Quotes from the Star-Bulletin on 12/31

About UH being in the Sugar Bowl, UH Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw said:
“This has all been very positive, and will help show that in spreading the word about UH, it’s not just about athletics, but academics and the entire state as well. It’s great that so many fans have come all the way here, and I’m sure they’ll notice the Southern and Hawaiian cultural similarities. By bringing our community here, it’s a wonderful way to celebrate. The football team’s accomplished a lot, and it’s reflected by the support of these people. We’re going to ride the pride all the way.” (HSB)

US Rep Mazie Hirano said about the Warriors:
“I’m a big booster and alumnus, celebrating not only the team’s success, but also the 100th anniversary of the university. … New Orleans has welcomed us with open arms, with people saying, ‘Aloha, y’all.’ At the ladies function in the French Quarter earlier this morning, Virginia and I had a little taste of what Mardi Gras must be like, tossing green beads into the crowd while in a horse-drawn carriage.” (HSB)

Eric Masutomi, VP for planning for foundation donor Outrigger Enterprises Group, said that what happened this football season is:
“wonderful and speaks to longtime, long-suffering fans who’ve seen the team go from the Rainbows to now the Warriors. It’s spectacular. It feels that half the state is out walking about the streets of New Orleans, coming from all strata of Hawaii’s communities. I’m beaming from all of this. And Hawaii goods are selling so well, vendors have told me that if they knew Hawaii fans were this rabid, they would’ve brought more to their stores.” (HSB)

Na Koa charter board member Robert Akimaka said about this season:
“It’s been the ultimate impossible dream. This follows the two previous impossible dreams, one, beating (Brigham Young University) and the other, beating Illinois in the Holiday Bowl.” (HSB)

Asked if he thought the football program could build on their success, Akimaka said:
“I’m an optimist. I have to be. (Coach) June (Jones) has done such an incredible job — to think big after all these years — by not only being good at home, but tough and winning on the road as well.” (HSB)

Asked if he thought the football program could build on their success, Hannemann said:
“It’s all due to an excellent coach, a great crop of athletes and maybe how the stars aligned for us this season. Athletics can be a breadwinner, and the fact that they did it shows it can be done. It was a unique set of challenges to overcome.” (HSB)

Praising Colt’s leadership, Bess said:
“He’s a leader, not just a vocal leader. He proves everything with his actions.” (HSB)

About the extreme demands on Colt’s time, Dan Morrison said:
“Colt’s always been an external thinker, sensitive to those around him. Now he has to deal with being Colt the rock star.” (HSB)

About his criticizing of UH’s facilities, Colt said:
“The athletic department should be a diamond. I really do hope they improve things, because it’s been a long time coming.” (HSB)

About how the need to focus on Georgia, David Veikune said:
“It’s time to draw down and focus on the game. After two days, (defensive coordinator Greg) McMackin said after that stop messing around and partying.” (HSB)

About their focus in practice, Michael Lafaele said:
“Everybody’s serious today. A little intensity and kick to our step. We can’t wait ’til Tuesday.” (HSB)

About how he can’t wait for the game, Hercules said:
“It’s been a long week; long practices and we are just ready for the game. We have been ready for the game ever since we arrived here in New Orleans. It’s been a long week for us and we loved it over here, but it’s time to get down to business.” (HSB)

About how he loves to kick indoors, Dan Kelly said:
“It’s so much easier because you don’t have to worry about the elements. Field goals are like a dream. I told Coach (June) Jones I want to be drafted by an NFL team that plays in a dome.” (HSB)

About how they might have to use a silent count due to the enhanced noise by being in a dome, Colt said:
“We can only speculate now (on crowd noise). We’ve put all the silent counts in, all the checks. We have different types of them and we just have to wait to see how loud it is during the game. Obviously it will be nice if we can go on our normal count. Our normal count’s easy. But we’ve done nothing but silent counts the past three weeks and we’re very prepared for it.” (HSB)

About how they don’t expect any communications problems, RGM said:
“We feel Aloha Stadium can be as loud as anywhere in the nation. We played at Boise, where it’s loud, we pretty much know how to play when it’s loud. We don’t have to change too much. I’m sure (the noise) might come into play a little bit. It all depends, you never know until you get there.” (HSB)

