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UNLV (3-3, 1-2 MOUNTAIN WEST)vs.WYOMING (1-6, 0-3 MOUNTAIN WEST)
DATE:   Saturday, Oct. 21, 2000KICKOFF:4:00 pm PDTSITE:   Sam Boyd Stadium (36,800/Grass) Las VegasTV: SportsWest/Cox Cable 48       (Dave McCann & Blaine Fowler)RADIO:  ESPN 920 AM       (Larry Kahn & Tony Cordasco)

GAME PREVIEW

UNLV (3-3) goes for its fourth consecutive home victory by hosting Wyoming (1-6) in the school's 33rd Homecoming game ... UNLV is coming off a heartbreaking 20-19 loss at league-leader Colorado State, which was only the program's sixth one-point defeat in history ... The Rebels look for their first win over the Cowboys in Las Vegas since 1980 ... UNLV holds a 19-13 record in Homecoming games (.594), but has dropped two straight and seven of the last 10 traditional events staged at Sam Boyd Stadium ... The Rebels have not won four straight home games since 1992-93 and have not won four consecutive in the same season since 1989 ... UNLV looks to even its MWC record at 2-2 after losing two league games on the road by a combined four points ... The Rebels have not won two conference games in the same season since going 2-6 in the WAC in 1997 ... After going winless at home in head coach John Robinson's debut season, the Rebels are 3-0 at home in 2000 ... UNLV has now as many games -- six -- in Robinson's first 17 games as coach than the program's previous four seasons combined (6-39 from 1995-98) ... With the game being broadcast live by SportsWest, UNLV will have already appeared on TV six times this season -- besting the school-record four showings last year ... The Rebel defense has surrendered only seven points in the third quarter and 13 in the fourth and shut out opponents in 13 of the last 20 quarters ... Rebel QBs have not thrown an interception in the last 14 quarters and have had just two picks in the last 42 quarters dating back to last season ... UNLV QB Jason Thomas is ranked first nationally in passing efficiency ... Robinson is 1-0 vs. Wyoming in his career.

SERIES NOTES

The all-time series is tied at four ... The Rebels won the first three games by a total of 13 points ... Wyoming then had a four-game winning streak before 1999's UNLV upset victory in Laramie ... UNLV's four victories in the series have come by a total of 16 points ... Former Rebel QB Jon Denton set a then-NCAA freshman single-game record when he threw for 486 yards vs. the Pokes in 1996.

SERIES RECORD: Tied at 4LAST MEETING:       1999 (UNLV 35-32)WYO at UNLV RECORD: 2-2UNLV at WYO RECORD: 2-2UNLV's LARGEST WIN: 7 (33-26 in 1980)WYO's LARGEST WIN:  24 (45-21 in 1981)
DATE         SITE            RESULT11-11-78    Las Vegas   UNLV, 12-1010-27-79    Laramie         UNLV, 28-2411-8-80         Las Vegas   UNLV, 33-2610-3-81         Laramie         WYO, 45-219-28-96         Las Vegas   WYO, 33-2111-8-97         Laramie         WYO, 35-2310-17-98    Las Vegas   WYO, 28-25 (OT)10-9-99         Laramie         UNLV, 35-32

NOT THE POINT

Through six games, UNLV has missed five extra-point kick attempts (three were blocked), including two last week at CSU that were the difference in a 20-19 loss to the Rams. The PAT troubles are not new for the Rebel special teams, however, as the team made only 13 of 17 last season and 16 of 21 in 1998. In fact, the Rebels have missed six or more extra-point kick attempts in one season five times in history, including a school-record 11 (18 of 29) in the program's first year in 1968.

2000 SCHEDULES/RESULTS
UNLV (3-3)
Date    Opponent    (TV)    TimeS. 9    at Iowa State   (KFBT)  L, 37-22S. 16   NORTH TEXAS     W, 38-0S. 23   at BYU          (KFBT)  L, 10-7S. 30   AIR FORCE   (ABC)   W, 34-13O. 7    UNR         (S.West)W, 38-7O. 14   at Colorado St. (ESPN2) L, 20-19O. 21   WYOMING-HC  (S.West)4 pm PDTO. 28   at Mississippi          11 am PDTN. 4    at Utah     (ESPN+) TBAN. 11   NEW MEXICO  (S.West)TBAN. 18   OPENN. 25   at San Diego St.(S.West)4 pm PSTD. 2    at Hawaii       8 pm PST
WYOMING (1-6)
Date    Opponent    TimeA. 31   at Auburn   L, 35-21S. 9    at Texas A&M    L, 51-3S. 16   CENTRAL MICHIGANW, 31-10S. 23   NEVADA, RENO    L, 35-28S. 30   at New Mexico   L, 45-10O. 7    SAN DIEGO STATE L, 34-0O. 14   AIR FORCE   L, 51-34O. 21   at UNLV         5 pm MDTO. 26   at BYU          6 pm MDTN. 11   UTAH        TBAN. 16   at Colorado St. 6 pm MDT
UNLV QUICK FACTS
Location:           Las Vegas, NV  89154Founded:            1957Enrollment:         23,000Nickname:           Rebels (Not Runnin')Colors:             Scarlet & GrayPresident:          Dr. Carol C. HarterDir. of Athletics:  Charles CavagnaroFaculty Representative: Dr. Myrlene LaMancusaConference:         Mountain WestStadium:            Sam Boyd StadiumCapacity/Surface:   36,800/Natural GrassRecord in Stadium:  110-69-3 (28 seasons)UNLV All-Time Record:   181-177-4 (33rd season)All-Time vs. MWC:   20-32-1Head Coach:             John RobinsonRecord at UNLV: 6-11   (2nd year)Record Overall:     110-46-4 (14th season)1999 Record:            3-8/1-6 T8thOffense:        MultipleDefense:        4-3

