Colt Brennan said if former Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier is seeking a fresh start, Hawaii "really could be a great fit."

Last week, Forcier announced he would take an official recruiting trip to Hawaii. He cited the opportunity to compete for a starting job in 2012 after abiding by an NCAA-mandated redshirt year for transfers, as well as Brennan’s comeback success with the Warriors.

"Me, Davone (Bess) and Pisa (Tinoisamoa), we all got second chances at Hawaii, and we made the most of them," Brennan said. "I can thoroughly understand why (Forcier) would want to come to Hawaii if he wants a second chance."

Bess and Tinoisamoa served time in juvenile detention centers before joining the Warriors. Bess is an inside receiver with the Miami Dolphins; Tinoisamoa is a linebacker with the Chicago Bears.

Brennan spent seven days in jail after accepting an offer to plead guilty to trespassing for a dormitory incident when he attended Colorado. Brennan had planned to seek a new trial, which could have extended the case another two years, before deciding to accept the plea.

"At first, I wanted to keep fighting … but I wanted to really move on with my life," Brennan said. "People said, ‘If he were (innocent), he would never have accepted a deal.’ But at some point, you can’t put your family in that position financially and emotionally. I had to think about people other than myself. … I talked to my family and friends and legal counsel, and they said (accepting the plea) would be the best thing for me."

After joining the Warriors in 2005, Brennan said, he had to dispel what he termed inaccurate reports of his case.

"One thing that happened is Hawaii is a place that is very welcoming and has a big heart," Brennan said. "And when I got there, I was able to discredit what people had heard, and that’s when people really started to get behind my back, and want to see me have a second chance, or want to see me succeed."

Brennan had a record-setting career at UH. He finished third in the 2007 Heisman Trophy balloting.

Brennan and Forcier’s older brother, Jason, were teammates at Mater Dei High School for one year. Brennan said he often would pick up Jason Forcier at the train station en route to school. Brennan was a senior when Jason Forcier was a freshman.

"I knew Jason really well," Brennan said. "I remember (Tate and another brother) would come to practice, and throw the rock around. They were young, but we were like, ‘These kids are going to be pretty good when they get older.’ … Sure enough, I went on and lived my life. Then years later, I turn on the TV and watch Tate playing for Michigan. I said, ‘I knew he would show up somewhere.’ "

The Warriors’ top two quarterbacks, Bryant Moniz and Shane Austin, are seniors. If Forcier chooses to attend UH, Brennan said, he would have a year to learn the four-wide offense, and get acclimated to the team, school and community.

"I watched him do a lot of good things at Michigan," Brennan said. "If he’s coming to Hawaii to help win football games and keep Hawaii on the map, I think it’s a move that will be successful for both him and the university. … Hopefully, it all works out. Right now we have to wait and see. We don’t even know if he’s going to (transfer) to Hawaii."