In the aftermath of Saturday's season-salvaging 42-30 road victory over New Mexico State, the Hawai'i football coaches yesterday hit the town.

Several towns, in fact.

They were in the Bay Area, Southern California and Las Vegas.

Today, they will attend football practices, and meet with the coaches and school counselors of recruits.

"Recruiting is important to us," UH head coach Greg McMackin said. "It's the lifeblood of our program."

This is the first time in recent memory that the Warrior coaches were on Mainland recruiting missions during the season.

This is considered an "evaluation period," during which NCAA coaches are restricted to attending practices and meeting with coaches and academic advisers. They are not allowed to have face-to-face meetings with recruits.

Still, McMackin said, "I think it's really important that we're visible, and (high school) coaches know we're recruiting."

The Warriors have received several verbal commitments. Without mentioning specific players, McMackin said, "You have to keep recruiting them and let them know they're important to you."

McMackin and defensive coordinator Cal Lee were in Las Vegas yesterday. Today, they will join assistant head coach George Lumpkin and assistant coach Alex Gerke in Los Angeles.

Quarterback coach Nick Rolovich is evaluating players in the Bay Area. Rolovich was raised there, and he was a player and coach at City College of San Francisco.

The NCAA allows each team a maximum of seven coaches out to recruit at one time.

The UH coaches plan to meet with the high school coaches and counselors of every prospect who has received a football scholarship offer from the Warriors.

"When the season's over," McMackin said, "then we'll go into the homes."

McMackin said he plans to make a home visit to every prospect — both on the Mainland and locally — who has received a UH offer.

Cal Lee or offensive coordinator Ron Lee will accompany McMackin, depending on which position the recruit plays.

"We have to keep recruiting," McMackin said, noting that there were 30 seniors on the recent 64-player travel roster.

This weekend's bye gave the Warriors the time to remain on the Mainland following a 1-1 road trip. The Warriors stayed in El Paso between road games against Utah State and New Mexico State.

The Warriors do not practice today or tomorrow. They will resume practicing Wednesday, although McMackin will miss that workout. Associate head coach Rich Miano will lead Wednesday's practice.

"The players are going to get a little rest," McMackin said. "They need it."

McMackin said there is hope that outside linebacker Blaze Soares, who has not played this season because of a severe calf injury, will be available to play in the Nov. 22 game against Idaho. The preliminary indication is that Soares will not be able to receive a special exemption that will allow him to extend his UH career through the 2010 season. UH officials still are investigating his situation, believing Soares has a case for an extra year.

Two key special-team players, Cameron Allen-Jones and Victor Clore, did not play against New Mexico State.

Clore, who has missed three consecutive games because of a knee sprain, is the wedge-setter on kickoff returns. Allen-Jones was Clore's replacement.

McMackin said he is hopeful both will be available for the Idaho game.

McMackin said the rest will be beneficial for backup quarterback Inoke Funaki.

"Inoke was banged up" after the Utah State game, McMackin said.

Funaki played two plays against New Mexico State.

CREDIT FOR PPV BUYERS

Pay-per-view purchasers who missed approximately four minutes of the first quarter of Saturday's game against New Mexico State will be credited 1/12th of the game-day price on their next Oceanic Time Warner Cable billing statement, UH announced yesterday.

The decision was made after discussions among Oceanic, UH and KFVE. Oceanic distributes the games in conjunction with KFVE and UH.

It is the second time this season there has been a malfunction that caused subscribers to miss part of a UH football game.

Saturday's problems were attributed to satellite connections, according to people familiar with the discussions.