Aug. 18, 2006

UNLV football practiced Friday in `Rebel Gear' which is just helmets and pads as head coach Mike Sanford ran his team through two workout sessions.

In the morning the team ran through 20 five-minute practices and then following a lunch of chicken and pasta the Rebels had an afternoon workout of 16 five-minute periods.

"We had a really good practice in the morning, but in the afternoon we didn't practice as fast as we should have and need to," Sanford said. "As a team we need to learn how to practice fast in just shorts and helmets."

Wide receivers Casey Flair and Ryan Wolfe had strong practices Sanford said and on the defensive side of the ball John Guice and the rest of the Rebel secondary stood out.

POSITION UPDATE: SPECIAL TEAMS

With clutch place kicker Sergio Aguayo and starting punter Kip Facer returning, the Rebel special teams appear in good hands, rather feet, heading into the 2006 season. But special teams coach Kurt Barber said that the overall depth, including returners and backup punters, are another reason why this group is among the deepest on the UNLV squad.

"Sergio Aguayo is looking really good, along with Kip Facer and Brian Pacheco is also playing well, which gives us good depth in the kicking game," said Barber. "We have a good group of returners with a lot of speed and overall our special teams are very important to us. Games are won and lost on special teams."

Pacheco is a junior who redshirted last year and will push Facer throughout the season, while the return group will be paced by Eric Wright, John Guice, Erick Jackson, Casey Flair and Mil'Von James.

REBEL CAMP NOTES:

UNLV head coach Mike Sanford welcomed Aaitui Isaako into camp after he was cleared to join the squad on Friday. The freshman defensive lineman is from Pago Pago, American Samoa and he will have to go through the five-day acclimation period before he can practice in full pads.