exciting. A lot of positions are open and a lot of guys are competing for those positions, so the intensity is even higher. And we've got Florida (on Aug. 30). We know the intensity has to be up every play." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Soares met slot receiver Aaron Bain coming across the middle, and even though he pulled up on the hit the impact was enough to pop Bain's helmet off. The bottom line, though, Bain held on to the ball."
About Blaze's hit on him, Bain said:
"We all expect to get one of those every now and then, but it's all good. That means every one's practicing at a high level. You always have to look out for Blaze. The job is to catch the rock, so I had to go up and get it." (HSB)
Pleased with their progress, Mack said:
"We're right where we should be. We've been getting a little better. We're not close to where we want to be, but we're moving along as scheduled." (HSB)
About how it was hard to gain the 20-30 pounds he needed to gain during the offseason, C.J. Allen-Jones said:
"It was hard to do it. I think it's a lot harder to gain weight and keep it than to lose it. I can lose weight easily." (HSB)
Praising C.J., Inoke said:
"He's got that speed, you know, big legs. He came back a lot bigger, and I think it was a good move to bring him down from linebacker to defensive end. He's going to do some great things." (HSB)
Praising C.J.'s development, Dave Aranda said:
"We expected great things from C.J. coming in to this fall camp and he has exceeded our expectations. We had a meeting (Wednesday) morning, talking about who's done what, and C.J. was the guy who around the room everyone was saying he's really shown up to play." (HSB)
About switching to DE, C.J. said:
"We've got the three best linebackers in the nation. We had a lot of competition and stuff (at linebacker). They run fast and they hit hard and they're all smart. So I figured I'd move down and help the team any way I can." (HSB)
About switching to DE, C.J. said:
"It's definitely less thinking. Just one gap in front of you, kick the guy's tail in front of you and get that quarterback." (HSB)
About celebrating a TD run in practice, LWJ said:
"I was just trying to have fun, trying to make practice as fun as possible. We're really working hard and sometimes people forget to have fun." (HSB)
About how they haven't practiced running much in practice so far, LWJ said:
"I was just waiting to see when we were going to run the rock, but once we did we have to do what we can. Whatever the coaches want, that's all I'm trying to do. If they want us to block we're going to block our butts off; if they want us to run we're going to run." (HSB)
About how Elliott Purcell took advantage of the practice reps he got due to injuries to others on the DL, Aranda said:
"He took advantage of it; he had his best day today. Elliott's issue has always been consistency, the talent level's there." (HSB)
About their depth at DT, Aranda said:
"We're real fortunate with our defensive tackle depth, so we're looking at guys working with different guys. That's a luxury we have." (HSB)
About their improvement on offense, Ron Lee said:
"I liked the way the quarterbacks are coming. We'll see if they keep improving. We have to make some decisions by Saturday. It's going to be tough decisions. The guys are working hard, they're competing, that's the big thing. Our defense is such a good defense, we're getting a good look." (HSB)
Happy that someone put his Warrior Bowl TD on YouTube, Kia said:
"Someone put it on the Internet. I don't know who, just someone on the Internet. Tell whoever made it I said thanks." (HSB)
HSB Note: "I'm struggling to catch up to Generation Text, but I do know how to use YouTube. I quickly became the 746th viewer of "Aaron Kia's Big Adventure," produced by someone named WarriorMojo. So, WarriorMojo, Aaron Kia says thanks."
Asked if he ever thought of catching passes as a TE, Kia said:
"I'd love to try that, but my focus now is on doing the best I can at left tackle." (HSB)
Quotes from the local papers (8/7/08)
After their 3rd practice at camp, Rolo said:
"The defense won the day." (HA)
HA Note: "But for the first practice involving 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills, the outcome was expected. Several new plays were implemented, and the defense, which is projected to be the best in the Western Athletic Conference, was particularly feisty yesterday. And it rained. The three quarterbacks contending for the starting job — fourth-year junior Inoke Funaki and junior-college transfers Greg Alexander and Brent Rausch — were a combined 10 of 19 in the 11-on-11 drills."
About the performance of their QBs in the 11-on-11 drills, Rolo said:
"So much is going through their minds as far as reads and progressions. And then you throw the (pass) rush in, and it kind of threw them off. There's a lot of good stuff for the film (to be studied)." (HA)
HA Note: "Funaki, who is first in the rotation, lasered a pass to slotback Michael Washington that went for the 30-play segment's only touchdown. Alexander, who has lost 20 pounds since moving to Hawai'i in late May, is displaying better agility. And Rausch has improved in identifying defensive coverages during his pre-snap reads."