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

UNLV 35, WYOMING 32

REBELS EARN FIRST WIN AT WYOMING IN 20 YEARS

LARAMIE, Wyo. -- (Oct. 9, 1999) Despite traveling as a 24-point underdog in its first-ever Mountain West Conference road game, UNLV (3-3) rolled up a big lead and held on to down Wyoming (3-2) 35-32 in a wild game played before 19,048 at War Memorial Stadium. The victory, which broke a four-game losing streak to the Cowboys and spoiled then-UW Head Coach Dana Dimel's 37th birthday, was the first for the Rebels in Laramie since 1979. It also broke a three-game losing streak and a school-record 16-game conference road losing streak that dated back to 1994 when UNLV was a member of the Big West. Appearing on an ESPN network (ESPN+Plus) for the first time since the 1994 Las Vegas Bowl, the Rebels came out firing. After not scoring any first-quarter points all year, UNLV stormed to a 14-0 lead on a Duane "Toy Train" James 13-yard touchdown catch from Jason Vaughan and a 47-yard scoring run by Coury Hankins. A Nate Turner touchdown catch made it 21-3 and the Pokes' Aaron Elling kicked two more field goals to make it 21-9 at halftime. UW closed to 21-16 with its only offensive touchdown of the day before James returned a punt 43 yards for a touchdown. Less than 20 seconds later, the Rebels' Quincy Sanders intercepted a Matt Swanson pass and returned it 34 yards for a score and a 35-16 lead near the end of the third. The Rebels allowed the Pokes back in the game, however, when Vaughan had two interceptions returned for touchdowns in less than four minutes. However, UNLV's defense rallied to hold the hosts scoreless for the final 10:37 of the game. A Tyler Brickell interception, which was one of four UNLV picks on the day (the most by the Rebs since 1993), sealed things with a minute to play. The Rebels won their third road game of the season after not having won at a conference opponent since downing New Mexico State on Oct. 1, 1994. UNLV was led on the ground by tailback Jeremi Rudolph, who turned in a career-high 149 yards on 32 carries and also caught two balls. Rudolph won MWC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts while the "Toy Train" earned league honors for special teams. In the air, Turner led the Rebels with five catches for 94 yards.

REBELATIONS

ON THE OFFENSIVE:

UNLV (6.2) is averaging 1.5 yards more per play than its opponents (4.7). Last year, the Rebels were outgained 5.4 to 4.2 ... UNLV has totaled more than 400 yards in offense in three of six games this fall after failing to hit the mark even once a year ago ... Tailback Jeremi Rudolph's 56 yards at CSU meant the senior broke the 1,000-yard mark in his two-year Rebel career ... The Rebels lead the MWC in fourth-down conversions (6-of-8 for 75 percent) ... Through five games, UNLV has averaged a full three minutes less per game in possession time ... Senior transfer Kevin Brown has two straight 100-yard games and a league-leading three this season to go with his six century-mark games while playing at Washington State in 1998 ... UNLV has had three different players gain 100 yards in a game five times this fall: Brown (three), Rudolph (once) and QB Jason Thomas (once) ... Rudolph was the only Rebel to pass 100 yards in 1999, doing it twice ... Nate Turner (31) has more than 50 percent of the team's receptions (60) this season ... Turner has at least two receptions in all 17 of his games at UNLV ... Turner, who is averaging one TD reception a game this fall, needs only two more scores to tie Len Ware (1996) for sixth on the school's single-season record list with eight ... Turner needs five more scores to tie Demond Thompkins (1991-93) for career TDs at the school with 17 ... The Rebels' 321 yards rushing vs. UNR were the most for the program since 334 in a 28-23 win over Arkansas State on Sept. 9, 1995.

