"I know a lot of guys who are really happy," senior quarterback Jason Whieldon said. "Video games are huge with college guys. I know a lot of us are really grateful for a nice present like that."

Every UH football player will receive an XBox system, which is part of their prize package for qualifying for a postseason bowl.

Whieldon said that video games his teammates like to play include football and basketball, "just anything where one person wins over the other person so they can talk a lot of trash."

In real life, the Warriors (8-5) are preparing to take on Houston (7-5), and its high-scoring offense.

"They do a lot of different things on offense, so we looked at some different things to try to neutralize what they do," Hawai'i coach June Jones said. "They're very good on offense. They do a lot of things that are very hard to defend, so we are spending a lot of time on what they're doing."

Senior defensive back David Gilmore said that what Hawai'i's defense needs to do is focus.

"They do a lot of things and score a lot of points, so we have to pay attention during practice and to game film," Gilmore said.

At least, they will pay attention to game film when they aren't playing video games.

"It's amazing how these guys are," Whieldon said. "They've got them in the film room up on the big screens all day. It's fun though ... friendly competition."

Several ailing players — slotback Chad Owens, running back West Keli'ikipi, defensive end Travis LaBoy, defensive lineman Isa'ako Sopoaga and linebacker Chad Kalilimoku — once again did not practice.

• WHO: University of Houston (7-5) from Conference USA vs. University of Hawai'i (8-5) from the Western Athletic Conference • WHEN: Thursday • KICK OFF: 3 p.m. • WHERE: Aloha Stadium • TICKETS: $15, $25, $40. • TV: ESPN • RADIO: 1420 AM

Kalilimoku, who said he expects to return Monday, said senior linebacker Keani Alapa has an XBox, and all of the teammates share it.

"Now, we got our own and we should link them together and play in five different rooms," Kalilimoku said.

Whieldon said that he needed to practice on his, and that it would take a lot of time for him to catch up to his teammates, who spend long hours with their video-game systems.

"I guarantee there is someone at all times of the day playing a video game on this team," Whieldon said. "No matter what time it is, 2 in the morning, 3 in the morning, there is probably someone up playing video games."

Gilmore said he was an exception to that rule.

"I don't really play video games," he said. "Mine is going to be a DVD player, I guess."