AP feature article on Inoke

About how he is comfortable in their system, Inoke said:
“I’ve been in the system a couple years now. There’s still a lot of things I need to get good at but overall, I have a pretty good idea of what goes on.” (AP)

AP Note: “It will be Funaki’s first start since 2001, when he led Kahuku High School to its second straight state title. Raised in the quiet coastal North Shore community of Laie, he will become the first homegrown product to assume the high-profile job since Timmy Chang.”

About starting at UH, Inoke said:
“It’s nice to be here at home and play for a lot of people I know and play for family and represent a state that raised me. It’s exciting.” (AP)

Praising Inoke’s performance vs. Florida, Mack said:
“Inoke Funaki came in and played his heart out.” (AP)

About how Inoke was inspirational in the Florida game, Rolo said:
“He wasn’t perfect, but he was inspiring. I think that’s something you can’t put a price on.” (AP)

About what he did on his Mormon mission to the Dominican Republic, Inoke said:
“I would just go out and teach the Gospel. I would go around, meet people, knock on doors and get doors slammed in my face. People would tell me, ‘Get out of here.’ You just learn to let it go and not hold any grudges. Patience.” (AP)

About how Inoke didn’t complain when they made him the #3 QB, Mack said:
“When I told him he wasn’t the guy, he didn’t cry, he didn’t whine, he just tried to make the other guys better and when he got his opportunity he made the most of it. And that’s why he’s going to get his shot.” (AP)

About Inoke’s leadership, LWJ said:
“He’s a leader. He’s not really a vocal guy, but you saw him at The Swamp. When he got in, he’s just a phenomenal player. He’s an athlete. I’m sure he’s going to get it done this weekend.” (AP)

About Inoke’s scrambling ability, Rolo said:
“He’s instinctual. That’s the best athletes you can find. He brings another dimension to our game.” (AP)

AP Note: “Funaki is considered a “gamer,” who steps up his game when the bright lights are on. Funaki said it could be the game-time adrenaline or the “sense of urgency” he feels.”

About why he doesn’t feel the “sense of urgency” in practices that he feels in games, Inoke said:
“Sometimes in practice, because we have the orange jerseys and the coaches say, ‘Don’t touch us,’ you don’t feel that urgency. When you’re in the game, you know that if you don’t get the ball off, someone’s going to whack you.” (AP)

About how the team needs Inoke now, Rolo said:
“His greatest asset is not his athleticism. It’s not his knowledge of the system. It’s Inoke Funaki as a person. That’s the most important thing for this team right now.” (AP)

Miami’s coach praises Bess

SFSS = South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Asked if anybody’s emergence during training camp surprised him, Miami coach Tony Sparano said:
“Yeah, that’s a good question. I think Davone Bess to me and what he did during the course of this training camp, coming from kind of where he came from, meaning the guy wasn’t drafted. He was a free agent player, to see what he did. I know Jeff (Ireland) gave kudos to Donald Thomas, but I would say Davone Bess is a guy that I thought did a nice job in this preseason camp and I also think Donald Thomas did an outstanding job. Those type of players, but Bess would be the guy I think for me.” (SFSS)

Asked if it is OK to have Ten Ginn returning kickoffs and punts while being the #1 WR, Sparano said:
“I think that in a perfect situation, you really wouldn’t want that, but I think if you have a guy labeled, ‘Hey, this is your returner and that was his job one way or the other. But our returners are going to come by other positional players. Ted, (Davone) Bess, those types of people.” (SFSS)

KHNL article on the Warriors

About the Florida loss, Mack said:
“I have no excuses.” (KHNL)

About how they have to cut down on turnovers, Mack said:
“We can’t have six turnovers and win a ball game, and that’s what happened to us.” (KHNL)

About how they will make a big improvement by the Weber State game, Mack said:
“You improve the most between your first and second game, I’m glad we played a good football team, and now we have to correct from the mistakes we made.” (KHNL)

About Inoke being named the starting QB, Mack said:
“When Inoke was told he was the third guy, he didn’t cry, he didn’t whine, he just tried to make the other guys better and when he got his opportunity he made the most of it, and that’s what I respect about him, and that’s why he’s going to get his shot.” (KHNL)

About how they will still reach their goals, Mack said:
“We’re still going to win the WAC and we’re still going to win a Bowl game.” (KHNL)

Other quotes from the local papers

About adjusting to the RB spot, Pilares said:
“It’s going to take a little tim. (But) I felt I knew enough to go out there and do it.” (HA)

About how Pilares will eventually be used as a hybrid RB-WR in a special offensive scheme, Mack said:
“We were going to get to that package. We’re going to get to it a little earlier (than scheduled).” (HA)

About Kia, the #1 LT with Letuli out with injury, OL coach Brian Smith said:
“He’s got a lot of experience. He has good range, long arms.” (HA)

About how he has been hindered due to tendinitis in his knees, Kia said:
“It’s like inflammation in the tendon.” (HA)

About his “iffy” injured shoulder, Letuli said:
“I’ll go with the trainers and rehab it as best as possible. We’ll see.” (HA)

About how they might not redshirt Dustin Blount because Pilares is working at RB and the slotbacks have been inconsistent, with Blount working as the #2 right slotback yesterday, Mack said:
“Dustin has the speed. We want to look at him.” (HA)

