2009 UNLV Rebels football team
Encyclopedia
The 2009 UNLV Rebels football team was the 42nd varsity football team
to represent the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
. The Rebels play in the Mountain West Conference, and compete each season against the remaining eight members of the conference and one permanent interstate rival: UNR. In 2009, UNLV also played non-conference games at home against Sacramento State, Oregon State
and Hawai'i. Mike Sanford
entered his fifth and final season as UNLV's head coach and the Rebels played their home games at Sam Boyd Stadium
in East Las Vegas, Nevada
In November, head coach Mike Sanford
was fired after five losing seasons, a 16-43 record and no bowl appearances. He won his last game as head coach against San Diego State on November 28, 2009, 28-24, with a fourth quarter comeback.
. ESPN
NFL analyst Mel Kiper, Jr.
named the Rebels, along with Miami (FL)
, California
and SMU, as one of his sleepers that could make "national noise" in 2009. Kiper stated: "If Omar Clayton, their quarterback, can stay healthy and get the ball to Ryan Wolfe, UNLV, I think, can go bowling for the first time in a long time and be a factor in the Mountain West Conference." Paul Myerberg of the New York Times ranked UNLV in the 84th position in their preseason Quad Countdown, in front of Ball State
and behind UTEP
. The ranking was an improvement of 27 spots from their 2008 preseason ranking of 111th. Myerberg predicted that the Rebels would go 6-6 and earn their first bowl birth since their 2000 Las Vegas Bowl
victory against Arkansas
.
Junior quarterback Omar Clayton
received much praise during the preseason including that from the New York Times and Mel Kiper, Jr. and was named as one of the favorites to be named the conference's Offensive Player of the Year by Bleacher Report's Mountain West Conference writer. Senior wide receiver Ryan Wolfe was named as one of the best non-BCS receivers in the country by the New York Times and was named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list during the preseason. Wolfe enters the season only 50 receptions and 900 yards away from breaking the conference's career receptions and receiving yards records. Wolfe and senior linebacker Jason Beauchamp were both named to the All-MWC preseason team.
On July 3, 2009, sophomore linebacker Bryce Saldi suffered severe injuries following a skateboarding accident while in southern California. Saldi was placed in the intensive care unit at Loma Linda University Medical Center
. There has been no word on a timetable for Saldi's return.
Offense:
Defense:
. Both teams' passing games were hampered by the 32 mph wind gusts that were recorded around the stadium. UNLV took a 10–3 lead into halftime after a one-yard touchdown run by junior runningback Channing Trotter and a 39 yard field goal by senior kicker Kyle Watson gave UNLV the 10–0 lead after the first quarter. Sacramento State would get their only points of the game on a 44 yard field goal by Hornets' kicker Chris Diniz
In the second half, the Rebels would explode on offense, starting with another 1 yard touchdown run by Trotter late in the third quarter. Trotter would score his third one yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to push the Rebels lead to 24–3. The Rebels increased their lead mid-way through the fourth on a 55-yard strike from senior quarterback Omar Clayton
to senior wide receiver Rodelin Anthony. Clayton's backup, sophomore Mike Clausen, played the final minutes of the game and sealed the Rebels victory with a 4 yard touchdown run. The win against Sacramento State was their fourth straight opener.
UNLV Rebels football
The UNLV Rebels football program is a college football team that represents the University of Nevada, Las Vegas . The team is currently a member of the Mountain West Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association...
to represent the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of...
. The Rebels play in the Mountain West Conference, and compete each season against the remaining eight members of the conference and one permanent interstate rival: UNR. In 2009, UNLV also played non-conference games at home against Sacramento State, Oregon State
2009 Oregon State Beavers football team
The 2009 Oregon State Beavers football team represented Oregon State University in the college football 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach, in his second stint with the Beavers, was Mike Riley who was in his seventh straight season and ninth overall with the football...
and Hawai'i. Mike Sanford
Mike Sanford
Mike Sanford is a college football coach, formerly the head coach at at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He was recently released from his job as offensive assistant at the University of Louisville...
entered his fifth and final season as UNLV's head coach and the Rebels played their home games at Sam Boyd Stadium
Sam Boyd Stadium
Sam Boyd Stadium is a football stadium located in Whitney, Nevada, an unincorporated community in the Las Vegas metropolitan area; the mailing address of the stadium is "Las Vegas". The stadium is named after Sam Boyd, a major figure in the hotel/casino industry in Las Vegas. The stadium consists...
in East Las Vegas, Nevada
In November, head coach Mike Sanford
Mike Sanford
Mike Sanford is a college football coach, formerly the head coach at at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He was recently released from his job as offensive assistant at the University of Louisville...
was fired after five losing seasons, a 16-43 record and no bowl appearances. He won his last game as head coach against San Diego State on November 28, 2009, 28-24, with a fourth quarter comeback.
Pre-season
At the 2009 Mountain West Conference Media Day in Las Vegas, the Rebels were picked to finish fifth in the conference, the highest preseason ranking since the Rebels were picked to finish tied for fifth with BYU in 20042004 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with several undefeated teams vying for a spot in the national title game, triggering controversy. In the 2003 season, no team finished the regular season unbeaten, and five teams finished the season with one loss...
. ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
NFL analyst Mel Kiper, Jr.
Mel Kiper, Jr.
Mel Kiper Jr. in Baltimore, Maryland is an American football analyst for the ESPN television channel. He has served as an analyst for ESPN's annual NFL draft coverage since 1984, providing in-depth information on the nation's potential draft picks.-Career:With the emergence of ESPN2 and ESPN.com,...
named the Rebels, along with Miami (FL)
2009 Miami Hurricanes football team
The 2009 Miami Hurricanes football team represented the University of Miami during the 2009 Division I college football season. The Hurricanes were coached by Randy Shannon and played their home games at Land Shark Stadium...
, California
2009 California Golden Bears football team
The 2009 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition during the 2009 season...
and SMU, as one of his sleepers that could make "national noise" in 2009. Kiper stated: "If Omar Clayton, their quarterback, can stay healthy and get the ball to Ryan Wolfe, UNLV, I think, can go bowling for the first time in a long time and be a factor in the Mountain West Conference." Paul Myerberg of the New York Times ranked UNLV in the 84th position in their preseason Quad Countdown, in front of Ball State
Ball State Cardinals football
The Ball State Cardinals football team represents Ball State University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Mid-American Conference .-Recent history:...
and behind UTEP
2009 UTEP Miners football team
The 2009 UTEP Miners football team represented the University of Texas at El Paso in the college football season of 2009-2010. The team's head football coach was Mike Price. The Miners played their home games at the Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas...
. The ranking was an improvement of 27 spots from their 2008 preseason ranking of 111th. Myerberg predicted that the Rebels would go 6-6 and earn their first bowl birth since their 2000 Las Vegas Bowl
2000 Las Vegas Bowl
The 2000 edition to the Las Vegas Bowl was the 9th edition of that annual game. It featured the , and the hometown .Arkansas scored first on a 7 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Robby Hampton to wide receiver Rod Stinson for a 7-0 Razorback lead. In the second quarter, UNLV tied the score at 7,...
victory against Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
.
Junior quarterback Omar Clayton
Omar Clayton
Omar A. Clayton is an American football quarterback. He currently plays college football for the UNLV Rebels at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.-Early life:...
received much praise during the preseason including that from the New York Times and Mel Kiper, Jr. and was named as one of the favorites to be named the conference's Offensive Player of the Year by Bleacher Report's Mountain West Conference writer. Senior wide receiver Ryan Wolfe was named as one of the best non-BCS receivers in the country by the New York Times and was named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list during the preseason. Wolfe enters the season only 50 receptions and 900 yards away from breaking the conference's career receptions and receiving yards records. Wolfe and senior linebacker Jason Beauchamp were both named to the All-MWC preseason team.
On July 3, 2009, sophomore linebacker Bryce Saldi suffered severe injuries following a skateboarding accident while in southern California. Saldi was placed in the intensive care unit at Loma Linda University Medical Center
Loma Linda University Medical Center
Loma Linda University Medical Center is a teaching hospital on the campus of Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California, United States. The medical center serves as a level I trauma center for San Bernardino County and the rest of the Inland Empire. It is one of two closest trauma centers for...
. There has been no word on a timetable for Saldi's return.
Key Losses
The following are some of the key players who will be no longer eligible to play in the 2009 season:Offense:
- Johan Asiata (OL)
- Casey Flair (WR)
- Dack Ishii (QB)
- Mario Jeberaeel (OL)
- Sifa Moala (OL)
- David Peeples (RB)
- Richie Plunkett (OL)
- Gerold Rodriguez (WR)
- Renan Saint Preux (WR)
- Frank SummersFrank SummersFrank Summers is an American football fullback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. In his NFL career, he most recently played for the Pittsburgh Steelers...
(RB) - Ryan Worthen (TE)
Defense:
- Lorenzo Bursey, Jr. (DB)
- George Fa'avae (DL)
- Jacob Hales (DL)
- Geoffery Howard (DB)
- Thor Pili (DE)
- Rusty Worthen (LB)
Recruiting
Schedule
Sources:Sacramento State
UNLV opened their season as a 22-point favorite against FCS squad Sacramento State from the Big Sky ConferenceBig Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
. Both teams' passing games were hampered by the 32 mph wind gusts that were recorded around the stadium. UNLV took a 10–3 lead into halftime after a one-yard touchdown run by junior runningback Channing Trotter and a 39 yard field goal by senior kicker Kyle Watson gave UNLV the 10–0 lead after the first quarter. Sacramento State would get their only points of the game on a 44 yard field goal by Hornets' kicker Chris Diniz
In the second half, the Rebels would explode on offense, starting with another 1 yard touchdown run by Trotter late in the third quarter. Trotter would score his third one yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to push the Rebels lead to 24–3. The Rebels increased their lead mid-way through the fourth on a 55-yard strike from senior quarterback Omar Clayton
Omar Clayton
Omar A. Clayton is an American football quarterback. He currently plays college football for the UNLV Rebels at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.-Early life:...
to senior wide receiver Rodelin Anthony. Clayton's backup, sophomore Mike Clausen, played the final minutes of the game and sealed the Rebels victory with a 4 yard touchdown run. The win against Sacramento State was their fourth straight opener.