FOR THE DEFENSE:

The Rebel D has given up only nine touchdowns (one other score came on a blocked punt) in 2000 and only six in the last five games ... Last year's squad gave up 20 TDs after six games ... UNLV has outsacked its opponents 16-13 this fall. After six games of 1999, the Rebels had been outsacked 16-8 by opponents ... Two players are tied for the team lead with three sacks each: Anton Palepoi and Ahmad Briggs ... UNLV is No. 1 in the MWC against fourth-down attempts with opponents having converted just one of fivel attempts ... Preseason All-American Thomas leads the MWC with 12 passes defended (10 PBU, two INT) ... UNLV has held five of its six opponents at 200 yards or less rushing this season. Air Force picked up 219 yards but the Falcons still finished 118 yards below their average heading into the game ... Free safety Sam Brandon, a former receiver who is playing his first season on defense this fall, leads the Rebels in tackles with 45.

SPECIAL (TEAMS) DELIVERY:

UNLV is 5-of-7 on field goals this season, which already more than doubles the team's total from a year ago (2-of-5) ... The two misses in 2000 were both blocked ... In fact, UNLV has had five kicks blocked this season (3 PATs) after only six games ... Ray Cheetany's 48-yard field goal vs. UNT was the longest for UNLV since Nick Garritano's 54-yarder vs. UNR in 1994 ... Troy Mason continues stick at 20th nationally in punt returns with an average of 16.2 on 12 attempts, including a long of 35.

LAST WEEK IN REVIEW

COLORADO STATE 20, UNLV 19

MISSED PATs EQUAL MISSED OPPORTUNITY

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- (Oct. 14, 2000) UNLV (3-3) missed two extra points, including one that was blocked with under a minute remaining, as Colorado State (5-1) managed to remain unbeaten in the conference with a 20-19 victory in front of 31, 700 fans and a national TV audience via ESPN2. The Rebels lost their fifth-straight road game dating back to 1999 after losing their star quarterback in to injury in the second quarter. Sophomore Jason Thomas, who led the team in rushing and passing for the season, suffered a sprained right foot just before halftime and would watch the rest of the game on crutches from the sideline. The Rams struck first with a nine-yard touchdown run by Cecil Sapp before Thomas found Troy Mason from 23 yards out on what would be his only completion of the game in just three attempts. CSU then hit a 45-yard field goal to pull ahead 10-7 at the break. UNLV's Randy Black forced a fumble on the third-quarter kickoff and the Rebels got Jeremi Rudolph into the end zone behind relief quarterback Jason Vaughan. Ray Cheetany, however, pushed the ensuing extra-point attempt to the right to make it 13-10. The Rams scored the next 10 points to take a late seven point lead. The Rebels got the ball back with just over two minutes and unleashed an 86-yard drive that culminated with a Vaughan to Nate Turner 11-yard TD pass with 34 seconds left. After threatening to go for two points and the victory in regulation, head coach John Robinson decided during a CSU timeout to finally send in the kick team. The would-be tying extra point attempt was blocked by Rhett Nelson, however, and UNLV lost its fifth straight game to CSU and failed in its attempt to win three consecutive games since 1994. Leading the way for UNLV was Kevin Brown who picked up 134 yards on 17 carries, including a key 45-yard rumble during the final drive. Vaughan was impressive as well, completing eight of 11 passes for 57 yards and no interceptions in his first significant action of the year.The defense was paced by freshman Ryan Claridge's 12 tackles in his first start.

ONE-POINT WORRIES

UNLV's 20-19 loss at Colorado State on Oct. 14 marked only the sixth one-point defeat in school history but the third since 1994. The last five of the heartbreaking losses have come on the road. The Rebels have been on the winning side of five one-point games but none since 1991.

DATE    OPP     SCORE10-14-00    at CSU      20-199-13-97         at Air Force    25-2411-5-94         at USL      28-2710-25-88    at Utah State   7-69-27-75         at Montana  21-2010-17-70    CS Los Angeles  21-20

BREAK IT UP

Cornerback Kevin Thomas, only a junior, has already obliterated the school's career pass breakup record with 41 -- an amazing 14 more than second-place Anthony Blue totaled in 1983-86. Thomas, who had a career-high six breakups vs. UNR on Oct. 7, also set UNLV's single-season mark with 24 in 1999.

UNLV CAREER PASS BREAKUPS
Kevin Thomas, 1998-PR    41Anthony Blue, 1983-86   27Rodney Mazion, 1991-94  26Randy Black, 1997-PR  24Carlton Johnson, 1989-9124Charles Dimry, 1984-87  21David Hollis, 1983-86   21Clarence Mack, 1991-92  20

PICK IT!

