Weber State reflects on the UH game

SE = Standard-Examiner

About how they were doing well in the first half, Weber State coach Ron McBride said:
“Offensively we stayed in our game plan and had a good mix, and (Hawaii) had a tough time adjusting. We also made big plays on defense and we dictated the game.” (SE)

Note: In the first half Weber State had the ball for 18:45 and UH had the ball for just 11:45.

About the penalty they had that prevented UH from punting on their first drive in the 2nd half, McBride said:
“That gave them the opportunity to get back in it. Then they got confidence and got going.” (SE)

About how their offense struggled in the 2nd half, McBride said:
“We went three-and-out, three-and-out and were way out of rhythm.” (SE)

SE Note: “Part of that had to do with the absence of starting running back Trevyn Smith, who had 46 rushing yards in the first half before being sidelined after cramping up.”

About what they learned about their team in the UH game, McBride said:
“We know that we can stand in the trenches and punch it out with a real physical football team.” (SE)

Feature on Travis LaBoy

MIJ = Marin Independent Journal

MIJ Note: “GIVEN that Travis LaBoy worshiped the 49ers as a kid in Marin and given that the 49ers didn’t even pursue the 27-year-old, 6-foot-3, 260-pound pass rusher when he was a free agent in the offseason, LaBoy had just cause to spike the football in their face with 1:49 left in the game Sunday when he had a victory-sealing quarterback sack and fumble recovery. LaBoy didn’t spike the ball, however. He stole it.”

About how Travis hid the ball in order to give it to him, Travis’ brother CJ said:
“He’s coming to the sideline trying to hide the ball. He turned around and came over and handed it to me. It was pretty sweet.” (MIJ)

MIJ Note: “With his brother in the stands at Candlestick Park along with his father Cliff (who flew in from Hawaii), his stepfather and mother, Art and Angela Curley of Larkspur, his stepbrother, Preston, and some of Preston’s former Redwood High football teammates plus a couple of LaBoy’s Marin Catholic High buddies, LaBoy enjoyed a happy homecoming. He had a team-high two QB sacks in his Arizona Cardinals regular-season debut and his team left victorious.”

About how the win is what mattered, not anything with him and the 49ers, Travis said:
“Really it was just getting the win. Arizona is trying to get rid of that losing persona that they’ve been stuck with for so many years. I just want to keep it rolling. Whether it was here (at Candlestick Park) or somewhere else, it was nice to have it here.” (MIJ)

About how the 49ers did not talk with him this offseason, Travis said:
“They had no spots for me. Of course, I would have loved to have played for them, my hometown team. I grew up a Niner fan but I’m very happy playing in Arizona.” (MIJ)

MIJ Note: “How big of a 49ers fan was LaBoy? His father was an All-American defensive back at the University of Hawaii who competed in the 49ers summer training camp twice. His stepfather is a longtime 49ers season ticket holder who used to take LaBoy and his brother to home games. They would tailgate in the Candlestick Park parking lot and long for the rare chance to have ballpark junk food, chocolate malt ice cream cups, and soda pop as treats. Because Art Curley had only two season tickets then, they would watch most of the game on TV in their RV then eventually wander into the stadium.”

About how they always said that Travis would play in the 49ers stadium, Angela Curley said:
“Art and I used to say ‘Travis is going to play here someday.’ We always thought he would be a 49er. However, coming as a Cardinal is as good as it gets.” (MIJ)

About how his favorite 49ers were Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Steve Young, and then Ricky Watters, Travis said:
“When Ricky Watters came through, he was my dude. I never met him but I was a big Watters fan.” (MIJ)

About how Travis cared about the players on offense until he played football, CJ said:
“He was more offensive focused when he was younger. Once he got his first hit (in Pop Warner) under his belt, he was all Charles Haley and Bill Romanowski.” (MIJ)

About how he didn’t start playing defense regularly until the playoffs of his junior year in high school, Travis said:
“Next thing you know I’m going to college playing defense.” (MIJ)

MIJ Note: “The Titans selected LaBoy in the second round of the 2004 NFL draft out of the University of Hawaii. The 49ers drafted Oklahoma State wide receiver Rashaun Woods and Alabama guard Justin Smiley before LaBoy was off the board that year. The 49ers have had two chances to get him. The Titans drafted him first and the Cardinals took him next as a free agent.”

About Arizona signing him, Travis said with a grin:
“Maybe I was the cheapest guy on the market.” (MIJ)

MIJ Note: “The 49ers signed Justin Smith in the offseason as a free agent to a six-year, $45 million dollar contract including $20 million guaranteed. The Cardinals signed LaBoy three days later to a five-year, $22 million contract with $7.5 million guaranteed to play their “predator” position, weak outside linebacker. Who got the better bargain on Sunday?”

