By Mark Wallington, UNLV Sports Information SECOND IN A THREE-PART SERIES THE SPECIAL TEAMS It may sound odd but UNLV is a school with a rich history in punting excellence. In fact, four of the program's all-time All-Americans have been punters, including two-time honoree Randall Cunningham. Hoping to add to that number is a former invited walk-on who has simply gotten better every year on campus. Veteran Gary Cook (5-11, 200, SR-3L) was already recognized for his precision in dropping the ball inside opponents' 20s but as a junior he added long-distance to his repertoire en route to second team All-MWC honors. Even while booting a school and league-record 83 balls, Cook improved his average by more than five whole yards to 43.4 and should be a strong candidate for the 2004 Ray Guy Award. It's a whole different story in the place-kicking department as gone are leading scorer Dillon Pieffer and his 20 senior-year field goals. Redshirt Sergio Aguayo (6-1, 195, FR-RS) is next in line while former German soldier Hubi Schulze Zumkley (6-3, 235, SO-1L) figures to hold the kickoff job. Regardless, the new kicker will benefit from the return of Cook as holder and Ryan Heise as long-snapper. "Gary Cook has shown great consistency and is one of the best punters in the nation," Robinson says. "Sergio Aguayo was highly rated out of high school and appears to be ready to step in." It was a Tale of Two Return Games for UNLV in 2003 as the Rebels ranked 19th in the nation in punt returns at 12.5 yards per but finished 114th in kickoff returns at 16.0. Tremayne Kirkland had an outstanding rookie campaign, leading the MWC in average on punts while one of the school's all-time best return men, Dominique Dorsey, came on late in the kickoff side and looks to be back in form as a senior. Speedy Alvin Marshall, among other candidates, will try his hand at both. "It is a major goal to get the kickoff returns back to where they were while also maintaining our punt team success. We have speed in our return teams. Tremayne has a great future and Dominique has proven he can break one at any time." THE SCHEDULE UNLV, which will face five bowl teams overall in 2004, opens its 37th season of football by making a second-ever trip to play Tennessee on a special nationally televised Sunday evening game on Sept. 5. That will be followed by a quick return trip for a morning game at Wisconsin, where the Rebels upset the Badgers a year ago before 78,043 fans at Camp Randall Stadium -- the most ever to see UNLV win a football game. Getting anything but a breather, UNLV returns to open its home season facing Air Force's always-tough option offense. Can the Rebels withstand opening their season vs. what looks to be the toughest stretch in school history? "The first three games are a huge challenge: playing in two of the most difficult stadiums in college football -- that's four cross-country trips in a period of seven days -- and then coming home and playing a team that has an unusual offense and defense," Robinson says. "How we survive those first three weeks in terms of confidence and health will set the stage for the entire season." On Sept. 25, the Rebels will meet Utah State for the 16th time but for the first time since 1995. The Battle for the Fremont Cannon will be waged in Las Vegas when state-rival UNR comes to town on Oct. 2. Less than a week later, UNLV will return to play BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium for the first time since downing the Cougars there 24-3 in 2002. Las Vegas Bowl participant New Mexico is next up with a return trip to Sam Boyd on Oct. 16. The Rebels will travel to play Utah on Oct. 23 looking for their first win over the Utes since 1979. And after enjoying the season's only off day on Oct. 30, UNLV finishes its home slate looking for a sixth straight victory over Wyoming on Nov. 6. The Rebels will then close the schedule with two away games, Nov. 13 at Colorado State and Nov. 20 at San Diego State, marking the fifth consecutive season that UNLV will complete its season away from home. Robinson says he sees the league's parity continuing in 2004. "Week in and week out, this is a pick `em conference. The team that ultimately wins it is the one that can play near its top level week after week and do well in the close ones. Like always, there will be a whole bunch of games decided by half a point," Robinson jokes. "You'd have to say Utah is the favorite but we probably return as much proven depth as anybody, so it will be interesting."