The AP has a long interview with Colt about the season’s perfect start, and his rough first few games after his ankle injury.
Entries from October 2007
AP: Brennan: Best is yet to come for No. 12 Hawaii
October 30, 2007 · Leave a Comment
Categories: Uncategorized
Colt on the 15-person Davey O’Brien Award list
October 29, 2007 · Leave a Comment
The Davey O’Brien Award is given out every year to the best college QB.
Last year, Colt was one of three finalists.
This year, he’s on the 15-person list. It will eventually be wilted down to 3 finalists, and then a winner.
Categories: Awards
Who needs a QB: continued
October 29, 2007 · Leave a Comment
1st edition here, written on October 8th, quoted:
1) Chicago Bears. Already a forgone conclusion, the question for the Bears probably won’t be if they draft a QB, but who that QB will be. Even if Griese performs well, don’t expect him to be anything but a stopgap to give the newly drafted QB more time to develop.
2) Atlanta Falcons. Vick. Vick. Vick. Falcons need a big draft pick to make people forget about their QB troubles.
3) Minnesota Vikings. Tavaris Jackson does not look like a franchise QB, and the Vikings have little depth at the position.
4) Tampa Bay Bucs. Coach Gruden loves to stockpile QBs. Garcia only has a few years left in the league, and he is backed up by three young QBs (L. McCown, Gradkowski, and Simms) – all of whom are unlikely to be the franchise QB. Expect one or two of them to be cut in the offseason, and the Bucs to pickup a QB in the first or second round.
5) Carolina Panthers. Jake Delhomme’s season-ending injury is a concern, as is his age, and David Carr likely isn’t the long-term solution.
Honorable Mentions: St. Louis Rams (Can Bulger recover from his injury?), New Orleans Saints (can Brees recover from his slump?), Baltimore Ravens (McNair is old, and the backups aren’t franchise QBs), Kansas City Chiefs (is Brodie Croyle the QB of the future?)
3 weeks later, nothing has really changed.
The Bears still need to draft a QB, the Falcons are unlikely to believe that Byron Leftwich is their future, and the Minnesota Vikings shouldn’t believe that Tavaris Jackson will still be a starter two years from now (to be fair, the Viking’s offensive problems aren’t entirely his fault, and one shudders to think about Colt going from June Jones’ fun offense to the Vikings awful O).
One team I neglected to mention, and one commenter pointed out, is the Detroit Lions. The Lions have been surprising this year at 5-2, with Jon Kitna. Kitna has produced a Pro Bowl-possible year, completing nearly 70% of his passes (2nd only to Tom Brady!), with a 93.5 QB rating — 9th best in the league.
Kitna is 35, meaning he probably only has a few more years left in the league. What are the chances that the Lions draft a QB in the 1st or 2nd round (Colt’s projected draft rounds)? Given Kitna’s age, drafting a QB in the first or second round is possible given the Lions’ reputation for stockpiling offensive talent in the draft (see all their WR picks). Also, if they continue to win, their first round pick will be in the mid to late range, where Colt is being projected by some draft analysts. (Though I’d certainly take Colt first overall, I’m not the GM of any NFL teams and I’ll thus defer to the ‘conventional draft wisdom’ in predicting the draft).
Further note: Bumping down the Lions’ chances of taking a QB is the fact that the Lions took Drew Stanton in the 2nd round of this year’s draft. Much depends, then, on whether Mike Martz likes what he sees of the Michigan State product.
Categories: Draft
Colt WAC Player of the Week
October 29, 2007 · Leave a Comment
University of Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan was named Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week today, his third such honor of the season.
Brennan completed 29 of 46 passes for 425 yards and six touchdowns in leading the Warriors to a 50-13 victory over New Mexico State Saturday at Aloha Stadium.
Brennan has a school-record 119 career touchdown passes, just two behind NCAA record-holder Ty Detmer of Brigham Young.
Categories: Awards
Hawaii in the BCS? Looks increasingly likely …
October 28, 2007 · Leave a Comment
Will the University of Hawaii crash the BCS party? It looks increasingly likely …
Hawaii is now ranked 14th in the BCS rankings released today.
For more on the BCS bowl possibilities, read this piece on FoxSports.
What does it all mean? The concern before was that Hawaii wasn’t in control of its own destiny. Win all your football games in the NFL, and you’ll go to the Super Bowl. Win all your games in baseball (impossible, but for the sake of argument …) and you’ll go to the World Series. Heck, win all your games in NCAA Division 1AA college football and you’ll go to the championship. (They have playoffs).
