I think University of Hawai‘i Warrior football coach June Jones had a point when he said Friday night’s 28-26 win over Nevada solidified them as a legitimate, all-around team. “Everybody thought it’s just Colt Brennan. We have a lot of
I think University of Hawai‘i Warrior football coach June Jones had a point when he said Friday night’s 28-26 win over Nevada solidified them as a legitimate, all-around team.
“Everybody thought it’s just Colt Brennan. We have a lot of great players,” Jones told the media.
And, in fact, they do. Have we already forgot that when Brennan was out with a bad ankle, backup quarterback Tyler Graunke came up with the win over Charleston Southern? Granted, Charleston Southern might not have been the toughest competitor, but it was still a win nonetheless.
I like Brennan. He’s a very nice guy in person. But let’s face it, no matter how many times people try to say it’s all about Colt, if it weren’t for the fact that everyone else around him also plays well, there wouldn’t be a team.
Graunke was 33-for-46 with 358 yards and two touchdown passes and one 7-yard rushing TD, Friday.
Those number mirror that of Brennan’s.
Three of Hawai‘i’s receivers have National Football League-like stats.
Wide receiver Davone Bess is second in the NCAA, Friday’s game stats not included, in receiving, with 254 catches for 3,190 yards and 39 touchdowns in 35 games. Bess also leads the nation in touchdowns with 39.
Teammate Jason Rivers is right behind him in third with 253 catches for 3,508 yards and 29 touchdowns in 47 games. Rivers also recently broke the Western Athletic Conference record for consecutive games with a reception during 47th game.
Ryan Grice-Mullins is fifth in the nation with 206 catches for 3,078 yards and 32 TDs in 31 games.
Kicker Dan Kelly won the game with a field goal with 11.7 seconds. It was a kick Kelly had to take twice when Nevada coach Chris Ault called a timeout in an attempt to ice his legs.
On defense, Solomon Elimimian is 11th in the nation in tackles, averaging 11 per game, with 47 solo tackles and 52 assisted for a total of 99.
And what was the deal with the pre-game predictions? When everyone thought Graunke was going to get the start, Nevada was favored to win by a field goal.
Then polls flip-flopped when word broke that Brennan would be playing and reported that Hawai‘i was going to win.
How is that for little faith in the team?
I’ve even seen the team referred to as Colt & Co., which I suppose isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it doesn’t show too much support for everyone else who is at practice just as often as Brennan is.
I understand Brennan is the popular guy. He’s the guy in Sports Illustrated and on the cover of ESPN the Magazine and on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.”
But let’s not discredit Jones’ ability to make other players good and let’s not discredit the team’s ability to play well.
It will be interesting to see what everyone thinks of the team this week leading up to the WAC championship game Friday night against Boise State at Aloha Stadium.
Brennan is expected to return to the big stage and break Ty Detmer’s NCAA record of 121 touchdown passes. Brennan only needs one more to do it.
As the Warriors sit at a perfect 10-0, 7-0 WAC, their Bowl Championship Series hopes are still alive. Representatives from the All-State Sugar Bowl and the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl attended Friday night’s game.
It was reported that FedEx Orange Bowl reps will attend this Friday’s game against Boise State.
Good luck to Brennan as he returns to the starting position on Friday, but let’s not forget we’re cheering for Hawai‘i and not just one person.
• Lanaly Cabalo, sports editor, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or lcabalo@kauaipubco.com.
