EL PASO, Texas — It was the opportunity to practice on a grass field that brought the University of Hawai'i football team to Parkland High School here this week.

But, thanks to several curious twists of fate, it is a well-regarded recruit, safety Darren Mickens, who will bring them back, national letter of intent in hand.

Two days after a chance meeting on the football field where UH has been practicing in northeast El Paso, the Warriors yesterday offered a scholarship to the 6-foot-3, 195-pounder with 4.6 speed in the 40-yard dash.

"He's very interested," said Mickens' mother, Toni.

Mickens, who will attend tomorrow's UH-New Mexico State game in nearby Las Cruces, N.M., as a guest of the Aggies, said he is being recruited by Colorado, Arkansas, Air Force, Arizona, Texas-El Paso and NMSU.

Hawai'i head coach Greg McMackin declined comment, citing NCAA rules prohibiting mention of prospective recruits.

But the Mickens family said it has provided copies of Darren's transcripts, which show a 3.7 grade-point average, and talked about scheduling a recruiting visit to UH. Parkland's coaches gave UH a highlight tape of Mickens.

"I like their program," Darren said.

UH had originally considered practicing on the artificial turf at the Sun Bowl on the University of Texas-El Paso campus but, except for a brief Monday conditioning session and today's short walk-through, sought a grass field that more closely approximated that of Aggie Memorial Stadium, where tomorrow's game will be played.

Mickens stopped by practice Tuesday to renew his friendship with UH receiver Malcolm Lane, who mentored him at Hanau American High School in Germany, where they were both Army dependents.

Lane, then a senior, and Mickens, a freshman, played together on the football and basketball teams while their fathers were stationed together.

"Malcolm helped guide Darren and helped him a lot growing up," Toni said. "We're grateful to Malcolm."

Said Lane: "They looked out for me, too."

Mickens' father is assigned to nearby Fort Bliss and might, the family said, be sent to Hawai'i.

When his coach at Parkland said UH would be practicing at the school, Darren said he decided to stop by to look up Lane, whose career he has followed on television and the internet.

"He's filled out a lot since I last saw him," said Lane, who brought his protégé to the attention of UH coaches and players. "He's always been a good athlete and tall."

Mickens played linebacker as a junior, but has played safety this season for the Matadors.

Three of UH's top four safeties — Desmond Thomas, Keao Monteilh and Erik Robinson — are all seniors.

SPINNING HIS WHEELS

Defensive back-linebacker Viliami Nauahi will be a contestant on the "Wheel of Fortune" game show tonight and the team is hoping to take a break from meetings to see how he fares.

Nauahi, a walk-on from Kahuku, applied to be a contestant and made it through auditions hoping to win enough prize money to pay off his student loans.

Nauahi , who has been shown on promos for the episode, said he is pledged not to reveal how much money he won until after the show airs. Nauahi began the process in late May and taping was held a couple months ago at Waikoloa on the Big Island.

OUT IN THE COLD

The clear turquoise blue skies belied chilly, wind-whipped temperatures in the mid 40s yesterday, forcing the Warriors to bundle up for their final practice before tomorrow's game.

"Wimps!" McMackin, wearing short pants, shouted to observers bundled in coats and caps before changing into long pants himself.

Quarterback Inoke Funaki wore a jacket for the early part of the practice, which ran from 8 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. Linebacker Adam Leonard stuffed towels into the ear holes of his helmet and kicker Dan Kelly sneaked off to sit on the bus and warm up for a while.

"That was cold, brrrr!" Kelly said.

Although kickoff tomorrow is scheduled for 2 p.m. (Mountain Time), when the forecast is for the 60s, temperatures drop significantly when the sun sets. Sunset will be approximately 5:10 p.m..