You Can’t Rein In This Colt
From studying Samoan to trying to run over opponents, UH quarterback Colt Brennan has won over teammates. Now, he says, it’s time to start winning some games, starting Saturday night
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On Saturday, quarterback Colt Brennan
hopes to lead Hawaii to victory over
Alabama
The folks at EA Sports don’t seem too think much of the University of Hawaii football team. It’s players are OK. Not particularly fast or strong. The team is middle of the pack. Good enough to beat the mid-majors, but no real threat to the big boys. Not that this bothers quarterback Colt Brennan very much. He just wants to set the record straight.
“They did a horrible job of making our football team,” said the junior, who calls the yearly release date of NCAA College Football one of the most anticipated days of the year. “They made us very mediocre. I think that they realized that with the numbers we put up last year that if they made our rating and our guys equal to production we had last year, that on the game we would be one of the best teams in the game. I think they wanted to even it out so they made all our guys mediocre. There are guys who threw for fewer touchdowns and more interceptions that are rated higher than me. (Brennan says he is rated 56th among NCAA quarterbacks). Nate Ilaua is not that slow. Ryan Grice-Mullen, Devon Bess are not that slow. These guys should be rated higher. That just shows they don’t want to give Hawaii the love. But that’s OK. All that matters is the real thing.”
And the real thing is that UH may have its most explosive offensive team in history. With a veteran offensive line, a deep and talented receiving corps, an in shape and determined Iloua, and a quarterback that led the nation in passing yards and touchdowns, expectations are running high in Manoa. But even with the gaudy numbers and a real chance at something special, it’s meaningless without the W.
When Brennan scrambles with the ball, anything can
happen
“Last year if you look at my statistics you say, wow, but no one really cares because we were 5-7. Victories are the main thing. That’s what people remember the most. You definitely want to put your name up there statistic wise, but I’m really looking forward to putting my name up there for having a season where we just killed it.”
If the defense can hold up its end of the bargain, it may just happen. Defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville is in his second year of retooling the defense around his familiar 3-4 scheme and fans are excited about a unit that features some real talent. Melila Purcell and Ikaika Alama-Francis anchor the D-line, the linebacker position looks deep with C.J. Allen-Jones, Solomon Elimimian, Brashton Satele, Tyson Kafentzis and newcomer Amani Purcell, while all eyes on the secondary are on helmet-rattling free safety Leonard Peters.
Brennan expects this unit to play well. After all, that’s why he came here - to win. Even if it took a while and resulted from an evening that he barely remembers, but will never forget.
On Jan. 28, 2004, while attending the University of Colorado, an intoxicated Brennan entered the room of a co-ed without her permission and refused to leave. Brennan has said that to his knowledge, he did not touch the woman, and that his mistake was that he acted inappropriately and did not leave when told to do so. Brennan plead guilty to burglary and trespassing charges and was sentenced to four years probation. Now two years removed from the situation, he can reflect on the difficult lessons he’s learned.
“It showed me that there are going to be times in life when you’re not going to have control of situations, but you have to be in control of yourself,” said a contemplative Brennan. “That you always have to be on guard. You always have to be ready to make
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