HONOLULU – University of Hawai`i Warrior football head coach Greg McMackin conducted his first weekly press conference of the season, recapping the Warriors season opener at No. 5 Florida and discussing the team's upcoming home opener versus Weber State at Aloha Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6. Below are some excerpts from the press conference. 
 

We were happy with the first quarter. We had planned to try to control the ball, to keep their offense off the field. The problem with the game was the second and third quarters, obviously. It was like the Sugar Bowl all over again. We can't have six turnovers and win a ball game. We had two interception for a touchdown and the punt return for a touchdown. You can never put your defense back on the field when they've held the offense….that can't happen. I have no excuses. We got beat by a (national championship caliber) team. They're well-coached and had great team speed.

 

I was really pleased with our fourth quarter because our guys were in condition. We worked really hard on getting into condition and getting ready for the humidity. Everybody played and competed to the end.

 

I was happy with our offensive line. They blocked (well) and we ran the ball well. The protection was decent. I liked our running backs. I thought Leon (Wright-Jackson) and Daniel (Libre) did a good job of running the football. There are a lot of positives and there are negatives that we need to work on. You improve the most (from your) first (to your) second game. I'm glad we played a good football team in the first week and now we have to correct on the mistakes we made.

 

Inoke Funaki came in and played his heart out. That's what coaching and players are all about. 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. (Offensive coordinator) Ron Lee, Rolo (quarterbacks coach Nick Rolovich) and I all believe he deserves a shot this week...he's got characteristics that make him a winner.

 

We have two guys with big arms, really strong, (and) tall. One can move around really well. Inoke doesn't have the arm but he's got a lot of other positives and he showed that in the ball game in the fourth quarter. We thought we could bring the other guys along in the system but it's going to take a little longer. I'm not disappointed in them. They're both excellent quarterbacks. We haven't given up on them. They just need to be in the package more and we need to coach them more.

 

(They) spread it out a little bit. They put up 72 points against Portland State last year and they put up a bunch of points against some other people. Their first game they put up 62 this past weekend against Montana-Western. They're coming here to make a statement. We need everyone to come to the ball game, we need everybody's help. This isn't going to be as easy a game as people think it will be…this is going to be a tough ball game

 

Coach McBride and I are great friends. He's someone I really respect. I coached for him for three years and he's a physical, tough, hard-nosed coach. He's a guy who'll bring his team here and they'll be ready to play.