LAS VEGAS — Western Athletic Conference commissioner Karl Benson said he has given the officiating crew that works tonight's University of Hawai'i-Nevada Las Vegas game no special instructions regarding the haka.

Last week UH was charged a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for performing their version of the haka, a Maori war dance, before the game while Louisiana Tech made its way to the locker room. With UH kicking off from its own 15 yard line, Tech eventually scored on the first series.

"They are going to enforce NCAA Rule No. 9 along with all the other NCAA football rules just like they do every Saturday," Benson said.

He said the circumstances under which the haka — or any demonstration — constitute unsportsmanlike conduct are left to the officials.

"Like a lot of football rules, it is a judgment; a judgment call and it requires individual interpretation," Benson said. "Our officials are not being instructed to do anything different than they do every Saturday. They (the instructions) are no different than any other game. No different than the Boise State-Wyoming or Nevada-Nicholls State games."

Benson said his appearance at this game was planned for several months and not based "upon what happened last week."

He said, "I'm not here to enforce rules, it is the officials on the field who do that."

Yesterday, at its final practice before the game — and first in Sam Boyd Stadium — the Warriors worked on the haka several times.

"It looks good," assistant coach Cal Lee said.

Under the terms of the contract for the game, on-the-field officials of the visiting team's conference are used and replay officials come from the home team's conference.

SCOUTS WATCHING

UNLV expects a record-tying 17 NFL scouts at today's game.

Assistant sports information director Mark Wallington said 17 credentials were issued through yesterday, matching the most for a Rebel home game.

Ten scouts attended UH's practice yesterday.

30,000-PLUS FOR GAME

UNLV officials said they expect a crowd in excess of 32,000 for the game, as many as 12,000 of whom could be with UH ties coming directly from the islands or Hawai'i transplants living on the Mainland.

Sam Boyd Stadium seats 36,800.

Three games with Hawai'i already rank among the Top 15 UNLV home games in attendance. UH's last visit, in 2003, drew 34,287. Only Wisconsin and instate rival Nevada have drawn more to the stadium for a UNLV game.

A high of 98 degrees is forecast for today with temperatures expected to be in the high 80s for the 6:35 p.m. (Nevada time) kickoff.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.