Sugar Bowl Preview, Colt, Etc.

Here's a pretty cool montage previewing the Sugar Bowl, from a Georgia fan:



Dramatic!

CBS Sportsline's Dennis Dodd ranks the bowl games, with the Sugar Bowl at #1.

Both teams have offensive stars (Hawaii's Colt Brennan; Georgia's Knowshon Moreno). Hawaii has the nation's longest winning streak (13). Georgia is fourth (six).
This game strikes to the heart of SEC pride. Mark Richt's salary is bigger than the entire Hawaii football budget ($2.2 million). Hawaii hasn't played a team this big, this physical, but that chip on its shoulder might make up the difference. Georgia hasn't faced a passing offense this prolific.
Upset alert: Any stray cheerleaders after the game are likely to get a proposal from someone.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann copies Linda Lingle's pineapple bet.

Athens-Clarke Mayor Heidi Davison and Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann have a friendly wager over the Jan. 1 Bowl Championship Series game in New Orleans, and if Davison loses, it'll be the pits.

A member of Hannemann's staff called Davison last week to set up the bet.

"He said, 'How about some pineapples for some peaches?' " Davison said Monday. "I said, 'OK, I can do that.' "

Pete Schrager of FoxSports.com thinks Colt Brennan is cool.

Everyone knows Brennan's career accomplishments. The single-season Division I-A passing touchdown record; the career Division I-A passing touchdown record; 23 other Division 1-A records; an undefeated season, etc. That's all good and well. Is Brennan an NFL quarterback, though?

I think so. Having watched several Hawaii games over the past three seasons, I've become absolutely enamored with the way he throws a football. It's unlike most other quarterbacks I've seen. The release it most resembles is Kerry Collins' motion, and even that is a stretch.

The scouts and NFL writers are going to pick apart his throwing style come February. That's almost as definite as taxes, death, and another Lindsay Lohan meltdown. But that shouldn't deter teams from going with the guy. Most draft pundits I've spoken to have Brennan listed as a late second-, early third-round draft pick.

Personally, with the absolute dearth of quality QB's in the league — as made evident in an NFL week where Brock Berlin, Chris Redman, and two McCown brothers started games — I can't see him slipping out of the first round. Brennan has a fantastic touch and one of the quicker releases you'll see.

And Lyell Marks praises Brennan on The Bleacher Report.

Brennan led that comeback against San Jose State, and defeated Mother Nature in the process. Against Washington, he rallied the troops when it mattered most. He got his teammates to the Sugar Bowl—where they deserve to be.

No team has beaten the Warriors this year. Soft schedule or not, that garners recognition.

So the next time you call Hawaii a joke, or dismiss the Warriors as overmatched, understand that you're sending a personal message to that kid Brennan.

And the next time you decide that the game is over because Hawaii is down by 21 points, consider the Joe Montana-like poise that Brennan has shown all year.