RENO, Nev. — In two years at the University of Nevada, former Kamehameha Schools standout Caleb Spencer has figured out the best places to shop (Meadowood Mall) and eat sushi (Sushi Pier) in Reno.

But when it comes to figuring out the weather, the answer is blowing in the wind.

"Reno's weather is weird," said Spencer, whose team hosts Hawai'i today at Mackay Stadium. "Man, Tuesday was perfect. It was 70-degree weather. It was like hot. You could wear shorts and slippers. Now, you're in full-on thermos and sweaters. (Thursday's) low was 38. It was pretty ridiculous. And it's not just the cold, it's the wind. That wind freezes you, especially in our stadium."

Spencer said more than 20 family members are in town for what he calls "my homecoming."

"They stepped off the plane, and they were freezing," Spencer said. "We went straight to Wal-Mart. They bought sweaters and thermos and everything. It's not an easy adjustment for people from Hawai'i."

Indeed, the UH football team yesterday learned that lesson during a 90-minute practice at Sparks High School. By the middle of the late-afternoon practice, the temperature had dropped into the 40s. The windchill was even worse.

"If I left my Gatorade out here overnight, it would be frozen by tomorrow," said Michael Brewster, a member of the UH video crew.

Punter Kurt Milne, place-kicker Daniel Kelly and strength coach Mel deLaura spent most of the practice inside the wooden announcer's booth. The running backs gathered for several group hugs. Several players kept warm by staging an impromptu kicking contest. A.J. Martinez converted three consecutive 25-yard field goals to win; backup quarterback Tyler Graunke shanked both of his attempts.

Jeff Reinebold, who coordinates UH's punt team, said the combination of thin air (Reno is 4,700 feet above sea level) and chilly winds will cause punts to sail.

"All of a sudden the balls that are 40-yard punts (at sea level) turn into 47-yard punts in Reno," Reinebold said. "Now, (the Reno returners) are out in front of our coverage, and they have a chance to hit it. That's what happened against Louisiana Tech. Louisiana Tech has great speed (on punt coverages), but the punter hit the ball so far he out-kicked his coverage, and for Nevada, it was, 'There we go.' "

Yesterday, Milne spent about 15 minutes trying to place his punts into the corners. "You don't want to be too cautious," he said, "but you don't want to be too careless."

Defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis said: "We can't worry about the weather. We have to concentrate on winning this game, regardless of the weather. They have to play in it, too. It's not going to be windy and cold for us, and calm and warm for them."

Both teams, to be sure, are trying to overcome recent disappointment. Despite entering the red zone (between an opponent's 20 and end zone) on eight of 10 drives, the Warriors managed two field goals and a touchdown in last Saturday's 27-13 loss to Fresno State. The Warriors, who are 3-5 overall and 3-3 in the Western Athletic Conference, need to win their final four games to meet the NCAA's bowl-eligible minimum of a winning regular season.

"People tend to forget this is still a rebuilding year for us," freshman slotback Davone Bess said. "We want to really win, but we also want to learn and grow. I think we can do both."

Nevada (4-3 overall, 3-1 in WAC) is stinging from last week's 49-14 loss to Boise State.

"I tell you what, we go up to Boise and just played as poor as you can play," Nevada coach Chris Ault said. "We ought to be embarrassed. We just played pathetic. It was that simple. I would like to tell you (the Broncos) did something different, but they didn't. I'm expecting them to play hard this week."

Ault has tried to minimize the distractions, suggesting to his players not to talk to Hawai'i media this week. He also reportedly turned down invitations to meet with NFL scouts.

But Nevada, like UH, is rebuilding. Ault said freshmen and sophomores compose 60 percent of the roster. The Varsity Village — a complex featuring weight rooms, training rooms and offices — opened last week. The project was Ault's final one as athletic director; he resigned from that position last year to become Nevada's head coach for the third time.

"This is where I'm going to be," said Ault, 58. "This is where it starts and this is where it's going to end, and I'm enthused about it. I'd like to coach until I'm 65."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.