UNLV preseason All-American cornerback Kevin Thomas has moved into a tie with four former Rebels for 10th on the school's career interception list. The junior led the squad a year ago with five picks and paces the Rebels again this fall with two. With his next interception, the Sacramento, Calif., native will move all the way into a four-way tie for seventh.

UNLV CAREER INTERCEPTION LIST
Marlon Beavers (1973-76)17Charles Jarvis (1978-81)14David Hollis (1983-86)  11Patt Medchill (1970-72) 11Rodney Mazion (1991-94) 9Jim Farnham (1970-71)   9Alvin Horn (1984-86)    8Aaron Mitchell (1977-78)8Jim Thompson (1968-69)  8Kevin Thomas (1998-PR)   7Carlton Johnson (1989-91)7Anthony Blue (1983-86)  7Harvey Allen (1982-85)  7Rich Logan (1968-70)    7

Wyoming at UNLV
TENTATIVE DEPTH CHART
REBEL OFFENSE
WR (Z)  6   Nate Turner (6-3, 200, SR-1L)    1   Bobby Nero (6-1, 180, JR-TR)WR (X)  86  Troy Mason (5-10, 170, SO-1L)    9   Charles James (6-2, 180, JR-TR)LT  69  Bradon Bair (6-6, 295, JR-1L)    63  Greg Hulett (6-3, 300, JR-RS)LG  63  Greg Hulett (6-3, 300, JR-RS)    75  Shane Wagers (6-5, 300, JR-1L)C   61  Peter Tramontanas (6-5, 275, JR-2L)    78  Joel Menendez (6-3, 275, FR-RS)RG  70  Tony Terrell (6-4, 295, SO-1L)    73  Dominic Furio (6-2, 285, FR-RS)RT  72  John Greer (6-5, 290, SR-3L)    63  Greg Hulett (6-3, 300, JR-RS)TE  80  DeJhown Mandley (6-4, 240, SO-1L)    83  Trevan Sorensen (6-4, 240, SO-1L)QB  10  Jason Vaughan (6-4, 210, SR-1L)    2   Jason Thomas (6-4, 235, SO-TR)TB  4   Kevin Brown (6-2, 225, SR-TR)    7   Jeremi Rudolph (5-9, 175, SR-1L)FB  33  James Wofford (6-0, 200, SR-3L)    24  Steven Costa (6-1, 225, SO-1L)
REBEL SPECIALISTS
PK  39  Ray Cheetany (5-11, 180, SR-1L)    82  Rob Williams (5-11, 170, FR-HS)KO  39  Ray Cheetany (5-11, 180, SR-1L)HOLD    23  Toby Smeltzer (5-10, 185, SO-1L)LS  53  Ryan Hanson (6-2, 220, FR-RS)

REBEL DEFENSE
LDE 47  Anton Palepoi (6-4, 275, JR-TR)    37  Scott Parkhurst (6-3, 235, JR-TR)DT  44  Ahmad Miller (6-4, 295, JR-1L)    91  Dietrich Canterberry (6-4, 290, FR-RS)NG  98  Anthony Suggs (6-0, 260, SR-1L)    92  Phil Reed (6-3, 270, SO-1L)RDE 90  Ahmad Briggs (6-3, 230, SO-1L)    45  Steve Newton (6-3, 245, JR-1L)    99  Adrian Watson (6-3, 240, JR-TR)SLB 48  Tyler Brickell (6-4, 225, SR-3L)    13  LaMar Owens (6-2, 235, JR-TR)MLB 49  Ryan Claridge (6-3, 235, FR-HS)    59  Bill Cofer (5-11, 235, SO-1L)WLB 36  Shanga Wilson (6-1, 215, JR-TR)    18  Tosh Burrus (6-0, 210, SO-1L)CB  5   Amar Brisco (5-10, 170, SR-3L)    19  Jamal Wynn (6-0, 185, SO-1L)SS  22  Randy Black (6-0, 200, SR-3L)    31  Sharif Hamilton (6-0, 195, SR-1L)    41  Ross Dalton (6-3, 205, SO-1L)FS  42  Sam Brandon (6-3, 195, JR-1L)    23  Toby Smeltzer (5-10, 185, SO-1L)CB  28  Kevin Thomas (5-11, 180, JR-2L)    25  Sean Mackey (6-1, 190, FR-RS)
REBEL SPECIALISTS
P   39  Ray Cheetany (5-11, 170, SR-1L)    17  Ryan McDonald (5-10, 175, SO-1L)PR  86  Troy Mason (5-10, 170, SO-1L)    7   Jeremi Rudolph (5-9, 175, SR-1L)KOR 7   Jeremi Rudolph (5-9, 175, SR-1L)    86  Troy Mason (5-10, 170, SO-1L)