Aug. 23, 2007

LAS VEGAS - Less than a week before Thursday's season opener, fans can get a free sneak peek at their UNLV football team on Saturday (August 25) for what Rebel head coach Mike Sanford is calling a "game dress rehearsal."'

The team will play a scripted "non-live" mock game beginning at 6 p.m. and ending at approximately 7:30 p.m. at Sam Boyd Stadium and the public is invited to attend, free of charge.

The Rebel scout team will dress in the visiting locker room and compete vs. the home team in the controlled scrimmage session. Sanford said the event is all about getting his squad comfortable in a game setting as UNLV prepares to travel to Utah State to play on Aug. 30 starting at 5 p.m. PDT. That game will be televised live in Southern Nevada on Las Vegas One (Cox Cable channel 19). The Rebels open their home schedule on Saturday, Sept. 8 vs. No. 7 Wisconsin.

"This is something we do each year to get all of our players - especially the newcomers - familiar with real-game situations, to get the feel of how it will be when we really kick it off," Sanford said. "We are going to have a pre-game meal just like game day and get into a real routine so there are no surprises in Logan next week."