About his improvement, Rausch said:
"I'm feeling more comfortable out there. I did a lot better than the first day." (HA)
About facing their D in practice, Inoke said:
"We have such a good defense. If we can compete and be consistent while moving the ball against our own defense, it should make things a lot easier when we play against other teams that are less
familiar with our offense." (HA)
About how his goal for the offense is for them to try to be the best at every practice, Rolo said:
"I take it off my experience playing this offense. When you can beat your own defense, which knows your plays, and beat them every day, then we can beat anybody in the country. That's where we need to get, to beat these guys every day." (HA)
About how their initial plan was to narrow the QB competition down to 3 early in training camp and then to set a depth chart, Rolo said that with Tyler not being in camp:
"it gives us a little leeway with our initial plan." (HA)
HA Note: "Rolovich said those three quarterbacks received an equal number of snaps in the first two practices. Those workouts involved "the simplest of plays" and were not against defenders. Rolovich said "some tough" plays were added to yesterday's drills. He said the same menu of plays will be used today."
About how they get better the practice after they introduce new plays, Rolo said:
"We got better from the first to the second day. We had new plays in the third, so we'll be better" in the fourth." (HA)
HA Note: "Rolovich said the quarterbacks know "the language" of the entire playbook. Now it is a matter of field work. He said head coach Greg McMackin and offensive coordinator Ron Lee plan to add "10 to 15 percent" more plays every two practices."
About how going against their defense helps them get better, Alexander said:
"we've got a good defense. We're always going to get a good look from them. It's good for us to go against them. They're going to be one of the better defenses we face this season." (HA)
HA Note: "It was the defense that set the tone on the first play of 7-on-7 drills. Leftside linebacker Blaze Soares soared to intercept Funaki's pass."
About the stinger and shoulder injury he had last year that made it impossible to raise his left arm, Blaze said:
"My arm feels better. I'm trying to get into a little better shape. I feel I'm in good shape, but it's always good to be in better shape. You don't ever want to be satisfied." (HA)
HA Note: "One of the prized recruits, slotback Jovonte Taylor, arrived in town Tuesday afternoon, and attended yesterday's practice as a spectator. Taylor was delayed while he completed a class at Los Angeles Southwest College. He has been accepted into UH, but cannot practice until his associate degree is posted. That should happen today. Taylor won the California Community College 100-meter championship in 2007, completing the distance in 10.4 seconds."
About how he won the 100-meter championship despite a tight hamstrine, Jovonte said:
"track is not really my thing. I did it to get ready for football." (HA)
HA Note: "Taylor had received offers from Oregon, Kansas State and Nevada-Las Vegas. USC offered him a track scholarship. But he chose UH because of its four-wide offense and faith that he would earn a degree by this summer."
Jovonte said that UH's offense:
"fits me better. They run a spread offense, and I'm a slot receiver. They throw the ball a lot. That's what I'm looking for." (HA)
HSB Note: "Inoke Funaki, Greg Alexander and Brent Rausch split the repetitions and combined to complete 15 of 18 throws in the 7-on-7 period. But the defense had the advantage in the 11-on-11 team periods."
About struggling in the 11-on-11 drills, Alexander said:
"We've been doing 7-on-7s out here all summer, but when you get into practice the intensity picks up and speed picks up." (HSB)
About why the 11-on-11 drills were harder for the offense, Rolo said:
"Seven-on-seven was much better than team for us. It tells us they understand it conceptually, but now you throw a rush in front of them, that kind of threw them off so that's something we need to work on. We needed the competition. Now we'll see separation. The grade sheets have been fairly even so far." (HSB)
About their success in the 7-on-7 drills, Washington said:
"A lot of the newcomer guys were stepping up and making good throws, new receivers making great catches. It was just good to see the offense click so early." (HSB)
About splitting second team guard reps (with Ginlack) behind AhSoon while continuing to work at tackle, Hisatake said:
"My chances will be better to play if I know both positions and I feel real comfortable at guard, like it's a more natural fit for me. You always get excited to learn when you're in a new environment. If I know guard, then I'll know tackle better." (HSB)
About how the competition is close between Kia and Letuli for the starting LT spot, Brian Smith said:
"Pepa's going to push (Kia) pretty hard as long as he stays healthy. That's going to be a good competition and it's going to make both of them better." (HSB)
About being a new graduate assistant during camp, David "Happy" Gilmore said:
"It takes me back -- you don't forget the smells. It's fun to be out here a part of it, and not get all beat up, you know?" (HSB)
HSB Note: "Miano pushed hard for Gilmore's presence with the team this season. He was a walk-on from Albuquerque, N.M., who, through sheer determination, earned a starter's role and eventually a scholarship."
About why Gilmore will be a good coach, Miano said:
"The whole cycle, from being unwanted to being a starter to being a scholarship player to a graduate assistant. That's why he'll be successful in life, and that's why he'll be successful at coaching. It's not always the great players who're genetically gifted. He worked hard." (HSB)
About giving up a 6-figure income in California selling employee benefits to take the graduate assistant job at UH, Gilmore said:
"I knew I wanted to do it. But, I said if I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it now. I don't want to have regrets when I'm 34 years old." (HSB)
About how they started the drills where the offense and defense face off, Blaze said:
"It's always a good thing, offense vs. defense, see who gets bragging rights for the day. They work us, we work them. The only way is up, so right now we're starting off at the bottom and we've got to climb the ladder to get where we were." (HSB)
Looking forward to seeing how his shoulder feels when they start having full contact, Blaze said:
"I can't wait to start getting in the pads and see how my shoulder is. I feel ready." (HSB)
HSB Note: "For now, he and the rest of his teammates, are wearing "shells" in order to protect against injuries before they put the full pads on. It's a much smaller pad designed to protect players against shoulder injuries."
