Leonard Peters Interview

http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/articles/show_permalink/summer-q-a-leonard-peters

Asked how he ended up with uniform number 43, Leonard Peters said:
“It was a number given to me. I didn’t choose it, but it wouldn’t matter if it was 00. I am just trying to get on the team. All through high school and Pop Warner and college, I had No. 42 just because I had it when I was younger. But it doesn’t matter what number I get.” (NYJets.com)

Asked if he’s going back to Hawaii once you get some time away from the training complex, LP said:
“I am going home. They let us go home on the 6th [of July], so I am looking forward to that. They said there are a lot of beautiful beaches here, but I think I’ll wait until I get home to go to the beach. Plus I didn’t have time to go here, but I’d love to check it out and see it. We are getting a little bit more free time, so we’ll go check it out sometime.” (NYJets.com)

Asked if he has any specific plans when he gets home, LP said:
“I miss my family. It’s a close-knit family, so I’ll go back and play with my nieces and nephews before we have to come back and work again.” (NYJets.com)

Quotes from Ikaika

http://www.detroitlions.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=457987

About how he’s always smiling at the Lions facility, Ikaika said:
“You’ve got to love life (and) I really do – I love life. I’m very blessed just to be here. There are so many people out there who would love to be in my spot and I’m going to enjoy it. I’m going to laugh (and) I’m going to have fun but there is a serious side that you have to have.

When it comes down to it (you need to be serious on) gamedays, during practice (and) zoning in during meetings. But you have to have fun with those too. You can’t be all serious. Like it says, it’s a game – so have fun.” (DetroitLions.com)

About his on-field demeanor, Ikaika said:
“There’s no smiling! It’s mostly focus. You have a task at hand you’re working so hard for every single day. There is an opportunity that comes up every Sunday that you’ve got to perform. So I just look at it as, that’s what I’ve got to do; every Sunday just got to come out there and play. I’m going to focus in, harness in on it and give it everything I’ve got.” (DetroitLions.com)

About how they held him out even when his injury could have let him partitipate in OTAs, Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry said:
“We were smart with him. You don’t want to risk getting him hurt. But he was there every day; he was in all the meetings; he was able to go through individual (drills) with (Defensive Line Coach) Joe (Cullen) and Coach Marinelli so I feel good with where we’re at with our rookies and I’m excited to get Ikaika into camp just so we can practice and start doing the 11-on-11 drills.” (DetroitLions.com)

Feeling like he missed out when he had to sit out of their practices, Ikaika said:
“Don’t get me wrong, I (was) working on the side running a lot – but I just (want to get) the feel of it; just getting used to the plays and the speed of it. I just can’t wait to get out there and (practice) with them.” (DetroitLions.com)

About adjusting to Detroit’s 4-3 defense, Ikaika said:
“I’m getting more comfortable with (the defensive system). Switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3 is a totally different scheme. When I first got here (Coach Marinelli) was like, ‘Get off the ball!’ I thought, ‘Oh, no really? Yes!’ It makes my job easier – just go get the quarterback. I’m enjoying the new system; I can’t wait to play.” (DetroitLions.com)

About how he gets so excited before games that he has to work to calm himself down, Ikaika said:
“For myself, I need to relax because I get too excited. When I get too excited I get tired. So I’ll pop on my slow jams – 80s music – before the game. It’s kind of relaxing. But then it’s gameday – it’s go time.” (DetroitLions.com)

About wanting to give back to Detroit and their fans, Ikaika said:
“I just want to be able to help the community. That’s really what it is (about). I mean – it is the people. The people make us who we are and the fans that come out every game; I’ve heard that Detroit is made up of very loyal fans, you know? Sell out every game. It’s for them. So I’m just going to give back as much as I can.” (DetroitLions.com)

Asked how he’d respond to their fans, who are known to be tough on players, Ikaika said:
“I’ll still be upbeat. I’m going to try and change people’s minds about it. I want everybody to be upbeat because when you’re happy, you live life better. That’s my philosophy. If you’re happy and you enjoy what you’re doing and you’re loving life – what can go wrong?” (DetroitLions.com)

Quotes from Lawrence Wilson

Comparing the Baltimore D with JG’s D last season, Lawrence Wilson said:
“Their 3-4 defense is somewhat similar to what we did at UH. But some of the techniques are different.” (HSB)