About how the noise will force Georgia to adjust also, Keoni Steinhoff said:
“They don’t play in domes, we don’t play in domes. The atmosphere is going to be crazy, more noise. Playing-wise I think it will be an even matchup. There’s going to be loud cheering both sides, so it’ll be a crazy game. The silent count for this game is going to be a big factor, 75,000 people. This game we’re going to have to use it a lot more in the red zone and stuff. It’ll be loud. Because when we played the Vandals it was a lot less people and it was very loud. The sound doesn’t have anywhere to go. It stays in that building.” (HSB)

About how heat could be a factor, as the climate-controlled warmth in the Superdome can dehydrate and fatigue players faster than cold weather, Steinhoff said:
“Yeah, there was a little bit of a fatigue factor (due to the heat) at Idaho. And we had to warm up because it was cold (outside). Throughout the game it got better.” (HSB)

About how they should be used to the heat because they have been practicing indoors all week, RGM said:
“Practicing in here in this dome (the Saints practice facility in Metairie) it’s been getting a little hot up in here. That helps out a lot. I’m pretty sure it’s a little hotter than if we’d be outside, but not much.” (HSB)

About how they would learn about the Superdome in their walkthrough today, Lafaele said:
“We’re going to go test it out tomorrow at the dome and see how it is. I’m pretty sure we’re in pretty good shape for this game.” (HSB)

About their walk-through at the Superdome today, Colt said:
“If you know us (offense) our walk-through isn’t a normal walk-through; it’s a full-on practice, so we do not get the joy of a last practice. I know Coach (June) Jones will run us down and make sure we have everything down and going. We just can’t wait for (today) and get down to the Superdome.” (HSB)

About how this Sugar Bowl is quite different than the last time they were in a Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Richt said:
“This is a lot different than the last time we were here in 2002. Back then, we were trying to figure out who we were, even as a staff. I was actually a lot more involved in the play-calling. I was also the quarterbacks coach that year as you might remember. It was a lot different for me personally, too. And the responsibility I had every minute, every day. Now, I’m a little bit freer just to look around and enjoy the bowl a little bit more. Bowls are for the wives and kids. Coaches don’t get to enjoy it as much.” (HSB)

About how he was born (his family left the area when he was 4 or 5) in Levau, LA, a town between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, William Monteilh (Keao’s father) said:
“I’ve been away a long time.” (HSB)

About how his team is ready for the game, Mark Richt said:
“I believe we’re ready to play. We’ve taken a very business-like approach to this game, which is good. We had fun when we needed to have fun. And we worked hard when we needed to work hard.” (HSB)

About the importance of this game, safety Kelin Johnson said:
“There is so much riding on this game. They are undefeated, the only team without a loss. We take that to heart and we want to be the team that gives them that one loss. This is a wonderful opportunity to be in the Sugar Bowl. I mean, who would ever have thought we would be in a BCS game after losing to Tennessee and South Carolina early on in the season?” (HSB)

HSB Note: “One reason for the first-half struggles was youth. Georgia has four freshmen and five sophomores scheduled to start against the Warriors tomorrow night. They haven’t been allowed much free time on the streets of New Orleans. Granted, they went to see the New Orleans Hornets beat the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night, but an early curfew since they arrived the day after Christmas has kept the Bourbon Street distractions to a minimum.”

About their experience with West Virginia’s spread offense in their Sugar Bowl loss, Richt said:
“We went down 28-0 because West Virginia spread us out. I think what happened was we had not seen that type of offense before and we did not fully understand how fast and talented those guys were. We also turned the ball over three times to their zero. We did make some adjustments and made it a close game.” (HSB)

About their respect for UH, QB Matthew Stafford said:
“We’re very respectful of what Hawaii has accomplished. This is a very good football team that’s more than Colt Brennan and his wide receivers. Their defense has been key in a lot of their wins this year. We’re not going to be overconfident just because we’re the favorites or are from the SEC.” (HSB)

Praising UH, RB Knowshon Moreno said:
“This is a good football team on both sides of the football. We’d like to be able to control the ball on offense to keep Hawaii’s offense off the field. The fewer times they have the ball helps our defense. It’s a team game. We have to help each other in order to get the win.” (HSB)

About how they have to pressure Colt, LB Dannel Ellerbe said:
“We’ve got to be able to put pressure on their quarterback. If we let Brennan sit back in the pocket it’s going to make it hard to get the win.” (HSB)