About wearing "shells", Blaze said:
"It's interesting. Something new." (HSB)
About how he needs to restrain himself at times to avoid injury, Blaze said:
"I don't want to be known as the kid that always gets hurt, which I've been known for. I want to change that. Back then, I was just reckless trying to kill everybody in sight. This year I'm just trying to be more smart with the choices I make." (HSB)
About the INT Blaze got on him, Inoke said:
"I had to break the ice you know, help everybody feel comfortable by throwing the first pick. (Blaze) said he was going to beat me up if I didn't throw him a pick." (HSB)
"The defense won the day." (HA)
HA Note: "But for the first practice involving 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills, the outcome was expected. Several new plays were implemented, and the defense, which is projected to be the best in the Western Athletic Conference, was particularly feisty yesterday. And it rained. The three quarterbacks contending for the starting job — fourth-year junior Inoke Funaki and junior-college transfers Greg Alexander and Brent Rausch — were a combined 10 of 19 in the 11-on-11 drills."
About the performance of their QBs in the 11-on-11 drills, Rolo said:
"So much is going through their minds as far as reads and progressions. And then you throw the (pass) rush in, and it kind of threw them off. There's a lot of good stuff for the film (to be studied)." (HA)
HA Note: "Funaki, who is first in the rotation, lasered a pass to slotback Michael Washington that went for the 30-play segment's only touchdown. Alexander, who has lost 20 pounds since moving to Hawai'i in late May, is displaying better agility. And Rausch has improved in identifying defensive coverages during his pre-snap reads."
About his improvement, Rausch said:
"I'm feeling more comfortable out there. I did a lot better than the first day." (HA)
About facing their D in practice, Inoke said:
"We have such a good defense. If we can compete and be consistent while moving the ball against our own defense, it should make things a lot easier when we play against other teams that are less
familiar with our offense." (HA)
About how his goal for the offense is for them to try to be the best at every practice, Rolo said:
"I take it off my experience playing this offense. When you can beat your own defense, which knows your plays, and beat them every day, then we can beat anybody in the country. That's where we need to get, to beat these guys every day." (HA)
About how their initial plan was to narrow the QB competition down to 3 early in training camp and then to set a depth chart, Rolo said that with Tyler not being in camp:
"it gives us a little leeway with our initial plan." (HA)
HA Note: "Rolovich said those three quarterbacks received an equal number of snaps in the first two practices. Those workouts involved "the simplest of plays" and were not against defenders. Rolovich said "some tough" plays were added to yesterday's drills. He said the same menu of plays will be used today."
About how they get better the practice after they introduce new plays, Rolo said:
"We got better from the first to the second day. We had new plays in the third, so we'll be better" in the fourth." (HA)
HA Note: "Rolovich said the quarterbacks know "the language" of the entire playbook. Now it is a matter of field work. He said head coach Greg McMackin and offensive coordinator Ron Lee plan to add "10 to 15 percent" more plays every two practices."
About how going against their defense helps them get better, Alexander said:
"we've got a good defense. We're always going to get a good look from them. It's good for us to go against them. They're going to be one of the better defenses we face this season." (HA)
HA Note: "It was the defense that set the tone on the first play of 7-on-7 drills. Leftside linebacker Blaze Soares soared to intercept Funaki's pass."
About the stinger and shoulder injury he had last year that made it impossible to raise his left arm, Blaze said:
"My arm feels better. I'm trying to get into a little better shape. I feel I'm in good shape, but it's always good to be in better shape. You don't ever want to be satisfied." (HA)
HA Note: "One of the prized recruits, slotback Jovonte Taylor, arrived in town Tuesday afternoon, and attended yesterday's practice as a spectator. Taylor was delayed while he completed a class at Los Angeles Southwest College. He has been accepted into UH, but cannot practice until his associate degree is posted. That should happen today. Taylor won the California Community College 100-meter championship in 2007, completing the distance in 10.4 seconds."
About how he won the 100-meter championship despite a tight hamstrine, Jovonte said:
"track is not really my thing. I did it to get ready for football." (HA)
HA Note: "Taylor had received offers from Oregon, Kansas State and Nevada-Las Vegas. USC offered him a track scholarship. But he chose UH because of its four-wide offense and faith that he would earn a degree by this summer."
Jovonte said that UH's offense:
"fits me better. They run a spread offense, and I'm a slot receiver. They throw the ball a lot. That's what I'm looking for." (HA)
HSB Note: "Inoke Funaki, Greg Alexander and Brent Rausch split the repetitions and combined to complete 15 of 18 throws in the 7-on-7 period. But the defense had the advantage in the 11-on-11 team periods."
