Weekly Presser, Nevada Reviews, Utah State Previews

Dave Reardon reviews five big plays from UH's 27-21 victory over Nevada in this week's Warrior Replay.

HawaiiAthletics.com has quotes from Coach Greg McMackin's weekly press conference. Here's one:

On this week’s opponent, Utah State…
They played Oklahoma outstanding. Their quarterback is good as there is in the league. I thought he was the best quarterback in the league last year. We beat them here, but we’re not going to go into a trap game because we did that two years ago. This won’t be a trap game for us.

UtahStateAggies.com has game info and notes for this Saturday's match-up.

Stephen Tsai writes about the Warriors' increased confidence.

"You can tell (Nevada) underestimated us," Tuipulotu said. "That's what happens when you don't take your opponent seriously. We respect everyone because we know to everyone else — other teams, the WAC — they think we suck. We don't take anyone lightly. Every game, for us, is like the USC game."

Cornerback Jeramy Bryant said the Nevada game, during which the Warriors contained quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running back Vai Taua, was a "confidence booster."

"It was good to know we could play with teams like that, and not only play with them, but beat them," Bryant said. "It took a few games to show the nation we could be pretty good."

Dave Reardon takes a look at the team at the midseason point (already?!?) and gives out some informal midseason awards:

» MVP: As I wrote yesterday, my pick is linebacker Corey Paredes. He's the quintessential UH defensive player. Tough, strong, smart, durable and plays faster than he looks. If he doesn't force those fumbles Saturday, Hawaii doesn't win.

At his current pace, Paredes will finish with 164 tackles — five off Jeff Ulbrich's single-season school record.

And Ferd Lewis writes that UH can spoil Utah State's homecoming game and get some revenge.

Meanwhile, in Utah's Cache Valley they apparently still have fond memories of UH's last visit, a stunning 30-14 Aggies victory in 2008 that allowed then-coach Brent Guy to keep his job — for a couple of more weeks, anyway — amid a 3-9 season.

They had hopes that, at this point, the Aggies would be more like 4-2 instead of the operative 2-4. With a statue to be dedicated to their most celebrated alum, the late Olsen, and an array of homecoming events to surround the weekend, a rousing victory would be the ideal exclamation point.