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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Wednesday, August 30, 2006

UH senior safety
Leonard Peters

Video Inteview: Leonard Peters

Leonard Peters hopes to leave a mark on his opponents this season.

RICHARD AMBO | The Honolulu Advertiser


You must be pretty good if Reggie Bush takes notice. In an ESPN online chat last December, Bush, USC's Heisman Trophy winner, was asked who the best player he played against. His response: "The guy that sticks out is No. 42, the safety from Hawai'i. He was just everywhere ... I don't know his name but he was fast and he was a great player and everytime I got tackled, he was there." So when No. 42 was injured in that game and missed the rest of the season, UH's defense felt the pain. Leonard Peters is back for one more year. As a junior, he led the team in unassisted tackles (77) and total tackles (120). He also finished second on the team with four interceptions and five pass breakups. A healthy season could mean big things for UH and his future.


How much difference do you feel you can make to a defense that took a beating on the field and statistically last year?


"I don't know if they took a beating. Any system that comes in, like coach (Jerry) Glanville's, it was only his first year, everybody had to get used to the plays and the different schemes that he runs. I think it was just time. The only way you can play good is if you know what you're doing. This year we're going to be a little bit better, not only because I'm coming back — I think I needed the team more than they needed me — but we have a year under our belt with the system that he's running. Now we know even more where to fit and where to line up, where to drop and stuff like that."

(On being out last year)

"It was very difficult for me. We have cheerleaders but I was trying to be the biggest cheerleader on our sideline, running up and down and trying to help the guys. It's like having a 12th man on the field. They're always keyed in, locked in into what they have to do, but sometimes they don't see what's going on on the left and right, and I just tried to yell out and help them as much as I can."

(On this year's secondary)

"I think last year when we were there, they already had starters and people already said this was first string, second string, third string. But this year everyone is battling for a spot. So it's even better for everybody else to push themselves harder in practice. I think the main thing for our defense that changed from last year is everybody is running to the ball ...

"Honestly I think that in the six years I've been here, this is not only the best team that we have, not because of athletes-wise, but even the coaches have stepped up. They're also swallowing their pride and their egos and helping out each other. It starts from the top. When the top is strong, everything on the bottom is solid. I think it's trickling down, and it's falling on the players, and I think we're going to have a good season this year."


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