Quotes from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

About how he chose the Superdome without realizing that the Saints’ facility had a new indoor practice area and a place for the team to lift weights, Mark Richt said:
“It would have been nice to be at the other one. I kind of jumped the gun there because the last time we were here the Saints didn’t have an indoor facility and I didn’t want our guys working out in the cold. It would have been more private, plus they had a place where we could have lifted. We haven’t lifted all week.” (AJC)

Looking forward to facing UH, LB Rennie Curran said:
“This is the biggest game Hawaii has ever played, and we know that we’ll get their best shot. But I’m just ready to play. We’ve been practicing a long time and we’ve enjoyed being here. But I want to see how we’re going to play against their team because they are really good at what they do.” (AJC)

Asked about their schedule next year, which includes road trips to Arizona State, South Carolina, LSU, Kentucky, and Auburn, and a non-conference home game with Central Michigan (MAC champion the past 2 seasons), Georgia QB Matthew Stafford said:
“Yeah, I’ve looked at it, and that is about as tough a schedule as I have ever seen. But right now let’s worry about Hawaii. It would be great to win and set us up to play that schedule next year.” (AJC)

Quotes from the Advertiser from 12/31

Amazed by the turnout by UH fans, Rich Miano said:
“We thought the turnout would be high if we played in Phoenix or Pasadena, which are easier for Hawai’i folks to get to. But it’s an amazing thing how many people have come all this way, to a city most have never been to. It’s just great walking down the street seeing all the UH T-shirts in the stores and seeing all these people walking down the street wearing green. I don’t think you could have a better experience.” (HA)

About the Warriors, US Rep. Mazie Hirano said:
“It’s Warrior Fever. The sense of team pride has really drawn our community together.” (HA)

About “Paradise City”, on the Marriott’s 2nd floor that has been made up for the Warriors, Hercules said:
“This is our sanctuary.” (HA)

HA Note: “Make a list of the dream frat house, and most of the items can be found in this converted ballroom. There are tables for pool, foosball and air hockey. There are six wide-screen plasma television sets. One is hooked to a Wii console. Two others are connected to Xbox 360 systems. Another is connected to a PlayStation2. A fifth, by a technological miracle, receives Hawai’i programs.”

About watching Hawaii TV, Timo Paepule said:
“We were watching the ‘June Jones Show.’ ” (HA)

HA Note: “There are six arcade machines. Big-game player? That would be quarterback Colt Brennan, who used the plastic gun to shoot big game on the “Call of the Wild” machine. Defensive end John Fonoti was in a moveable chair, navigating his “car” in a race game. A.J. Martinez missed most of the season because of injuries suffered in a snowboarding accident. But yesterday Martinez was back on the slopes, this time on a virtual snow-jetski. Satele was using one of the two computers, updating his Myspace page.

In one corner, there are Costco-stacked cases of Gatorade. In another corner, there are soda dispensers and a water cooler. There also is a table filled with a menu ranging from protein bars to chips to candy bars. Another table is holding four large boxes of subway sandwiches. The best part? The Sugar Bowl is footing the ball, and the NCAA has signed off on the room.”

About their amazing room, Hercules said:
“This is one of the greatest rooms. It has everything you need. You could live here happily.” (HA)

Agreeing with Hercules’ comment, Timo Paepule said:
“I would sleep here if I could but we have a curfew.” (HA)

About his introduction to the room, Hercules said:
“I came here with a bunch of quarters. I saw some of my teammates playing the same game for hours. I asked them, ‘What are you doing with all of this money?’ They kept pushing the ‘start’ button. That’s when I learned everything is free.” (HA)

HA Note: “But the memories, as the commercial goes, are priceless. How else to describe the look on defensive tackle Josh Leonard’s face as he guaranteed to roll a strike in game of Wii bowling? Or the unabashed celebration as defensive end Elliott Purcell and offensive lineman Clayton Laurel upset slotback Michael Washington and running back Lorgan Pau in foosball? Purcell and Laurel were paired randomly.”

About the foosball win, Purcell said:
“Then we started winning. We’re the underdogs. For us to beat them means a lot.” (HA)

HA Note: “The game room is part of what has become the UH-New Orleans campus. The Sugar Bowl reserved the entire second floor, which includes several ballrooms, for the Warriors. Bianca Tokumoto, administrative assistant for UH football, then designed the layout. She set aside a ballroom for the trainers, who said the area was three times larger than the team’s training room in the UH athletic complex.

