RENO, Nev. — University of Hawai'i head coach June Jones' attempts to keep the Warriors' starting quarterback decision under wraps was spoiled Thursday evening when an ESPN staffer leaked the information from a supposed embargoed production meeting, UH officials said.

ESPN put out a news bulletin that Colt Brennan would not start and later that night, after protests from UH, retracked the bulletin.

Jones regularly meets with ESPN crews before games to help them plan their camera and coverage plans. Information supplied at those meetings, UH says, is provided with the understanding it is not to be made public until the game.

UH had sought to keep its choice of starting quarterback secret until game time so the Wolf Pack would have to prepare for several contingencies.

Brennan, who suffered a concussion last week against Fresno State, did not start last night's game but made two first-half appearances of one play each.

NOTES

Second look: Paul Hollahan of the Allstate Sugar Bowl and Shawn Schoeffler of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl represented the Bowl Championships Series bowls at the game. The Fedex Orange Bowl is tentatively scheduled to send a representative to next week's UH-Boise State's game. It was the second time this season the Sugar and Fiesta bowls have sent representatives to a UH game.

Low TV ratings: Last week's UH-Fresno State game did a 0.6 rating with a viewing audience of 618,000 households, according to an ESPN spokesman. The game had the same 11 p.m. Eastern time kickoff as last night's game, which was also on ESPN.

Ex-UH QB says a prayer: Former UH quarterback Gregg Tipton, now a minister in Tennessee, led the Warriors' pre-game prayer. Tipton started for UH in the 1985-'86 seasons.

Rivers sets record: Receiver Jason Rivers broke the Western Athletic Conference record for consecutive games with a reception in his 47th game.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.