Preview of the UH-Idaho game

About getting his first win at UH in the Kibbie Dome, Colt said:
“I remember that trip very well. It was a big deal for me. It was our first win of the season and a big thing for me. I’m excited to get back out there and play. Every game right now I’m trying to cherish.” (AP)

Joking about how he hopes UH has some travel problems, Idaho head coach Robb Akey said:
“I hope their plane is maybe a little cramped up and it’s long uncomfortable flight getting over here and they don’t feel very good.” (AP)

About holding Colt out of the CSU game, JJ said:
“He could have played this past week. We got through the week with the win.” (AP)

Praising Colt, La Tech coach Derek Dooley said:
“He’s every bit the player you see on film. I think the one thing you see in person that you can’t see on film is what his competitive character is.” (AP)

Praising Colt, who Idaho recruited before he came to UH, Akey said:
“He’s a Heisman candidate for a reason.” (AP)

About facing UH in their WAC opener, Akey joked:
“It’s nice to have an easy one first. I’ve got all the respect in the world for what they’re doing.” (AP)

“Against Hawaii you have got to be able to match scores and do everything you can to try and match plays. That’s the challenge in front of us.” (AP)

Quotes from Idaho

About how they have to put pressure on Colt, DE Ben Alexander said:
“We’ve got a good pass rush. Colt Brennan is a great quarterback. Their line is very powerful, very strong. That’s the biggest thing.” (klewtv)

About how they remember (and are motivated by) their 68-10 loss to UH last year, Alexander said:
“It’s still there. We know what we’re up against. We just have to come strong and play hard.” (klewtv)

Hoping that they sell out the Kibbie Dome, head coach Robb Akey said:
“We do still have maybe about five or six thousand seats that are still available so come on in and help us get after those Rainbow Warriors a little bit, would be a great thing.” (klewtv)

Random Warrior Quotes

About how he will redshirt this season, Po’okela Ahmad (2006 Kapolei graduate who grayshirted) said:
“It’ll help me in the long run. I can grow, learn, and get stronger and faster.” (HA)

About how his customized shirt has a map of Oakland, Bess said:
“I want to represent where I’m from and bring it back to where it all started.” (HA)

About how Korey Reynolds could apply for a medical redshirt due to his shoulder injury after he had played 3 games this season, JJ said:
“Yeah. Yeah, it’s a possibility.” (HSB)

About his son Kiran Kepo’o's recovery, Ken Kepo’o said:
“Kiran is getting better and the surgery went as well as can be expected, but we still don’t know much about the accident.” (HSB)

Praising their special teams play this season, JJ said:
“We’re certainly playing with great pride right now.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “Hawaii has returned three kicks for touchdowns — a kickoff each by Ryan Mouton and Malcolm Lane, and a punt by Mike Washington. UH leads the WAC and is third in the nation with 32.4 yards per kickoff return. The Warriors are 12th in the country with 16.8 yards per punt return.

Hawaii is only 48th in kickoff-return yards allowed, at 20.48. But most of the longer returns have come after UH has built up big leads. Hawaii is third nationally and leads the conference with a 41.9 net punting average.”

Praising McKnight’s coaching on special teams, Jeff Reinbold said:
“Dennis has done a great job of tying it all together and creating an attitude amongst the players that special teams is important. And not just that, but giving the guys some fundamentals and techniques.” (HSB)

About how he often blocks 2 defenders on kick returns, Galdeira said:
“I’m trying to get to three. Coach McKnight always talks about taking it to the next level. Once you know your block is secure, you go to the next level and find another one.” (HSB)

“It’s instinctive and comes from the heart.” (HSB)

Appreciating the job their blockers do on kick returns, Mouton said:
“Rustin (Saole), Guyton, Timo (Paepule), Micah (Lau), those front line guys, they bust their tails every day, even at practice or whatever. You win games with special teams.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “McKnight was the Warriors’ special teams coach in 1999 and 2000 before leaving UH for other opportunities and returning to Manoa last year. He extended his own NFL career by being an effective snapper in the kicking game for the San Diego Chargers, where he was coached by Jones.”

About the pride their players take on special teams, McKnight said:
“The kids work hard and they take pride in it. They believe that they’re gonna get it. It’s hard to do, but the fact that you’ve got three already, that’s a tribute to … your guys’ belief every time that you’re gonna do it, and their hard work, and they take pride in their job, and want to be the best. They’ve instilled that in themselves.” (HSB)

Update on Rivers

About how Rivers didn’t practice again due to his lower-back tightness but might play vs. Idaho, JJ said:
“He still has a chance. It’ll be a game-day decision.” (HA)

Note: I hope that the decision is to hold Rivers out! JJ admitted that Rivers should not have played in the last game because he hadn’t been healthy enough to practice, and Rivers will not be able to get better if he keep playing and aggravating his injury!

Praising Rivers, Colt said:
“Jason is a great outside target. You throw a ball to a guy like Jason because he is what he is. He’s a 6-foot-2, 200-plus receiver who can pick up a lot of yards for you and has unbelievable speed and he’s physical. That’s why we give him the ball when he’s in there. He does a lot of good things with it.” (HA)

About how Rivers’ best play is the inside slant, especially when RGM and Bess get double teamed, Colt said:
“It leaves them one on one with Jason, and that’s a matchup we usually always win. Jason is the guy who will run you over and then go to the house.” (HA)

Praising Lane, who I hope will start this game, WR coach Ron Lee said:
“Malcolm had his best week of practice. Now he has to go into the game and play. He’s learning how to practice and how to play.” (HA)

About how he hasn’t been timed in the 40 lately, Lane said:
“People know I’m fast, but it doesn’t matter. I don’t care about that stuff. I care about running hard every play and making the right reads on the football field. Speed is always an advantage, but you have to be smart, too. It showed last year (as a true freshman). I was fast, but I didn’t know what I was doing, and it didn’t get me anywhere. You can have speed, but if you don’t know what you’re doing, it doesn’t mean anything.” (HA)

About how he ran a lot of sprints after practice this week to build up his stamina to be able to play a whole game, Lane said:
“I’m not used to playing a full game. I think the coaches want me to improve endurance-wise. I’m pushing myself when I get tired. My wind is building up.” (HA)

About how he has to sprint every play, even when the play isn’t for him, Lane said:
“Sometimes you’re supposed to run off your man. A lot of times defensive backs pick up that stuff. You run your route soft, and they know it’s a running play, and they go straight inside. You’ve got to run hard every time.” (HA)

About how Lane has to forget his mistakes, Colt said:
“The thing that everyone learning the position struggles with is thinking too much. As long as he keeps getting more reps and more success, he’ll understand the offense more and he’ll have more confidence.” (HA)

About the “jammed” right thumb injury he suffered yesterday, Greg Salas said:
“It’s a little swollen,” he said, “but I’ll be all right. I’m going to play.” (HA)