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Whether it’s in college football or in the NFL, football coaches over time tend to build a signature look on the sidelines with what they wear from the vizor down to the Nike low dunks.
And Arizona football first-year coach Brent Brennan looks to have already found his, just two games into his tenure with the Wildcats: a lei.
Those who have tuned into Wildcats football games this season understand the meaning behind Brennan’s stylistic gesture. But for those who haven’t, curiosity has been piqued as to why Brennan is wearing a lei.
Here’s more on why Brennan is seen wearing a lei during Arizona football games this season:
Why does Brent Brennan wear a lei?
Brennan first wore a lei at Big 12 Football Media Day in July in Las Vegas. He then wore several more leis during Arizona’s season opener vs. New Mexico on Aug. 31, both during the Wildcat Walk into the stadium and throughout the game on the sidelines.
Here’s a look at Brennan wearing it on the sidelines:
Following Arizona’s win over New Mexico, Brennan was asked about wearing the lei in his postgame news conference and whether it would be a signature look for him this season.
“This is a signature look when Noah Fifita’s grandmother gives you one and Tetairoa McMillan’s mother gives you the other,” said Brennan on who gave him the leis for the game.
Arizona has 14 players on its roster that come from Polynesian descent. Of those 14 players, seven of them — Fifita, Keanu Mailoto, Jacob Manu, McMillan, Jonah Savaiinaea, Stanley Ta’ufo’ou and Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei — were named to the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year watch list this season. The award is handed out by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame to the “most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry that epitomizes great ability and integrity.”
“It was cool. It was an incredible gesture by them,” said Brennan on what it was like to receive the gift. “(We) lean into everyone’s culture on the team. That’s what makes us unique (and) special.”
For Arizona’s Week 2 game vs. Northern Arizona, Brennan once again wore a lei on the sideline.
What is a lei?
According to Hawaii Flower Lei, leis were introduced to Hawaiian islands by early Polynesian voyagers. The garlands —made of “flowers, leaves, shells, seeds, nuts, feathers, and even bone and teeth of various animals” — were used by ancient Hawaiians to “beautify themselves and distinguish themselves from others.”
As noted by Skyline Hawaii, a lei is a “common symbol of love, friendship, celebration, honor or greeting” that also means “Aloha,” or hello. They are seen mostly at significant life milestones, such as births, graduations and weddings.
Prior to last week’s game vs. Northern Arizona, several of the Polynesian players on Arizona’s roster were seen wearing a lei as they walked into the locker room:
Brent Brennan coaching record, history
Brennan is in his first season in Tucson manning the sidelines of the Wildcats program. He was hired on Jan. 16, 2024, after former Arizona football coach Jedd Fisch left for Washington following Kalen DeBoer’s departure for Alabama to replace Nick Saban.
Prior to Arizona, the 51-year-old coach spent seven seasons at San Jose State. In his seven years with the Spartans, Brennan led the program to three bowl game appearances and finished with an overall of 34-48, which included a combined 3-22 record in his first two seasons leading the Spartans.
He finished with winning seasons in his final four years at San Jose State, including a 7-1 mark in the COVID-19-impacted 2020 college football season. Here’s a breakdown of Brennan’s college football coaching history:
Hawaii (1998): Graduate assistantWashington (1999): Graduate assistantArizona (2000): Graduate assistantCal Poly (2001-04): Assistant coachSan Jose State (2005-06): Wide receivers coach/recruiting coordinatorSan Jose State (2007-08): Tight ends coach/recruiting coordinatorSan Jose State (2009): Offensive tackles, tight ends coach/special teams coordinatorSan Jose State (2010): Wide receivers coachOregon State (2011-15): Wide receivers coachOregon State (2016): Outside wide receivers coachSan Jose State (2017-2023): Head coachArizona (2024-present): Head coach
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Publish date : 2024-09-13 02:04:00
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