GAME 5UNLV (2-2, 0-1 MOUNTAIN WEST)vs. NEVADA, RENO (0-4, 0-0 BIG WEST)
DATE: Saturday, Oct. 2, 1999KICKOFF:1:07 pm PDTSITE: Mackay Stadium (31,545/Natural Grass) RenoTV: KLAS TV-8 (Dave McCann & Steve Stallworth) RADIO: ESPN 920 AM (Tony Cordasco & Hunkie Cooper)
GAME PREVIEW
UNLV (2-2) looks to snap a two-game losing streak by traveling to Nevada, Reno (0-4) for the 25th edition of the now-annual Battle For Nevada ... The matchup will mark the final non-conference game of the season for both teams ... The Rebels, who are 2-0 on the road in 1999, will attempt to win their third road game in a season for the first time since 1990 and earn three non-conference victories in one season for the first time since 1992 ... UNLV has lost four straight games to the Wolf Pack and has not won in Reno since a 26-21 victory in 1979 ... The Rebels fell 52-14 last week in their first-ever Mountain West Conference game ... UNR lost 49-24 to Fresno State to begin the season 0-4 for the first time since 1982 ... UNLV will be the second MWC team the Pack has faced this season after falling at Colorado State on Sept. 11 ... This week marks only the second time this season that UNLV faces a team that is not undefeated ... A Rebel victory this Saturday would give the program as many wins -- three -- as any entire season since 1994 ... Six of UNLV's 1999 opponents received at least one vote in this week's USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches Poll: BYU, Air Force, Wyoming, Colorado State, Utah and Iowa State.
SERIES NOTES
UNR leads the all-time series 14-10 ... The 24 games vs. the Wolf Pack are by far the most played between UNLV and any opponent ... The Rebels once had an 8-4 lead in the series but the Pack has won 10 of the last 12 in the rivalry, which is being played for the 11th-consecutive year in '99 ... Last year, UNR, which is one of the Rebels' two oldest rivals, posted a 31-20 win at Sam Boyd Stadium ... Whether it's held north or south, the Big Game has been a big seller of late with the last nine clashes having averaged crowds of 24,974 ... The Rebels' last win in the series was also the most significant as UNLV's 32-27 victory in 1994 earned it both a conference title and Las Vegas Bowl berth ... With UNR joining the Big West Conference in 1992, these two teams played each other four times as league rivals (1992-95) before UNLV left for the WAC in 1996 ... UNLV has since joined the Mountain West Conference while UNR moves into the WAC in 2000 ... UNLV has two players on its roster from the Reno area -- DE Bill Cofer and DB Quincy Sanders -- both of whom are former Nevada high school state players of the year.
HEAD COACH JOHN ROBINSON
In a historic move for the team, school and entire Las Vegas Valley, famed football coach John Robinson was hired as the eighth head coach in UNLV history on Dec. 3, 1998. Bringing instant credibility to a program that this fall moves into the new Mountain West Conference, Robinson is one of college football's most successful and recognizable figures. Still passionate about the game he teaches, Robinson's stunning move to the desert and subsequent courting of Southern Nevada's loyalties has rapidly mined a football spirit not before seen in the City of Lights. "The hiring of John Robinson should be proof positive that UNLV is committed to its football program and is serious about its membership in the Mountain West Conference," UNLV President Dr. Carol C. Harter said. Robinson, 64, is the nation's seventh-winningest active coach with a career record of 106-37-4, for a percentage of .735. In addition, his 7-1 bowl record gives him a higher winning percentage in the postseason (.875) than any active college coach with a minimum of eight games. Robinson, who earned his 100th career victory at the University of Southern California in 1997 with a win vs. UNLV, had two stints with the Trojans. He first became head coach in 1976 and spent seven years leading Troy. His teams won 82 percent of their games (67-14-2) in his original run, averaging nearly 10 victories a year. In fact, Robinson tied a NCAA record for most wins by a first-year head coach after his team went 11-1 and earned a Rose Bowl berth. He won the 1978 national championship with a 12-1 mark (USC was ranked No. 2 in both 1976 and '79), led the Trojans to three Pac-10 titles and guided Troy to five postseason bowls. Also, from 1978 through 1980, USC posted a school-record 28-game unbeaten streak. Along the way, he coached two Heisman Trophy winners (running backs Charles White in 1979 and Marcus Allen