Ikaika, Colt, Graunke

The Advertiser staff writes that Ikaika Alama-Francis will see a specialist in San Francisco to determine the severity of a torn pectoral muscle, an injury he suffered in the Hula Bowl.

Depending on the severity of the injury, his options range from non-surgical rehabilitation to several months of post-surgery recovery.

"That's all speculative," UH defensive line coach Jeff Reinebold said. "Until you know what the injury is for certain, there's no point in gnashing your teeth or wringing your hands. You don't know."

Reinebold said he is hopeful Alama-Francis will be able to participate in next month's National Football League Scouting Combine.

"It's not a knee (injury), it's not a shoulder, it's a muscle tear," Reinebold said. "To what extent, we don't know. But muscle tears are a lot easier to fix than ligament tears. He's going to do fine. He's got a lot of time before the combine."

Best of luck to Ikaika. The article also gives an update on other pro prospects for the Warriors.

Another former UH defensive end, Melila Purcell III, suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament during the Hula Bowl.

Leo Goeas, Purcell's agent, said the injury was diagnosed as a Grade 1, the mildest of the three grades of sprains.

Purcell, running back Nate Ilaoa, center Samson Satele and right tackle Dane Uperesa are expected to arrive in Houston today to begin two months of training. Satele, Uperesa and Ilaoa also were invited to compete in the NFL combine.

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Colt Brennan may make his announcement today, or he may not.

"I think I'll have all of the information I need to make a decision" before today's 2 p.m. news conference, Brennan said. "I may end up postponing it one more day. If something presents itself where I need more time, I'll take more time."

Brennan notified the NFL of an intention to apply yesterday — the declaration deadline for college underclassmen — as a way to keep open his options. The NFL allows an applicant 72 hours to rescind.

"I still haven't decided," said Brennan, whose father sent the notarized application to the NFL yesterday morning. "No, not at all. For me, it's completely win-win. I'll have the time of my life whether I go or whether I stay. No doubt."

Brennan said he needed to receive certain "information" before making a decision. He declined to reveal the "information," saying it was "too personal and too private right now."

Hopefully everything will be put to rest this afternoon. I can't stand any more speculation!

Speaking of which, some NFL scouts talk to Dave Reardon and speculate on where Colt might be drafted.

"If I were him I would go back and play (college) one more year," the scout said of Brennan, who was listed at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds going into last season. "He's a very accurate passer, but he's not very stout and doesn't have a very strong arm. I haven't studied tape on him, but there are probably six or seven (draftable) quarterbacks who I would think are better at this time."

But another scout who has watched him play said Brennan will likely be the third quarterback chosen (behind JaMarcus Russell of LSU and Brady Quinn of Notre Dame), and probably in the first 20 or 25 picks.

"I don't think he'd get to the end of the first round (of the 2007 draft)," he said. "With another good year (at UH) and the team doing well, it could push him up higher, but statistically, how can he get better? What if he throws for 40 touchdowns instead of 58? That's still great, but now might be the time (to turn pro)."

That first guy should lose his scouting job. He hasn't studied tape on Brennan, yet he criticizes him anyway, which leads me to believe, and I'm just speculating here, that he ate what was fed to him by other people who haven't seen Colt play, digested it a bit, and then pulled it out of his ass! Hooahhh!!!

The second scout, and most anybody who has actually seen Brennan play, have great things to say, which, in the end, is bittersweet for Warrior fans! Oh well, looking forward to this afternoon, no matter what Colt decides. If he does leave for the NFL, the Warriors will still be in good hands.

Tyler Graunke came to the University of Hawai'i to replace a record-setting quarterback.

Funny thing is he thought it was going to be Tim Chang, not Colt Brennan.

So, if Brennan announces the intention to leave early for the NFL draft at today's press conference, as many expect, it won't be like the opportunity to step in and lead the Warriors is something that just snuck up on Graunke.

In Graunke's mind, and with his fiercely competitive makeup, he's been the air apparent to the nation's No. 1 passing offense all along. There's just been, as the airlines like to put it, a "slight delay" in the implementation. He's been the future of the Warriors, if only it would just get here.

When Graunke signed with UH in 2004, fresh from setting the state high school single-season passing yardage record in Arizona, he was the apple of head coach June Jones' eye. The feeling was he'd take the controls when Chang, who was a senior, departed. It was why Graunke redshirted while watching Chang polish off the NCAA career passing yardage mark. And why he stayed around as Brennan put down roots and set marks.

The Graunke shall rise like a Phoenix... out of Arizona!