EL PASO, Texas — Running back/slotback Kealoha Pilares and defensive tackle Josh Leonard both took part in the University of Hawai'i's workout yesterday and vowed to be ready to play in Saturday's game at New Mexico State.

Both sat out the loss at Utah State.

"It has been getting better and I'll give it a shot," Pilares said of his sprained right foot after the Warriors held a brief session at the Sun Bowl on the Texas-El Paso campus.

"I have to look after it a little but I'll be out at practice all week and I'll be there (Saturday)," Leonard said of his sprained right ankle.

Pilares was the Warriors' leading rusher until injuring the foot against Boise State and has sat out two games. Leonard started all eight games at defensive tackle until the injury against Nevada on Oct. 25.

Watching from the sidelines at Utah State "was definitely tough," Pilares said. "I was sick after the game."

"I couldn't even run (last week)," Pilares said. "Just standing on the sidelines (at Utah State) was hurting."

WARRIOR ON 'WHEEL'

As a walk-on, defensive back Viliami Nauahi is required to pay his own expenses.

So, when he heard this summer that the "Wheel of Fortune" TV game show would be taping in Hawai'i, he figured maybe he could get Pat Sajak and Vanna White to help out.

Nauahi auditioned to be a contestant at the Waikoloa shooting and won a place on the show that airs Friday night.

Nauahi, a junior from La'ie, said he was not allowed to disclose how he fared or how much he received prior to the airing. But he says he hopes his coaches and teammates can take a break from meetings long enough to see how he did.

"Struggling to pay my own college tuition and already knee-deep in student loans, I knew I could not pass up an opportunity to try my luck at a chance to spin that infamous wheel," Nauahi said in a blog on the show's Web site, www.wheeloffortune.com/contestantsandtickets/contestantdiaries/.

Nauahi said several shows are shot per day and one of the puzzles, while he was waiting for his turn, was "Hawaii Warriors."

Nauahi said he was glad it didn't come up on his segment, "because I may not have gotten it."

Because of NCAA restrictions, however, you will not hear him refer to himself as a UH football player or be shown wearing any Warrior logo items.

FANS AGAINST MUMME

A New Mexico State student was reportedly handing out leaflets on campus urging fans to go to the www.firehalmumme.com Web site and contact Aggie athletic director.

New Mexico State head coach Hal Mumme's response to fans who want to help him out and hold up signs: "The great thing about those guys (is) at least they are at the game."

UTEP COACH SPEAKS

UTEP head coach Mike Price, who allowed UH to use his school's facilities, gave the Warriors a rousing pre-workout pep talk, closing with, "kick the Aggies' (butt)!"

Price and UH head coach Greg McMackin go back to McMackin's high school coaching days in Oregon in the early 1970s.

During part of the workout UH shared the field with UTEP's cheerleaders. "This was a test to see if they'd pay attention," McMackin joked.