No longer is it only opposing defenses that University of Hawai'i quarterback Colt Brennan poses dilemmas for.

Now it is his coaches.

With most quarterbacks the issue of when to take them out surrounds too many interceptions and not being able to move the ball or put up points.

But when you have Brennan, someone who has thrown but one interception in the last 184 passes and is the triggerman on the nation's most productive passing offense, there are altogether different questions. Like: After how many points does he come out? Is there a distinct Brennan Line, the point after which leaving him in becomes foolhardy?

Those questions — and more — hung in the chilly mountain air during the second half of UH's 63-10 victory at Utah State last week and are likely to bubble to the surface again Saturday night at Aloha Stadium if Louisiana Tech's status as a 38-point underdog holds true.

The Colt quandary, you suspect, is one most of the 119 NCAA Division I-A head coaches would give their courtesy cars to have.

Still, the questions are topical with the way the Warriors are putting up pinball-like points. At Utah State, Brennan seemed headed for a well-deserved pat on the back, a warm parka and a seat on the sideline with 4 minutes, 11 seconds left in the third quarter and UH up, 42-10. He had just thrown his first interception after a school record 179 passes without one.

With six touchdown passes and 330 yards, it seemed an opportune time to call it a day and let the Tyler Graunke further polish his skills. But Brennan was brought out for the Warriors' next series to close the third quarter and drove UH to a touchdown and 49-10 lead, adding 83 yards to his yardage total.

Not before being knocked on his wallet by a shot to the numbers from linebacker Paul Igboeli, the first of a couple licks that made Warrior fans cringe. Afterward Brennan said he'd only had some wind knocked out of him.

After that series, Graunke was brought in for UH's first possession of the fourth quarter.

With a game seemingly in the bag and a such magical season in progress you'd hate to risk Brennan's health or the rest of the season on a disabling shot. The Aggies weren't doing it, but you could see where some vanquished opponent of less sportsmanship and self control might turn saltiness to a late hit.

That's a thought that has to be balanced by what's fair to Brennan and UH and the still-fresh memory of Nevada. So well had the UH offense been executing and so swiftly had it been scoring — five touchdown drives of five plays or less — that Brennan had seen only 31 plays when he threw the interception at Utah State. A tour of duty that hardly qualifies as padding the stats for someone who rarely sees fourth quarter playing time anymore as he chases several NCAA records with seemingly one hand tied behind his back.

Then there is the lesson of Nevada. The Wolf Pack, you'll recall, rallied from a 41-21 fourth-quarter deficit to have four shots are forcing overtime — or winning it all with a two-point conversion — in the final minute last month before losing 41-34, at Aloha Stadium.

Brennan has helped make this a special season for UH, knowing when to say when on taking him out can keep it that way.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.