Aug. 22, 2008
LAS VEGAS - In our final practice report of the preseason, we pay tribute to UNLV football's last Black Jersey honorees of 2008. In fact, the next Black Jerseys will be awarded after the first full session of Spring Practice 2009.
Pulling on the black during Friday evening's only practice of the day was junior linebacker Starr Fuimaono (Chula Vista, CA/Bonita Vista HS) for the defense and senior running back Frank "The Tank" Summers (Oakland, CA/Skyline HS/Laney College) for the offensive side of the ball. It was the second-such honor for both Rebel starters.
Runners-up for the Black Jersey were senior DB Geoffery Howard (San Diego, CA/Horizon HS/Grossmont College) and new big D-lineman Martin Tevaseu (Boonville, CA/Anderson Valley HS/Santa Rosa JC) on one side and O-linemen John Gianninoto (Tucson, AZ/Catalina Foothills HS) and Johan Asiata (Kalihi, HI/Yuba College) along with junior WR Jerriman Robinson (Rialto, CA/Rialto HS) for the offense.
BLACK JERSEY WINNERS
Aug. 10: DB Geoffery Howard & WR Ryan WolfeAug. 11: DL Malo Taumua & OL Matt MurphyAug. 12: DL Malo Taumua & RB Frank SummersAug. 13: DL Jacob Hales & WR Ryan WolfeAug. 14: LB Starr Fuimaono & QB Omar ClaytonAug. 15: LB Jason Beauchamp & WR Casey FlairAug. 17: LB Jason Beauchamp & OL Matt MurphyAug. 18: DL Thor Pili & QB Omar ClaytonAug. 19: DB Geoffery Howard and WR Rodelin AnthonyAug. 20: DL Jacob Hales & QB Omar ClaytonAug. 21: DB Daryl Forte & WR Jerriman RobinsonAug. 22: LB Starr Fuimaono & RB Frank Summers
ONE WEEK TO GO
Just one week before the eve of its first game of the season, UNLV went through a 22-period practice in a warm buy breezy evening at Rebel Park.
"It was a great night out here, which allowed us to get a lot done," said head coach Mike Sanford. "We practiced fast and we practiced hard. However, our concentration and focus were not as good as they need to be. There were false starts and missed assignments that just can't happen. We still have work to do this week."
ANOTHER LOCAL JOINS SQUAD
Palo Verde High School graduate C.J. Morley has been added to the UNLV roster. The Las Vegas native and member of the Panthers' state championship squad during his senior season, previously attended Shasta College in Redding, Calif. Morley is a long-snapping specialist who will compete with junior starter Kamu Kapanui (Honolulu, HI/Kamehameha HS) and another Las Vegan, sophomore Eric Braner (Las Vegas/Del Sol HS) at the position.
"We may be the deepest team in the nation at long-snapper," joked Sanford.
NEXT UP
UNLV will hold a dress rehearsal "Mock Game" on Saturday night starting at 7 p.m. - exactly one week from kicking off vs. the Aggies. The practice, which is not a scrimmage, is open to the public out at Sam Boyd Stadium. The Rebels will then hold another evening practice back at campus on Sunday before kicking into their regular practice schedule. This year, the team will have Mondays off and practice Tuesday-Thursday on campus.
