LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Nothing against current University of Hawai'i quarterbacks Greg Alexander and Inoke Funaki, you understand, but they miss Colt Brennan here.

Almost as much, it seems, as folks in Manoa.

With its season on the line — and maybe the head coach's job, too — you'd figure if there was one school that would be glad Brennan has gone to the NFL, if not willing to pay for his airfare, it would surely be New Mexico State.

With 1,270 yards passing and 18 touchdowns against the Aggies in three games, it sure wasn't New Mexico State's fault Brennan didn't win the Heisman Trophy.

Still, to a man yesterday — head coach Hal Mumme, quarterback Chase Holbrook and even defensive back Derrick Richardson — maintained disappointment that Brennan wouldn't be involved in their meeting here Saturday.

"It is not the same playing without him on the other side," Holbrook said.

That's because when the Aggies and Warriors got together it was competition to be sure, but it was also fun in a way that Fresno State, Boise State and the rest haven't been. With New Mexico State, it was a mutual admiration of sorts. If not mad science, too.

Both had maverick, throw-first-ask-questions-later head coaches and chuck-it-till-you-drop quarterbacks. They used to study each other's game films not just for an edge but for the sheer fun of it. When the Aggies' defense was on the field, Holbrook admitted to admiringly watching Brennan and the UH offense on the JumboTron.

The 49-30 UH victory in Aggie Memorial Stadium in 2006 was a classic. "It was one of the most fun games I've had," Holbrook said. That's saying something since Holbrook left early, his lights turned out by defensive end Melila Purcell. "We lost it, but, at the same time, playing an offense like that and a team like that, that's why you play college football," Holbrook said.

Between them, they slung 80 passes and threw for 653 yards in that one. Over the past two years, Brennan and Holbrook combined for 1,406 yards and 15 touchdowns in head-to-head competition.

It was their fervent hope one of these years, Mumme related, to have a game with each other in which neither team ran the ball. "But we never quite got around to it," Mumme said.

That's why when it was announced which coach gave UH its only No. 1 vote in the regular-season ending USA Today/Coaches poll last December, it was hardly a surprise the ballot came with a Las Cruces return address.

Don't look for another wild-and-crazy offensive shootout when the teams meet Saturday. For one thing, both have had their struggles and neither offense has busted out.

For another, with Brennan gone, it is more about business now.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.