You know college football season is near when UNLV players are again asked to explain how they feel about being picked last in the Mountain West Conference.
UNLV Football
UNLV interior offensive line coach Keith Uperesa underwent surgery for thyroid cancer last month, but there is hope the disease was discovered early enough.
UNLV athletic director Mike Hamrick’s policy was to sign only home-and-home football contracts, but then the recession hit and the state took a bite out of his budget.
John Robinson will enter the College Football Hall of Fame for his work as Southern California’s coach.
Just before making it official, Pittsburgh Steelers running backs coach Kirby Wilson sent the Review-Journal a text message saying the club would select Frank Summers.
If UNLV spring football was boring from a newsmaking standpoint, the program’s August preseason camp should be anything but dull.
The plan wasn’t to give Mike Clausen that much playing time — “It’s how the drives worked out,” coach Mike Sanford said — but UNLV’s backup quarterback didn’t waste the opportunity.
The football team that UNLV coach Mike Sanford puts on the field for the Sept. 5 season opener against Sacramento State probably will look much like the starting offensive and defensive units that play in today’s spring game.
Even on the part of the practice field where the big men of UNLV’s offensive and defensive lines are running spring drills, Isaako Aaitui stands out without even hitting anyone.
Maybe the Mountain West Conference looked at UNLV’s seven home football games next season and tried to balance out its schedule.
Displeased with the secondary and pass rush, UNLV’s coaching staff signed five junior college players in December and February to provide immediate help in those areas.
UNLV’s offensive linemen didn’t have the luxury of time the past two seasons. Because of inexperience (2007) and youth (2008), they had to come together quickly, form a bond and hope it served the unit well on game days.
Football coaches don’t like to waste any scholarships, but being wrong about a prospect who signs early can be especially damaging.
UNLV will have a better idea in August about its running game when Bradley Randle arrives. And the Rebels will know more about their pass rush when B.J. Bell starts suiting up.
Upset after not being invited to the NFL scouting combine last month, Frank Summers used the snub as motivation during UNLV’s pro day workout before 13 teams Thursday.