About struggling in the 11-on-11 drills, Alexander said:
"We've been doing 7-on-7s out here all summer, but when you get into practice the intensity picks up and speed picks up." (HSB)
About why the 11-on-11 drills were harder for the offense, Rolo said:
"Seven-on-seven was much better than team for us. It tells us they understand it conceptually, but now you throw a rush in front of them, that kind of threw them off so that's something we need to work on. We needed the competition. Now we'll see separation. The grade sheets have been fairly even so far." (HSB)
About their success in the 7-on-7 drills, Washington said:
"A lot of the newcomer guys were stepping up and making good throws, new receivers making great catches. It was just good to see the offense click so early." (HSB)
About splitting second team guard reps (with Ginlack) behind AhSoon while continuing to work at tackle, Hisatake said:
"My chances will be better to play if I know both positions and I feel real comfortable at guard, like it's a more natural fit for me. You always get excited to learn when you're in a new environment. If I know guard, then I'll know tackle better." (HSB)
About how the competition is close between Kia and Letuli for the starting LT spot, Brian Smith said:
"Pepa's going to push (Kia) pretty hard as long as he stays healthy. That's going to be a good competition and it's going to make both of them better." (HSB)
About being a new graduate assistant during camp, David "Happy" Gilmore said:
"It takes me back -- you don't forget the smells. It's fun to be out here a part of it, and not get all beat up, you know?" (HSB)
HSB Note: "Miano pushed hard for Gilmore's presence with the team this season. He was a walk-on from Albuquerque, N.M., who, through sheer determination, earned a starter's role and eventually a scholarship."
About why Gilmore will be a good coach, Miano said:
"The whole cycle, from being unwanted to being a starter to being a scholarship player to a graduate assistant. That's why he'll be successful in life, and that's why he'll be successful at coaching. It's not always the great players who're genetically gifted. He worked hard." (HSB)
About giving up a 6-figure income in California selling employee benefits to take the graduate assistant job at UH, Gilmore said:
"I knew I wanted to do it. But, I said if I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it now. I don't want to have regrets when I'm 34 years old." (HSB)
About how they started the drills where the offense and defense face off, Blaze said:
"It's always a good thing, offense vs. defense, see who gets bragging rights for the day. They work us, we work them. The only way is up, so right now we're starting off at the bottom and we've got to climb the ladder to get where we were." (HSB)
Looking forward to seeing how his shoulder feels when they start having full contact, Blaze said:
"I can't wait to start getting in the pads and see how my shoulder is. I feel ready." (HSB)
HSB Note: "For now, he and the rest of his teammates, are wearing "shells" in order to protect against injuries before they put the full pads on. It's a much smaller pad designed to protect players against shoulder injuries."
About wearing "shells", Blaze said:
"It's interesting. Something new." (HSB)
About how he needs to restrain himself at times to avoid injury, Blaze said:
"I don't want to be known as the kid that always gets hurt, which I've been known for. I want to change that. Back then, I was just reckless trying to kill everybody in sight. This year I'm just trying to be more smart with the choices I make." (HSB)
About the INT Blaze got on him, Inoke said:
"I had to break the ice you know, help everybody feel comfortable by throwing the first pick. (Blaze) said he was going to beat me up if I didn't throw him a pick." (HSB)
Deondre Powell commits to the Warriors!
One of the top high school receivers in California has accepted a football scholarship from the University of Hawai'i.
"I'm excited to be a Warrior," said Deondre Powell, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound slotback from Gahr High in Cerritos, Calif.
Last season, Powell caught 73 passes for 1,244 yards and 11 touchdowns. www.Scout.com named him to the All-California second team. He is listed as the state's No. 1 returning receiver for this season.
"He's deadly when he gets his hands on the football," said Brandon Huffman, West Coast Regional director for www.Scout.com. "He's tough in the open field. He doesn't have great straightaway speed, but he has great football speed. If he gets behind you, you're not going to catch him. He's a big-play type of guy."
Two weeks ago, Gahr teammate Corey Nielsen, who led California prep quarterbacks in passing yards last season, made a verbal commitment to UH.
"I kept telling (UH coach Greg McMackin) to look at my receiver," Nielsen said. "I guess he liked what he saw."
Nielsen added: "I kept telling (Powell) to hurry up and commit. It's great to have the No. 1 receiver coming to the 808."
Powell, who also received an offer from Arizona, considers former Warrior slotbacks Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins as football influences. Grice-Mullins, a friend of Nielsen's uncle Jon Nielsen, worked out with Powell in the spring.
"He tries to model his play after Davone and Ryan," Nielsen said. "He looks like them, too. He has some baby dreads going on."
Huffman said Powell and Nielsen have been "productive against good competition. They're a big-time, pass-catching combo."
Earlier, UH secured verbal commitments from wideout Billy Ray Stutzmann of Saint Louis School, defensive end Kimo Makaula of Punahou School, and linebacker T.J. Alofipo of Silverado High (Las Vegas).