Another ballroom was converted into a “locker room,” where each player’s uniform and equipment are placed. A conference room became video coordinator Lopaka Ornellas’ editing room. Two hours after yesterday’s practice, he produced separate tapes of the Warriors’ offense, defense and special teams. There are meeting rooms for players and coaches. One ballroom is used as a dining hall.

Another became a chapel. After yesterday’s practice, pastor Norm Nakanishi, the team’s chaplain, led a worship service. Defensive tackle Keala Watson, wideout C.J. Hawthorne, and safeties Jacob Patek and Desmond Thomas were asked to give personal testimonies.”

about the service yesterday, pastor Norm Nakanishi said:
“They shared their messages. It was moving. A lot of tears were shed.” (HA)

About being together for the Sugar Bowl, Paepule said:
“It’s good to be with the guys one last time. You always wonder what it would be like if the players lived side by side. They would be so much closer. That’s what we’re experiencing now. There are no arguments. It’s all fun and games. We’re going to hate to leave.” (HA)

About having to leave their current setup to go back to UH after the game, Rich Miano said:
“We have better facilities here than we have at the university.” (HA)

About how Cal Lee has been set free this season to be able to coach the LBs, Solomon Elimimian said:
“The old Coach Cal has been back this season. He has had more freedom this year and it shows. He’s always had a passion for the game, for coaching football but this year it really shows. He (Lee) is a big reason we’ve flourished as linebackers and as a defense.” (HA)

HA Note: “The first year under defensive coordinator Greg McMackin has been a significant change from the two previous seasons under Jerry Glanville, who practiced a firm-grip, hands-on style. Lee was ever the good soldier but often seemed a frustrated one, too. People around the program say Lee was more constrained in his role from the first two years.”

About how GM has been good for his brother Cal, Ron Lee said:
“McMackin does a good job of communicating to his coaches and Cal knows what he wants. I don’t think Jerry did that. They didn’t communicate that well, so he (Cal) was a little uncomfortable at times because he didn’t know what the coordinator wanted.” (HA)

About the change in defensive coordinators, Cal said:
“when you have a change in people, there can also be a change of personalities.” (HA)

About speculation after Glanville’s first season that he might go back to high school, Cal said:
“no, you don’t look back.” (HA)

About GM replacing Glanville, Ron Lee said:
“Cal was more comfortable with Mac.” (HA)

About how Cal is enjoying his coaching now, Adam Leonard said:
“I think he (Cal) got more freedom to coach. He has so much football knowledge and he really enjoys teaching us. I think it eased the stress and you could tell it was more enjoyable for him.” (HA)

Adam said about Cal this season:
“he’s more vocal and able to teach us a lot more on the technique side. That’s good because he really knows the game and has a passion for it.” (HA)

Sounding quite happy as he walked off the practice field yesterday, Cal said:
“How can you not be happy this year? You get up in the morning and it is a fresh new day and the sun is out. When you’re working with young people, have good people around you and are winning, everything is wonderful.” (HA)

About how all of their players made their qualifying grades, Takayama said:
“Part of (the reason for the success) is they changed some of the policies. (Now) they send all the students to Sinclair Library instead of the (athletic department), where there are more resources, more computers and tutors to help them out.” (HA)

Happy they practiced at the Superdome, Georgia center Fernando Velasco said:
“It has been awesome (practicing there). It is my first time to come to the Superdome. I’m amazed how big it is. The only other dome I have been in is the Georgia Dome (in Atlanta) and this feels bigger than that.” (HA)

About how UH could have practiced at the Superdome also, Sugar Bowl spokesman Duane Lewis said:
“Hawai’i did have the option to practice at the Superdome and could have if it chose to.” (HA)

HA Note: “Head coach June Jones said he liked the Saints’ facilities and, indeed, UH was better able to control access to the facility than had it practiced in the Superdome. But mindful of how big the Warriors’ eyes got at Alabama last year and how huge the lumps in their throats were at Michigan State three years ago, there is concern about their ability to adjust to the more imposing Superdome. Once UH settled down at Alabama it played well and had the opportunity to even pull out a victory. You’d hope there doesn’t have to be a significant settling in tomorrow or UH could be in trouble.

Jones, who played in the Superdome as a quarterback with the Atlanta Falcons and coached there for Atlanta, Detroit and San Diego, has a wide familiarity with the place. “It is really kind of unbelievable going into that dome,” Jones said after the Sugar Bowl pairing was first announced. “Our players have never seen anything like it. It is almost bigger than the (University of) Idaho dome.” He was kidding about the Kibbie Dome, of course.”