Mike Wadsworth commits to the Warriors!

About committing to the Warriors (he’s projected to be a safety), Mike Wadsworth of Silverado High School in Henderson, Nevada (a teammate of T.J. Alofipo) said:
“I like what they have to offer. I like the defense they run, and the style that they like to play.” (HA)

About how Wadsworth is his team’s best overall player and a model student, head coach Andy Ostolaza said:
“A lot of it comes from his mom and dad. They push him in the right direction, and he takes direction well. When it comes to grades, you don’t have to worry about Mike Wadsworth. If I were starting a program, he would be the kind of kid you’d build a program around.” (HA)

HA Note: “Wadsworth, it seems, never gets any rest. He was named to the 2007 All-State first team as a cornerback, although, at 6 feet 1 and 192 pounds, he often plays safety. In this week’s game, he will align as a weak-side linebacker.”

About using Wadsworth at a lot of different positions, Ostolaza said:
“We move him around. If we play a team with a big-time receiver, we will move him to corner. When we play running teams, we move him to run support.” (HA)

HA Note: “Wadsworth also plays tailback and wideout on offense. What’s more, he is used as a punt returner, kickoff returner and kick-blocker.”

About another role he has this season, Wadsworth said:
“This year, I’m actually punting, too.” (HA)

HA Note: “Wadsworth is indeed special on special teams. This season, he has scored on punt and kickoff returns. Last year, he scored on three punt returns and a kickoff return. He also blocked five point-after kicks and a field-goal attempt. He is capable of running 40 yards in 4.5 seconds and 100 meters in 10.9 seconds. In track, he was the leadoff runner for the 4×100 team that won a regional title. He is a power forward and small forward on Silverado’s basketball team. And his cumulative grade-point average is better than 4.0. (He takes honor classes.) He is ranked 10th academically in a class of about 600 students.”

HA Note: “Wadsworth visited Arizona the past weekend, and has received interest from Oregon State, Brigham Young and Stanford.”

About choosing Hawaii, Wadsworth said:
“I like Hawai’i the best. I love being around the ocean.” (HA)

HA Note: “Wadsworth said he wanted to play in the Warriors’ defensive scheme. He also wants to reunite with UH director of player personnel Tony Tuioti, who was Silverado’s defensive coordinator last year.”

HA Note: “Wadsworth is living with a neighbor this season after his family moved to Utah because of business obligations. His father, John Wadsworth, is a food scientist who developed the formula used in Tahitian Noni Juice, a health-promoting beverage.”

About how he wants to learn the ha’a (Silverado learned the haka last year), Wadsworth said:
“I love watching it. I can’t wait to learn it.” (HA)

Other quotes from the local papers

About the benefits of staying on the mainland instead of returning to Hawaii between games, JD said:
“By staying in the Mountain time zone rather than going back and forth (to Hawai’i), we hope to minimize the the difficulties getting acclimated to the road.” (HA)

HA Note: “UH estimates it will spend $326,615 in combining travel for Saturday’s game at Utah State and the following week’s game at New Mexico State, according to associate athletic director Carl Clapp. By remaining on the Mainland — the Warriors will spend seven days in El Paso, Texas prior to the nearby New Mexico State game Nov. 8 — instead of returning home between games, UH forecasts a savings of approximately $27,200 for its financially strapped athletic department.”

HA Note: “Donovan said tutors will travel with the team and study halls will be held daily.”

About the monetary savings of not flying back to Hawaii, JD said:
“At the airfare rates we would have had to pay three or four months ago in booking separate trips, the savings will be significant.” (HA)

About being named their starting free safety, Desmond Thomas said:
“I’m very humbled about it. I just want to go out and try to make plays and do my responsibilities. I’m grateful for the opportunity and want to make the best of it.” (HSB)

About having Thomas start, Rich Miano said:
“He’s practiced hard, he’s started before and made plays for us and it’s Desmond’s turn to start.” (HSB)

Alexander named the starting QB

About being named the starting QB vs. Utah State, Alexander said:
“I’m excited.” (HA)

Alexander said that the difference between the Florida and Nevada games is:
“like night and day. I feel more comfortable with the reads. But then again, it’s only one half of football. I still have to focus.” (HA)

“The Florida game was tough — there was a lot to think about. Now it’s just go out and play, and I can just focus in on the job and let my instincts take over.” (HSB)

About Alexander’s progress, Mac said:
“You can see Greg has a good feel for things now.” (HA)

About how they have an offensive package for Inoke, Mac said:
“We’ve got a package for Inoke and we’re going to start Greg. He showed he can handle it in a game.” (HSB)

About preparing as the #1 QB instead of the #2 or #3 QB, Alexander said:
“You prepare the same way. Obviously you get the reps in practice, but as far as watching film and all that, you still have to prepare the same way.” (HSB)

About treating the QB position just like any other position, Mac said:
“I look at the quarterback position like every position. I look at it just like our center or our left guard. If a guy’s producing, then he plays.” (HSB)

About Alexander’s improvement, Rolo said:
“He’s grown a lot in the offense. He knows what he does wrong in film (sessions), so we can concentrate on deciphering or talking about opposing defenses rather than teaching the offense. We only opened a few pages of the playbook for him (against Florida), so now this thing’s pretty wide open. … He knows where his guys are going to be a lot more than seven or eight weeks ago.” (HSB)