Quotes from JJ at the UH Letterwinners Clubhouse

UH = Official UH Athletics website: http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu/pr.html?prid=14718&p=3

About what he thought of the win at Idaho, JJ said:
“I thought defensively we played very well. We were physical and the players are really understanding Greg’s (McMackin) scheme. I was happy with the defense. Offensively, we made some plays but didn’t play as efficiently as we normally do.” (UH)

Asked if the infficiency on offense bothered him, JJ said:
“No, I think we are close. I think some of it was Colt (Brennan) not practicing much during the week. I don’t care what you say, when you don’t practice as much it does affect your play. He also had some bad luck, too.” (UH)

Asked about Colt’s chances for the Heisman Trophy, JJ said:
“I don’t really pay any attention to that. His chances are based more on us winning.” (UH)

About GM firing up the D with Craig James’ comments on National TV during the BSU game last Thursday, JJ said:
“I made sure Greg knew what Craig James said. He does that occasionally getting fired up. I think we were coming into it every week with more of an attitude and a little bit more aggressive. We played that way the whole game, it was good stuff.” (UH)

About what Greg McMackin is doing to help the defense buy into his system, JJ said:
“That is what coaches do. He knows what he and his system can do. The players see it on film what he says and it takes hold.” (UH)

About the play of the defense and WAC Player of the Week Myron Newberry, JJ said:
“Mryon had some chances to make picks early in the season, but he was not as familiar with the defensive scheme as he is now. He stepped up and made the plays this week, and I think he’ll keep getting better. It is buying into the scheme and trust that you are keying in what it is on the field. We were not doing that in the backend early in the season, but the defensive backs are taking it to another level.” (UH)

Asked who stood out defensively at Idaho, JJ said:
“The defensive line and linebackers hit hard and were very physical. Michael Lafaele really played a good game inside as well as all of the DBs. Adam Leonard had his best game of the season.” (UH)

Asked if he was frustrated somewhat that the offense was not as efficient as he wants it, JJ said:
“We’re still pretty good. It is all technique kind of stuff. The receivers are young like Malcolm (Lane) who was unable to make three catches because he had his feet wrong when he came off a cut. That’s bothersome, but it is also a young kid who is in there for the first time. If that was Jason Rivers, that’s three catches and then you aren’t feeling inefficient. I think in the long run, playing Malcolm this past week is good for him and good for us down the road.” (UH)

About Colt’s five interceptions against Idaho, JJ said:
“I’ve believed forever, that if you can take the ball on defense and run our offense, we’re going to win a lot of games. If you give it away on offense, and you can win, that’s what it is about. If you’re running the football and not a passing team, the chances of you winning are slim no matter what you do. A good friend of mine is Buddy Ryan. His team just shutout the New York Giants and was upset in the post-game press conference because his defense didn’t take the ball away one time on defense. In reality, that is what defense is all about. It is one thing to play good defense, but what wins games are take-aways.” (UH)

About having the highest national ranking in school history, JJ said:
“We don’t pay much attention to it. It is great for the media and everyone else. Until the end of the year, I’m not going to worry about it. No one is going to say ‘hey, they were ranked 15th in week 5.’ That is going to be forgotten.” (UH)

About this year’s team being the best in school history, JJ said:
“I think defensively this is the best team we have had since 1999. I can see last year under Jerry (Glanville) that the team was buying into his scheme the last four or five games. Offensively, we have a lot of confidence. Kealoha Pilares (running back) is coming on just like I thought he would. He (Pilares) was our team offensive player of the week.” (UH)

Quotes from HF about the 2008 schedule

Asked when he’d announce the schedule and be able to name the teams, HF said:
“Soon. We know who the teams are. They’ve accepted, but we still have some things to clear up.” (HA)

“I know who the teams are and I’ve released all the other teams that I was talking to. We expect to do the announcement soon.” (HSB)

HA Note: “University of Hawai’i athletic director Herman Frazier yesterday declared the 2008 UH football schedule “completed.” He said the Warriors will play 12 regular-season games next year, although it appears he misspoke, and that they will play the maximum 13 — six on the road and seven at Aloha Stadium.”

HA Note: “The schedule includes one NCAA I-AA team and will conclude with consecutive games against BCS teams — Washington State on Nov. 29 and an as-yet unnamed team on Dec. 6. UH will open at Florida and play at Oregon State two weeks later. Byes are scheduled for the weeks of Oct. 20 and Nov. 3.”

About how a lot of teams have been calling them lately to get on their schedule, including one team that turned them down for this year, HF said:
“At the end of the day, things fell into place because of the success of the team.” (HA)

About how the 2009 schedule is missing just 1 game, HF added:
“For 2010, we don’t need anybody. Now we have to focus on ’11 and ’12.” (HA)

About missing his self-imposed deadline for the 2007 schedule and having just 12 games instead of 13, HF said:
“We already know what happened this past year, but bygones are bygones — it’s over.” (HA)

“I’m not going to go through what we went through last year.” (HA)

“I don’t want to go through the same thing anymore. It’s done. ’08 is done! OK? ’08 is done!” (HSB)

About the $500k they got from Toyota for the Aerosmith concert, HF said:
“Those funds enable us to continue to support our sports programs, and if there are shortfalls in the future, they will allow us to continue to take care of our teams.” (HA)

About how he’ll continue to look for those types of opportunities for funding, HF said:
“When I accepted this position, one thing I said was I wanted to do out-of-the-box type things. In this particular regard, it was just a normal type of thing that urban universities should be doing.” (HA)

HA Note: “The department has a commitment from Sweet Adelines International for a November 2008 event that is expected to bring 10,000 people to the Sheriff Center.”

