Ever since Colt Brennan providentially landed in our midst, we’ve been waiting for the next big passer to drop into the University of Hawaii huddle from the heavens.

Or, in the latest installment, from Los Angeles.

Alas, it won’t be Max Wittek, the one-time USC quarterback with the four-star rating out of high school.

Whether Wittek could have jumped right in and brought about a quick turn in the Rainbow Warriors’ fortunes was, of course, debatable.

Whether anybody could might be a better question.

But the possibility of Wittek even coming to Manoa from USC was so enticing that it lent itself to all kinds of untethered thoughts.

When you are coming off 1-11, you look for immediate hope where you can.

And for the past three months, it has been heavily focused in Wittek’s direction as he went about seeking a new home after losing out in the Trojans’ QB sweepstakes.

Every day that Wittek did not sign on with Texas seemed to make the prospect of his coming here more of a possibility. "Anything new on Wittek?" became the weekly question.

The vigil ended Friday with the announcement that Wittek will not graduate this month and, thus, won’t be available any time soon.

The NCAA allows players who have a bachelor’s degree and remaining eligibility a one-time exemption to bypass the usual year-in-residence transfer rule. 

Wittek could still transfer but wouldn’t get here until December and would lose one of the two years of eligibility.

And a large part of Wittek’s attraction for UH — and vice versa — was the idea that he could be on their roster when fall camp begins in August. He wanted to get back on the field in a starting role to better chase the pro dream, and UH wanted him there to pursue hopes of a turnaround.

In a way, Wittek was but the latest object of longing for UH fans spoiled by Brennan’s exploits. From his first start in 2005 as a redshirt sophomore, it was obvious Brennan was something special, and he went about proving it and setting NCAA records.

But since Brennan’s departure after the magical 2007 season, there has been the hope, if not expectation, that another such gifted quarterback might plop into Aloha Stadium and get the good times rolling again.

 Remember when Tate Forcier was the big hope of some, despite all his baggage? He left Michigan after losing his starting job and considered several schools, including UH. He eventually landed at San Jose State, but after sitting out the 2011 season under NCAA rules, left the Spartans without having played a down.

Sean Schroeder and Taylor Graham, both BCS-school transfers, were the next immediate hopes. Never mind that they hadn’t had more than two plays each in college before arriving here. Schroeder became a credible starter in his second season and Graham might, too. Just not overnight.

Meanwhile, until Ikaika Woolsey wins the job, can Tim Chang really have been the last quarterback UH nurtured from the crib as a freshman to multi-year starter?

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.