Aug. 13, 2007
The UNLV football team returned to its off-campus training site for two practices on Tuesday. The morning session ran 24 periods and, after a lunch featuring sweet and sour chicken, and then some rest and meetings, the squad returned for a 20-period practice wearing shorts and helmets.
Missing from both practices was junior quarteback Rocky Hinds (Los Angeles/St. Bernard HS), who had an appointment with doctors to check out his swollen knee. Hinds, who underwent knee surgery in December, is expected back to camp sometime Tuesday.
Head Coach Mike Sanford said he was pleased with the progress of his team.
"The morning practice featured a lot of excitement and attitude and was very competetive," he said. "We had a first-and-10 drill where the offense had to gain 3-and-a-half yards each play or it was a win for the defense. The defense ended up winning the drill 7-6, which is what you like to see -- competetive head-to-head meetings. Tonight we went full speed in our Rebel Gear and got a lot done with our blitz drill."
Asked for standouts from Tuesday, Sanford mentioned Las Vegas native Ronnie Paulo at linebacker and JC tranfer tailback Frank "The Tank" Summers (Oakland, CA/Skyline HS).
REBEL CAMP NOTES:
EARNING THEIR STRIPES(OFF)... Two more young Rebels were honored at the evening practice Tuesday by having their helmets de-striped by their team big brother. All newcomers have a simple black stripe attached to their plain silver practice helmet until they have done enough to earn the stripe to be removed.
"It shows that a newcomer has fully grown from a high school or junior college player into a UNLV Rebel," said Sanford. "He's now a full member of the family."
The stripes came off Tuesday for LB Ronnie Paulo (Las Vegas/Western HS) and DE Luke Plante (Lake Arrowhead, CA/Chaffey College). Rookie DB Shane Horton (Chatsworth, CA/Notre Dame HS) and freshman OL Matt Murphy (Lake Forest, CA/El Toro HS) were honored on Saturday.
VEA VISITS... 2007 signee William Vea (Alamo, NV/Pahranagat Valley HS) dropped by practice to check in on his future teammates. Vea, the younger brother of 2006 Rebel letterman George Vea (Alamo, NV/Pahranagat Valley HS), is scheduled to take a church mission starting this December before beginning his college football career as a linebacker. George played one season for the school and is now currently on his mission.
