BY DAVE REARDON

Comparing makes us uncomfortable. We say things like, “I don’t make comparisons.”

That’s a lie.

We judge all the time; all human beings do. In some cases it’s a survival skill. If you don’t seriously compare potential meals, cars, houses, mates … well, you’re just a silly fool, an uninformed consumer.

Still, there’s something unsettling about the whole process. We generally keep our computations and comparisons (literal and subconscious) private.

Sports, though, give us an opportunity to be as opinionated and judgmental as we want. We can love and hate without reason … and compare to our hearts’ and (sometimes) brains’ content.

June Jones is always comparing, and he doesn’t mind telling us about it when we ask. How many times have we heard the Hawaii football coach say so-and-so is the best player he’s ever coached at a certain position, even going back to his NFL days?

When he compares Colt Brennan’s attributes to those of Jeff George (accuracy) and Jim Kelly (savvy), we nod our heads instead of roll our eyes. That’s because we’ve seen it, and we agree. So have plenty of Heisman Trophy voters and NFL scouts, college coaches and national analysts.

A couple of members of the same short list Brennan is on - that of the greatest quarterbacks in University of Hawaii history - they agree, too.

“He’s probably the most accurate quarterback I’ve ever seen in person,” said Michael Carter, the tough runner and clutch passer who quarterbacked UH to an 11-2 record, including a WAC championship, in 1992. “Probably the most special. He’s a guy that (teammates) look to and trust. That’s the thing that made me play well, and helped Garrett (Gabriel) and the others play well. With that, it allows him to use his ability carefree and do his thing. He’s super comfortable.”

The respect of teammates is the most important intangible. Carter, Gabriel, Nick Rolovich, Dan Robinson, Blane Gaison, Raphel Cherry - they all had it, and it helped them win.

Brennan has the unquantifiable but undeniable characteristic.

While feeding the O-linemen and wearing dreads for a month to honor the receivers has something to do with it, those gestures just make you a poser if you don’t back it up on the field.

“There are some guys the players want to play for,” said Gabriel, who led UH to landmark routs of BYU. “When he’s on the field you know your chances (to win) dramatically increase.”

Tim Chang had the quick release, and more resilience than many realize. Robinson, the velocity on his throws, and the stones to stand and deliver under duress. Cherry was the most athletic, a play-maker supreme who didn’t always need a book. Rolovich, too - draw it up on the side for him, and he’ll get the first down. Gaison: put him where you want him and consider it done. Carter would go into the line time after time, with the ball and without it, taking the hits like an unsinkable battleship. Gabriel, recruited for a different system, adapted and thrived despite debilitating injury.

Brennan?

Warriors quarterback coach Dan Morrison has lived and coached in Hawaii the past 26 years, following UH football closely, even before he joined Jones’ staff as a charter member in 1999.

He says Brennan is the best in school history. It’s hard to argue.

Morrison agrees that Brennan is in the top two to five in a lot of the categories you would use to compare QBs, like arm strength, quick release, vision. There are no deficiencies … nothing where you would call him “average” or “poor.” Maybe the bench press, but he’s working on that.

To go with all these 8s and 9s on the 1-10 scale that put him among the best Rainbows/Warriors ever, add a couple of infinities for accuracy and savvy.

An NFL scout said Brennan is the best quarterback in the West because his passes nearly always go where he wants them to go. And when circumstances don’t allow him to throw a dart, he can still make something positive happen.

“Colt can put the ball in a tight spot, and he has a stronger arm (than USC’s John David Booty),” the scout said. “He’s a better runner and he can make a play when things break down because he is put in so many decision-making situations.”

Savvy, guts. Combine that with the God-given accuracy and the rest falls into place.

“I think Nick had a lot of that. Moxie is a good word for that,” Morrison said “The grittiness that Colt and Nick have stems from being very competitive. They love to compete in all aspects of life.”

A guy who has been there summed it up.

“He’s got it all,” Gabriel said.

Come December, we may have to say there’s no comparison.