Upon further review, quarterback Colt Brennan and the rest of the University of Hawai'i football should be relieved that a perfect storm was avoided.

In the second quarter of the 41-34 loss to Boise State, Brennan completed a pass to slotback Ryan Grice-Mullins, who suffered a sprained left ankle. Grice-Mullins declared his availability as "day-to-day" for Saturday's game against Eastern Illinois.

But on that play, Brennan narrowly escaped serious injury. While releasing the pass, Brennan jumped as an onrushing Boise State defender barreled directly toward Brennan's knees.

"If my feet were planted, I would have been done for the year," Brennan said.

UH coach June Jones did not learn of the incident until reviewing the videotape of the game.

"I didn't understand why a guy would go low like that," Jones said. "It's a good thing (Brennan) jumped in the air. ... (If not) he might have gotten hurt really seriously."

Defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville noticed immediately, and walked onto the field, screaming in protest.

"The ref came over to me and said, 'Wow, did you know the guy was coming?' " Brennan recalled. "I said, 'No.' I then said, 'Do you mind going over and telling him not to do that again?' That was kind of messed up. I know Glanville was furious."

Brennan said the whole play was a "weird thing."

"Maybe it was luck on my side," he added. "I was supposed to go to the front side (on the right). I didn't like it, so I went to the back side. I could feel somebody approaching hard and fast. I didn't know he was coming low. But, luckily, when you play enough football, you learn to react. When I went to throw it, I jumped backward, and threw while my body was in the air. He went right for my knees. Luckily, my feet were above ground, so he swept me."

Brennan's availability is crucial to the Warriors' success. Jones said Brennan's performance against Boise State "was about as good as I've seen him."

Brennan completed 25 of 36 passes for 388 yards and five touchdowns. Jones said six of the passes were dropped, "so that makes him 31 out of 36."

Brennan was intercepted twice, but one was off a deflection and the other occurred after a receiver ran a route incorrectly.

"He made throws under pressure in critical situations when you had to have the throws," Jones said. "We're trying to fight to get it to a seven-point game, he has two touchdown passes dropped, he doesn't even let it phase him. He throws the next strike for a first down, and then throws another one for a touchdown. That's the stuff the great ones have, and I'm seeing those things in him now."

That also caught the attention of the 15 NFL scouts in attendance who only were supposed to be evaluating the seniors. During his television show on Sunday, Jones hinted Brennan, a fourth-year junior in his second season at UH, might apply for the 2007 NFL draft.

Relax, coach.

"Right now, I'd definitely stay," Brennan said. "I love going to school out here. I love playing in this system. I'm enjoying myself right now. I got a second chance, and when you get a second chance, you tend to embrace it and take everything in. I really appreciate coach saying those things, and it gives me a lot of confidence, but I know he wants me to stay."

Brennan said he enjoys the "college experience."

"When you go to the next level, you don't experience the Boise States, the Alabamas, the college atmosphere," he said. "I think it's pretty fun. I would hate to leave early, and not have it work out. I would look back and literally regret and hate losing 13 or 14 college games."

Besides, he said, "those decisions are almost made for themselves. By the end of the year, people will probably be saying, 'Stay back a year. That will help you.' That's probably what's going to happen."

LIFE IN FAST LANE

If Grice-Mullins is unavailable to play this week — he was on crutches and his left foot was in a brace yesterday — it would trigger a chain reaction in which starting right wideout Ross Dickerson would rotate at right slotback, and freshman Malcolm Lane would be the backup at right wideout behind Dickerson and Ian Sample.

Lane has been a valuable scout, portraying an opposing team's quarterback or wideout during defensive drills.

"I have to learn our offense, because I've been running the scout team's offense for so long," Lane said. "I'll be ready physically."

The initial plans were for Lane to redshirt this season. But his strong performances in practices forced the coaches to reconsider.

"I was surprised," Lane said. "I was getting myself ready for spring."

He also is adjusting to the intricacies of Division I-A football. Lane is a graduate of an American high school in Germany.

"When I first came here, I had no confidence," Lane said. "To run against the first team and actually do OK, and for coach (Jones) to be pleased with my ability, that gives me a lot of confidence. It's been a wonderful opportunity. I couldn't be more pleased."

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