Defense, Defense

Dave Reardon highlights the awesome performance of the Warrior defense, especially in the last 4 games, with much of the credit going to the D-line.

Purcell, in particular, has played incredibly well in recent games. The 6-foot-5, 276-pound senior has thrived in the 3-4 alignment this fall after learning its nuances while dealing with nagging injuries last year.

"We just wanted to come out here and dominate the line and take the momentum away and put it on our side."

Purcell matched his season high with eight tackles. He was involved in three sacks, four quarterback hurries and he forced a fumble.

"The last half of the season, (Purcell) has really taken a step," defensive line coach Jeff Reinebold said. "He's become an outstanding leader, in practice on the field, in meetings. And I think he's starting to play at a level that we all hoped he would get to. And Ikaika, the same thing. And Mike Lafaele, you tell me who's got a nose tackle who makes more plays than that guy does.

Speaking of Mel Purcell, he won the WAC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season. Way to go!

UPDATE: The Warrior Beat has reaction from Mel as well as praise from Coach Reinebold.

"After the game (against San Jose State), I felt he played as good a game as he's played since I've been around here," said Reinebold, who joined the team in the summer of 2005. "Then I look at the tape, and he's doing some things that you very rarely see somebody do at the college level. I'm really proud of him. He's playing better down the stretch. I think he's elevated his (NFL) draft status. He's shown great leadership on the field, and in the locker room, and in the meeting room. He's doing everything you can ask of a senior."

Stephen Tsai writes about the reaction of the players and coaches to being ranked 25th in the nation.

"Being way out here, and not getting much TV pub, it's really sweet to be ranked," Grice-Mullins said. "It's a nice reward. I'm happy for the seniors. They've been giving so much to the program. They've made so many sacrifices. I'm happy for a guy like Sam."

Center Samson Satele declined an opportunity to apply for the National Football League draft to return for his senior season.

"I'm glad we could have a good season for Sam," Grice-Mullins said. "He really deserved it."

Jerry Glanville, in his second season as UH's defensive coordinator, said the Warriors should be ranked in the top 10. But he said the early losses made for a steep ascent to national respect.

"The players really earned it," Glanville said. "Really, I know how important it is to them. They wanted to do something special, and this is something special. The players deserve it, and June deserves it. He put a lot of work into this. I get to see what the public doesn't, and I see how much effort he gives."

Congratulations to the team and the coaches!

Tsai's article also has a follow-up to the Yonus Davis-Davone Bess incident. It turns out UH receiver Michael Washington had a hand in it.

On Friday night, Leonard received several text messages in which Davis said the inside linebackers "were trash."

"He had no respect for us," UH inside linebacker Solomon Elimimian said. "He kept text messaging Adam."

As it turned out, it was UH slotback Michael Washington, pretending to be Davis, who sent the text messages.

"It was Mike playing around," Leonard said, laughing. "He got us going. Mike made us almost want to kill the man."

What a rascal!

Dave Reardon once again has his Warrior Replay, breaking down 5 key plays in the game. Here's an excerpt, but it's all good so go read it:

3. Stringing him out

The Setup: Hawaii 20, San Jose State 7; less than 3:00 remaining, second quarter, San Jose State ball, first and 10 at own 36.

The Play: A play after Hawaii safety Leonard Peters is called for a 15-yard personal foul for hitting a "defenseless receiver," Peters creeps up to the line of scrimmage, on the left. Yonus Davis gets a handoff, and runs right, looking for a hole to cut up into. There is none. Peters meets Davis 6 yards behind the line of scrimmage and dumps him for a loss.

The Impact: Davis came into the game ranked 16th in the nation with 912 yards in nine games, averaging 7.2 yards per carry. Hawaii held him to 29 yards on 14 carries. San Jose State managed just 192 total yards.

Peters: "He told Davone that I was head heavy and if we met in the open field he'd shake me."

Haha, I wonder if it was actually Mike Washington who said that?

Looking ahead to Purdue, Stacy Clardie of the Journal Gazette in Fort Wayne, Indiana has a preview of this Saturday's game.

The Boilermakers (8-4) are coming off a victory over Indiana to retain the Old Oaken Bucket and already have clinched a bowl game. They haven’t beaten a team of Hawaii’s quality yet this season, and playing on the road surely won’t help.

The No. 25 Warriors (9-2) have one of the most explosive quarterbacks in the country in Colt Brennan. Brennan threw for 402 yards and five touchdowns in a victory over San Jose State Saturday.

“We’re going to play a heck of a team,” Tiller said. “When you schedule Hawaii this far in advance, you never know what team you’re going to get. Just so happens this year, we’re probably going to get a top-20 team. “

At least Tiller’s group will get some sight-seeing in.

That’s one way Tiller is hoping to keep his group focused on the game: rewarding them.

Tiller said he won’t give players a curfew Saturday night after the game, instead telling them “I’ll see you on the plane Sunday.”

His group also has a trip planned to visit Pearl Harbor.

Tiller has some experience with this trip, which may help. While Tiller was coaching at Wyoming, he coached six games at Hawaii.

So he understands he will have to count on his older players to keep guys in line, too.

“It might be a little difficult, but my job as a senior and as a captain is to keep the guys focused,” Mike Otto said. “Some of the older guys are going to have to try to do that maybe more so than other games.”

Man, they're gonna be in for some dirty lickins, and I'm not talking about what happens in Waikiki.

Speaking of inappropriate double entendres, the Star-Bulletin's article recapping the UH basketball team's 85-41 whipping of Oregon State has the unfortunate title of 'Bows bag Beavers. Come on guys! That's just wrong!