HSB
"We're really close, he's like a brother to me," Powell said of Nielsen, who committed to UH last month.
"We had been talking about Hawaii and playing at the next level together since before our freshman year. Hawaii has sort of been like my dream school."
Powell, 5-feet-9, 165 pounds, was Nielsen's top target last season when he led Gahr with 73 receptions for 1,244 yards and 11 touchdowns. He broke the 100-yard mark in five games, posting a season high of 219, for a Gladiators team that went 10-3.
"Our whole offense is based off Hawaii's offense so we fit right into it," said Powell, who also had an offer from Arizona.
Powell is the fifth player, and second receiver, to commit to the Warriors as part of their 2009 incoming class. The commitments can be made official when the signing period opens in February.
"I'm excited to be a Warrior," said Deondre Powell, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound slotback from Gahr High in Cerritos, Calif.
Last season, Powell caught 73 passes for 1,244 yards and 11 touchdowns. www.Scout.com named him to the All-California second team. He is listed as the state's No. 1 returning receiver for this season.
"He's deadly when he gets his hands on the football," said Brandon Huffman, West Coast Regional director for www.Scout.com. "He's tough in the open field. He doesn't have great straightaway speed, but he has great football speed. If he gets behind you, you're not going to catch him. He's a big-play type of guy."
Two weeks ago, Gahr teammate Corey Nielsen, who led California prep quarterbacks in passing yards last season, made a verbal commitment to UH.
"I kept telling (UH coach Greg McMackin) to look at my receiver," Nielsen said. "I guess he liked what he saw."
Nielsen added: "I kept telling (Powell) to hurry up and commit. It's great to have the No. 1 receiver coming to the 808."
Powell, who also received an offer from Arizona, considers former Warrior slotbacks Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins as football influences. Grice-Mullins, a friend of Nielsen's uncle Jon Nielsen, worked out with Powell in the spring.
"He tries to model his play after Davone and Ryan," Nielsen said. "He looks like them, too. He has some baby dreads going on."
Huffman said Powell and Nielsen have been "productive against good competition. They're a big-time, pass-catching combo."
Earlier, UH secured verbal commitments from wideout Billy Ray Stutzmann of Saint Louis School, defensive end Kimo Makaula of Punahou School, and linebacker T.J. Alofipo of Silverado High (Las Vegas).
HSB
"We're really close, he's like a brother to me," Powell said of Nielsen, who committed to UH last month.
"We had been talking about Hawaii and playing at the next level together since before our freshman year. Hawaii has sort of been like my dream school."
Powell, 5-feet-9, 165 pounds, was Nielsen's top target last season when he led Gahr with 73 receptions for 1,244 yards and 11 touchdowns. He broke the 100-yard mark in five games, posting a season high of 219, for a Gladiators team that went 10-3.
"Our whole offense is based off Hawaii's offense so we fit right into it," said Powell, who also had an offer from Arizona.
Powell is the fifth player, and second receiver, to commit to the Warriors as part of their 2009 incoming class. The commitments can be made official when the signing period opens in February.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Quotes from Day 2 of camp
WR coach Craig Stutzmann said that they fill in names at the WR position on the depth chart "with pencil because on the other side there's an eraser":
"And no matter what you do, you can always go up or down." (HA)
About the battles at each position (Salas/Lane are now #1 at wideout, Bain/Washington are now #1 at slotback)
"That's what fall camp is for — evaluation and really getting the guys ready. I think once this week is done, going into the second week, we'll really start solidifying some spots." (HA)
Stutzmann said that their WR group is:
"peppered with new guys and inexperience. At the beginning of practice one guy will look great, and at the end of practice another guy will look great." (HA)
HA Note: "Yesterday, Royce Pollard and Daniel Lofton practiced at wideout with the second unit. Neither has game experience, with Pollard redshirting last season and Lofton sitting out the year after transferring from California."
About learning the offense after sitting out last year after transferring from Cal (where he redshirted in 2006), Lofton said:
"I'm just trying to get used to everything; trying to get comfortable with the routes." (HA)
About how he first learned their offense during spring ball, Lofton said:
"Our offense is tough. We rely a lot on our receivers so we have to do a lot of different adjustments and we have to read a lot of coverages. So that's probably a big challenge as far as knowing where to run and what looks you're going to get in the game." (HA)
About how he spent last season watching Rivers and Hawthorne play and analyzing how defenders reacted to different routes, Pollard said:
"In the beginning of the season I wasn't too intense because I was still learning the plays. I was just going off a lot of what (Hawthorne) and (Rivers) were doing. And I was trying to mimic them because I know they did really good." (HA)
Stutzmann said that Pollard is a:
"shifty guy who works his tail off." (HA)
About how his dedicated workouts in Hawaii all off-season, Pollard said:
"I'm still pushing to travel because there's a lot of competition out there and coach tells us every day that the spots are open. So I always look at that as something to keep working on because I don't ever want to think I'm solid in a spot." (HA)
Despite being the son of NFL Hall of Fame WR James Lofton, Daniel Lofton said he just tries to:
"go out and do the best I can do, because people are going to find stuff to critique and when you have that name you almost get criticized way more. People have big expectations." (HA)
HA note: "His father's influence did have an impact on his decision to come to Hawai'i. The Loftons lived in Hawai'i and James Lofton is friends with former UH coach June Jones. Having that familiarity with the Warriors and being a fan of the offense made it seem like the perfect fit, although the timing was a bit off. Lofton attended Cal's fall camp in 2007, and made the switch to Hawai'i the week of the season opener against Northern Colorado."
