When quarterback Doug Flutie led Boston College to an improbable 1984 season, the school reaped a wide array of off-the-field benefits in what became known as the "Flutie Factor."

At the University of Hawai'i, the Colt Brennan-led magical 2007 march to the Sugar Bowl is already showing signs of resulting in something of a Brennan Boom, officials say.

Fall semester applications are up eight percent, UH Alumni Association memberships have risen 21 percent and football season ticket sales, which are on-going, have climbed steadily, according to the school.

In addition, fundraising is rising significantly although, because it coincides with the school's $250 million centennial fundraising campaign, a spokesman said it is difficult to put a precise number on football's contribution to the effort.

But there has been no doubting that a 12-1 season that was the school's most successful and earned a No. 17 finish in the USA Today coaches' poll, gave UH an enhanced awareness, not only in the state among alumni and fans, but nationally.

"Our successful football season and Sugar Bowl experience created tremendous pride and positive exposure for the University of Hawai'i at Manoa," Manoa Chancellor Virginia S. Hinshaw said through a spokesman. But Hinshaw noted, "Our challenge is to make this a trend and not just a momentary spike."

Hinshaw said, "For example, interest in attending UH-Manoa may be up but we still have far to go to impress potential students and their families who visit our campus because our facilities are suffering from decades of neglected repairs and maintenance. We're working to sustain our 'Manoa Moment' and we'll need our community to help do so."

While the student application process for the fall semester is ongoing, Manoa reported 9,872 applications compared with 9,153 last year. It said alumni memberships have risen by 1,354 to 6,770.

Gregg Takayama, Manoa Director of Communications, said online (fundraising) inquiries and contacts increased sharply "we just don't have any hard numbers to the degree that they were stimulated by (football)."