EL PASO, Texas » Viliami Nauahi is planning on spending a half-hour on a different kind of film study prior to Hawaii's game against New Mexico State this weekend.

Nauahi, a reserve linebacker and special teams player with the Warriors, was a contestant on Wheel of Fortune and his appearance will air on Friday.

“;It's kind of surreal right now,”; Nauahi said.

While looking for ways to pay for tuition and his student loans, Nauahi applied for the show and was called in for an audition at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in early summer and eventually made the cut.

Nauahi, a non-scholarship player, cleared the appearance with the UH compliance department prior to going on the show. He said his football experience helped prepare him for the pressure of deciding whether to buy a vowel or telling Pat he'd like to solve the puzzle.

“;When you're watching it on TV, you're always yelling at the television, 'it's this, it's that,' “; Nauahi said. “;But when you're there in person, the pressure is on you. It's a totally different story.”;

As far as the outcome goes ... Nauahi is not allowed to reveal the results until the show airs.

Stay tuned.

Welcome to El Paso

One of Hawaii head coach Greg McMackin's earliest ties in football paid off for the Warriors yesterday.

McMackin first met Mike Price when he was coaching at Aloha (Ore.) High School and Price was an assistant at Puget Sound. They've crossed paths repeatedly through the years and again yesterday when Price, now the head coach at UTEP, opened the Miners' facilities to the Warriors.

“;We love to have them here,”; Price said. “;If they want to practice and use our stadium they can. They can use our locker rooms and everything, we really welcome them here.”;

The Warriors were impressed by the Miners' weight room, housed in a new complex at the Sun Bowl which opened five years ago and includes meeting areas and coaches offices. They went through their regular Monday conditioning on the field after the lifting session.

Price is preparing the Miners (3-5) for a game at Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday following a home loss to Rice. UTEP hosts June Jones and SMU next week.

“;We're about the same,”; Price said in comparing the situations the Miners and the Warriors face this week. “;This game is important for us, just like it is for (Hawaii), to get toward bowl eligibility.”;

Crusaders clash

Saturday's game could resemble a reunion of Saint Louis' class of 2004.

While at the school, UH's Fale Laeli and Keao Monteilh often hung out with Oren Long and Dylan Moss, who are now among 10 Hawaii products on the New Mexico State roster.

“;I just talked to (Long) yesterday,”; said Laeli, a defensive tackle for the Warriors.

“;We were tight in high school, we did everything in high school. It'll be good to see him again, just in different jerseys.”;

Long is also a starter at tackle for the NMSU defense, playing alongside Kahuku alum La'Auli Fonoti, and returned a fumble 83 yards for a touchdown in the Aggies' win over Nevada on Oct. 11.

“;We're thinking about having them come up and visit or have some lunch or something and talk not about football, just catch up on life,”; Long said.

While the former Crusaders keep in touch, the ties will be put on hold when the Warriors enter Aggie Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

“;It's a battle, but it's going to be a fun battle,”; Monteilh said.