But win all your games in NCAA college football Division 1A? Well, it wasn’t for certain that Hawaii would go to one of the 5 BCS games. (And no, we’re not even being greedy about wanting to go to the national championship game).
With a #14 ranking, and three games to go against reasonably respected opponents (Nevada, Fresno, Washington) and one team which, if it keeps winning, will probably be in the top 20, you can see how a BCS bowl is in the cards.
Now, for the other tricky part: winning those four remaining games. Stay tuned.
Categories: Uncategorized
Aftergame: UH vs. NMSU
October 28, 2007 · Leave a Comment
Honolulu Advertiser: Brennan moves up TD ladder
Honolulu Star-Bulletin: Brennan wins arms race with Holbrook
Categories: Uncategorized
UH vs. NMSU
October 27, 2007 · Leave a Comment
Colt’s line in Hawaii’s 50-13 win over New Mexico State:
29/46, 425 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT.
Brennan now has 119 career touchdowns, and is just 2 shy of tying the all-time career touchdown record held by Ty Detmer.
Next week Brennan and Hawaii are off. After that, they host conference rivals Fresno State.
Categories: Stats
NMSU Pregame
October 27, 2007 · Leave a Comment
No. 16 Hawaii hopes to stay undefeated against New Mexico State. AP
Aggies ready to face Hawaii, Las Cruces Sun-News.
Brennan: ‘Shut up and win’, Honolulu Advertiser.
Colt on the rest of the season, Honolulu Advertiser:
Quarterback Colt Brennan appears to have recovered significantly from a sprained right ankle. He has walked without a limp this week, and has not missed any reps in practice.
His good health will be welcomed by the homecoming crowd. Brennan has played a total of four full quarters in three home games this season.
Brennan said the most important part of the schedule begins now in the Warriors’ quest for perfection.
The Warriors’ first seven opponents are a combined 11-42. None has a winning record.
The final five opponents are 21-17, with Fresno State (Nov. 10) and Boise State (Nov. 23) as the only teams above .500.
“Yeah, we’re 7-0, but the way everyone sees it — the way we see it — we’ve just handled business,” Brennan said. “It was trying to get through those seven, and not mess up to get to this point. The next five are what decide it. Now that we’ve got these games in front of us, we’re excited. We’re happy. We can lay it all on the line and go for it.”
The Sporting News on Heisman Watch:
QB Colt Brennan, Sr. Hawaii
Two weeks ago: Brennan completed 44 of 75 passes for 545 yards and four touchdowns with four interceptions, and ran for a touchdown, in the 42-35 win over San Jose State.
As long as Hawaii is unbeaten, and as long as the numbers keep rolling in, Brennan will be a favorite. With a certain shootout this week against New Mexico State, he needs to put up the gaudy stats to get back in the picture. Mostly, it’ll come down to the Fresno State, Boise State and Washington dates in the final month.
Categories: Uncategorized
Chris Spielman on Colt / Heisman
October 26, 2007 · Leave a Comment
3. Colt Brennan, Hawaii
Not many people are high on Brennan, but I like him. He’s certainly done enough to be mentioned in the discussion. He is second only to Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell in total offense, and he displayed poise and leadership ability in directing Hawaii to a come-from-behind, overtime win at San Jose State in Week 9. He’s a very, very talented football player.
While it’s quite a longshot that Colt will win the Heisman, as several commentators have noted, just getting invited to New York would be a reward in and of itself. If Hawaii wins the rest of its games, and Colt minimizes interceptions, he certainly has a shot at going.
Categories: Quotes about Colt
Brennan who’s hot in CFB.
October 26, 2007 · Leave a Comment
Duane Rankin of the Eerie Times-News on who’s hot in college football:
Colt Brennan. The Hawaii senior QB has an unreal 113 career TD passes. The No. 16 Rainbows haven’t played since Oct. 12, but Brennan should quickly rekindle Saturday against New Mexico State, which ranks 91st nationally in pass defense.
Categories: Quotes about Colt
Colt catches a fish
October 25, 2007 · 8 Comments
Multi-sport athlete Colt Brennan goes fishing. And catches fish!
Categories: Uncategorized
Colt interview with Alabama Register
October 19, 2007 · Leave a Comment
On his decision to play in the Senior Bowl.