About how they are happy to have gotten Travis, Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said:
“We’ve said all along we were excited to get Travis. We thought the position that he was playing for us he would be a dynamic player and have an opportunity to make plays, just like he did (Sunday).” (MIJ)

MIJ Note: “LaBoy only wishes he had a chance to do it with the 49ers. He’s wearing No. 55 with Arizona, the same jersey number he wore when he played for his Central Marin Pop Warner team and dreamed about playing at Candlestick Park.”

About watching Travis play against the 49ers, Angela Curley said:
“For us, it’s very surreal. He visualized it his entire life. He always knew he would be in the NFL. He always knew he would come back and play here.” (MIJ)

Quotes from the local papers

Asked if it hurt to suspend Tyler, Mack said:
“Sure it did. But sometimes you have to have a little tough love.” (HA)

About how Tyler wasn’t included in their 2008 plans, Mack said:
“We moved on. Basically, he was not going to play this season.” (HA)

HA Note: “But Graunke, on his own, resolved his academic problems. He was reinstated to the team two weeks ago, but did not take any reps in passing drills until the past Tuesday. He participated in three full practices, all as the No. 2 quarterback, before Saturday’s game. Summoned at the start of the second half, Graunke rallied the Warriors from a 10-point deficit to a 36-17 victory over Weber State.”

About how taking care of his business off the field has made Tyler better on the field, Mack said:
“I’m happy for Tyler. He came into the game and showed he could move a football team. But it’s more important to me that he succeeds as a person than a football player. He’s taken care of business, and it’s helping him as a football player.” (HA)

About the chance to play again, Tyler said:
“I’m happy for the opportunity.” (HA)

HA Note: “Graunke has said his “academic issues” could be traced to when he changed his major.”

About suspending Tyler, Mack said:
“He’s a good quarterback. You want him playing. But I want him playing for the right reasons, and a big part of our program is academics. We’re not going to pay lip service to it. It’s really important to us. I’m going to be persistent on that.” (HA)

HA Note: “When Graunke incurred his “academic issues” this summer, McMackin opted to withhold him from team activities until a resolution was reached. Graunke, for the record, was never academically ineligible.”

About how Tyler did what he needed to do to get reinstated, Mack said:
“On his own, he did the things he had to do to get (reinstated). That’s why I give him credit. It was important for him to play his senior season, and he took care of business. He took care of his own responsibility. I think it’s making him a better person. That’s what it’s all about.” (HA)

HA Note: “Graunke took all of the snaps as the No. 2 quarterback in practices Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The Warriors had a walk-through Friday.”

About how he will maintain the standards that he has set for all players, Mack said:
“I’m going to still continue to do what I believe in. This isn’t just the quarterback position. This is every position.” (HA)

About Fale (who was injured in the Weber State game), Mack said:
“He’s a great playe. He’s one of our special players.” (HA)

Praising Rego, Mack said:
“Rego has been a pleasant surprise. He runs hard. We knew he could block. But he did a nice job running (against Weber State).” (HA)

About how Rego has earned his shot at playing time, Mack said:
“He did a good job in spring workouts. He made the 105 (-player roster for training camp). Then (running back) coach (Alex) Gerke started liking him. Then he got some playing time. He showed what he can do. He really went through the process.” (HA)

About Brashton, Rich Miano (a teammate of Brashton’s father Alvis) said:
“Athletically, he’s as gifted as any linebacker we’ve had.” (HA)

Tyler said that the their offense scored 4 TDs and the defense shut out Weber State in the second half:
“and we just have to take that into Corvallis this week.” (HSB)

About how he celebrated the win, Tyler said he was sore after the big hits he took:
“My celebration was mostly lying in bed.” (HSB)

About how he expected to get their starting spot, Tyler said:
“I expected to be the starting quarterback and I had to work a lot harder to get there and it made me a better person, not just a better player. It’s been a long road and it wasn’t looking too promising for me, but now it’s looking great. I’ve just been humbled by this situation.” (HSB)

Crediting his teammates for their comeback, Tyler said:
“It was a total team effort and that’s what made it so special.” (HSB)

About Oregon State, which just lost big at Penn State and is 0-2, Tyler said:
“They went to Penn State and we went to Florida, we’re both battle tested and they’re obviously going to be hungry for a win.” (HSB)

about putting the Weber State game behind them and preparing for Oregon State, Tyler said:
“(The Weber State win) felt great, but that’s in the past and Oregon State is the game we’re thinking about.” (HSB)

Looking forward to starting their game at Oregon State, Tyler said:
“I love playing road games. I love hostile environments. I can’t wait. I’ve been watching Pac-10 football my entire life. I’ve got the opportunity and I’m going to take advantage of it.” (HSB)

About how they were confusing UH’s D, Cameron Higgins said:
“We were catching them off guard, mixing it up, five wide, four wide, a lot of play-action here and there.” (HSB)

About their struggles in the first half, Sol said:
“We made a lot of mistakes in the first half.” (HSB)