Today is a day for counting blessings and giving thanks across the land — even in the world of sports, where you might just be surprised just how much there is to be thankful for here.

So, forget the turkeys who have hogged the headlines, put down the TV clicker for a moment, raise a drumstick and give a shout of hearty thanks that:

Quarterback Colt Brennan walked on at the University of Hawai'i instead of taking that scholarship offer from a relative at San Jose State.

Dean Wilson has become such an example and inspiration in golf as well as life.

Advertiser baseball writer Ferd Borsch gave his readers 40 years of dedication to go along with all the stories and statistics.

Hawai'i Winter Baseball has come back and is sticking around.

The Rainbow Wahine volleyball team has an extensive medical insurance plan — and an even better training staff.

The Warriors are back in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl — and so is the Pac-10.

The Hawai'i High School State Football Championships could produce another title game as riveting as last year's.

Dick Tomey is back in college coaching and making a difference for somebody's football program.

Remarkably in this day and age more than half the assistant coaches on the UH football staff have been with June Jones since the beginning eight years ago.

Athletic director Herman Frazier has the UH football schedule filled for next year. Well, doesn't he?

Slobber-knocking defense is in again for the Warriors.

Michelle Wie is sharing some of the wealth with charity, whether it is tax-driven or not.

For all the bellyaching — and over the objections of its football coach — Purdue at least honored its contract to play UH. Something apparently not universal in the Big Ten and Big 12 athletic departments.

For Robert Kekaula's humor and insight on ESPN 1420 football broadcasts.

The Rainbow Warriors' big guy, Ahmet Gueye, is coming back strong from surgery.

The NCAA somehow found it in its heart to give Nate Ilaoa, Leonard Peters and Ian Sample an extra year.

The NCAA actually has a heart.

Samson Satele came back for a senior year.

The rest of college football is discovering what UH and Brennan have going this year.

Aloha Stadium has recognized the need and is working to make the place more fan-friendly.

Not all the marquee golfers are following Phil Mickelson's lead and blowing off the big events here.

The crowds are, finally, growing for UH football.

All the high school coaches and their assistants who do it for the love of the game because it can't be for the money.

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