The Graunke

Tyler Graunke talks to Stephen Tsai about Colt Brennan's return.

Graunke yesterday emphasized that Brennan is one of his best friends. "We're going to do our best to win," Graunke said. "If our best chance is with Colt, that's the way it is."

Still, Graunke could not mask the disappointment over his situation — not Brennan's decision — that impacts his immediate football future.

"It hurt, to be honest with you, it hurt my heart," Graunke said.

In recent weeks, when Brennan said he was 50-50 between applying for the 2007 National Football League draft and returning to UH, Graunke prepared for both outcomes.

"I thought he was going to go," Graunke said. "When he didn't, it hurt a lot more than I thought it was going to.

"That's just my competitive attitude," Graunke added. "I want to be the guy in there. I've never been a bench warmer (before attending UH). I don't think it's selfish wanting to play. I shouldn't feel guilty for that. Colt has started for two years already. I've got two more years. My future was almost in his hands. He chose to come back. I've got to postpone my dreams for another year. Hopefully, I'll start as a senior."

Graunke said he has no intentions of transferring. He pondered that option — briefly — in 2005, when Brennan transferred to UH.

"If I went somewhere else, I'd probably start at the bottom," Graunke said. "I'd have to learn the system. I know I can help out another team, but there's something special about being here. In the worst-case scenario, I get to to start my senior year."

You gotta feel for him. He's a great player, a great competitor and would do great as a starter for UH. I'm glad he's honest about his feelings and it sounds like he'll be sticking around, ready to jump in at a moment's notice. Ahhh, the Phoenix out of Arizona shall rise in '08!

Ferd Lewis writes about Colt shining that light on the facilities situation.

Indeed, Brennan could have skipped off to the pros and his presence in the NFL would have benefitted UH. He could have written a nice check to his alma mater after draft day and been done with it.

But he chose to return and invest what is most precious right now, a season of his time and effort, in the program.

Now, you'd like to see UH and the community reciprocate by matching that gift and its spirit.

Brennan's father, Terry, suggested UH could start "with putting soap in the locker room and showerheads on the showers." It should be noted he didn't seem to be joking.

What would seem to be this most elementary of requests was a wish of some standing for the Warriors in 2006 and indicative of other, larger concerns. For as the quarterback noted, "if you look around and see these facilities, a lot of the things here at this program are not Division I."

Brennan's return and the goodwill and interest it is already engendering provide a launching point for improvements rarely seen. Ones that should be capitalized upon, not squandered.

He's doing a lot for UH and it looks like he'll leave it a better place than he found it.