After an impressive college career that twicesaw him nominated for the Heisman Trophy, new Riders QB Colt Brennan spent some time with the NFL’s Washington Redskins.
Photograph by: Al Messerschmidt , Getty Images
REGINA — In light of Colt Brennan’s phenomenal popularity in Hawaii, it is only appropriate to begin with a reference to surfing ... of the Internet.
Brennan’s signing with the Saskatchewan Roughriders was widely reported online after the announcement was made on Tuesday. The Washington Post, for example, was among the multitude of media outlets that posted an item on the decision by the former University of Hawaii Warriors star quarterback to resume his football career in the CFL.
Roughriders signings seldom attract such widespread attention. Then again, Roughriders signings seldom boast eye-popping credentials such as those of Brennan, who was a Heisman Trophy candidate in his junior and senior seasons at Hawaii.
Although there is an understandable buzz in the Rider Nation over Brennan’s impending arrival, nobody sounds more excited than the quarterback himself.
“When I was given this opportunity, this chance to go up to Canada, it basically gave me a chance to go back to doing what I love, which I didn’t have this past year,’’ Brennan, 28, says from his off-season home in Newport Beach, Calif.
“I really wanted to go back out and play football. Now I’ve got a chance to go somewhere and not only go play football, but also take on a whole new experience. I’m really excited about going up to a different country and playing football.’’
Brennan hasn’t actually played football since the summer of 2010, when he spent the pre-season with the Oakland Raiders before being among the NFL team’s final cuts. He signed with the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League last June, only to have the UFL suspend the team’s operations.
Mind you, he has faced greater forms of adversity, such as the multiple fractures and head trauma he sustained during a Nov. 19, 2010 car accident in Honolulu. He was the passenger in a vehicle that crossed the centre line and was involved in a head-on collision.
“They put me back together really well, so basically I’m good to go,’’ Brennan says. “Even with the places that I sustained some really good injuries, (the doctors) said that because of what they put in, I’m actually stronger now on the side that I had injured.
“Also, not being able to play football last fall also gave my body some rest. I’m all healed up and I’m feeling great. Now it’s just about getting in shape and getting ready to play football. It’s an exciting time for me right now.’’
Brennan was synonymous with excitement while playing at Hawaii. In 2006, he threw 58 touchdown passes — an NCAA Division 1 single-season record — and amassed 5,549 aerial yards while completing 72.6 per cent of his passes. As a result of the monster season, he was sixth in Heisman Trophy voting.
The following year, Brennan was third in the Heisman race (behind Tim Tebow and Darren McFadden) after throwing for 4,343 yards and 38 scores.
The Washington Redskins then selected Brennan in the sixth round (186th overall) of the 2008 NFL entry draft. He enjoyed an impressive pre-season as a rookie with the Redskins, as evidenced by a quarterback rating of 109.9, and spent the 2008 regular season in Washington.
Hamstring and hip injuries forced Brennan to spend the 2009 campaign on injured reserve. Washington released him in August of 2010, and he was cut loose by Oakland the following month.
Despite a series of setbacks, the personable passer is anything but downcast.
“I’ve done a lot of things in my life. You’ve got to be thankful for things,’’ he says. “Obviously, playing in the NFL is always kind of the dream when you grow up here, so it would be nice to hypothetically get back to the NFL one day, but I told the people from Saskatchewan that if I’m going to go there to Canada, I’m going there. I’m all in, basically.
“I’m excited to go up there and I’m going to make the best experience I can out of it, and hopefully get a chance to start and be a football player who’s playing on the weekends.’’
Due to the presence of Darian Durant, Brennan will be vying for a roster spot as a backup when the Roughriders open training camp on June 3. He anxiously awaits the first workout, given that the CFL is a passing-oriented league.
“I’m excited to see how the game evolves,’’ he says. “I can’t wait to see these 20-yard end zones. They told me they had 20-yard end zones and I was like, ‘Where do I sign?’ The field’s bigger and everything. The whole experience is what’s exciting about the situation. It’s fun, and it’s something that I’ve needed. It has been a tough year.’’
Brennan hopes that his fortunes will be reversed as a Roughrider, even if Saskatchewan is far removed from the NFL, not to mention Hawaii.
“They’ve been great to me over the years in Hawaii,” he says. “So many people have been asking me very genuinely, ‘Where are you going to be playing?’ I feel so good now to say, ‘I’m going to Saskatchewan. I’m going to be playing in Canada.’ I think everyone’s kind of excited to see me get back out on the football field.
