Hawaii endures, despite Brennan's complaints

Wait a minute, vandalism? Michigan or USC or Rutgers don't have a problem with locker rooms being trashed.

"I'm not going to throw our kids under the bus," said Frazier, who seemed to be indicating it might have been an inside job.

Frazier also said a computer facility for football players had been closed indefinitely because of vandalism and "improper computer usage." It is available, but by appointment only.

Facilities? A capital improvement project was started two years ago.

Parking?

"Colt, my man, I love you, but every student has to pay for parking," Frazier said.

Remember when UCLA's Cade McNown didn't? He was charged in 1999 with a misdemeanor after possessing handicap parking passes used to park free on campus.

All this, Colt, is part of being a scholarship athlete. Nobody said it was fair. All those helmets and jerseys you sign? You don't see any of the income. That $630 scholly check you received last year? Sure, it was $20 short of covering your monthly rent. That's why there is a group in California suing the NCAA over the true cost of attendance, which in Hawaii is a heck of a lot more than Manhattan, Kan.

The "vindictive" parking guards? Those of us who went to college have our own stories.

Brennan said that Hawaii alums in the NFL don't give back to the school because, "when you leave here you feel so cheated and exploited."

Maybe, but there are millions of us out there who would have given our left arm to spend four years in Honolulu.

We feel for what might have set you off, Colt. You said your car was broken into at your off-campus apartment -- on consecutive days. They got your wallet and golf clubs. Before that, you claimed to be a victim of identity theft.

"The only way that was possible is people went through my trash," Brennan said. "He's not giving me any money. That stirred my irritation level."

The kid knows that ultimately this is a recruiting issue. His comments might prevent the school from being able to land another Colt Brennan.

"In a heartbeat I'd still pick Hawaii," he said. "It's amazing Coach Jones is able to get the talent when the facilities look the way they do."

Oh boy.

That's not to say money isn't a problem at Hawaii, and pretty much everywhere in the WAC. Frazier told CBS SportsLine.com that his football budget is basically equal to that of Boise State's -- approximately $3.5 million. He also said the program finished in the black, which is huge considering air fuel costs alone from Hawaii to the mainland.

The problem right now is that Hawaii is too good. Few BCS conference teams want to play the Warriors after an 11-win season fueled by a high-powered offense. A trip to Hawaii is no longer considered a leisurely, automatic W. Since 2000, Hawaii has won non-conference games against Northwestern, Michigan State, Alabama, San Diego State, BYU and Arizona State. Last season it lost by a combined 11 points to Alabama and Oregon State.

Flying in the Warriors for a non-conference game could invite embarrassment. Frazier has only 12 games scheduled at this point (Hawaii is allowed 13). Michigan State bought out of a game for $250,000. Discussions with Michigan broke down.

Frazier has had to schedule two I-AA games, a severe blow to a program trying to become this year's Boise State. The highest profile games for Brennan to show his stuff on the mainland really aren't -- Friday night games at San Jose State and Nevada.

Brennan might deserve a trip to New York, but all that gives the notoriously cash-strapped Heisman Trophy folks every reason not to spring for his air fare.

"We would have paid for it last year," Frazier said, "just like we paid for the soap."

For more on this story and national notes, see Dodds and Ends.