About the possibility of not redshirting this season, Blount said:
“I’m excited to get a chance.” (HA)

About catching passes with a small cast protecting his fractured hand, Greg Salas said:
“It doesn’t bother me too much, you’re supposed to catch the ball in your fingertips anyway, not your hands.” (HSB)

About how Pilares is back at RB now and things are different this year for their RBs, Gerke said:
“He was a back before, but it’s different. We demand some more things out of them so don’t think it was his easiest day.” (HSB)

Inoke prepares for his first start

About not worrying about all of the opinions out there, Inoke said:
“Everybody has their opinion on what goes on, and what goes on in the media and what other people say or what other people think, you have no control over that. So I just try to take care of what I do have control over.” (HSB)

About how his commitments to church, school, and the Warriors doesn’t give him much free time to see what is being said about him, Inoke said:
“I never really have time to get around to sitting down and watching TV. Sometimes I’ll talk to some of the boys and they’ll be all upset about something they read on the Internet. I just don’t really go on the computer at all. I don’t even have a MySpace or Facebook (page). I guess I’m old-fashioned you could say.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “Funaki is the third quarterback to top the depth chart since the second week of fall camp, following transfers Brent Rausch and Greg Alexander, who started last week’s opener at Florida.”

About how Inoke’s personality is one of his strengths, Rolo said:
“I think his personality is his greatest asset. He’s as good a teammate as I’ve ever been around and I would have loved for him to be my teammate when I played. You never see him real high or low, he’s pretty level-headed. When you tell him something and you look him in the eye you can see him processing what you’re saying.” (HSB)

About what he learned from his 2 years as a missionary in the Dominican Republic, which he called a “university for life”, Inoke said:
“It teaches you to grow up and be more mature and handle situations. When I was out there, there were people who didn’t like us, they’d chase us away, say mean things. … You have to learn to continue to have faith and continue to push forward and be positive about the whole thing. In football, things don’t always go the way you planned it and you have to have a positive outlook and continue to try to be better and help those around you.” (HSB)

Expecting Weber State give them a tough game, Inoke said:
“They have a good team and they’re going to come with fire. Especially with the local boys they have. This is their home too and they have something to prove.” (HSB)

Calvin Roberts moved ahead of Dowling for the starting CB spot

About being named UH’s #1 right CB, Roberts said:
“I’m excited about the situation.” (HA)

“I’m excited to go and ready to do my job.” (HSB)

About Roberts, who received the highest grade among their CBs in the Florida game, Mack said:
“What I like about him is he worked hard to improve his game. He does what he’s supposed to do. He does what he’s coached. He works on getting better every day. He’s smart. We’ve seen him steadily improve. Not only that, he’s doing very well in school. He just works hard in doing the right things. You’ve got to give an opportunity to a guy who’s going that way.” (HA)

About how Dowling will still play in their nickel packages, Mack said:
“Jameel is going to play a lot. Everybody makes a big deal about the quarterback position. We treat every position like that. (Roberts) showed he does his job.” (HA)

About the feeling he had after he committed to SJSU in February 2007 and attended spring practice as a spectator, Roberts said:
“I had a sense. It was a tough situation. Tough situations happen all of the time. It’s how you deal with them.” (HA)

HA Note: “It was April 2007, and he had no prospects. He had turned down a UH offer in January, and now it was out of scholarships.”

About how he was scrambling to find a scholarship after SJSU had to pull their scholarship offer due to APR penalties, Roberts said:
“I was e-mailing coaches, left and right, throughout the country. I sent out my highlight tapes. It was pretty scary.” (HA)

About how UH eventually offered him a scholarship, Roberts said:
“I’m thankful everything worked out.” (HA)

HSB Note: “Roberts was listed as a backup to Ryan Mouton, but was on the field for the Warriors’ first series against Florida. UH began the game with five defensive backs, with Mouton shifting to nickelback and Roberts taking his place at corner and Dowling at the other corner.”

Praising Roberts, Rich Miano said:
“He’s had a great camp and just continues to do things correctly. Calvin showed he’s doing it in practice and in games and he deserves a chance.” (HSB)

About starting against Florida, Roberts said:
“I was really excited, I had butterflies in my stomach. But once the first play was over I felt kind of relaxed and felt more comfortable about the whole thing.” (HSB)

Alex Gerke knows Weber State well

About facing the team he coached last year, Gerke said:
“Another game, can’t wait to get after it.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “Gerke, who now coaches the Warriors running backs and offensive line, worked at Weber State for two seasons and his connection to WSU coach Ron McBride extends well beyond that. He played for McBride at Utah in the early 1980s and later returned to Salt Lake City for two stints on the Utes’ staff.”

About his close relationship with Weber State coach Ron McBride, Gerke said:
“He’s the main reason I went to Utah back in the day. I played for him, I worked for him. I’ve been in touch with him not just in the football sense, he’s like a father figure.” (HSB)

About how his familiarity with Weber State can help their preparation, Gerke said:
“It’s just like any coach, you’re going to watch the film, see what they do. I understand the personnel a little bit because I coached a lot of those guys up front offensively and went against that defense every day in practice for 21/2 years.” (HSB)