“It just sounds like a great experience for me. I miss football. I can’t wait to go and play football and I’m excited for the whole experience.’’
rvanstone@leaderpost.com
Brennan’s signing with the Saskatchewan Roughriders was widely reported online after the announcement was made on Tuesday. The Washington Post, for example, was among the multitude of media outlets that posted an item on the decision by the former University of Hawaii Warriors star quarterback to resume his football career in the CFL.
Roughriders signings seldom attract such widespread attention. Then again, Roughriders signings seldom boast eye-popping credentials such as those of Brennan, who was a Heisman Trophy candidate in his junior and senior seasons at Hawaii.
Although there is an understandable buzz in the Rider Nation over Brennan’s impending arrival, nobody sounds more excited than the quarterback himself.
“When I was given this opportunity, this chance to go up to Canada, it basically gave me a chance to go back to doing what I love, which I didn’t have this past year,’’ Brennan, 28, says from his off-season home in Newport Beach, Calif.
“I really wanted to go back out and play football. Now I’ve got a chance to go somewhere and not only go play football, but also take on a whole new experience. I’m really excited about going up to a different country and playing football.’’
Brennan hasn’t actually played football since the summer of 2010, when he spent the pre-season with the Oakland Raiders before being among the NFL team’s final cuts. He signed with the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League last June, only to have the UFL suspend the team’s operations.
Mind you, he has faced greater forms of adversity, such as the multiple fractures and head trauma he sustained during a Nov. 19, 2010 car accident in Honolulu. He was the passenger in a vehicle that crossed the centre line and was involved in a head-on collision.
“They put me back together really well, so basically I’m good to go,’’ Brennan says. “Even with the places that I sustained some really good injuries, (the doctors) said that because of what they put in, I’m actually stronger now on the side that I had injured.
“Also, not being able to play football last fall also gave my body some rest. I’m all healed up and I’m feeling great. Now it’s just about getting in shape and getting ready to play football. It’s an exciting time for me right now.’’
Brennan was synonymous with excitement while playing at Hawaii. In 2006, he threw 58 touchdown passes — an NCAA Division 1 single-season record — and amassed 5,549 aerial yards while completing 72.6 per cent of his passes. As a result of the monster season, he was sixth in Heisman Trophy voting.
The following year, Brennan was third in the Heisman race (behind Tim Tebow and Darren McFadden) after throwing for 4,343 yards and 38 scores.
The Washington Redskins then selected Brennan in the sixth round (186th overall) of the 2008 NFL entry draft. He enjoyed an impressive pre-season as a rookie with the Redskins, as evidenced by a quarterback rating of 109.9, and spent the 2008 regular season in Washington.
Hamstring and hip injuries forced Brennan to spend the 2009 campaign on injured reserve. Washington released him in August of 2010, and he was cut loose by Oakland the following month.
Despite a series of setbacks, the personable passer is anything but downcast.
“I’ve done a lot of things in my life. You’ve got to be thankful for things,’’ he says. “Obviously, playing in the NFL is always kind of the dream when you grow up here, so it would be nice to hypothetically get back to the NFL one day, but I told the people from Saskatchewan that if I’m going to go there to Canada, I’m going there. I’m all in, basically.
“I’m excited to go up there and I’m going to make the best experience I can out of it, and hopefully get a chance to start and be a football player who’s playing on the weekends.’’
Due to the presence of Darian Durant, Brennan will be vying for a roster spot as a backup when the Roughriders open training camp on June 3. He anxiously awaits the first workout, given that the CFL is a passing-oriented league.
“I’m excited to see how the game evolves,’’ he says. “I can’t wait to see these 20-yard end zones. They told me they had 20-yard end zones and I was like, ‘Where do I sign?’ The field’s bigger and everything. The whole experience is what’s exciting about the situation. It’s fun, and it’s something that I’ve needed. It has been a tough year.’’
Brennan hopes that his fortunes will be reversed as a Roughrider, even if Saskatchewan is far removed from the NFL, not to mention Hawaii.
“They’ve been great to me over the years in Hawaii,” he says. “So many people have been asking me very genuinely, ‘Where are you going to be playing?’ I feel so good now to say, ‘I’m going to Saskatchewan. I’m going to be playing in Canada.’ I think everyone’s kind of excited to see me get back out on the football field.
“It just sounds like a great experience for me. I miss football. I can’t wait to go and play football and I’m excited for the whole experience.’’
rvanstone@leaderpost.com
