Combine Wrap-Up / UH and Under Armour

Stephen Tsai talks to Colt Brennan about his showing at the NFL Combine.

In UH's four-wide offense, Brennan was mostly in the shotgun, aligned 5 yards from the line of scrimmage. Yesterday, he had to simulate taking snaps from the center, then retreating in three-, five- and seven-step dropbacks.

"To use the old cliche," said Brennan, who took snaps from under the center in high school, prep school and the University of Colorado, "it was like riding a bicycle again. It wasn't that difficult."

Tsai also talks to one of Colt's critics:

Even a relentless critic, football analyst Mike Mayock, softened his stance.

"Coming out of the Senior Bowl, I wasn't impressed," said Mayock, who acknowledged that Brennan reported to the combine in better shape. "He gained 15, 18 pounds, and that was helpful. He's kind of sneaky athletic, and he makes some plays. I want to get the tapes of this and watch them."

Dave Reardon talks to Colt as well as a couple of scouts.

Two veteran NFL scouts who were present told the Star-Bulletin yesterday that Brennan helped himself with the most impressive display of passing accuracy at this year's combine.

Said the scout quoted above: "The people who doubted his arm strength probably don't now."

Another scout said he would be surprised if any of the four former UH players at the combine -- Brennan, Bess, Grice-Mullins and receiver Jason Rivers -- were not drafted in April.

"If I was a betting man I would say yes. I say they all get drafted," the scout said. "Ryan helped himself the most. He worked out pretty dang good. Colt helped himself from the Senior Bowl."

Tsai writes about the performances of Rivers, Bess and RGM.

(RGM) ran the 20-yard shuttle in 4.16 seconds, fourth-best among the wideouts. On Saturday, he bench pressed 225 pounds 17 times.

He was particularly sharp in the field drills yesterday, catching seven of the eight passes thrown in his direction.

Bess said: "My 40 killed me. I've never been the type who can just run and go. I'll have to work on it some more."

Wideout Jason Rivers said he "wasn't happy" with his time in the 40-yard dash. He ran his first sprint in 4.55 seconds; the second attempt was slower.

"I felt slow for some reason," Rivers said.

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And it looks like the Warriors will be wearing Under Armour apparel starting this year.

The University of Hawaii and Under Armour, Inc. today announced a multi- faceted eight-year partnership that designates Under Armour as the performance apparel and footwear outfitter for the University of Hawaii Warrior football team. In addition to providing technologically advanced performance apparel and footwear, the partnership includes Under Armour marketing rights.

The partnership, slated to begin in July 2008, deepens Under Armour's on- field presence in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). In addition to the Warriors, the brand has official outfitter relationships in The Atlantic Coast Conference, The Big 12, and The Southeastern Conference, including agreements with The University of South Carolina and Auburn University.

"We're thrilled to add Hawaii to the very select list of football programs we're outfitting," said Kevin Plank, Under Armour Chairman and CEO. "We identified UH as a team we wanted to outfit with our state-of-the-art performance apparel, uniforms and footwear, and we look forward to giving their student-athletes an advantage on field while also using the relationship to showcase our latest innovations in footwear, uniform designs, fabrics and textiles."

Some quotes from the press release:

"Under Armour offers a quality line of football products and our players will be thrilled to wear its apparel," Greg McMackin, head coach, said. "Additionally, they have successfully positioned themselves as the aggressive new brand in this field, so we will benefit from having them as an apparel and footwear supplier as well as a marketing partner."

"This is certainly a landmark deal for UH Athletics," said Carl Clapp, interim athletic director. "It will provide our football student-athletes with quality game and practice products, while also providing UH with an outstanding marketing partner. The revenue that Under Armour has committed will enhance our financial situation and we are thrilled to be aligned with such an exciting and progressive company."

I wanna see Vili in an Under Armour commercial.