Brennan Doing Better, 2nd Half, Sol

Stephen Tsai has an update on Colt Brennan's ankle.

After the game, Brennan's right ankle ballooned.

"Even the trainer thought it would be really bad in the morning," Brennan said.

But when he woke up yesterday morning, the swelling on the ankle had subsided.

"When I went to get treatment, they were like, 'I can't believe how much the swelling went down. What did you do?' " Brennan recalled. "I don't know, but for some reason, the swelling went down."

That's definitely good to hear. Also from the article, Michael Lafaele should be ready to go against SJSU after sitting out the Utah State game with a strained hamstring, but Ryan Mouton will most likely be out again with a sprained knee.

Dave Reardon analyzes how the first half the schedule affects UH's national ranking, and looks ahead to the second half.

It's clear though, that the tough half of the marathon is the second one.

The tests become sterner this week, as the Warriors play at San Jose State on Friday, a date former UH coach Dick Tomey has certainly had circled since the WAC released its schedule.

Then it's New Mexico State, Fresno State, at Nevada, Boise State and Washington. One loss, at least up to the Boise State game, and the Warriors can kiss the Top 25 goodbye.

Also on that page is this week's Warriors Replay. Here's #4:

4. Over the shoulder

The Setup: Hawaii 31, Utah State 20, 52 seconds remaining, second quarter, Hawaii ball, first and 10 at Utah State 40.
The Play: WR C.J. Hawthorne has a half step on his defender as he nears the end zone on a post route. Graunke leads Hawthorne with a pass that Hawthorne eyes over his left shoulder before diving forward to catch beyond the goal line.
The Impact: A tremendous display of precision and athleticism is also a big factor on the scoreboard, as Hawaii keeps the pressure on with a quick-strike, two-play drive to answer Utah State's 12-play march.
Hawthorne: "Tyler didn't skip a beat; he was amazing. He put a smile on everyone's face."

Ferd Lewis looks at the history between UH and its former coach Dick Tomey and what he brings to this Friday's game. Ferd also discusses the second half of the schedule.

The Spartans are just 3-3 with a win column that parallels some of UH's (Utah State, Idaho and UC Davis) and a loss column (Arizona State, Stanford and Kansas State) tougher than what UH has faced this year. What San Jose State, even with its early-season disappointments, adds up to is, for the first time in weeks, an opponent capable of beating the Warriors if they don't show up or take their time in warming to the task.

Incrementally, beginning with San Jose State, the schedule gains in degree of difficulty with Fresno State, Nevada, Boise State and Washington coming in short order. The pinata parade is about to end. The meat of the season looms and the Spartans are a good reminder.

Solomon Elimimian, who is 3rd in the nation in tackles per game, is this week's WAC Defensive Player of the Week.

Elimimian, a junior from Los Angeles, Calif. (Crenshaw HS), made a WAC season-high 20 tackles in 16th-ranked Hawai‘i’s win over Utah State on Saturday night. He also had a half a sack, one tackle for a loss and broke up a pass in the game. The 20 tackles were three shy of tying the school record.