MAILBAG Submit a question or an opinion to Stewart. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

Has anyone else noticed how insane a year that Colt Brennan is having at Hawaii (74 percent completions, 2,934 yards, 33 touchdowns and five interceptions)? He's just like Timmy Chang, except he throws very few picks. If Hawaii can continue playing well down the stretch, they'll finish with nine or 10 wins. If that happens, is there a possibility that we see Colt Brennan in the top five of the Heisman?
-- Russ, Dyersville, Iowa

Oh, I've noticed. It's not just Brennan, either: The Warriors are arguably the most talented non-BCS team in the country this season, which, in addition to Brennan, has legit NFL prospects on the offensive line (center Samson Satele, tackles Tala Esera and Dane Uperesa), defensive line (Mel Purcell and Ikaika-Alama Francis), safety (Leonard Peters) and receiver (Davone Bess). They lost 25-17 at Alabama and 41-34 at Boise State. Since then, they've won five in a row and twice put up 68 points (against Fresno State and Idaho). If I'm Purdue and Oregon State, I am not looking forward to playing there at the end of the season, free trip to Hawaii or not.

But, no, Brennan will not wind up in the Heisman race because, in addition to lack of exposure, he's got the dreaded "system QB" tag to overcome. Ever since Andre Ware and Ty Detmer flopped at the next level, the Heisman electorate is reticent to even take such players seriously. The good news for Brennan is that he returns next season, presumably with some preseason publicity this time (especially if he puts up big numbers in those televised games at the end of the season and in the bowl game). That, and Troy Smith graduating.

After watching Florida's first drive against Georgia, I was like, "Wow, that is a dominant offense. This is what it is supposed to look like." From then on out, especially in the second half, it looked pedestrian. What is your take -- will the Gator offense ever break out?
-- Calvin, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

It's no secret that I'm a fan of Urban Meyer's approach to offense, but last Saturday, Meyer and his staff went beyond the realm of creativity to the point where they were counterproductive. I understand he doesn't like DeShawn Wynn. And I understand he wants to get the ball in the hands of his best playmakers, who all happen to be receivers. But all those reverses and option pitches are only effective if the defense has to account for regular stuff as well. By the second quarter of that game, it was apparent the Gators had no intention whatsoever to hand off to their tailback, which explains why, when Florida made the bizarre decision to run a double-reverse on third and 3 with just over two minutes left, Georgia had no problem snuffing it out (fortunately for Florida, the Dawgs bailed them out with a facemask penalty).

The Gators offense is still pretty dangerous (and with a defense like theirs, you don't exactly need to score 35 points a game), but I don't think it will have the kind of "breakout" you're hoping for until they find a running back they actually have confidence in. Which won't be this season.

When are you going to admit that you're actually a biased USC fan?
-- John Simonian, San Francisco

John: You must have missed it. I admitted that just a couple weeks ago.

Last year you wrote an eloquent defense of Glen Mason's tenure in Minnesota. After an embarrassing performance in an undeserved win over North Dakota State and a 45-0 loss to Ohio State, plus the continued inability to get over the proverbial "hump," has your opinion changed? It's been 10 years -- is it time to kick Mason to the curb?
-- Brian W., Minneapolis

I will defend Glen Mason until the day I die -- unless he goes 3-9 next year, too. For the most part, I still marvel at what Mason has accomplished there. How does he get kids from Florida to come to one of the coldest states in the country? To play their collegiate home games in a faceless dome, no less? How is it possible the Gophers have been to more bowl games in the past seven years (six) than they had their entire previous history? And how is it possible that Minnesota has more former tailbacks in the NFL right now (Marion Barber, Laurence Maroney and Thomas Tapeh) than either Ohio State or Michigan? It's all pretty remarkable.

But like you said, the program has yet to get over the "hump." Minnesota fans certainly deserve at least the occasional conference-title run -- nearly every other school in the Big Ten has had one over the past decade -- and when they finally get their on-campus stadium in 2009, there will no longer be any excuses. Do I think Mason is the guy to take them that final step forward? Not really. I think you're looking at another two years of rebuilding just to get back to the Music City Bowl. But I'd stop wasting your breath on those "Fire Mason" chants, Gophers fans. He just signed an extension Iast winter worth $1.65 million annually that runs through 2010. The school won't be able to afford to kick him to the curb anytime soon.

Is a Boston College-Georgia Tech ACC championship game good or bad for the ACC?
-- David Adkinson, Augusta, Ga.

Hey ... why are you writing off Wake Forest? Whether it's Georgia Tech-BC, Georgia Tech-Wake or Georgia Tech-Maryland, it's good for the ACC's coaches, who will now have tangible evidence to show both their players and potential recruits that they have a chance to play for a conference championship. And it's obviously it's great for the players and fans of those schools. But it's going to be a complete nightmare for commissioner John Swofford, who's about to find out the hard way that not everybody is meant to have a championship game. Not when it results in 20,000 empty seats and a ridiculously low TV rating. Now there's a guy who's really hoping Xavier Lee is the answer.

Stewart: Your grades so far this year:

1) Knowledge of college football: F
2) Respect for the integrity of college football: F.
3) Honesty and integrity of AP poll votes: F.

You hold yourself out as an expert who loves college football and, indirectly, collect money from the public based on representations that you are competent and honest. However, your votes expose you as a dishonest, power-hungry scam artist using your AP vote to promote your personal goals. One of those goals is to impose your will on the public. If you have not yet noticed, your congregation has left the Church of Mandel in justifiable disgust. Now, as a shareholder of Time Warner, should I be concerned that Sports Illustrated is paying money to an ignorant scam artist? If your answer is yes, you win a cookie. Start looking for another job.
Aside from that, have a great day.
-- Robert T. Gilleran, Los Angeles

Is it chocolate chip?