Note: In this situation I agree with HF and applaud efforts to raise additional money by renting out UH Athletic facilities when they are not needed for use.

About signs people have made calling for his firing due to the messed up 2007 schedule, HF said:
“I don’t pay attention to that. I don’t know they’re there, I don’t look at them. I’ve been in collegiate athletics 29 years. There’s always going to be critics no matter what you do.” (HSB)

About how there had been a chance that Navy would pull out of their scheduled game, but things were resolved, HF said:
“Navy had a problem with a game after ours, but that’s been solved.” (HSB)

Quotes from the Hawaii papers

About how Pilares has been developing at RB for them, JJ said:
“He is proving to be what I thought he’d be. He’s becoming more of what we want him to be.” (HA)

About his strained PCL that will keep him out 2-4 weeks, Mouton said:
“I’m just taking it easy right now.” (HA)

HA Note: “While maintaining his status was “day to day,” Mouton, in fact, was told he will miss at least Saturday’s game against Utah State and, most likely, next week’s nationally televised road game against San Jose State.”

Mouton said that he suffered the injury during a blitz when:
“I planted on it wrong, I guess.” (HA)

Feeling bad for Mouton having to miss the Utah State and SJSU games, JJ said:
“I’m disappointed for him. He’s been playing so well.” (HA)

About losing Mouton, GM said:
“Mouton is a tough guy. Hopefully, he’ll be ready for San Jose. If not, we have a bye (the following week), so that will help. We’re not going to hurt him. You know how we deal with our guys.” (HA)

Mouton doesn’t qualify for a medical hardship year (He’s already played 5 games), but JJ pointed out:
“He’ll be ready to play the last five or six games.” (HA)

About Mouton having to miss at least 2 games, secondary coach Rich Miano said:
“He’s a big-time talent on special teams and as a defensive back. You can get pretty thin back there.” (HSB)

About Mouton, GM said:
“Fortunately he’s not going to have surgery.” (HSB)

About how he’s learning how to practice and play, sophomore JoPierre Davis (now 2nd team because of Mouton’s injury) said:
“I came in as a big talker. I talked because I felt confident in my ability to make plays. I always felt like that. In high school, you can talk because you can perform every week without having to train hard and watch films. Here, you’re not going to get that opportunity unless you prepare. I’m learning how to practice. I’m learning how to play in a game. I’m learning what you need to do in practice to succeed in a game.” (HA)

About how he’s inspired by having his locker close to Michael Lafaele’s locker, Davis said:
“You get the feeling you don’t want to let them down.” (HA)

Davis said that two top special teams players (Paepule and Galdeira):
“took me under their arms. They treated me as part of the family.” (HA)

About how he’s learned to appreciate special teams play, especially the kick-coverage team, Davis said:
“I ran down some kickoffs last year, but I wasn’t about it. Now I’m about it. I’m better at it because I know it’s a vital part of the team.” (HA)

About how Davis realized that the players around him were good too and that he had to work, JJ said:
“All of a sudden, you’re not going to go out there and be better than everybody else. Everybody else is just like you. It’s a matter of how hard you work at it.” (HA)

About how he’s living his life better now, Davis said:
“I’m starting to live my life in a better way. I used to rush here and rush there. I was never settled. Now that I have my feet settled, I feel a lot better.” (HA)

About Davis’ play in the Idaho game (he was in for 14 plays), Miano said:
“He was aggressive; he just didn’t wrap on a couple of his tackles. But he knew what he was doing, he did a good job. He’s still got a lot to learn … his attitude is much better (and) he’s got a lot of talent, and he’s going to help us. Not immediately, (but) definitely down the road.” (HSB)

About not being able to play vs. Idaho, Rivers said:
“It was tough. When my team goes to battle, I want to be there.” (HA)

About how he was held out of the Idaho game because he didn’t practice that week, Rivers said:
“More importantly, I needed to have my back 100 percent for down the road. We still have a lot of season left.” (HA)

Looking forward to playing with Colt again (Colt missed the CSU game and Rivers missed the Idaho game), Rivers said:
“It will be good to get that chemistry going again, how fluid we are on offense.” (HA)

About being back at practice, Rivers said:
“Sure does feel good. I mean, two weeks without practice makes a big difference. Feels good to be running out here again, get my wind back … going back with Colt and all the receivers again, get our chemistry going again.” (HSB)

Happy with how well Rivers did in practice yesterday, WR coach Ron Lee said:
“He’s already had a great day today and he’s got three more days. It’s the timing (aspect to regain) — it’s not him — it’s with the quarterbacks and him.” (HSB).

About how he has a knee injury due to a chop block by Idaho, Michael Lafaele said:
“I tweaked (the knee) a little bit. Every game, people try to chop me.” (HA)

About changing his hairstyle after the Idaho game, Colt said:
“I don’t think I’ll be jinxing anything by changing it now.” (HSB)

Unhappy with how he played vs. Idaho and has been practicing, Blaze said:
“I didn’t do much. I played real crappy. I practiced bad today, too. I’m very disappointed. I feel off, sloppy, not myself.” (HSB)

About how Blaze is just rusty now, GM said:
“He’ll be fine. We’ll continue to roll him in. He just needs to get the reps and he’ll be faster. We were just in (shells). He’s not going to be happy until he makes some plays, and he’ll get that chance (today) in full pads.” (HSB)