Updated at 11:25 a.m., Friday, September 14, 2007
Brennan looks to continue his hot hand against UNLV
By JAYMES SONG
AP Sports Writer
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The only game he fell short of that mark was against UNLV, not that the Rebels had any luck slowing down the Warriors' prolific passer. Brennan played 2½ quarters at Aloha Stadium against UNLV, threw for 296 yards and left with Hawai'i ahead 42-0.
With triple-digit temperatures in Las Vegas, in addition to the much-improved Rebels, Brennan expects a tougher challenge when No. 24 Hawai'i faces UNLV on Saturday to wrap up its 12-day road trip.
"I expect a highly disciplined defense, a young, talented quarterback who is really starting to get the offense going and a team with a lot to prove," Brennan said in a telephone interview from Houston, where the Warriors practiced earlier in the week.
HE'S HOT, HOT, HOT
Brennan has been as hot as Vegas. He has passed for 964 yards and 10 touchdowns in the first two games and has an eight-game streak of 400-plus yards dating back to last season. He couldn't care less about his stunning stats.
"If I handed the ball off every time and we scored every time and won — and I never threw it — I would be just as happy, honestly," Brennan said. "That's why I think I have the success and numbers that I do, because I don't care about the numbers."
Hawai'i (2-0) is trying to start 3-0 for the first time in 15 years. The 1992 team, known then as the Rainbow Warriors, is considered one of the best in school history after finishing 11-2 with a win over Illinois in the Holiday Bowl.
The new Warriors have visions of going undefeated and crashing the Bowl Championship Series. Those goals were nearly derailed last week when Hawai'i escaped with a 45-44 overtime win at Louisiana Tech.
"It was a great character win," Brennan said. "Hats off to La Tech for what they did, but we never gave up, five time zones away from where we live. ... We got the victory and that's all that matters."
The senior signal caller acknowledged the game "definitely put a scare into us."
Hawai'i coach June Jones said winning by a point did more for the team than winning by 30 or 40. The Warriors were favored by 28.
"You don't build character without any kind of adversity," he said. "When you can withstand the adversity we did in that game, that's what makes an average team a great team."
UNLV caused a scare of its own last week against Wisconsin. The then fifth-ranked Badgers scored with 1:53 left to win 20-13. Rebels coach Mike Sanford said it was encouraging for his team to play toe-to-toe, with a big, physical ranked team.
"I think we re-established or reset the bar of what our expectations are of ourselves," he said. "On the other side of that, regardless of how we played and how close it was, we lost. That's disappointing and frustrating."
UNLV AGAIN FACING RANKED OPPONENT
For the first time in history, UNLV (1-1) is playing a ranked opponent at home in back-to-back weeks.
UNLV will try to keep Colt and Co. off the field.
"They've scored a lot of touchdowns and a lot of points," Sanford said. "I think the thing you try to do is slow them down and hopefully get them to make some mistakes."
What makes Brennan so good, Sanford said, is his decision making, accuracy, arm strength and ability to avoid the rush. Hawai'i also has excellent receivers in Davone Bess, Ryan Grice-Mullins and Jason Rivers.
Sanford is high on his own quarterback, freshman Travis Dixon, a dual threat who leads the team in rushing.
"Their quarterback is scary," Jones said.
The Warriors lead the nation in passing (544 yards a game) and are fifth in scoring (54 points). There's no doubt about Hawai'i's offensive prowess, but its defense is questionable, especially against the run.
Hawai'i safety Jacob Patek said the defense worked on eliminating mistakes and tackling better.
"As a defense, I think we can improve with just playing a more technically sound game," he said.
10,000 HAWAI'I FANS EXPECTED AT GAME
More than 10,000 Hawai'i fans are expected to attend the game at Sam Boyd Stadium. Las Vegas is often referred to as the "Ninth Hawaiian Island," because of the large number of island expatriates and visitors.
Brennan said he looked forward to seeing the Hawai'i fans after a long road trip that began Sept. 5.
"It's a nice culmination to our journey," he said. "It'll be great if we can get the victory, but it will be a battle."
