If the Western Athletic Conference would like to expand some more — somebody from the eastern time zone, perhaps? — you could probably count on the University of Hawai'i's enthusiastic endorsement right about now.

The current nine-team conference might not be nearly enough for the Warriors' liking now.

Not when UH, which laid a 49-28 welcome-to-the-WAC initiation on newcomer New Mexico State last night, is having so much fun ushering in pledges to the fraternity.

With a 24-0 thumping of Idaho in the Vandals' WAC debut, both of UH's victories in a, so far, 2-4 season have come against WAC newbies and allowed the Warriors to balance their conference record at 2-2.

Coincidence? Perhaps, but the combination of their new role as dean of the WAC and the people they get to pick on is clearly bringing out the best in these Warriors. Motto: the more the merrier in a season in which the WAC has three new members. And to think the new members are paying big bucks for the privilege of being abused like this.

Few of the old guard are enjoying the fruits of expansion more than the Warriors, who are 6-2 against the last eight teams to cross their path in an inaugural season.

Last night their welcome wagon rolled over the Aggies for 628 yards of total offense and enough highlights to make a season of video.

Quite the elixir for a team that had lost its last two games and had been without a point in its two previous quarters. And, what a way to brighten up a homecoming for the 24,775 on hand.

I mean, try picking a WAC Offensive Player of the Week from among quarterback Colt Brennan (38 of 53 passes for 515 yards and seven touchdowns), receivers Chad Mock (10 catches, 147 yards and a TD), Ryan Grice-Mullen (nine catches for 137 yards and four touchdowns) and Davone Bess (seven for 128 and a TD).

Things were going so well that, at one point in the third quarter, UH even managed a 19-yard pass play with only 10 men on the field.

One of the few Warriors who didn't have an opportunity for a career night was the punter, Kurt Milne, who only got one appearance.

The biggest drama — for sure the most enduring of a 3-hour, 47-minute contest — was whether UH head coach June Jones would ever get around to calling a running play.

He did — but not until 11 minutes, 18 seconds were left in the game, the outcome hardly in doubt, when running back David Farmer, who had seven pass receptions, finally got the call off the left side.

The biggest head-scratcher, however, was why NMSU coach Hal Mumme wasted his two timeouts and most of the final 1:28 of a first half where the Aggies trailed only 35-21 but felt compelled to call a timeout with four seconds left in the fourth quarter where they were down by 21 points. Go figure why the Aggies are 0-7.

Of course, as Jones would acknowledge afterward, it behooves the Warriors to enjoy picking on the newcomers now before they grow into the WAC like Boise State and Louisiana Tech have.

"I was hoping the game would get over (soon) because they (the Aggies) are going to be a pretty good football team," Jones said. "I'm going to hate to play them in the next year and two years, when they get the players they need for that system."

At this rate, Utah State's first visit as a conference member on Nov. 12 is another date for the Warriors to circle on the calendar.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.