in 1981) and a Lombardi Award honoree (guard Brad Budde in 1979). Also, Robinson was named National Coach of the Year in 1979 following an 11-0-1 campaign. After spending four months as USC's senior vice president for university relations, Robinson headed to the NFL to take over the Los Angeles Rams. His stint in pro ball produced the most victories (79) in Rams history. During his nine years with the club (1983-91), he reached the playoffs six times and twice advanced to the NFC championship game (1985 & '89). He spent 1992 as a television analyst before returning to USC for the 1993 season. His second term at Troy lasted until 1997 and featured three more bowl victories, including the Rose Bowl title over Northwestern following the 1995 season that improved his career record in the Granddaddy of them All to a sparkling 4-0. Robinson began his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater, the University of Oregon, for 12 seasons (1960-71). He moved to USC to direct the school's offense for three years (1972-74) before serving as the backfield coach for the NFL's Oakland Raiders in 1975 under childhood friend John Madden. Considered an expert on the running game, Robinson has produced four NFL rushing champions and two NCAA rushing leaders. Overall, he has tutored 24 first team All-Americans, 22 NFL first-round selections and 86 NFL draft picks. Born on July 25, 1935, Robinson grew up in Daly City, Calif., and starred in football and baseball at Serra High School San Mateo. He then lettered as an end for Oregon when the Ducks won the 1957 Pacific Coast Conference title and played in the Rose Bowl. He received his bachelor's degree in education from the school in 1958. Robinson and wife, Linda, have six grown children and six grandchildren.
ROBINSON'S HEAD COACHING RECORD
COLLEGE Year School Overall Conf.(Pl.) Bowl1976 USC 11-1 7-0 (1st) Rose (W) 1977 USC 8-4 5-2 (2nd) Bluebonnet (W) 1978 USC 12-1 6-1 (1st) Rose (W)1979 USC 11-0-1 6-0 (1st) Rose (W) 1980 USC 8-2-1 4-2-1 (3rd) - 1981 USC 9-3 5-2 (2nd) Fiesta (L) 1982 USC 8-3 5-2 (3rd) - 1993 USC 8-5 6-2 (T1st) Freedom (W) 1994 USC 8-3-1 6-2 (T2nd) Cotton (W)1995 USC 9-2-1 6-1-1 (T1st) Rose (W) 1996 USC 6-6 3-4 (5th) -1997 USC 6-5 4-4 (T5th) -1999 UNLV 2-2 0-1 TOTAL 106-37-4 (.735) - 13th season
LOS ANGELES RAMS (NFL) Year Record Div. Fin.Playoffs1983 9-7 2nd First Round1984 10-6 2nd W1ild Card1985 11-5 1st NFC Championship Game1986 10-6 2nd First Round1987 6-9 3rd -1988 10-6 2nd First Round1989 11-5 2nd NFC Championship Game1990 5-11 3rd -1991 3-13 4th -TOTAL 79-74 (.516) - 9 seasonsCAREER 185-111-4 (.623) 22nd season
WINNINGEST ACTIVE DIVISION I-A COACHES(Minimum five years as I-A head coach)COACH, COLLEGE YRS RECORD PCTPhillip Fulmer, Tennessee 8th 68-12-0 .850Joe Paterno, Penn State 34th 312-80-2 .794Steve Spurrier, Florida 13th 117-31-2 .787Bobby Bowden, Florida State 34th 295-85-2 .775R.C. Slocum, Texas A&M 11th 96-27-2 .776Dennis Erickson, Oregon St. 14th 116-40-1 .742 JOHN ROBINSON, UNLV 13th 106-37-4 .735LaVell Edwards, BYU 28th 245-92-3 .727
THE FREMONT CANNON
Not simply a traveling trophy for the winner of the UNLV vs. Nevada, Reno game, the Fremont Cannon is ever-present at the now-annual Battle For Nevada because its keepers fire a blast each time their team scores. The tradition of awarding the cannon to the victors started a quarter-century ago when the Rebels' first football coach, Bill Ireland, felt the young rivalry between the north and south schools could use a symbolic trophy to stimulate interest. The prize turned out to be a replica of the howitzer used by John C. Fremont, one of America's foremost trailblazers, as he headed west into Nevada in 1843. Legend has it that Fremont violated U.S. War Department rules by taking the cannon with him on his westward trek without persmission and then abandoned the weapon in a Sierra-Nevada snowdrift. Built by Kennecott Copper Corp., Nevada Mines Division, the cannon is valued at more than $10,000 and is considered one of the best, and loudest, symbols in college football. The Wolf Pack held the cannon first because they had beaten the Rebels 30-28 in the first game of the series on Thanksgiving Day 1969. UNLV promptly won rights to the big gun in 1970 with a 42-30 home win and went on to dominate the series with eight wins in the next 11 games played. After UNR rebounded to win five straight games (1989-93), UNLV regained the cannon in its Silver Anniversary Year in 1994. Last year's 31-20 UNR win gave the Pack a 14-10 lead in the series, which has been continuous since 1987.
