Game Week: Florida - Friday News

Hawaii Media:

Adam Leonard talks about tomorrow's game.

"I'm excited to don that uniform and, like Coach said, he put 'Hawaii' on the front for a reason," said linebacker Adam Leonard, among the four captains announced yesterday. "We're playing not only for our families and ourselves but the people of Hawaii."

Stephen Tsai has a game preview, with a breakdown of offense, defense and specialists for both teams.

Jason Kaneshiro has a game preview, taking a look at both teams and highlighting this key matchup:

Hawaii offensive line vs. Florida front seven

"For the last five, six, seven years, the O-line has been the strongest point of those teams and we just have to bring that back this year. We were good last year and the Sugar Bowl we didn't play well at all. We have to bring that swagger back to the O-line."

Two other UH linemen started in the Sugar Bowl, guard Keith AhSoon and tackle Keoni Steinhoff. The other two spots were decided this week when senior Lafu Tuioti-Mariner and junior Laupepa Letuli nailed down the starting assignments at right guard and left tackle.

With an inexperienced quarterback at the controls, Hawaii's hopes of sustaining drives against the Gators depend on the line holding off the Gator front.

Tsai talks to the new team captains, Adam Leonard, Solomon Elimimian, John Estes and Keala Watson.

"The few and the proud," Watson said, smiling. "It's an honor to join them as a captain. One of the best things is we have so many good leaders on our team. All of the positions have leaders. Every position has people who will step up and take charge and get everybody motivated."

Ka Leo's Russell Tolentino profiles Solomon Elimimian.

Dave Reardon looks at the debuts of past UH head football coaches and wonders whether this game should be treated as a dress rehearsal.

Ferd Lewis has some notes from Florida.

Despite all the talk about tomorrow's expected high temperatures (90s) and humidity for the 12:30 p.m. (Eastern time) for the season opener, Florida coach Urban Meyer played down the Gators' advantage.

"It is football, they're used to that," Meyer said. "They have heat. It is just a matter of execution."

But Joe Colorio, a UF fan, said, "you have to feel it to believe it. There are no (ocean) breezes. The heat is bad, really bad. With a 12:30 p.m. game it is almost dangerous for the fans sitting there and the sun. I saw people fall out last year."

And Lewis writes about the UF fans getting ready to party.

School has just started and folks are ready to, well, party at UH's expense.

The cheesy blue plastic lei are three for $1 at Gator Fever stores and blue and orange T-shirts that proclaim, "Football and a lei, now that's a game day" go for $16.95.

And the talk isn't who will win — it is a foregone conclusion in these parts the 35-point favorite Gators will clobber Hawai'i — but how early to begin tailgating for the rare 12:30 p.m. East Coast (6:30 a.m. Hawai'i) kickoff.

UPDATE: And UH fans in Florida are getting ready to party too. Check here for details of a SportsHawaii.com tailgate in Gainesville.


Florida Media:

The Independent Florida Alligator has a game preview. Here's an excerpt about Florida's defense:

The defense as a whole has plenty to prove coming off a season where it finished last in the Southeastern Conference in pass defense.

A big part of the problem was the lack of pass rush, something defensive end Carlos Dunlap says will change come Saturday.

“The defensive line is going to show out,” Dunlap said. “It’s going to show everybody what we’ve got, so everybody knows what we have. Ain’t going to hide nothing. Right now we’re just hiding it. First game, you’re going to see for yourself. Ya’ll can judge us.”

Brian Steele of the Alligator has a Hawaii overview.

Jeremy Fowler of the Orlando Sentinel takes a look at UH.

"The whole team has rallied behind [McMackin]," Elimimian said. "Coach Jones was more laid-back and mellow, but McMackin is going to motivate you and get the best out of you."

Elimimian also gives a scouting report on Florida's offense to the Sentinel.

1) GET AT TEBOW EARLY: "Stopping Tebow is stopping their entire offense, so we're going to try to stop him. They have so many weapons, but 90 percent of their offense goes through them. You have to try to stop the Heisman Trophy winner before anybody else. Make other people beat you."

The Gainesville Sun has some news and notes. Percy Harvin and Brandon Spikes are definitely out.

Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun welcomes UH fans visiting Florida, and gives a quick primer.

Yes, we live in this humidity year round. No, we never get used to it. Yes, that squirrel is sweating.