About transferring to UH from Cal, Lofton said:
"I just felt like this was the place for me to be. I've kind of waited out two years, I just want the opportunity to play." (HA)
About how the new coaching staff plans on substituting with all 4 WR positions, Stutzmann said:
"With this, you keep them fresh and you have a little more confidence in your depth." (HA)
Stutzmann added that they would like to have ready to play:
"four on the outside and four on the inside." (HA)
About how the prospect of playing time will inspire the WRs to work hard at practice, Stutzmann said:
"Before, if you were the fifth or sixth guy, you were never going to see the field. Now, if you perform, you'll get on the field somehow." (HA)
About how he didn't carry the ball much last season, LWJ said:
"My friends, they knew we were a passing team, and they were asking, 'Why aren't they giving you the rock?' " (HA)
Happy with the talk of running the ball more, LWJ said:
"I'm the happiest guy in the world. All this talk about runnin' the rock, I'm loving it." (HA)
About LWJ, Mack said:
"it seemed like every time I turned around he was running down the football field. So, I think he's pretty dang good. I think Leon is the real deal and we need to give him some (carries)." (HA)
About the praise he's been getting from Mack, LWJ said:
"Coach Mac told me to get prepared for this season. He's a firm believer in the balanced attack and has big plans for the offense this season. He has been encouraging me, telling me to get ready and be prepared for it." (HA)
About how he ran so close to Mack to catch a pass in practice yesterday that he brushed the visor off his head, Lofton said:
"The ball kind of led me that way and I got a little scared, I didn't want to hurt him. I caught the ball and he was right there." (HA)
About his near-collision with Lofton, Mack said:
"I was playing too up at the free safety. I'm going to have to deepen a little bit." (HA)
About working on fundamentals this week and not having the team in pads until next week, Mack said:
"Little things are really important, where they point their toes, what their key is, where their hands are. You have to get the repetitions and then you do it naturally." (HSB)
Praising the practices that Mack has been running, Adam Leonard said:
"He is so organized, he has everything in writing, exactly what he wants you to do. He even says if he sees a mistake on film, first he looks at himself, then the coordinators and the position coaches and then he looks at the player. He puts a lot of pressure on himself in being real organized and being real specific with what he wants us to do." (HSB)
About being on the punt protection team, Adam Leonard said:
"As a football player I'll play anywhere the coaches need me. The punt team's an important facet of the game so any players we need on that team no matter where you are on the depth chart, offense or defense, if we need you on the team, you've got to play." (HSB)
About being moved from safety to RB, Peoples said:
"I can do whatever it takes to help the team win, no problem with that. (My last time at back) all we would do is block here, block there. We were basically a lineman, but 150 pounds lighter. Now we have more mental input into the system -- a chance to think on our toes very quickly, as if we are a receiver. Good deal." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Second-year freshman wideout Royce Pollard made two impressive grabs on back-to-back reps yesterday. On the first, he tripped at the start of his route and was nearly flat on his back, but somehow managed to spring himself up off the grass horizontally in an instant when QB Inoke Funaki fired the ball his way."
About catching the pass when he was nearly horizontal on the grass, Pollard said:
"That's something I need to work on, I was just rushing and fell. When I saw the ball, I was just urgent and worked as hard as I could to get it." (HSB)
HSB Note: "On his next sequence, he twisted behind and got a hand on the ball up the middle, then spun around to complete the catch on his back. Both earned cheers from his teammates."
HSB Note: "Yesterday, Greg Salas, Aaron Bain, Mike Washington and Malcolm Lane lined up from left to right in the first group during offensive team drills. Bell (left wideout), Henry (left slot) and Tinoco (right wideout) have taken second- and third-string positions thus far."