“For me, the Senior Bowl is important and it’s a big game,” Brennan told the Press-Register in a telephone interview Thursday afternoon. “I’m kind of one of those guys who has a lot of questions surrounding him. The Senior Bowl will give me the chance to answer all of those questions.
“This is the best game you can go to and have a chance to perform in front of NFL coaches and scouts and play for an NFL coaching staff. It will be a chance for me to be up close with those people and for them to get a chance to see me play and for me to answer all their questions.”
On playing in the Run and Shoot
It can also be frustrating, he said, to be typecast as a one-dimensional quarterback, another misconception he hopes to erase in Mobile.
“I think it all benefits me,” he said. “I grew up playing in the West Coast offense. I didn’t play in a shotgun offense until I got (to Hawaii). This offense is a lot of fun, but the whole offense runs on (the quarterback). That can be a lot of pressure. You have a chance to do some good things, but there’s a lot of responsibility that comes with it. Some people don’t understand that.
Categories: Colt in Media
Colt to the Senior Bowl
October 17, 2007 · 1 Comment
Colt will play in the 2008 Senior Bowl.
“There are so many stereotypes and things I have to overcome being in the position I am,” Brennan said. “It’s not like I’m a guy like (Louisville quarterback Brian) Brohm or Brady Quinn of last year, where everything is already settled, where everyone thinks you’re good. I have all of these question marks still. People haven’t seen us. Unfortunately, our nationally televised game wasn’t my best game, and the conditions were really tough to showcase how talented we are.”
“As the season goes on, and we get a couple of more games on national TV, hopefully more questions will be answered,” Brennan continued. “Going to the Senior Bowl, really, is the best opportunity for me to make a statement.”
Hale said Brennan will benefit from the meetings with NFL officials during Senior Bowl week.
As you may know, of all the post-season all-star bowl games, the Senior Bowl is the most influential because it is attended by more NFL scouts and coaches than the other all-star bowl games.
Also, the Senior Bowl is coached by NFL coaches. In 2007, Mike Nolan (49ers) and Jon Gruden (Bucs) coached the South and North squads, respectively.
Colt could also attend the 2008 Hula Bowl, which will be held on Oahu. Generally, agents discourage players from attending two all-star games but because the Hula Bowl is held on Oahu, Colt may want to have one more game in front of Hawaii fans.
Last year’s Senior Bowl QBs were: Kevin Korb (2nd round), Jordan Palmer (6th), Chris Leak (undrafted), Tyler Palko (undrafted), Drew Stanton (2nd), and Troy Smith (5th).
Categories: Draft
Brennan = Heisman odds actually pretty good
October 16, 2007 · 1 Comment
A points-spread site gives the odds on Brennan getting the Heisman:
With Kentucky’s 43-37 triple OT victory over top ranked LSU last weekend, Andre Woodson is currently the 3-1 favorite at Sportsbook.com to win this year’s Heisman Trophy. The heavy betting action on the Kentucky quarterback this week catapulted him into the favorite ahead of QB Matt Ryan from Boston College (5-1).
If Woodson and his teammates can duplicate what they achieved last weekend as they take on the #9 ranked Florida Gators on Saturday, expect even more bettors to pile in. Meanwhile, Ryan’s next game is October 25th when the Eagles go on the road to take on the 11th ranked Virginia Tech on national TV. If BC can remain undefeated and earn a spot in the in the BCS National Championship game, Ryan could be a cinch for the award as long as he keeps up with his stellar play. Remaining unbeaten may be a tough task as their remaining five opponents combine for a 22-10 record.
Other candidates that are getting a ton of love from bettors include Arkansas RB Darren McFadden (5-1), Colt Brennan from Hawaii (7-1) and Michigan RB Mike Hart (8-1). McFadden has been one of the leaders throughout the season because of his talent and stats, but the fact that his team is winless in SEC play should kill his chances. Brennan is also getting action based on the mind boggling stats he his putting up but also because his Warrior teammates are 7-0 and ranked in the top 20. Their schedule could hurt his chances as they have yet to play a ranked opponent.
Categories: Uncategorized
Brennan to blog
October 16, 2007 · 3 Comments
As the old saying goes, if you can’t stay up with the East Coast writers … join them.
