Arizona State Head Coach Kenny Dillingham Postgame Quotes
Saturday, October 10, 2026
On his initial sense of where the team made strides this week:
“Defensively, communication. I thought we communicated better, like no open people. They maybe win on a rep or something like that, but no busts, right? Just off the initial thought. I think there were a couple plays where maybe we leaned a little bit too much at a position, or maybe we chased the QB's eyes a little bit too much. But we had people on people, which I know sounds boring and fundamental, but that wasn't always the case last week. So that was a step forward. In the running game, I thought our twist games were a little bit cleaner than they were last week. On the opposite side of the ball, we ran the football, which was a positive. We’re moving the offensive line around. There's some you know ins and outs, and I thought (OL) Makua (Pule) did an awesome job tonight. I thought we ran the ball well tonight, which is something that we have to be able to do if we want to win football games. You have to run the football, and you have to find ways to run the football.”

On freshman RB Cardae Mack’s performance and if it was a turning point for the run game:
“That was huge. I mean, a lot of football's momentum and just like swagger. Like we’re going to run the ball. The mindset of a team is so important, and that's confidence. And the confidence of a team and the confidence of players is vital. And they're 18 to 22 year olds. They're going to feel whatever is around them when it comes to their confidence. And I think for them to get some confidence tonight and be like, “Okay, we can do this. We can run the football. We can run a four-minute drill.” I mean, that's the second four-minute drill opportunity the offense has had this year, and they're two-for-two in a four-minute scenario when it's time. So those are positive things. So hopefully we can just build on it.”

On senior WR Reed Harris being on the FG block team and what it says about him doing the little things:
“We did it last week as well. He's just out there jumping, hoping there's a low kick. Sometimes, especially on longer kicks, lower trajectories, and we just want to make a kicker uncomfortable by saying this guy who can get to ten feet in a one step when the ball is near the line is going to jump. And he may tip it, he may not, but you better lift the ball.”

On the red zone defense tonight:
“Really well, it was really good. We gave up a lot of yards moving into the red zone, but when they got in the red zone, we played really, really good defense.”

On what he learned about his team from this week’s performance:
“I learned their guys are going to fight. They showed up when they had a really good week of practice. They worked their butts off all week, and I like our football team. I know I've said that before, but I really like our football team. I really think if I can get this team to operate on all cylinders, we can be a team that gets better, and better, and better throughout the year, and a team that can beat anybody. But we have to operate on all cylinders, and I have to continue to figure that out. I’ve got to continue to make minor tweaks, and we have to continue to make minor tweaks to figure out the formula, right? Because we have it, we have it. We have everything, we're there. It's just, what is the best thing for us? What is the combination? We're still on the hunt for that. I know that doesn't make anybody happy, starting with me. I wish, but it is what it is. We keep going to work every day, we keep getting better every day, and us as a staff keep getting better to figure out how to tweak and change things to the best of these guys' ability. Got a long season ahead.”

On how (RB) Cardae Mack’s performance will affect strategy moving forward:
“It's his birthday today. How about that? Pretty good birthday for him. His mom, we were leaving the hotel and she was like, ‘is my boy gonna play today?’ I'm like, ‘yes, he is, and boy, did he play today.’ So happy birthday! They're an unbelievable family. He's the person he is because of his mama, and she did a great job raising him. Of course, he played well. That's what it is. He's gonna play well, he's gonna get the ball more. That's how it works.”

Arizona State Freshman Running Back Cardae Mack
On first big game gathering his rhythm:
“Just truly a blessing. Everybody did their part. I have been practicing hard, doing everything right in practice, it’s paying off.”

On weight on Mack’s shoulders with his family:
“Just doing everything that I can, everything I do is for my family. I think going out there and doing that for my family makes me happy that I can do that.”

On the 67-yard touchdown rush:
“Trusting the offensive line, they did their job really well, and trusting my coaches on when he teaches us how to break to the second level.”

Arizona State Junior Linebacker Martell Hughes:
On dealing with adversity and making adjustments during the game:
“Big plays are going to happen. It's part of the game. Just going in and taking play-by-play is the biggest thing. Watching that first play and then going in there and being able to go into that next play with a different mentality and playing together.”

On main things to hone in on defense:
“Just the little things, the details. Dialing in and making sure everybody's on the same page. I know last week we weren't on the same page, and then going into this week, that was the biggest thing. It’s the details and making sure we were all on the same page.”

On keeping energy high lengthy halftime weather delay and fans leaving:
“It's just always been us. So not letting outside factors affect us. I know we were in there making adjustments on the defensive side of the ball, keeping the energy up, having fun. So that was the biggest thing.”

Hawai'i Head Coach Timmy Chang Postgame Press Conference:
On the recurring issues in the red zone:
“We gotta be better, the mistakes are hurting us. If mistakes do happen, you gotta be able to overcome them and try to prevent them. The message to the team is that everything matters. Especially the energy they play with and the physicality they play with. It’s all there, but it really comes down to the details and going out there and playing error-free football.”

On the team’s confidence moving forward from the lose: 
“We gotta be better down there. The feelings you check at the door, and you figure out a way, and that's what we focus on. Figure out a way to get the end zone score. We have our chances. As I'm watching the iPad, seeing the plays, we have things that are happening down there that we can capitalize on.”

On positive takeaways from the game:
“The guys play hard. Defensively we played really hard and on offense we played hard. We just got to go stringing, big play, after play, after play, together. Make the plays count, down the field, a catch, or a block. Just gotta keep building that momentum.”

Hawai'i Players Postgame Press Conference:
Sophomore defensive back Makana Meyer 
On stepping into the rotation:
“It feels like any man in our rotation is ready to step up. It's only been the next man-up challenge for our team. You go down and step up.”

Senior defensive back Elijah Palmer
Opening statement: 
“I feel like everybody has to remember we're a team of faith. So we answer to God. We answer to Jesus Christ before any outside talk. I feel like that's one of the driving forces here at this program that's different from any other program. We don't just pray after the game and pray after the game to draw attention to ourselves. We really do that because that's something we believe in. 
Sometimes the defense has to get turnovers. Offense, they have to make corrections as well. Football is a game of life as well. Being able to battle through adversity, being able to go out and execute, regardless of feeling. We've been here before. We have trust in this locker room. I know my brothers, I’ve had their backs since day one.”