Aug. 19, 2011

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Whatever "it" is for coaches, Rebel football head coach Bobby Hauck has it. We were part of a preseason meeting with the team last week and it's easy to see how much of a natural leader the guy is, particularly with 100 young men. There is just something about him that makes you want to follow... This year's team is still going to be young - really young - but I'm excited to see the guys get after it and watch the improvement from game-to-game. It's a great time to be involved with this football program...

Sounds like the running back position is going to be a strength this year and into the future for us. However, running behind possibly three or four freshmen on the offensive line won't make things easy. That said, as a fan, I really enjoyed watching freshman Tim Cornett last season (he had one of the best seasons ever for a UNLV freshman). Word is that he is stronger and guys like sophomore Bradley Randle are pushing him for time. That's a great thing to hear... For more updates from UNLV's out of town camp, visit UNLVRebels.com. Also, Mark Anderson from the RJ and Ryan Greene from the Las Vegas Sun are providing interesting updates as well. There are a lot of talented young guys on the squad. You might want to learn their names...

They have their Bobbie - the legendary Thanksgiving-style sandwich. We have our Bobby - Rebel football head coach Bobby Hauck. It was a fun brainstorm session with Capriotti's Sandwich Shop that led us to The Bobbie Bowl challenge. Check out more information and enter to participate at BobbieBowl.com. You could win a chance to have lunch with our Bobby - and their Bobbie - at the same time...

The great thing about technology these days is how involved fans can be with spreading the excitement of teams. Longtime UNLV fan Josh Meeter created a terrific hype video for Runnin' Rebel basketball last week. Click here to check it out. I had a chance to sit down with Josh earlier this week. He is talented and passionate about the Runnin' Rebels and UNLV fans should be seeing much more of his work throughout the season... Also, click here to check out the Runnin' Rebel Game Day video put together by Shoot to Kill Media, a great partner with UNLV Athletics. They did an excellent job of showing what the game day experience is like at the Thomas & Mack Center. If this doesn't get you ready for basketball season, I don't know what will...

Mark your calendars for the evening of Friday, Oct. 14 for the Runnin' Rebels' first official practice of the season. Details are in the works. We're looking into some different things and not sure what might pan out, but it is going to be fun...

We were talking with senior guard Oscar Bellfield the other day about the running aspect of new men's basketball coach Dave Rice's offense. Oscar just smiled and said he has never run like this. The ball goes off the glass for the defensive rebound and Dave wants his guys down the court - all of them. Dave loves the returning talent he has to work with and they are excited about the new system. It's going to be fun. Let's Run...

Took my 8-year-old son out to the women's soccer exhibition match this past Tuesday night - the department's first athletic event of the year. It was gorgeous outside and we had a nice crowd... If you are looking for something to do that's different with your kids, bring them out to our soccer and volleyball matches this fall. Kids 12-and-under are always free and it's a great way to just spend time with your kids. They also get to be up-close to the action, which they love - and our student-athletes love it as well. Check out UNLVRebels.com for the schedules... Thanks for sharing your time. Get Your Reb On.

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D.J. Allen, UNLV Athletics' Sr. Associate AD of External Affairs, writes a periodic column for UNLVRebels.com. A lifelong Rebel fan and a native of Southern Nevada, Allen graduated from UNLV with both a communications degree and a MBA. We hope he brings Rebel fans a unique perspective to their beloved programs. If not, at least he helps to take up space on the website. He can be reached at dj.allen@unlv.edu.