Colt Brennan will blog for The New York Times. Nicknamed the ‘newspaper of record,’ the exposure from Colt’s blog will no doubt help Brennan and Hawaii — and undoubtedly show the human side to the Hawaii QB that the state has grown to know and love.
Colt Brennan will write a blog for the New York Times, beginning next week. He will write mostly about the receivers.
Brennan is a communications major, which should give him an edge on other students.
“What are you doing today, Colt? “
“Just finishing my piece for the New York Times.”
Categories: Colt in Media
The win that almost wasn’t — UH vs. SJSU
October 12, 2007 · Leave a Comment
For the first three quarters of UH’s game against San Jose State, Colt Brennan did not look like a Heisman contender. In the last 5 minutes of the game, Brennan looked like Heisman gold.
In the fourth quarter, the Warriors fell to a 35-21 deficit. Then Hawaii’s defense, and Colt Brennan and the offense, rallied back for a thrilling 42-35 overtime victory.
Colt’s numbers against SJSU were good except for one big number: 4 picks. Overall, Colt completed 44 of a WAC-record 74 passes for 545 yards and four touchdowns.
Colt also broke the 3-season touchdowns responsible for record previously held by Ty Detmer (122).
For the season, Brennan has 10 picks (5 against Idaho, 4 against SJSU, and one against Louisiana Tech). In 2006, he threw 13 picks. The next year, he threw 12 picks. To be invited to New York for the Heisman ceremony, Colt will certainly have to minimize INTs.
Of course, what Brennan will tell you is that there’s a more important number: 7 wins. Hawaii is 7-0. Would Brennan trade an invitation to NY for an invitation to a BCS bowl? Absolutely.
Hawaii will have an extra week (bye) to savor an incredible come-from-behind win that few predicted with five minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Categories: Stats
Ferd Lewis: Heisman still within Colt’s reach
October 10, 2007 · Leave a Comment
Colt Brennan tossed just one touchdown last week in an injury-abbreviated performance against Utah State following a five-interception showing at Idaho.
Time to throw in the towel on Hawai’i quarterback’s fading Heisman Trophy candidacy?
Not necessarily. Not yet, anyway.
With Friday’s national cable game at San Jose State comes a last-chance opportunity to begin leaping back into consideration. And that’s what it’s going to take: a leap. Nothing he hasn’t done before. Just something he hasn’t done while throwing off a sometimes unstable right ankle.
If Brennan can remain healthy enough to pick apart defenses again — and begin doing it in bang-up fashion for the straight away — he might yet revive the fast-fading hopes of getting to New York in December as a finalist.
Significant “ifs” to be sure given the tenderness of his right ankle, the opportunities for reaggravating it and the inviting target it poses for opponents.
But midway through a season in which no one has yet roared out in front in the Heisman derby, who is to say he couldn’t get hot enough to become a contender? Surely nobody who has seen him pick apart Fresno State, Arizona State or Purdue.
Categories: Uncategorized
What could have been … for SJSU
October 8, 2007 · Leave a Comment
While Colt Brennan was a walk-on to Hawaii, that doesn’t mean he didn’t have offers coming out of junior college.
As noted by ESPN.com, Brennan actually had several scholarship offers — including San Jose State, who Colt will play this Friday:
“I was embarrassed,” Brennan said. “I wanted to get away and then come back a new man, somebody different, somebody new. Hawaii really presented that to me.” Brennan had scholarship offers from five or six schools, including San Jose State, where his cousin, Brent, served as wide receivers coach. Jones didn’t offer a scholarship but rather a promise: to make Brennan the first quarterback selected in the NFL draft.
As they say, the rest is history.
Categories: Uncategorized
Who are the top 5 teams that need a QB next year?
October 8, 2007 · 3 Comments
This is a feature the Colt Brennan Blog will do throughout the NFL season.
What team needs a QB like Colt Brennan?
The assumption this feature is operating under is that Colt will be a first round, or early 2nd round pick.
The teams that will probably need to draft a QB in next year’s draft:
1) Chicago Bears. Already a forgone conclusion, the question for the Bears probably won’t be if they draft a QB, but who that QB will be. Even if Griese performs well, don’t expect him to be anything but a stopgap to give the newly drafted QB more time to develop.
2) Atlanta Falcons. Vick. Vick. Vick. Falcons need a big draft pick to make people forget about their QB troubles.
3) Minnesota Vikings. Tavaris Jackson does not look like a franchise QB, and the Vikings have little depth at the position.
