Feature on Colt

WP = Washington Post

About how criticism and obstacles to success never scare him, Colt said:
"I think I learned more than anything how to battle adversity. I'm the kind of guy where I have a chip on my shoulder and have tough skin. A lot of times, that's what you need in the fourth quarter to win games, and I think I have that. I have so much experience having to battle through adversity. I'm never nervous. I'm never scared." (WP)

WP Note: "His professional dreams began as a junior in high school. During Mater Dei, Calif., High's spring game, Brennan led a team of reserves against the top unit, which featured Matt Leinart. Brennan snatched the spotlight, outperforming his more decorated teammate with precision passing to lead the reserves to a stunning victory. Later that day, Brennan's father, Terry, came home and greeted his son with an eager embrace."

Colt said that his father said to him:
"Man, if you can keep doing this, you can play in the pros someday." (WP)

About how he wasn't recruited after his Colorado incident, Colt said:
"There were so many negative times for me, and it was really unfair. I was fighting through a lot of adversity. My main goal at that moment was to play football. I didn't care if I was (going to be) in the NFL. I just wanted to play somewhere, whether it was for a D-I college, a D-II college or in Canada." (WP)

WP Note: "Weight and hip issues also were a concern. Brennan weighed 185 pounds during Senior Bowl workouts in January, approximately 40 pounds lighter than the prototypical size for the position. In April, Brennan underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip, and some predicted he would go unselected in the draft."

About the criticism of him before the draft, Colt said:
"This is something I've experienced my whole life. I've had to fight things since junior high into high school and well into college. Now, I'm at the next level, and it has never held me back from succeeding. You have to turn it into good motivation." (WP)

About how he likes Colt's attitude, Jim Zorn said:
"Those are things that you can't coach into a guy, and he's got that a little bit about himself. He's getting himself ready to play, not just run plays. It's a good attitude to have." (WP)

WP Note: "His attitude has given teammates pause. Brennan quickly has gained a reputation as an antithesis to the stiff, all-business field-general prototype. He wears tights on the practice field. He cracks jokes with veterans. He plays the ukulele."

About how Colt is different than the standard rookie QB, Campbell said:
"He's probably one of the most interesting rookie quarterbacks I've ever been around. He just walks around and talks about everything. ... He has these different styles that he dresses when he comes to practice. He has tights on. He has wristbands. I'm like, 'Colt, what's all this stuff you have on?' " (WP)

About Colt, WR Horace Gant said:
"He's cool, calm and collected. I think the Hawaii lifestyle rubbed off on him. ... He puts me in the mind of a Brett Favre-type guy. It's not the conventional, drop-back quarterback style. He gets the job done." (WP)

WP Note: "Brennan has embraced his new life but is cognizant of his past. At the end of a recent morning practice, fans leaned over a burgundy rail near the practice fields. They held pens, footballs, caps, stadium seats, anything to lure the subject of their attention. Moments later, Brennan walked toward their outstretched arms and flashed a faint smile before signing autographs."

About bouncing back from Adversity, Colt said:
"In football, you set a game plan, and you get out there, and it all goes to shambles sometimes. You have to be able to bounce back. You'll throw an interception or you'll get sacked. As a quarterback, you have to be able to fight through the adversity more than anyone." (WP)

************ below is an excerpt from the article ******************

"I want to go to the University of Hawaii!" a boy in the crowd said.

"I don't blame you," said Brennan, scribbling his signature.

"Is it a good school?"

"If you like the beach," Brennan said.