UNLV (2-2) 1999 SCHEDULEDate Opponent Result/Time S. 2 at North Texas W, 26-3S. 11 at Baylor W, 27-24S. 18 IOWA STATE L, 24-0S. 25 UTAH L, 52-14O. 2 at Nevada, Reno 1 pm PDTO. 9 at Wyoming 12 pm PDTO. 16 OPENO. 23 BYU (HOMECOMING)7:30 pm PDTO. 30 at New Mexico 5 pm PDTN. 6 OPENN. 13 at Air Force 10 am PSTN. 20 SAN DIEGO STATE 1 pm PSTN. 27 COLORADO STATE 1 pm PST
NEVADA, RENO (0-4) 1999 SCHEDULEDate Opponent ResultS. 4 OREGON STATE L, 28-13 S. 11 at Colorado St. L, 38-33S. 18 at Oregon L, 72-10S. 25 FRESNO STATE L, 49-24O. 2 UNLV 1 pm PDTO. 9 at New Mexico St.6 pm MDTO. 23 at Boise State 3 pm MDTO. 30 NORTH TEXAS 1 pm PDTN. 6 IDAHO 12pm PSTN. 13 at Arkansas St. 4 pm CSTN. 20 UTAH STATE 12 pm PST
UNLV QUICK FACTSLocation: Las Vegas, NV 89154Founded: 1957Enrollment: 21,000Nickname: Rebels (Not Runnin')Colors: Scarlet & GrayPresident: Dr. Carol C. HarterDir. of Athletics:Charles CavagnaroConference: Mountain WestStadium: Sam Boyd StadiumCapacity/Surface:40,000/Natural GrassRecord in Stadium:107-66-3 (28th season)UNLV All-Time Record:177-168-4 (32nd season)All-Time vs. MWC Teams:17-25-1Head Coach: John RobinsonRecord at UNLV: 2-2 (1st year)Record Overall: 106-37-4 (13th season)Offense: MultipleDefense: 4-3
THE LAST TIME THEY MET
LAS VEGAS -- (Oct. 3, 1998)
NEVADA, RENO 31, UNLV 20
For the second week in a row, UNLV (0-5) scored its most points of the year and gave up the least but still lost its 10th-consecutive game, 31-20, to Nevada, Reno (3-2) in front of 22,006 fans at Sam Boyd Stadium. The Battle For Nevada saw the visiting Wolf Pack jump to a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter, including UNR's first rushing score of the season coming on a Chris Lemon rush. The Rebels rebounded, however, and used a 17-yard scoring run by Dahrin Footman and a 55-yard TD scamper by James Wofford to pull within 21-14 at halftime. The seven-point deficit marked the closest UNLV had been at the break of any game to that point in '98. Footman gained 65 yards on five carries leading to his first career score. The junior went on to post a career-high 154 yards rushing on just 13 attempts as the Rebels earned a season-high 268 yards on the ground. UNR opened the third with a 64-yard scoring drive and added a 41-yard field goal to make it 31-14 with one quarter remaining. QB Kevin Crook, who was replaced by Chad Reed in the fourth quarter, was only 2-16 in passing and UNLV's seven completions marked the school's lowest total since posting five vs. UNR in 1992. The Rebels' final score came on a 78-yard punt return by Duane "Toy Train" James, which marked the program's first punt returned for a touchdown since Henry Bailey's in 1992 vs. Cal State Fullerton. The Pack, which was led by Lemon's UNLV-opponent-record 44 rushing attempts for 190 yards, won its fourth straight in the series, evening its record at 6-6 in Las Vegas.
