March 31, 2002

LAS VEGAS - UNLV football will hold its first spring practice of the year Tuesday to begin a 15-session schedule that culminates in Kick Off 2002 on April 27.

The Rebels pull on the pads under head coach John Robinson for the fourth time but will begin the month playing on a different field. Because of the continuing installation of the new AstroPlay synthetic surface at Ernie Becker Sr. Football Fields at Rebel Park, the squad will cross Harmon Avenue and conduct drills on the campus' intramural fields to begin the spring.

The new practice surface, which was made possible by a $1 million gift by the Becker Family in November, is expected to be ready for host practice by mid-month. The Rebels are scheduled to practice every Tuesday (4-6 p.m.), Thursday (4-6 p.m.), Saturday (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and two Sundays (2-4 p.m.) until the spring game. All practices are free and open to the public.

UNLV, which will be looking to rebound from a 4-7 2001 record, returns 45 lettermen, including 12 starters (six on both sides of the ball) and both specialists. One of those back is tailback Joe Haro who is the leading returning running back in the Mountain West Conference after gaining 1,107 yards as a junior in 2001. Haro will be pushed as a senior by a talented group of runners that includes a pair of transfers who sat out a year ago: former Washington State standout Deon Burnett and one-time Arizona starter Larry Croom. The Rebels also return its top two quarterbacks in senior-to-be Jason Thomas and sophomore Kurt Nantkes.

Honorable mention 2001 All-MWC honorees who will help lead the team this fall are tight end DeJhown Mandley, punt returner/wide receiver Troy Mason, defensive end Ahmad Briggs and linebacker Ryan Claridge. Another league honoree, MWC Freshman of the Year running back/kick returner Dominique Dorsey, will miss spring practice because of personal reasons.

Spring drills will also mark the UNLV debut of two new assistant coaches. Vince Alcalde comes aboard to lead the team's passing game and coach the quarterbacks while David Robinson, son of the head coach, will oversee the Rebel tight ends for the first time.

UNLV opens its 12-game season on August 31 by hosting Big Ten-Conference power Wisconsin and will also face teams from the Pac-10, Big 12, WAC as well as Mid-American Conference champion Toledo in its non-league schedule.

Season tickets are on sale now by calling (702) 895-UNLV during regular business hours.

UNLV 2002 SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
(ALL DATES AND TIME ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE)April 2  Tuesday    No Pads         4-6 pmApril 4  Thursday   No Pads         4-6 pmApril 6  Saturday   Pads        11-1April 7  Sunday     Pads        2- 4 pmApril 9  Tuesday    Pads        4-6 pmApril 11 Thursday   Pads        4-6 pmApril 13 Saturday   Pads        11-1April 14 Sunday     Pads        2-4 pmApril 16 Tuesday    Pads        4-6 pmApril 18 Thursday   Pads        4-6 pmApril 20 Saturday   Pads        11-1April 23 Tuesday    Pads        4-6 pmApril 25 Thursday   Pads        4-6 pmApril 27 Saturday   Kick Off 2002!  TBA