Hawai'i quarterback Colt Brennan arrived in the Big Apple yesterday, ready to represent the 50th state as one of the four finalists at the Heisman Trophy ceremony today.

And while the Heisman is college football's most coveted individual prize, it does not merit the top spot on Brennan's wish list.

Given the choice, he would rather beat Georgia in the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl.

"Definitely," Brennan said last night. "With all of the negative talk by so many analysts, and everybody out there so quick to try and dog us, if we go out and beat Georgia and have a great game and win that bowl game, it'll be bigger than the Heisman Trophy."

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and Arkansas running back Darren McFadden are considered to be the front-runners for the Heisman. Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel is the other finalist.

"Who knows what will happen," Tebow said. "I'm here to enjoy the experience."

But Brennan said Tebow, who swept the top quarterback awards, should be favored.

"Watching how the football awards have gone, it's hard to imagine they'd give a Maxwell Award, a Johnny Unitas Award and a Davey O'Brien Award, and then (another) guy would win the Heisman over that guy," Brennan said. "Considering how many awards went (to Tebow), I'm happy to be here."

Asked if there was a chance for an upset, Brennan, who entered the season at 1,000-to-1 odds of winning the award, said: "There's always a chance. But if there's any integrity, there's a good chance I probably won't get the award."

To be sure, Brennan was a popular figure yesterday, proving the aloha spirit was alive, well and carrying a Sharpie.

Several autograph seekers greeted Brennan at the Newark International Airport luggage area.

Later, fans swarmed the stretch limousine carrying Brennan when it pulled into the driveway of the Midtown Manhattan hotel. Security was summoned to help Brennan exit the limo.

"It's been crazy," said UH sports media relations director Derek Inouchi, who is on Brennan's 10-person guest list to attend today's Heisman Award show at the Nokia Theatre in Times Square.

The so-called "Colt Following" earned certification as a mania in January, when Brennan announced he would return for his senior season and relinquish an opportunity to apply for the 2007 National Football League draft. It steadily increased with the release of a DVD promoting Brennan as a Heisman candidate, and grew further as the victories added up to a 12-0 regular season.

On Wednesday, Brennan was announced as one of four Heisman finalists, earning an invitation to New York to participate in the nationally televised ceremony.

Twenty-nine former Heisman winners will attend the show, which begins at 3 p.m. Hawai'i time. One of the guests is quarterback Ty Detmer, whose NCAA record for career touchdown passes was eclipsed by Brennan this season.

Brennan's first appearance as a Warrior on the East Coast, where a great portion of Heisman voters reside, has sparked interest.

"I'm here, but I don't exactly know the magnitude of why," Brennan said. "That's probably a good thing. I'm really grateful to be here. Honestly, with the way this year went, I'm really thankful. It's a great honor."

Brennan and Daniel met during the Elite 11 football camp in July. He was introduced to Tebow and McFadden yesterday.

"We had a chance to really get to know each other," Tebow said. "We're having fun. We're having a good time with it. It's a great experience to be here with all of these great athletes. I'm having a great time."

Brennan said: "It's neat when I walk around with these guys. It's kind of like, 'these are the Heisman candidates, and I'm one of them?' It's way cool."

Brennan had a hectic first day.

The four Heisman finalists had lunch together.

Then Brennan, who forgot a luggage bag in Honolulu, went shopping. Brennan, who was accompanied by his girlfriend, Shakti Stream, and his parents, sister and grandmother, mixed in sightseeing.

"St. Patrick's Cathedral is probably the coolest sight I've seen so far," Brennan said. "I'm having fun and enjoying this whole experience."

In the evening, the finalists attended the semi-formal High School Heisman Dinner.

Then they boarded a double-decker bus for a four-hour tour of Manhattan.

"It was a fun day," Brennan said, noting he was impressed by New Yorkers' reaction to the UH football program. Brennan wore a Hawai'i sweatshirt during the bus tour.

"It's crazy to see how far Hawai'i has come," Brennan said. "Not just me, but as a team. It's crazy to see the recognition out here."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.