About their new WRs, Stutzmann said:
"The first few days of practice for the new guys are the toughest because they gotta learn the plays, they gotta get the timing down with the quarterbacks, and then on top of that they gotta catch the ball. There's a lot of different factors that come into that -- getting off the line of scrimmage, running the route properly, recognizing the coverage. You'll see a lot of dropped balls in the first few days. Of course you don't condone it, but the thing you really look for in the first couple of days is the effort." (HSB)
About how he received tips from Inoke and Tyler during the summer school session and was in a 4-wide system at West LA, Henry said:
"I just want to showcase my football smarts, my IQ, route running, and what I can do after I catch the ball." (HSB)
About how UH's system has more reads on the fly than anything he used at Cerritos College, Bell said:
"It was a bit different, but it's always good to get out here and compete with the team and everything. I felt real good about it. Help the team out wherever I can, try to get as many reps as the coaches allow me to." (HSB)
About how his efforts studying the playbook helped prepare him for practice, Tinoco said:
"I knew all the plays when I went out there, knew what I had to do every route. Knew where to be, how to run it. Had no questions, that's why summer helped out a lot." (HSB)
About how they expect great things from Javonte Taylor, Stutzmann said:
"We're looking at him to stretch the field. His disadvantage is he wasn't able to come out during the summertime. So it's really going to be, how much can he learn in the next two or three weeks leading up to Florida." (HSB)
About how their newcomers are making progress, redshirt freshman Pollard said:
"I feel like they're doing all the right things, working hard. Mike's always looking to get in, Craig's the same way. Ryan's out there doing his thing. And they're all learning. They're all doing good, I feel." (HSB)
"And no matter what you do, you can always go up or down." (HA)
About the battles at each position (Salas/Lane are now #1 at wideout, Bain/Washington are now #1 at slotback)
"That's what fall camp is for — evaluation and really getting the guys ready. I think once this week is done, going into the second week, we'll really start solidifying some spots." (HA)
Stutzmann said that their WR group is:
"peppered with new guys and inexperience. At the beginning of practice one guy will look great, and at the end of practice another guy will look great." (HA)
HA Note: "Yesterday, Royce Pollard and Daniel Lofton practiced at wideout with the second unit. Neither has game experience, with Pollard redshirting last season and Lofton sitting out the year after transferring from California."
About learning the offense after sitting out last year after transferring from Cal (where he redshirted in 2006), Lofton said:
"I'm just trying to get used to everything; trying to get comfortable with the routes." (HA)
About how he first learned their offense during spring ball, Lofton said:
"Our offense is tough. We rely a lot on our receivers so we have to do a lot of different adjustments and we have to read a lot of coverages. So that's probably a big challenge as far as knowing where to run and what looks you're going to get in the game." (HA)
About how he spent last season watching Rivers and Hawthorne play and analyzing how defenders reacted to different routes, Pollard said:
"In the beginning of the season I wasn't too intense because I was still learning the plays. I was just going off a lot of what (Hawthorne) and (Rivers) were doing. And I was trying to mimic them because I know they did really good." (HA)
Stutzmann said that Pollard is a:
"shifty guy who works his tail off." (HA)
About how his dedicated workouts in Hawaii all off-season, Pollard said:
"I'm still pushing to travel because there's a lot of competition out there and coach tells us every day that the spots are open. So I always look at that as something to keep working on because I don't ever want to think I'm solid in a spot." (HA)
Despite being the son of NFL Hall of Fame WR James Lofton, Daniel Lofton said he just tries to:
"go out and do the best I can do, because people are going to find stuff to critique and when you have that name you almost get criticized way more. People have big expectations." (HA)
HA note: "His father's influence did have an impact on his decision to come to Hawai'i. The Loftons lived in Hawai'i and James Lofton is friends with former UH coach June Jones. Having that familiarity with the Warriors and being a fan of the offense made it seem like the perfect fit, although the timing was a bit off. Lofton attended Cal's fall camp in 2007, and made the switch to Hawai'i the week of the season opener against Northern Colorado."
About transferring to UH from Cal, Lofton said:
"I just felt like this was the place for me to be. I've kind of waited out two years, I just want the opportunity to play." (HA)
About how the new coaching staff plans on substituting with all 4 WR positions, Stutzmann said:
"With this, you keep them fresh and you have a little more confidence in your depth." (HA)
Stutzmann added that they would like to have ready to play:
"four on the outside and four on the inside." (HA)
About how the prospect of playing time will inspire the WRs to work hard at practice, Stutzmann said:
"Before, if you were the fifth or sixth guy, you were never going to see the field. Now, if you perform, you'll get on the field somehow." (HA)
About how he didn't carry the ball much last season, LWJ said:
"My friends, they knew we were a passing team, and they were asking, 'Why aren't they giving you the rock?' " (HA)
Happy with the talk of running the ball more, LWJ said:
"I'm the happiest guy in the world. All this talk about runnin' the rock, I'm loving it." (HA)
About LWJ, Mack said:
"it seemed like every time I turned around he was running down the football field. So, I think he's pretty dang good. I think Leon is the real deal and we need to give him some (carries)." (HA)
About the praise he's been getting from Mack, LWJ said:
"Coach Mac told me to get prepared for this season. He's a firm believer in the balanced attack and has big plans for the offense this season. He has been encouraging me, telling me to get ready and be prepared for it." (HA)
