Football has taken Colt Brennan from his hometown of Orange County, Calif., to Hawai'i, to New York — for the Heisman Trophy ceremony — and now to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl.

It is in Louisiana where Brennan, owner of numerous NCAA and school records and adored in Hawai'i, will suit up one final time as a Warrior.

Over the past three seasons, Brennan has thrown for 13,997 yards in June Jones' run-and-shoot offense, including 4,174 this season.

He finished third in the Heisman voting after completing 71.4 percent of his passes with 38 touchdowns against 14 interceptions.

"Colt led the nation in passing as a sophomore and he really didn't know what he was doing," Hawai'i coach June Jones said. "He could always make all the throws, but now he knows so much more about defenses and decision-making."

And imagine, Hawai'i almost lost him to the NFL before the season.

But the 6-foot-3, 201-pound Brennan withdrew his name from the 2007 NFL Draft in an emotional press conference on Jan. 17, opting to return for his senior season.

During the press conference, Brennan said: "I've been a part of something special these last few years ... I like the person I'm becoming in Hawai'i."

The decision has helped propel Brennan to a state-hero status and the Warriors to unprecedented levels.

"It meant a lot and I'm just happy that he got what he wanted and that was the season we had this year," said slotback Davone Bess, one of Brennan's favorite targets. "Now we got one more to go."

Brennan's quick release and uncanny accuracy have given defensive coordinators headaches all year.

"He's a great passer. His accuracy is off-the-chart; it gives receivers the opportunity to catch a lot of balls," said Bess. "We don't have to worry about making circus catches or diving for balls because he's so accurate, he puts it right on you."

As a junior, Brennan led the Warriors to an 11-3 record and a Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl victory over Arizona State.

In 2006, Brennan led the nation in numerous offensive categories, including total offense (422.5 yards per game), completion percentage (72.6) and passing yards per game (396.4). He also broke NCAA records for touchdown passes (58) and pass efficiency (185.96). Brennan was the winner of the Sammy Baugh Award and a finalist for the Davey O'Brien Award.

"It was pretty amazing what we accomplished last year, but we came out hungrier this season," Brennan said. "Once we got that taste of winning, we didn't want to let it get away."

This season, he was again named Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year after leading Hawai'i to its first outright WAC title.

"It was a great honor, but it was thanks in large part, to the year we had," Brennan said. "I didn't play in two games and we still got the job done. That's what I'm most proud of."

Brennan has led fourth-quarter comebacks at San Jose State and in the final two regular-season games against Boise State and Washington, both of which were telecast nationwide on ESPN2.

"It showed that this team don't give up. We've been fortunate to come out of this undefeated, but our biggest game is ahead of us," said Bess. "We had a lot of confidence even when we were losing late, but with him leading us, we know we can win."

But for Brennan, the accolades and awards cannot compare to the team's success.

Even during the Heisman festivities earlier this month, Brennan said he would "definitely" rather win the Sugar Bowl than win the Heisman.

"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," Brennan said.

Reach Kalani Takase at ktakase@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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