UCLA football head coach DeShaun Foster, defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe and student-athletes Ethan Garbers, Garrett DiGiorgio and Jay Toia spoke with local media members earlier this week as they prepared for the Bruins' season opener at Hawai'i on Saturday, Aug. 31.
The best of the Bruins' media availability is transcribed below.
Head Coach DeShaun Foster at last Saturday's Rose Bowl practice
Head Coach DeShaun Foster opening comments on Monday
"Game week! I'm ready to go. Players are fired up. We're excited for this game, traveling to Hawaii. We have a few Hawaiian players that are happy to get back and play on the Island."
on his induction into the Tustin High School Hall of Fame last Friday
"It was good just to go back to high school, see a lot of my teammates, ex coaches, couple teachers. It was pretty exciting. Tustin is where it started so it was good to go back home."
on what he learned from the team's practice at the Rose Bowl last Saturday
"Just the whole communication from coach-to-player. Using the iPads. Seeing who we have in the box. Communicating like that. Just kind of wanted to get out there and give them a mock game just so they could have the special teams tied in with the offense and defense."
on who he saw improve significantly over the fall
"(Freshman running back) Cam Jones did a good job in those three weeks, picking up the offense as fast as he could and being able to just play fast. He was running around and making plays. That was pretty exciting."
Defensive Coordinator Ikaika Malloe on Hawai'i's dual threat quarterback and containing him
"Hopefully produce a pass rush. If we can get to the quarterback, hopefully we can make him make some unsound decisions. He is the leader of that team let alone the offense. Brayden Schrager is special. He will have a chance to prove himself on Sunday. But for us, if we can just contain him and somehow keep him in the pocket, I think that will give us a chance."
Jay Toia
Defensive Lineman Jay Toia on Hawai'i's Clarence T.C. Ching Complex
"It's got two endzones, so it's a good opportunity to play football."
on his confidence level in the interior defensive line
"I'm really confident. We've got Keanu (Williams), (Grant) Buckey, Siale (Taupaki). We've got good experience."
Garrett DiGiorgio
Offensive Lineman Garrett DiGiorgio on playing alongside a new right guard in Alani Makihele
"He's done the same technique that we've been working on over the summer too. I know Josh (Carlin) moved to center and that's new for me, but he's a big body as well. I like playing next to a bigger body because we can really move on the double teams. You know what I'm saying? He's a great dude – I love Alani. He works his butt off and that's all that really matters. … If he can move at that weight (350 pounds) and perform as well as he can, that's all that matters."
on building a connection with Ethan Garbers
"I think we have been able to build a connection with Ethan more this year as a unit as well. We spend more time with him outside of football too. I think being able to know that he's going to be our one quarterback is pretty cool. That's a guy we want to restrain and protect. That makes us work even harder. Coach Castillo tells us we protect him inside the facility and out. So anything that he needs, we're there for him for sure."
on what the offensive line unit and Garbers do off the field
"Last night we went and grabbed dinner as a unit. The five o-linemen and Ethan. We just kind of do that stuff off campus. We try to spend time and watch extra film together. Just the little things. … He did (pick up the tab). It was a barbecue spot down in Santa Monica."
Ethan Garbers
Quarterback Ethan Garbers on how well he thinks the offense has grasped the playbook
"I think we've done a great job, honestly. Starting in the spring with Coach Bieniemy coming in, working fall camp (and) all the way until now, everyone is really confident and a lot of the guys have been studying very well and very hard. We got a good a grasp of the offense."
on how much the bill was at the barbecue place with the offensive linemen
"It wasn't too bad. I won't get into specifics. … We're trying to figure out a thing where we can get something going every week. Trying to get something going to get those guys together and do a little bonding."
on being coached hard by offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy
"Me, personally, I wouldn't want it any other way. I need a coach like that who is getting after you when you're not doing it right and is going to be your be biggest fan when you're doing something right. I love coach EB. I think he is a phenomenal coach and does a great job."
on deep threat J.Michael Sturdivant
"You're going to see that from all the guys. We're going to be an explosive offense this year that pushes the ball down field. You can see it from every one of the receivers – Titus (Mokiao-Atimalala), Rico (Flores Jr.), Logan (Loya), J.Mike. We're going to be attacking people deep for sure."