4) Tampa Bay Bucs. Coach Gruden loves to stockpile QBs. Garcia only has a few years left in the league, and he is backed up by three young QBs (L. McCown, Gradkowski, and Simms) – all of whom are unlikely to be the franchise QB. Expect one or two of them to be cut in the offseason, and the Bucs to pickup a QB in the first or second round.
5) Carolina Panthers. Jake Delhomme’s season-ending injury is a concern, as is his age, and David Carr likely isn’t the long-term solution.
Honorable Mentions: St. Louis Rams (Can Bulger recover from his injury?), New Orleans Saints (can Brees recover from his slump?), Baltimore Ravens (McNair is old, and the backups aren’t franchise QBs), Kansas City Chiefs (is Brodie Croyle the QB of the future?)
Disagree? Did a miss a team? Let me know in the comments section.
Categories: Draft
Colt expected to play Friday
October 8, 2007 · Leave a Comment
An update on the status of Colt Brennan from the Honolulu Advertiser:
The swelling subsided substantially in Colt Brennan’s sprained right ankle, and the senior quarterback vowed to play in Friday’s nationally televised road game against San Jose State. “I’ll be going all out this week,” Brennan said, noting the Warriors have a bye the weekend after Friday’s game. “I’ve got nothing to lose.”
Colt reportedly practiced today, as well.
Categories: Uncategorized
UH vs. USU — Brennnan plays 1 half
October 7, 2007 · 1 Comment
In UH’s game against USU, Colt went 19/25 (76%), 216 yards, and 1 TD with no INTs. Colt was knocked out of the game late in the 2nd quarter and lay on the field injured for a scary few minutes.
“My (right) ankle got caught when I got tackled, and I sprained it again,” Brennan said. “There’s a sharp pain in a specific spot on my ankle. It’s sore, but it’s part of football.”
After being treated on the sideline for a couple of minutes, Brennan walked gingerly off the field.
According to a post game interview on ESPN 1420 am, Brennan said he will play against San Jose State on Friday and take advantage of the bye week after the game.
Categories: Stats
College Football News: Colt not a system QB
October 6, 2007 · Leave a Comment
From CFN’s mailbag feature by Pete Fiutak:
How many skill position players from BCS Conferences would put “Heisman type” numbers against Hawaii’s schedule? 20? 50? Seriously, I’m not speaking hypothetically, I think this is a valuable question. You’re telling me Terry Grant of Alabama couldn’t run for 200 yards a game and put up “Heisman quality” numbers against that schedule? I think so. What about Jonathan Stewart or Dennis Dixon of Oregon? Justin Forsett at Cal? Darren McFadden? He’d have 2500 yards rushing. They’d all put up ridiculous numbers against that schedule. I’m not saying Brennan isn’t a great player. I really have no idea. My point is that all there is to go on are great numbers against weak opponents. How can a player in that scenario even be considered for the Heisman? – BD
A: Outside of a few exceptions, didn’t the guys you mentioned already have a shot to put up big numbers so far against weak opponents? Brennan is an NFL-caliber quarterback, and not Timmy Chang running a system. I asked Brennan the same thing, wondering what USC would do with the Hawaii offense, and he pointed out a few different factors that make Hawaii different. First of all, the facilities are a joke compared to the top notch programs. This is a program just trying to make ends meet. Second, it gets the under-the-radar talents. The troubled guys, the ones looked over by the Pac 10, and the guys from the area. That tends to form a bond that gives these guys huge chips on their shoulders that goes beyond mere talent. Third, the offense really is that good. Take a look at what it did to Oregon State, Purdue and Arizona State last year. Remember, we’re talking about a guy who might be the greatest statistical quarterbacking monster of all-time, and he’s doing it while sitting out large chunks of blowout games.
Categories: Draft · Quotes about Colt
Colt’s Mom on Raising Colt
October 4, 2007 · Leave a Comment
The Honolulu Advertiser has an interview with Betsy Brennan on raising Colt.
You can read the feature here.
Categories: Media Features
No rest for Brennan this week
October 1, 2007 · Leave a Comment
Hawaii football coach June Jones said there are no plans to rest starting quarterback Colt Brennan and the most famous sprained ankle in the state this Saturday against Utah State at Aloha Stadium.
So barring a major setback, Brennan starts?
“Exactly,” Jones answered.
Categories: Media Features
