EL PASO, Texas — You can see dusty glimpses of Mexico from where Interstate 10 winds around the Sun Bowl, where the University of Hawai'i practices today.

And, that is apparently about all the Warriors' football team will see of the neighboring country during its week here.

Never mind that the Warriors' hotel is but a 15-minute bus ride from the U.S.-Mexico border, head coach Greg McMackin has vowed to run a tight "camp" the six days the Warriors headquarter here in preparation for Saturday's game at New Mexico State.

"Nobody's going to Mexico," McMackin said yesterday. "This is a business trip."

The Warriors' 30-14 loss at Utah State Saturday means UH (4-5) must win at least three of its final four games to be bowl eligible and earn a place in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl.

"Our job has just gotten tougher," McMackin said in the wake of the loss at Utah State.

As a result, apparently, so has McMackin. "I'm laying the law down," McMackin said in preparation for last night's meeting with the team.

McMackin said the decision, made this summer, to stay on the Mainland and headquarter here rather than returning home is "great" timing for the Warriors to devote more focus to the upcoming game. He compared it to a second training camp.

"We'll have everybody here all together," McMackin said. "We can all work together on this ... no distractions."

McMackin credited Utah State with playing well and said his team will have to work harder this week. "We can't have 10 guys doing what they are supposed to and one that's not. We need all 11."

McMackin said the Warriors will have two study hall sessions a day to keep up on academics.

They are scheduled to work out in El Paso all week and make the 45-mile drive to Las Cruces, N.M., on game day before returning to El Paso.

SILVA SIDELINED

Backup defensive back Mana Silva, who suffered a sprained left ankle in the loss to Utah State, will not be available for the New Mexico State game, McMackin said.

As a result, McMackin said Silva will be sent home to recuperate and a replacement will be flown in.

McMackin said it hasn't yet been decided who that will be.