LAS CRUCES, N.M. — When the University of Hawai'i and New Mexico State meet tonight, it could be for the unofficial first haka championship of college football.

Just as the Warriors have taken up their version of the haka, a Maori war dance, this season so, too, have the Aggies, according to head coach Hal Mumme.

Mumme said his Aggies, however, do their haka prior to taking the field. UH has done its version on the field before the game and — as was the case at Fresno State last week, after the victory.

NMSU has about a dozen players of Polynesian ancestry on its team but Mumme said he was surprised to see so much impetus for doing it coming from non-Polynesian players.

With the rebuilding Aggies at 2-4, Mumme said he is fine with whatever helps inspire his players.

ALL BETS ARE OFF FOR GAME OF ALL PASSES

At the 2005 WAC Football Media Day, Mumme said he and UH coach June Jones struck a deal not to run the ball in their game that year.

"It was pretty much an alcohol-rated (agreement)," Mumme said. "We weren't going to run but I showed up (in October) with the leading rusher in the WAC, so that deal is off."

Mumme said, "I could actually do it this year but I don't think June is going to not give it to (Nate Ilaoa)."

CHANGE IN ASSIGNING OF OFFICIALS PROPOSED

Mumme said he has pushed the idea of a national clearinghouse for college football officials with Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson.

What Mumme — and others — have proposed is putting all Division I-A football officials under the jurisdiction of one commissioner of officials. A "czar of officials," as Mumme puts it, would assign the officials for all Division I-A games.

Currently officials are overseen and assigned by various conferences.

With some notable officiating controversies this season there is a movement to no longer have crews affiliated by conference or region. "That would get rid of the ol' boy system," Mumme said. "Every place I've been there's been an ol' boy system."

Mumme has been a frequent critic of WAC officiating this season. "I know three of those guys who called my Idaho game (a 28-20 loss), they called back two touchdowns on us. They were the same guys who were in the Southland Conference with me (at Southeastern Louisiana). They were terrible in that league."

NEW MEXICO STATE COACH HAS A LOT TO SAY

Mumme on:

His team, which has lost to Boise State and the University of Idaho in the past two weeks: "The whole state of Idaho has lettered against us."

On trading some of his struggling kickers: "We couldn't get an old football for our kicker."

On his team's pass defense being ranked No. 111 out of 119 Division I-A teams: "You mean there's (that many) worse than us?"

NOTE

As part of its homecoming festivities today, NMSU will honor some players from its last bowl game appearance, the 1959 Sun Bowl.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.