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Favorite receiver, opposing team

Hawaii QB Colt Brennan’s former teammate comes to town with Boise State

Colt Brennan and Jerard Rabb grew up just a few miles apart in Southern California, but didn't meet until a little more than a year ago. It was on a basketball court, and it was the time and place Brennan realized their fate as football players might be intertwined.

Boise State at Hawaii Where: Aloha Stadium When: Saturday, 6:05 p.m. (Gates open at 3 p.m.) TV: Live on pay per view (Dig. 255). Call 625-8100 on Oahu or (808) 643-2337 statewide. Delayed on Sunday, 10 a.m. on KFVE (Ch. 5). Radio: KKEA-1420 Internet: sportsradio1420.com Parking: $5. Lot gates open at 2:30 p.m. Alternate parking at Leeward Community College (free, $2 shuttle), Kam Drive-In ($5, free shuttle). Shuttles are from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and approximately 1 hour after game ends. Parking also at Radford High School ($3, no shuttle). No tailgating at alternate parking sites. Stadium security: No weapons, backpacks, coolers, umbrellas or megaphones are allowed in the stadium. Fanny packs, purses and handbags will be permitted subject to check. Tickets: $5-38. Available online at hawaiiathletics.com, by phone at 944-2697 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., or at the Stan Sheriff Center, Aloha Stadium, UH Campus Center, RainbowTique at Ward Center and Windward Community College's OCET office. Student buses: Four free buses will pick up students in front of Gateway House (2653 Dole Street), leave for the stadium at 4:30 p.m. and return 45 minutes after the game ends.

"He's an unbelievable basketball player," said Brennan, now the Hawaii starting quarterback. "I remember my first days at Saddleback (Community College), our conditioning for football was basketball and this kid kept going to the hoop, dunking, and I'm like, 'God, what position does this guy play?' They said, 'Receiver,' and I said, 'Sweet.' I was pretty fired up."

Brennan and Rabb went on to become good friends and one of the best junior college passing combinations in the nation last year. On Saturday they try to beat each other's teams as Rabb's Boise State Broncos (1-2) visit the Warriors (1-2, 1-0 Western Athletic Conference) at Aloha Stadium.

They took a recruiting visit to Hawaii together last year and might have been a package deal for the Warriors.

"It was close," Rabb said in a phone interview yesterday.

But Rabb committed to the three-time WAC champion Broncos early, while Brennan finished dealing with legal issues stemming from a dorm incident at Colorado a year prior and weighed options. He chose to walk on at UH, and won the Warriors' starting job two games into this season. Brennan has completed 73 percent of his passes and thrown six touchdowns and just one interception.

"I've seen him (on TV). He's doing what I thought he would do," Rabb said.

UH coach June Jones coveted the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Rabb, especially since the Warriors were losing most of their veteran receivers from last year.

"We thought that he would be a guy who really fit into what we do. It doesn't surprise me the success that he's having," Jones said.

Rabb has emerged as Boise State's top receiver in the early going. He has 11 catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns.

Broncos coach Dan Hawkins said Rabb will get better and better.

"He's doing a great job. He's a great guy who works hard and has a ton of talent," Hawkins said. "He came here in the spring, and that helped his development."

Senior left tackle Daryn Colledge is also a fan.

"He's not a big talker, but he's a big jumper, leaper," Colledge said. "He can go get a ball and can be explosive."

Rabb's first love was basketball, but he didn't get any Division I offers, so he went to Irvine Valley College. That didn't work out, so he moved on.

He and Brennan helped Saddleback to an 8-0 record and a conference championship last year. Rabb caught 83 passes for 1,368 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2004.

"We slowly began to realize last year that every accomplishment I would have had a lot to do with him, and every accomplishment he had had a lot to do with me, so we started building that relationship and hanging out a lot after practice and stuff like that and became good friends," Brennan said.

"He's gone through some battles, wasn't even supposed to be a football player. Like me, he's just happy to have an opportunity. We were in the same boat, like we didn't even know if we'd get the chance to play Division I football. And we're here doing it now and it's a great thought that we're going to get to play against each other Saturday."

Warriors fans wish Rabb were in a UH uniform, and that he and Brennan could continue their partnership. But Rabb is clearly happy with his decision.

"I envisioned being the No. 1 receiver (at Boise State), but now that it's happened it's like a dream come true," he said.

Wheels: It was like kids running to a Christmas tree.

UH linebackers rushed to new bikes after practice yesterday. Jones wasn't joking last week when he said he'd get McCully Bicycle & Sporting Goods to donate some, so the players wouldn't have to hijack those of their teammates for post-practice cardio and knee rehab.

"I got five new bikes," defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville exclaimed with glee yesterday, as the linebackers began their circuit around the soccer field. "McCully! He's the best!"

Senior linebacker Tanuvasa Moe's request might be difficult to fill, though: "Can I have a horse?"

Uperesa practices: Starting right tackle Dane Uperesa tested his tender ankle yesterday in practice.

"It feels pretty good. I'm taking it slow. I probably wasn't supposed to practice today, but I wanted to see how it felt. It's coming along quicker than I thought, so I wanted to give it a try."

Uperesa has started all three games, but came out of the Michigan State and Idaho games after spraining the ankle.

All safe: Defensive line coach Vantz Singletary, offensive lineman Brandon Eaton, cornerback Omega Hogan and video man and former running back Michael Brewster are all from the Houston area and have family who live there.

None of their immediate family evacuated in anticipation of Hurricane Rita, and all are fine, they said.

"They're all right at the house. All they did was go grocery shopping and stay at the house the whole time," Eaton said of his parents, brother and cousins.

Arriving today: Boise State was scheduled to arrive early this afternoon and have a short practice at Aloha Stadium.