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Colt Brennan, Davone Bess and Ryan Mouton were the guests of...
Metromix recently caught up with NFL quarterback Colt Brennan, who's gearing up for his second season with the Washington Redskins. The former UH Warriors star, who's back to the Islands for some R&R with friends before he heads off to training camp, chatted with us about everything from his Hawaii ties, to his career goals to his favorites hangouts here in the 808 state.
Colt, how's life in D.C. going?
It’s good. I’ve been getting used to it. You can’t really complain when you're playing football and doing what you love. I live in a nice area, and the fans out there are awesome. You know I’m a West Coast kid, but it’s a cool place to live and it’s a cool experience.
So what's it like playing for the Redskins?
It's awesome... I got lucky because I’m in a great franchise with a great fan base and in a great area. I think that it really makes a difference when you're trying to start out in the league. You know you hear horror stories about some places, but they really take good care of you in Washington.
Will Hawaii always be your second home?
Yeah. I wouldn’t be surprised if this place became the ultimate home for me. I mean there's something special out here, and I always like coming back here because of the great memories. Hopefully I’ll be coming back, and hopefully living in Hawaii down the road.
What are some of your fondest memories while playing UH football?
I think about the guys... some of the guys that I got a chance to play with, and also the coaches that I got to be under. Guys like Davone Bess, Ryan Grice-Mullins and all my receivers. Guys like Samson Satele and Amani Purcell. It's like a long list of names that will forever be tied with me for the rest of my life. We will always have this special type of bond.
When you're back in Hawaii, what do you do for fun?
The beach. That’s like my number one. I’ve always been a big guy for water. I got a chance to go paddle boarding for the first time. I just cant wait to tread back in that water. You just feel so good in this water out here.
And which restaurants do you have to hit?
My favorite restaurant is really Kobe Steak House. I love it because I love the food. I became fond of that place and there's a chef named John there. I’ve been going there for like the past three to four years, and every time I go, they make the best meals and they know how to cook it up. I bring my friends or my family, and they just take real good care of us and they are great there. I just love that restaurant.
What about clubs, bars or night spots?
The places that we seem to go is like D&B’s. It’s always a fun place to go. And you can never go wrong with a place like Mai Tais or The Shack because they have the most local appeal being in a city with a lot of tourism and everything. You want the kind of local feel, and I love those places because there are lots of people from the island, and it’s kind of more like a local hangout, which is what I like the most.
When you're away from Hawaii, do you have any foods that you crave?
I love kalbi ribs and the barbecue chicken. I really miss the barbeques here because they're just not the same type of barbeques on the Mainland. The way they do it down here is amazing. I mean I went to one last night, and the food was just so, so good! You know Hawaii knows how to cook.
When you're training, what kind of music do you listen to on your iPod?
That’s a really good question. If I had to listen to a few songs to pump me out right now, it would be this Tupac remix song called "Until the End of Time.” I love that song. Then there's this song by Maino, "All the Above." I like that song right now. Those are like the two songs I've been listening to lately. I like rap, but for me when I workout, I like upbeat songs. But before games and stuff, I play a position where you're supposed to have a level head and be low key, so I mix that with a lot of mellow music. So it just all depends on what I’m doing.
Okay, back to football. What are you looking forward to this season? Team-wise and personal-wise?
This year I think it's awesome. Our defense looks phenomenal... On offense, we have so much talent. You have a Pro Bowl fullback and a Pro Bowl running back. You have these great receivers... So I think the sky is the limit. All the potential in the world is there team-wise, it's just what we do with it. For me, the pre-season is what I’m looking forward to because you got to take it step-by-step. And for me, my goal is to be a good quarterback, and the pre-season is my little mini-season before the big season. If I can do some good things in the pre-season, it may open some doors for me, and that's what I’m looking forward to right now. It’s just moving up that ladder to get closer and closer to become a starting quarterback someday.
What would you say to someone who wants to follow in your footsteps as a professional football player?
I would tell them to be passionate in whatever they do. It doesn’t have to be football. I mean, whatever you want to be... whether it's a scientist or writer or athlete, you have to be passionate about what you do. You have to love what you do. I remember hearing one time, “If you love what you do, you would never have to work a day in your life,” and I take that to heart. I think that you have to be persistent and learn that life is not fair. You are not going to be handed things. I mean just because you work hard and deserve it doesn’t mean that you are going to get it. You have to fight for it and want it. That’s how you become passionate for it. Never give up. if you really want it, go for it.
Are there any new ventures in the life of Colt Brennan outside of being a football player?
One of the cool things I've done recently is that I sponsored a Pop Warner football team in Kahuku. Me and the NFL team teamed up and bought all their jerseys and uniforms this year... Pop-Warner football is how I found my love for football, and to go out there in an area where there is not that much money... and with the help of the NFL to pick up the tab on all of the uniforms this year, I think that's one of the coolest things I’ve gotten to be a part of. I cant wait to hear all these stories of that team in Kahuku, and how they do. I can’t wait to see a picture of them all in their uniforms.