About how he ran so close to Mack to catch a pass in practice yesterday that he brushed the visor off his head, Lofton said:
"The ball kind of led me that way and I got a little scared, I didn't want to hurt him. I caught the ball and he was right there." (HA)
About his near-collision with Lofton, Mack said:
"I was playing too up at the free safety. I'm going to have to deepen a little bit." (HA)
About working on fundamentals this week and not having the team in pads until next week, Mack said:
"Little things are really important, where they point their toes, what their key is, where their hands are. You have to get the repetitions and then you do it naturally." (HSB)
Praising the practices that Mack has been running, Adam Leonard said:
"He is so organized, he has everything in writing, exactly what he wants you to do. He even says if he sees a mistake on film, first he looks at himself, then the coordinators and the position coaches and then he looks at the player. He puts a lot of pressure on himself in being real organized and being real specific with what he wants us to do." (HSB)
About being on the punt protection team, Adam Leonard said:
"As a football player I'll play anywhere the coaches need me. The punt team's an important facet of the game so any players we need on that team no matter where you are on the depth chart, offense or defense, if we need you on the team, you've got to play." (HSB)
About being moved from safety to RB, Peoples said:
"I can do whatever it takes to help the team win, no problem with that. (My last time at back) all we would do is block here, block there. We were basically a lineman, but 150 pounds lighter. Now we have more mental input into the system -- a chance to think on our toes very quickly, as if we are a receiver. Good deal." (HSB)
HSB Note: "Second-year freshman wideout Royce Pollard made two impressive grabs on back-to-back reps yesterday. On the first, he tripped at the start of his route and was nearly flat on his back, but somehow managed to spring himself up off the grass horizontally in an instant when QB Inoke Funaki fired the ball his way."
About catching the pass when he was nearly horizontal on the grass, Pollard said:
"That's something I need to work on, I was just rushing and fell. When I saw the ball, I was just urgent and worked as hard as I could to get it." (HSB)
HSB Note: "On his next sequence, he twisted behind and got a hand on the ball up the middle, then spun around to complete the catch on his back. Both earned cheers from his teammates."
HSB Note: "Yesterday, Greg Salas, Aaron Bain, Mike Washington and Malcolm Lane lined up from left to right in the first group during offensive team drills. Bell (left wideout), Henry (left slot) and Tinoco (right wideout) have taken second- and third-string positions thus far."
About their new WRs, Stutzmann said:
"The first few days of practice for the new guys are the toughest because they gotta learn the plays, they gotta get the timing down with the quarterbacks, and then on top of that they gotta catch the ball. There's a lot of different factors that come into that -- getting off the line of scrimmage, running the route properly, recognizing the coverage. You'll see a lot of dropped balls in the first few days. Of course you don't condone it, but the thing you really look for in the first couple of days is the effort." (HSB)
About how he received tips from Inoke and Tyler during the summer school session and was in a 4-wide system at West LA, Henry said:
"I just want to showcase my football smarts, my IQ, route running, and what I can do after I catch the ball." (HSB)
About how UH's system has more reads on the fly than anything he used at Cerritos College, Bell said:
"It was a bit different, but it's always good to get out here and compete with the team and everything. I felt real good about it. Help the team out wherever I can, try to get as many reps as the coaches allow me to." (HSB)
About how his efforts studying the playbook helped prepare him for practice, Tinoco said:
"I knew all the plays when I went out there, knew what I had to do every route. Knew where to be, how to run it. Had no questions, that's why summer helped out a lot." (HSB)
About how they expect great things from Javonte Taylor, Stutzmann said:
"We're looking at him to stretch the field. His disadvantage is he wasn't able to come out during the summertime. So it's really going to be, how much can he learn in the next two or three weeks leading up to Florida." (HSB)
About how their newcomers are making progress, redshirt freshman Pollard said:
"I feel like they're doing all the right things, working hard. Mike's always looking to get in, Craig's the same way. Ryan's out there doing his thing. And they're all learning. They're all doing good, I feel." (HSB)
Tyler update
HA Note: "Quarterback Tyler Graunke said he needs to finish incomplete classwork to rejoin the University of Hawai'i football team. Graunke said he has been given an opportunity to do so, and if everything works out, he is hopeful of joining the Warriors "by Monday, at the latest." "
HA Note: "But Graunke said he is being withheld from training camp, which opened Monday, because of "academic reasons." He said he did "not do as well as I would have liked" in a summer-session class. He said the class is part of his major, and he has not met all of the obligations of the class, but it is not too late to correct the deficiencies."
About how he has another chance to fulfill his academic requirements, Tyler said:
"I have one more opportunity to get the mark I need." (HA)
HA Note: "The second summer session — and 2007-2008 academic year — ends next week."
HA Note: "But Graunke said he is being withheld from training camp, which opened Monday, because of "academic reasons." He said he did "not do as well as I would have liked" in a summer-session class. He said the class is part of his major, and he has not met all of the obligations of the class, but it is not too late to correct the deficiencies."
About how he has another chance to fulfill his academic requirements, Tyler said:
"I have one more opportunity to get the mark I need." (HA)
HA Note: "The second summer session — and 2007-2008 academic year — ends next week."
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