University of Hawai'i quarterback Colt Brennan yesterday finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

"That's pretty nice," Brennan said when told of his finish. "(Ohio State quarterback) Troy Smith won, right? I knew he would win."

Brennan, who was exhausted from a day and a half of traveling, did not see the live telecast of the Heisman Trophy show.

"I just got home a little while ago," he said.

Brennan was supposed to return to Honolulu Friday night from Orlando, Fla., where he attended the Home Depot College Football Awards Show. He was a finalist for the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's best college quarterback. Smith also won that award.

Five minutes into the flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu, there were reports of problems with the airplane's left engine.

"They had to land right away," Brennan said. "When they landed there were probably 15 emergency vehicles around the plane. They said (the landing) 'was for precautionary reasons. Everything would be all right.' When we got off the plane, they said we can't use that plane anymore. I'm glad the problem didn't happen in the middle of the Pacific."

Brennan spent Friday night in a hotel in Los Angeles. Yesterday morning, he took a flight to San Francisco. After a two-hour layover, he traveled to Honolulu.

"That was a lot of traveling," Brennan said. "Except for that, it was a fun trip."

Brennan said the best part was learning that, according to a polling of fans, he finished second in the Heisman and first in the Davey O'Brien races.

"That means just as much as winning the awards," Brennan said. "I realize maybe the football analysts and so-called experts might not think I'm worthy, but people across America thought I was, and that's pretty special.

"Most of all, it was chance to put our program in the national spotlight. I'm glad I'm able to represent the team and Hawai'i."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.