TV SCHEDULE UPDATE The annual Battle For Nevada will be shown live in Las Vegas on Oct. 2, the school announced. The UNLV at UNR game, scheduled to kick off at 1 pm from Mackay Stadium, will be produced by SportsWest Network and shown live on KLAS TV-8 (CBS). Also, the BYU at UNLV game at Sam Boyd Stadium on Oct. 23 has been moved from 4 pm to 7:30 pm and will appear live in both Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. Also, the Wyoming game on Oct. 9 has been picked up by ESPN Regional for its Mountain West Conference Game of the Week package. The Rebels vs. Cowboys will appear at noon (PDT) on KFBT TV-33 (Cable 6).
CROWDED CROWDS UNLV's debut season in the newly expanded and renovated Sam Boyd Stadium has been a success at the gate. The lid-lifter vs. Iowa State on September 18 drew 26,167 fans, which was 961 short of the school's record for a home opener, but still represented the 10th largest home crowd in UNLV history. The Utah game on Sept. 25 drew 23,532 fans, which marked the first time that the Rebels hosted back-to-back crowds of 23,000 or more since Oct. 3-10, 1987.
TACKLE (RECORD) ELIGIBLE Senior strongside linebacker Jerrad Pierucci continues to move up the UNLV career tackles chart. His team-leading nine total takedowns vs. Utah moved him from 14th into a tie for 11th with Rumone Hilton (1990-93) with 216 career tackles. The younger brother of former Rebel offensive lineman Jerald Pierucci (1995-98), Jerrad would need to average just slightly over 10 tackles a game to reach Darnell Pickens' record of 289 from 1984-87. Pierucci needs six more to break into the top 10 and pass Minnesota Viking rookie Talance Sawyer (1995-98).
PL PLAYER (POS) YEARS TOT1. Darnell Pickens (LB) 1984-87 2892. Doc Wise (DL) 1986-89 280 Harvey Allen (DB) 1982-85 2804. Greg Gales (LB) 1996-98 2775. Jason Davis (DB) 1991-94 2766. Jody Reinoehl (LB) 1987-90 2607. Rodney Mazion (DB) 1991-94 2358. Scott Patton (LB) 1996-97 228 Anthony Blue (DB) 1983-86 22810. Talance Sawyer (DE) 1995-98 22111. Jerrad Pierucci (LB)1996-PR 216 Rumone Hilton (LB) 1990-93 216
ON THE OFFENSIVE... When Jeremi Rudolph threw a half-back pass attempt vs. Utah, it marked the first time this season that someone other than Jason Vaughan threw a pass for the Rebels (six players attempted at least one pass for the 1998 squad, including three QBs) ... James Wofford, who finished 10th in the WAC with 74.2 YPG a year ago but has been moved primarily to fullback this fall, has moved into 11th place on the school's career rushing list with 1,553 in just over two years. He needs 40 yards to crack the top 10 and pass Shannon Wilson (1992-93, 95) ... Peter Tramontanas, who spent '98 as an offensive guard, is now the team's starting tight end and had a reception in both of the first two games ... Rebel O-lineman Brandon Bair, who graduated from Basic HS, was recently named to the Henderson (NV) Home News' All-Time Henderson football team ... WR Nate Turner is tied with RB Jeremi Rudolph for the team lead with three touchdowns.
FOR THE DEFENSE... The Rebels lead the Mountain West in pass defense, giving up only 105.2 yards per game. UNLV is currently ranked 26th in the nation in that category after finishing 97th a year ago ... Rebel opponents have converted only two of a league-leading 10 fourth-down attempts this season (20 percent) after converting seven of 14 in 1999 (50 percent) ... The Rebel defense has two scores in four games -- both by DB Kevin Thomas. Following his 49-yard interception return at UNT, the sophomore waited until the final play for an encore in game two. His 100-yard fumble return was only the third in NCAA history and the first to win a game. The school record for most defensive touchdowns in a career is three by Patt Medchill (1970-72) ... Since 1996, UNLV has returned four fumbles 65 yards or longer ... The Rebels have recorded 18 pass breakups in four games after having only 32 all of last year ... Walk-on Sharif Hamilton, a junior transfer from St. Peter's College in New Jersey, made his first career interception vs. Iowa State ... MLB James Sunia led the team in tackles last year as a rookie with 115, helping the Hawaiian earn first-team Freshman All-America honors from Football News. He currently leads the squad again and is sixth in the conference with 38 ... Senior DB Quincy Sanders had a team single-game high 13 total tackles vs. Iowa State, including 12 solo.
