Aug. 17, 2006
It was turnover Thursday as UNLV football continued August camp with a single morning practice that featured 26 five-minute periods of strong work on both sides of the football.
Stressing the importance of creating turnovers on defense and limiting them on offense, head coach Mike Sanford and his staff have designated every day that begins with a `T' as a turnover day. On those days, the defense has a certain number of turnovers it must create to avoid running while the offense has to take care of the football to avoid extra conditioning.
On this Thursday the Rebel defense created three turnovers, which was the target number for the day. The offense, because of the three turnovers they allowed, had to run extra following practice.
"Teams that are good at turnovers work on avoiding and creating them during practice," Sanford said. "It is something that you can expect to do and have it happen in games because you work at it in practice."
Following the Rebels' only practice of the day, the team ate a lunch of fajitas before resting and then attending meetings during the evening.
"I thought the defense played very well today and the competition overall was very good," Sanford said. "I thought Jacob Hales really had a strong day, along with Eric Wright."
POSITION UPDATE: WIDE RECEIVER
Despite the fact that UNLV returns just one starter from last year's team in sure-handed sophomore Casey Flair, wide receiver coach Kris Cinkovich has been pleased with the progress of the Rebel pass catchers.
"We are getting there as a group," Cinkovich said. "We have had to battle through a few things, such as injuries, but we have had a good camp. Casey Flair has really performed well. He is the most experienced returners and one of our hardest workers."
Cinkovich said that newcomers Aaron Straiten and Ryan Wolfe have had strong camps, as well as returners Justin Marvel, Renan Saint Preux and Marques Johnson.
REBEL CAMP NOTES: While the UNLV-`Team Up North' rivalry divides Nevadans everywhere, the rivalry has taken on a little extra meaning for UNLV freshman kicker Ben Jaekle, who has two brothers currently attending the school in Reno. Ben's older brother Brett is a sophomore place kicker while another brother, Derek, also attends school there. Ben considered heading up North to join his brothers but the appeal to play so close to home, he graduated from Bonanza High School in Las Vegas, was too appealing. "All three of us are really close," Jaekle said. "It has been fun talking back and forth about it. My brother and I talk everyday and hopefully after this year's game I will have bragging rights for the year."
Head Coach Mike Sanford announced the addition of Pat Carzoo to the Rebel team. Carzoo is a 6-foot-3, 340-pound offensive lineman who graduated this past spring from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. Carzoo will have to go through the five-day acclimation period before he can practice in full pads.
