Game Week: Weber State - Monday News

Stephen Tsai talks to the coaches about Inoke Funaki being named the starting quarterback.

"He moved the team," offensive coordinator Ron Lee said. "He showed good leadership. He scrambled around and made some plays. That's what we need — somebody to make plays. He made plays pretty much single-handedly. He showed the game wasn't too big for him."

"I was really happy the way he competed," McMackin said. "Here's a guy who's been in the program for a while, but didn't complain or gripe. We went with the two other quarterbacks over him because they had stronger arms, basically, and a little more height.

"All (Funaki) did was be a team member. ... It's the perfect example of a guy finding his role, supporting the other guys, being a team player and then, when he gets his opportunity, making the most of it. That's what playing and coaching is all about."

Here's an article about Funaki from Jason Kaneshiro.

"I was proud of him because the other two guys got the opportunity and he was a team player and tried to find a role on the team and tried to help the other quarterbacks," McMackin said.

Graunke was reinstated to the team last week, and "we're obviously going to try to get a look at him, but he's way behind right now," McMackin said after Saturday's game.

Dave Reardon has a Warrior Replay, breaking down five key plays from the Florida game.

Kaneshiro writes about the Warriors learning lessons from the Florida game and regrouping to face Weber State.

"We came in with confidence ... unfortunately we came up short and it's very disappointing," senior receiver Mike Washington said after the game. "I took it to heart, but we have to get ready to move on to the next game. It's definitely got me fired up. Big time."

Dave Reardon has a column about the importance of not looking past Weber State.

By the way, anyone caught uttering the words "Oregon State Beavers" this week should be sentenced to grass drills at high noon.

We will learn much more about the Warriors from this game than from the slaughter in Gainesville two days ago, especially about their resilience.

Senior linebacker and captain Adam Leonard said some players held their heads a little too low Saturday afternoon in The Swamp for his taste. But most know it isn't the end of the world.

And Ferd Lewis writes about the leadership of Adam Leonard.

So many players who want to be leaders try to do it with words. Leonard, a senior, does it with action, which is why he commands respect and was made a captain.

So when Leonard stood before his teammates in the locker room beneath Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in the aftermath of the 56-10 loss to the Gators with some heartfelt words, people paid attention.

When he pointedly told them "this (Florida) game does not define us," you figure there was a pretty good chance the message was received loud and clear. We know this because of the number of other players who dutifully — and, hopefully, sincerely — repeated them afterward.