SPECIAL (TEAMS) DELIVERY... Kicker/punter Ray Cheetany, who has handled kickoff duties for UNLV this season, made his Div. I-A punting debut vs. Iowa State and has earned the starting job. The transfer from Iowa Central CC replaced freshman Ryan McDonald in the second half and boomed three balls for a 42-yard average. Last week, Cheetany punted eight times for an average of 48.8, including the team's season-long of 60 ... Kickoff return man Len Ware is currently first in the conference and fourth in the nation with a 35.1-yard average after his 97-yard return for a score vs. Utah. It was the second-longest kickoff return in school history and the first returned for a touchdown since 1992 ... UNLV has attempted only one field goal this season -- an unsuccessful 46-yard try vs. Iowa State. The school record for least three-pointers made and attempted both came in 1969 when the Rebels went 0-2 on field goal attempts. UNLV has made only 28 field goals in almost five seasons after setting the school's single-season record with 21 in 1994.
GAME FOUR REVIEW: UTAH 52, UNLV 14
UTES ROMP IN MOUNTAIN WEST OPENER
LAS VEGAS -- (Sept. 25, 1999)
Playing its first-ever Mountain West Conference game, UNLV (2-2) was dominated by Utah (3-0) in the Utes' first trip to Las Vegas since 1981. Mike Anderson rushed for 116 yards and four touchdowns as Utah rolled up 290 yards on the ground and 475 yards overall in front of 23,532 fans at Sam Boyd Stadium. The Rebels lost their ninth-straight game at home while managing just 63 yards rushing (-18 in the first half) and 90 yards passing. Utah jumped out to a 17-0 lead before Len Ware returned a kickoff 97 yards for a score for UNLV's first points at home in 1999. The return for a score, the first for the school since 1992, was the second-longest in Rebel history after Ken Bowles' 99-yard return vs. Cal Poly in 1976. The Utes, however, continued to pile it on in the second half, scoring six touchdowns in seven red-zone appearances during the game. The lead swelled to 52-7 until Jason Vaughan hit Nate Turner for a three-yard touchdown and mark the hosts' first offensive touchdown in the previous eight quarters. Utah won its fourth straight in the series and UNLV failed to win its league-opener for the fourth straight season.
WARE THE BALLS ARE
A former defender as a prepster who is now one of the Mountain West's top long-ball threats, Len Ware came to Las Vegas as a defensive back but has a chance to leave as the Rebels' all-time leading receiver. The sure-handed veteran currently stands fifth on UNLV's career reception list with 148 and needs just eight more to pass Michael Morton in fourth while 40 more catches will move him past former teammate Damon Williams in first place. Ware is fifth with 2,117 receiving yards and needs 442 yards to pass Williams in that category as well. Ware is tied for first at the school with eight career 100-yard receiving games. Known for his long scores, he has four career touchdowns over 75 yards, including a 97-yard kickoff return this fall, and has caught at least one pass in 36 of 38 career games. He also needs one more career receiving TD to tie for fifth place at the school. Ware, a communications major, is also seventh in career all-purpose yardage at UNLV with 3,047.
HOME COOKIN'
UNLV made its 33rd home debut on Sept. 18 but the games have never looked like this in the Valley. Thanks to an $18 million renovation and expansion of 28-year-old Sam Boyd Stadium, the team played in front of more people in a drastically upgraded facility. Although the final capacity is still to be determined, the stadium features more than 36,000 permanent seats (all painted red for the first time), which is at least a 4,000 raise over last year. Temporary seating is also available if needed, which would raise the capacity to 40,000. Not included in those numbers are the contents of the new Airway Tower, which is the jewel in the desert-set stadium's crown. The three-level structure features a club seat level, a press level and is topped by new luxury suites. The most striking change may be the new grass playing surface. The so-called "Magic Carpet" artificial turf is now gone and Sam Boyd Stadium now sports grass for the first time in its history. The move to grass ensured that the new Mountain West Conference is all-natural. The Rebels have already played their only game on artificial turf this season -- at North Texas in game one.
