Fresno, Injuries, Heisman

CC compiles news from Robert Kekaula, who previews this Saturday's game, Liz Chun, who reports on the injury to Kealoha Pilares, and Kanoa Leahey, who discusses the injuries to Pilares and Francis Maka.



Dave Reardon has some details about Maka's injury.

UH’s depth on the defensive front has taken a hit, as end Francis Maka is out 2-to-4 weeks with a lower leg fracture he suffered in practice yesterday.

Also from that post is news that Kenny Estes is giving up his redshirt year.

Freshman Kenny Estes has joined the first-team kickoff unit and will likely play on other special teams the final third of the season.

Estes, who grayshirted last year, had been tabbed for a redshirt season. But the Waimea graduate has shown up so well on tape and done consistently well as a scout team player that the coaches decided to promote him for the stretch run.

Rob DeMello has a great post on the Leahey & Leahey blog detailing his Top 3 games in the UH-Fresno rivalry over the years.

And finally, Daniel Lyght of The Fresno Bee has a good article about the obstacles Colt Brennan has to overcome to even be considered for the Heisman, including geography, "the system," the schedule, and stupid Heisman voters.

So far this season Brennan is 225 of 328 for 2,820 yards and 26 touchdowns. Twenty-four quarterbacks have attempted more passes than Brennan, but only three have more touchdown passes. He's seventh in the nation in passing efficiency with a 160.3 rating. Eight quarterbacks have more passing yards.

The only game he did not play in this season was against Charleston Southern, when he had an injured ankle. In that game backup Tyler Graunke was 22 of 36 for 285 yards, two interceptions and three touchdowns.

Graunke's numbers didn't sit well with (Heisman voter Graham) Watson.

"When the backup comes in and does the same thing you did," Watson said, "that speaks to the system more than it does the quarterback."

That's just lazy. And I've read the same thing from other writers too. According to them, the better Graunke performs, the worse Colt is. Like you can't have two good QBs on the same team. Like you can have a hippopatomus run the system and have it lead the nation in passing efficiency. Like there's even a frickin correlation.

And these are the same guys who would be bashing Colt for "padding his stats" if he actually was able to play and put up numbers against Charleston Southern. It's a no-win situation, having to rely on the judgment of these fools looking for excuses to dismiss Colt. Anyway.