From the moment fans swarmed onto the University of Hawai'i Soccer Field at noon yesterday for the unbeaten Warriors' final autograph session, it was clear the hour belonged to quarterback Colt Brennan.

And an hour was about all there was to it.

With the offensive players lined up on one side of the field and defensive players on the other, virtually the entire fan surge charged straight for Brennan, stationed beneath his own blue beach canopy at the far end of the field.

In fact the session lasted 70 minutes. But at an average of six autographs a minute, Brennan signed around 420 to 450 autographs — factoring in an amazing speed-signing frenzy in the final moments.

Trouble was, officials said ten times as many autograph seekers showed up to have the star quarterback sign helmets, books, posters, photos and footballs.

Less than five minutes after things started, the line leading to Brennan stretched along two sides of the soccer field and up a hill to where it snaked through the practice field.

The line leading to the soccer field backed up two and three abreast along the length of the tennis courts, the parking garage, past the athletic complex, and wrapped around the Stan Sheriff Center. As fans would reach the soccer field entrance, one question was heard over and over again:

"Where's the Colt line?"

By only 12:10 p.m. Neal Sakamoto, chief of campus security, was answering that question with, "Offense is on the right, defense is on the left. Colt's line is up the hill, but I think it's too long already — you probably won't make the one hour because he's leaving right at 1 o'clock."

With that, the throng made its way straight up the hill and to the end of the Colt line.

The line-up to the soccer field was scheduled to start at 10 a.m., but some had gathered hours earlier. Even that was no guarantee of a stellar position in the autograph line. Joan Tamayose of Kapahulu, the very first person in line, was no match for the speed of Megan Takaki of Kaimuki, who ended up being the first person to snag a coveted Brennan signature.

"I outran everybody," said Takaki, 17, who clutched a signed copy of a photo taken weeks earlier of Takaki and Brennan standing together. Out of breath, Takaki was all smiles as she proceeded to the offensive player lineup to add to her autograph collection.

Tamayose was among the first to reach Brennan. She was thrilled.

"I'm just happy I got his autograph," she said.

Far away, matters were getting anxious. Bringing up the very end of the line near the Stan Sheriff Center, Carter and Kimberlee Luke of Hawai'i Kai said, "It would crush our spirits" to miss out on a Brennan autograph.

Five minutes later, at 12:40, their hearts sank when security guard Shaun St. Vincent walked up and down the line informing fans that Brennan's line had been closed and the team would be leaving the soccer field at precisely 1 p.m.

Ten minutes after that, security guard Ephrem Larry was given the unpleasant task of breaking the news to those who managed to make their way to within a few yards of Brennan.

"All right everyone, they have to leave exactly at 1 o'clock," Larry said. "So some of you probably won't get autographs."

Former Makakilo resident Monique Vankuren of Las Vegas, along with three of her five sons, was among the fans who came tantalizingly close. Their position in line was just about 15 feet away from Brennan's tent at the moment security guards pulled the plug and whisked the quarterback away like a rock star and into a waiting van.

"Oh, no! Are you serious? Oh, no!" exclaimed her eldest son, Kaipo, watching Brennan leave. "All this time, just to end up with no Colt Brennan."

Bernice Vegas, who got in under the wire to collect the very last Brennan autograph on her Warriors football jersey, was ecstatic.

"I never thought for one minute that I'd make it up there in time," said Vegas, 75. "But I prayed about it, and next thing I knew, there I was. I got the very last one!"

Ronette Kawakami, 48, of Niu Valley, was outraged that she stood in line in the heat and occasional rains only to leave empty-handed.

"This is just another disaster in a string of disasters," Kawakami said. "This is just a huge disappointment. The players are wonderful. The coaches are great. But the athletics department has mismanaged yet another event."

John McNamara, associate athletics director for external affairs, said everything about this football season had been unprecedented — including the autograph session.

"When you have a limited amount of time and an incredible number of people, there's going to be folks who are going to be very happy and some who didn't get what they came out for," he said.

Leon Florendo also didn't get an autograph, but remained stoic.

"I was in striking range," said Florendo, 40, of Kapahulu, who brought a canoe paddle he made for Brennan to sign. "But you know, it wasn't my time. And, with the team doing as well as they are, they don't need any negative energy — any negative mana. I'm just hoping there will be other opportunities."

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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