Scott Sakowitz and Matt Friedman practiced clapping, calling out letters and even smiling for their appearance on "Wheel of Fortune."
The two UF students, both members of Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity, will appear on the show this week. Sakowitz, a zoology junior, will appear tomorrow and Friedman, a sophomore, will appear Friday.
Sakowitz applied over the summer, and Friedman applied when he was in high school. They received e-mails in September asking them to come to a second audition at Sea World.
Three weeks later, they received the call telling them they would appear on the show.
"That was when we realized we were going to be on the show together," Sakowitz said. "I thought, 'Oh no, this isn't good. I don't want to compete against him. He's good."
Friedman said they told the producers they knew each other, and the producers made sure they did not appear on the same show.
Because "Wheel of Fortune" tapes a week's worth of shows in one day, Sakowitz and Friedman were able to drive to Orlando and tape their episodes together.
"I've never been so nervous in my life, except for maybe my bar mitzvah," Friedman said. "I'm very nervous; you can see it in my show. I felt like the William Hung of 'Wheel of Fortune.'"
Friedman ended up winning a trip for two to San Francisco including a blimp ride. Sakowitz won a trip to Bermuda. Neither will comment on how much money they won until after their shows air.
