Why wait till Saturday for the University of Hawai'i-Alabama football game?

Why wait four hours for a game to end when you can play it out in 45 minutes?

In fact, why wait till the end of the year to see if UH will be bowl-bound?

If my young eyes and fast fingers are any indication, UH will finish 12-1 this regular season.

Welcome to the world of virtual reality, where most college students will tell you that video games are a necessity to get through a semester full of 75-minute lectures, 80-question exams and the five days of fury known as finals.

NCAA 07 Football, made by EA Sports, gives fans that opportunity any day of the week.

With all NCAA Division I and I-AA teams represented, almost any dream matchup is possible. The game title is huge among the college demographic with even Warrior players taking interest.

"I love that game," said UH quarterback Colt Brennan, who has purchased the game each year since it's first edition was released in 2000.

"Oh yeah, I've got it," said Warriors slotback Davone Bess.

While most non-video gamers can pick up on the game, it does require some football knowledge.

You don't want Reagan Mauia catching a screen pass and you don't want to be passing the ball into triple coverage.

Almost like a real coach, your play-calling will be important.

Third-and-1? Well, June Jones might pass, but I'm pretty comfortable with the ball in Nate Ilaoa's hands.

Second-and-2? Take a shot downfield, throw one up, you've got another down. Likewise on defense, you don't want to be lining up in a nickel package when the opposing offense in on your 4-yard line.

Pump fakes are a nice way to get a safety to commit away from where you want to throw.

Opponent tendencies are important. We all know Alabama has that monster of a tailback in Kenneth Darby.

You may want to bring strong safety Jake Patek or Brad Kalilimoku 5 yards closer to the line of scrimmage against the Crimson Tide.

Boise State runs a lot of misdirection in its offense, so your outside linebackers need to keep contain.

While names of players don't appear on their jerseys, positions and numbers do with a fairly accurate representation of real life.

"I think they did a pretty good job," Bess said of his likeness. (Bess played with a visor shield on his helmet and has dreadlocks.)

"To see people out there you know, that's kind of cool."

Slotback Ryan Grice-Mullins added, "It's kind of weird, as a kid you create yourself and now to be able to play as yourself is a lot of fun."

If the game is any indication, Warrior fans have lots to look forward to this season.

Besides upsetting Alabama, UH will finish ranked No. 25 and will receive a host of postseason honors.

Bess will be named first-team All-American and finish second in the Heisman Trophy balloting. Center Samson Satele will win the Rimington Trophy as the nation's top center, and tackle Tala Esera will earn the Outland Trophy as the best interior lineman in the country. Florida State will win the national championship.

Not all UH players were satisfied with my virtual results.

"Play (the season) another time, you should finish No. 1 and undefeated," said cornerback A.J. Martinez.

SEPT. 2 AT ALABAMA W, 35-13

Colt Brennan passes for 410 yards and four touchdowns and the Warriors upset the 24th-ranked Crimson Tide, 35-13. Slotback Davone Bess has a team-high nine receptions for 183 yards and a score. Newcomer C.J. Hawthorne picks off two Bama passes.

SEPT. 16 VS. UNLV W, 42-38

The Warriors rally behind a career day from Davone Bess and improve to 2-0 with a 42-38 win over the Rebels. The sophomore makes 12 catches for a school-record 395 yards, including three scores. Colt Brennan completes just 19 of his 33 attempts for 464 yards with two interceptions. Bess puts Hawai'i back on top with an 81-yard TD pass from Brennan with 1:36 left to seal the win.

SEPT. 23 AT BOISE STATE L, 31-21

Jared Zabransky completes 21 of his 26 passes for 335 yards and four TDs against no interceptions and the host Broncos beat the Warriors, 31-21. Colt Brennan passes for 429 yards and two scores, but the Boise defense holds on several late third-and-short situations. Ryan Grice-Mullins has 195 yards receiving.

OCT. 7 VS. NEVADA W, 42-35

Reagan Mauia's 2-yard TD run with four seconds left is the difference as the Warriors rally with a 28-point fourth quarter to beat the Wolf Pack, 42-35. C.J. Hawthorne's interception with 2:25 left gives UH the ball back and leads to Mauia's score. Davone Bess is the leading receiver with 153 yards on seven grabs, including three scores.

OCT. 14 AT FRESNO STATE W, 27-14

Senior running back Nate Ilaoa carries 21 times for 108 yards and two touchdowns and the Warriors reel off 27 straight points to beat the Bulldogs, 27-14. Colt Brennan completes 16-of-26 passes for 301 yards and a touchdown.

OCT. 21 AT NEW MEXICO STATE W, 45-7

If ever there was a perfect game, this might be the one. The Warriors, led by its defense, holds the Aggies to just 157 yards of total offense in a 45-7 rout. Safety Brad Kalilimoku gets a pair of interceptions, taking one back for a score, and A.J. Martinez and Solomon Elimimian pick off one pass apiece. The offensive line allows no sacks of quarterback Colt Brennan, who finishes with 270 yards and two TDs.

OCT. 28 VS. IDAHO W, 34-7

Colt Brennan goes 19 of 22, mostly on short passes, with no interceptions for 175 yards and three TDs to lead the Warriors past the Vandals, 34-7. Nate Ilaoa gets his third consecutive 100-yard game with 19 carries for 141 yards. Defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis makes five tackles, including two for losses, and forces a fumble. The offensive line is equally impressive with left tackle Tala Esera leading the way with eight pancake blocks.

NOV. 4 AT UTAH STATE W, 40-0

The Warriors completely dominate this one, racking up 462 yards of offense, including 428 passing by Colt Brennan in a 40-0 rout of the Aggies. Davone Bess has another All-America type day with eight grabs for 223 yards and three scores. Hawai'i improves to 7-1 and finds its way into the polls for the first time this season, landing at No. 24 in the coaches' poll.

NOV. 11 VS. LOUISIANA TECH W, 20-7

Inside linebacker Adam Leonard makes his presence felt with his first career interception and fumble recovery in another defensive masterpiece by the Warriors, who beat the Bulldogs, 20-7. Defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis adds three sacks and forces the fumble that Leonard recovers.

NOV. 18 VS. SAN JOSE STATE W, 31-28

The Spartans lead every second of the game ... except the very last one. Nate Ilaoa's 1-yard swing pass from Colt Brennan with a second remaining lifts the Warriors past the Spartans, 31-28. Brennan goes 25 for 33 with one interception for 375 yards and three scores. Samson Satele and Dane Uperesa get eight pancake blocks apiece.

NOV. 25 VS. PURDUE W, 28-0

The Warriors dominate the Boilermakers and shut out the Big Ten conference member, 28-0. While the offense doesn't put up huge numbers, the defense dazzles with numerous three-and-outs and thunderous hitting. The Purdue offense barely sputters with 56 yards of total offense. Hawai'i jumps to No. 21 in the coaches' poll and makes its debut at No. 24 in the media poll.

DEC. 2 VS. OREGON STATE W, 42-17

Despite injuries to Colt Brennan and Nate Ilaoa, the Warriors rally behind backups Tyler Graunke, Reagan Mauia and David Farmer to manhandle the Beavers, 42-17. Brennan, who throws two interceptions in his first three passes, returns in the second half. Graunke completes 13 of 19 for 190 yards and two scores. Farmer, who splits time at running back with Mauia, finishes with 103 yards and three TDs. A.J. Martinez gets three tackles, a sack and an interception to lead the defense.