Rivers, Austin, Scrimmage, CB, Etc.

Jason Rivers is profiled in this article by Jason Kaneshiro.

Rivers said he never doubted he'd find his way back. And with his focus reset, he finished second on the team in receptions (72), yards (1,178) and touchdowns (10) on his way to second-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors in his junior season.

"It helped me to appreciate being here," Rivers said of his year off. "Coach Jones talks all the time about it being a privilege being here and I took it for granted. Losing that year, not playing, that was probably the best thing that could have happened to me.

"Once I lost it, that's when I figured out how much it meant to me. I wasn't going to give up, I was going to try my hardest to get back."

Stephen Tsai writes about the backups getting a few knocks in during yesterday's scrimmage.

In a cringe-inducing sequence, Austin fielded a high shotgun snap and, before he could set up to pass, was KO'd by the perfect storm of linebackers Po'okela Ahmad and R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane.

On the over-load blitz, defensive end Elliott Purcell bracketed an offensive tackle long enough to give Ahmad an unobstructed path to Austin. Kiesel-Kauhane arrived at the same time.

"I thought he wasn't going to get up," Kiesel-Kauhane said of Austin.

Also from that article:

More about who made some big plays in the scrimmage, including Tua Maheley and Josh Leonard.

• Ryan Mouton is coming on strong, ascending to #2 left cornerback.


• Fale Laeli resumed practice, while Blaze Soares sat out.


• Keahi Watson has been cleared to practice.

Dave Reardon has more details from the scrimmage.

Others earned VIP cards to the Katoosh Klub, including freshman safety Le'Marcus Gibson, for getting low enough to give as much as he got from 280-pound running back Jason Laumoli.

"I saw big 45 and knew I had to get the legs," Gibson said.

Junior defensive tackle Josh Leonard can claim the rarity of rarities after bagging Santos -- a real-live sack of a UH quarterback in practice.

Also from the article:

• Davone Bess and Jason Rivers may not be return men every game.


• Slotback Eric Shaffer may redshirt.

Dave Reardon has a San Jose State preview.

Ferd Lewis writes about Colt Brennan striving for perfection, even ridiculous perfection.

They have kept him dreaming, too. The thought of a perfect game — no incompletions — teases him. Difficult to be sure for someone who has authored, on average, 41 passes per UH appearance. The closest he's come is a 32-of-39 (82 percent) showing in a 68-37 bombardment at Fresno State. "To go a whole game and not have an incomplete, well, that would be awesome. That would be so sweet."

To see a box score with Colt going 35 of 35 would be nuts -- big dog nuts!

And finally, Pete Thamel, the writer who wrote that excellent NY Times profile on Colt, writes an article/blog entry about Brennan's chances in the NFL. It has interviews with Coach Jones, Matt Leinart, and NFL.com analyst Gil Brandt.

As for Brennan, his view on both the N.F.L. and the Heisman trophy are simple. If he leads Hawaii to a strong season, he’ll get his share of accolades and have a secure professional future.

“I could throw 70 touchdowns, but if we go 5-7 no one is going to care,” Brennan said. “If I throw 30 touchdowns and go 12-0, then I think people may say that I have a shot. All I care about is winning the football games.”