"I should be all right," said LaBoy, who has not practiced this week.

In a rule enforced by the NCAA, the WAC requires its football players to earn six credits — the equivalent of passing two classes — during the fall semester to play in a postseason bowl. Yesterday was the last day for UH students to take final examinations and submit term papers. The final grades will be posted in the school's computer system as early as Monday.

This fall, Laboy took the minimum four three-credit classes necessary to qualify as a full-time student. In part because of the Warriors' six road games this season, "I missed a lot of classes, I missed a lot of school," LaBoy said. "I really concentrated on football, you know, kind of sacrificed the school a little bit to give everything I could to the team. I guess it ended up being down to the wire, like it is. I should be OK."

LaBoy, a senior majoring in sociology, said he was on academic probation last year after his cumulative grade-point average slipped below 2.0. But he earned a 3.2 GPA last spring and is now in good academic standing.

Concerns about his postseason eligibility were raised when LaBoy skipped practices Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

LaBoy, who has overcome numerous injuries during his UH career, said, "I'm as healthy as can be."

He said he focused on studying for tests and completing papers this week.

"Every day I had to do something, you know, I had to take care of (school work)," he said. "No sense in coming out (to practice) if I'm not going to be able to do anything."

As for the speculation about his eligibility on radio shows and the Internet message boards, LaBoy said, "it doesn't bother me. I mean, everything's speculation. I mean, people have the right to say whatever they want, rumors or not. It doesn't bother me one bit. It comes with the territory. I've got to focus on what I've got to do to be ready to play, really."

UH coach June Jones said he expects all of his players to meet the WAC's six-credit rule.

• Senior walk, Part II: Strongside linebacker Keani Alapa and offensive guard Shayne Kajioka will receive their bachelor's degrees tomorrow. Alapa, a psychology major, said he will participate in the graduation ceremony in the Stan Sheriff Center, even though it conflicts with the Warriors' morning practice.

"It's really important to me and my family," Alapa said.

Alapa, a 2000 Kamehameha Schools graduate, joined the Warriors as a non-scholarship player. After recovering from a serious knee injury, he earned a scholarship and won a starting job.

• Moving day: The Warriors and their Christmas Day opponents, the Houston Cougars, checked into their Waikiki hotels yesterday evening.

The Cougars arrived in Hono-lulu aboard a non-stop charter flight from Houston.

The Warriors practiced for two hours yesterday afternoon before heading to the Sheraton Moana Surfrider.

Bowl officials reserved more than 70 rooms for the UH players, coaches, staff and administrators. Jones said every player on the roster — including walk-ons, redshirts and injured players — were invited to stay in the hotel for six nights. Each player will receive $300 in gifts from the school, $300 in gifts from the bowl, and a daily allowance. They do not have to use their stipend to pay for meals or hotel rooms.

Jones said the Warriors are preparing as if this were any other home game. There is no curfew until Christmas Eve, and the players are free to stay at home, as long as they attend meetings, practices and team functions.

"It's like a normal week," he said.