David A. K. Matlin was ostensibly in Broomfield, Colo., for a niece's wedding that was about to start, but first, there would be the urgent matter of attempting to root the University of Hawai 'i football team a step closer to bowl eligibility.

So while the final tense seconds wound down in an eventual Warrior victory last fall, Matlin shouted at his laptop in his hotel room as people in an adjacent one sought quiet, wondering what the noise was all about.

Matlin is the executive director of the Sheraton Hawai 'i Bowl and, because the Warriors are still mathematically in the running for bowl eligibility, he is once again living on edge with them this year.

Twice in the Hawai 'i Bowl's seven previous years the Warriors have gone into December before their bowl status was clarified. Four times they've taken the issue to Thanksgiving — or beyond.

Saturday night's 49-36 victory over Utah State held open the possibility of another such stretch run since the 3-6 Warriors must win all four remaining games to become bowl eligible and earn the WAC berth that is on hold for them in the Dec. 24 game at Aloha Stadium.

"My wife, Dana, usually manages me pretty well this time of the year," Matlin said.

Still, when there can be a swing difference of, on average, approximately 16,000 fans and $570,000 riding on whether UH appears in the Hawai 'i Bowl, Matlin is, understandably, excitable.

ESPN Regional Television, which owns and operates the game, would like to match UH with ex-Warrior coach June Jones' Southern Methodist team Christmas Eve. The Mustangs, at 5-4 with three games (two at home) remaining, are closing in on the sixth victory required for their bowl eligibility.

The Warriors, who need seven victories because they play a 13-game schedule, have a steep path with New Mexico State (3-6), San Jose State (1-7), Navy (7-3) and Wisconsin (7-2) and no room for error.

If UH doesn't qualify, signs point to the bowl seeking to match Fresno State (6-3, with three games remaining) against SMU. Or, if Boise State (9-0, four games left) gets passed over by the BCS, maybe even a Broncos-Houston (8-1, three games left) pairing, should things fall into place.

For the moment, however, Matlin will be sweating out the final games alongside UH. It has, after all, become a fall tradition with the bowl.