About his chances to make the Ravens, Wilson said:
“They’re working me at defensive tackle and nose guard. They already had some cuts, so I’m thinking I have a good chance of at least making the practice squad.” (HSB)

About how pure weightlifting isn’t that important to Baltimore, Wilson (who lifted the most weight on UH’s team last season0 said:
“Over there is different. It’s not about lifting heavy stuff. They don’t really care about how much you lift — it’s about what you can do (on the field). You have to learn fast and be ready at all times.” (HSB)

About Ray Lewis, Wilson said:
“He’s a really cool guy, down-to-earth. Tries to help you out. But once you step on that field, he’s a different dude.” (HSB)

Quotes from Jesse Sapolu

Warriors’ ascent to an 11-3 record last year and their potential to do even better this fall.
About how UH won’t have any teams taking them lightly this year, Sapolu said:
“They can’t sneak up on anybody anymore. They have to be ready, because it can be exhausting when you become a target as a team.” (HSB)

Asked what he thought about the resurgence of UH football, Sapolu said:
“I think they’ve put themselves in position to be respected. They have to work doubly as hard because it’s hard to get there, but it’s harder to stay there. That’s just from my experience of winning back-to-back Super Bowls. I was one game away from a three-peat and I was so physically and mentally worn out and emotionally drained.” (HSB)

Asked if UH can go undefeated this season, Sapolu said:
“If UH can keep their winning ways and realize they have to raise their level because they’re no longer sleepers, they can get it done. They’ve got the quarterback that had a great year. He can surpass what he did last year, but he has to really focus, because the defenses will really be coming after him.” (HSB)

About how his sons London and Roman (potential recruits?) play football at Southern California power Edison High School, Sapolu said:
“I think Edison’s coming here to play Kamehameha next year (2008). So that’ll be a good trip for me to come and watch my kids play at Aloha Stadium.” (HSB)
Note: For those who don’t know, Sapolu played for Farrington and UH, then won 4 Super Bowl titles with the 49ers and was a Pro Bowl player twice.

Quotes about Greg McMackin

About moving to Hawaii yesterday after watching his 11-year-old granddaughter dance in Lubbock’s 4th-of-July celebration, GM said:
“I got to see her perform, and now I’m thrilled to get back with June (Jones, UH’s head coach) and the other assistants. I feel thrilled to be part of it again. Everyone has been so great to us.” (HA)

Hoping to help UH win a WAC championship, GM said:
“I hope to be able to help June and the other assistants and the players win a WAC championship. June’s done such an amazing job in beating so many good teams. Hawai’i has had a good football program through the years, but what he has done is served notice on all of the big-time teams that ‘you’d better not come here for a vacation because you can get your tail kicked.’ ” (HA)

About how JJ wanted to create a football tradition like Miami has when JJ came to UH, GM said:
“He wanted to make (the Warriors) the Miami Hurricanes of the Pacific. There’s some real football tradition in Miami, with all of the NFL guys. Under June, (UH) really has become the whole Miami Hurricanes of a few years ago. June has really developed a football tradition, and I’m excited to be part of it.” (HA)

About the 2-inch thick playbook each defensive player received at the start of Spring training, GM said:
“We introduced the terminology and a lot of the package, and we put the players in the right positions.” (HA)

About how he collected most of the playbooks after Spring training, GM said:
“I always collect them. You never know who’s going to go to another school or something. Coaches are paranoid in that way. A few of the guys have them — the linebackers and guys who are going to make calls.” (HA)

About the attitute he wants to instill on defense, GM said:
“We want them to have the attacking, swarming attitude. Hopefully, we’ll make some big plays and play with emotion. That’s what we’re going to strive for.” (HA)

Setting a goal for the defense, GM said:
“It’s an old adage, but our job is to get the ball back to our offense. The big statistics for us are three-and-outs, takeaways, quarterback sacks, hurries, tackles for losses. Those will be the big stats. I’m not into the yardage thing. When you have a quarterback like we have and an offensive genius like June Jones and the guys who work with him, they’re going to score. We need to be in shape so we can get the ball to them again and again. That will be our contribution.” (HA)