UNLV Rebels football
Encyclopedia
The UNLV Rebels football program is a college football
team that represents the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
(commonly known as "UNLV"). The team is currently a member of the Mountain West Conference
, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). The program which began in 1968, is coached by former Eddie Robinson Award
finalist Bobby Hauck
. The team's home games are played at Sam Boyd Stadium
in Whitney, Nevada
.
Gaels at Cashman Field
in Las Vegas. The Rebels won the game, defeating the Gaels 27–20 in front of 8,000 fans. The Rebels remained undefeated until the last game of the season, losing to Cal Lutheran
Kingsmen, 17–13, as the Rebels finished their inaugural campaign 8-1. The following year the Rebels played their first game against in-state rival Nevada
, losing to the Wolf Pack 30–28. UNLV gained revenge, defeating Nevada
the following year, 42–30, in the first year that the Fremont Cannon
was awarded. On September 25, 1971, the Rebels played their first game against a Division I school, when they played Utah State
of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA), ultimately losing 27–7. On October 23, 1971, the Rebels opened their new home, Las Vegas Stadium
, against Weber State
, losing 30–17. At the end of the 1972 season with a disappointing 1-10 record, Coach Ireland announced he was stepping down, leaving the Rebels with a 26-23-1 record.
Ireland was replaced by Ron Meyer
before the start of the 1973 season and Meyer led the Rebels back to powerhouse status with an 8-3 record, including their first victory over a major college opponent, thrashing Marshall
31–9. The Rebels continued their strong campaign, breaking the national Division II top-10 and announcing their first All-American, running back Mike Thomas, who ran for the Division II national rushing title with 1,741 and setting nine school records in the process. The Rebels' success continued in 1974 with the only undefeated season in school history, finishing 11-0 and ranking second in the national Division II polls, the highest any Rebels football team has ever placed. The Rebels embarked on their first post-season journey in a national quarterfinal against Alcorn State
, defeating the Braves 35–22 in Las Vegas. The Rebels memorable season ended in the national semifinals in the Grantland Rice Bowl
, losing to Delaware 49–11. Coach Meyer left the program in 1976 to take the head coaching position at collegiate powerhouse, Southern Methodist University
.
coach, Tony Knap
, took over the Rebels in 1976, after Ron Meyer's departure. Knap was able to continue the Rebels prior success under Meyer, with a 9-3 record, a ranking of 7th in the nation, and a berth in the Division II playoffs, ultimately losing to Akron
27–6 in the national quarterfinals. After ten years as a Division II independent, the program made the jump to the Division I level in 1978, independent of any conference affiliation. On September 9, the Rebels played their first game as a Division I school, losing to Washington State
34–7. The Rebels defeated their first major college opponent away from Las Vegas, with a 33–6 victory over Colorado State
in Fort Collins
. At the end of the season, the Rebels made a trip to Yokohama, Japan to compete against college football powerhouse Brigham Young, losing 28–24. Even with the hard end to the season, the Rebels still produced a memorable year, going 7-4 in their first campaign at the Division I level. The 1981 season proved to be the last in Knap's tenure at UNLV, as he retired from coaching after a year of accomplishments including the Rebels' first appearance in the ABC's
Regional Game of the Week (a 45–21 loss at Wyoming
), a 45–41 upset of 8th-ranked BYU in Provo, Utah
, and securing the programs 100th win (27–20 at Texas-El Paso
).
1982 was a big year in UNLV football history as the program hired its fourth head coach, Harvey Hyde
and the Rebels finally became affiliated with a college athletic conference when they joined the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA). The Rebels first PCAA game was a 29–27 loss to Pacific on October 2. It took the entire season before the Rebels won their first conference game, a 42–23 victory against Cal-State Fullerton
on November 27. The Rebels won their first conference championship in 1984 as the Randall Cunningham
-led Rebels finished 11-2, including the program's first trip to a bowl game
, a 30–13 victory over Toledo
in the California Bowl
in Fresno, California
. Hyde stepped down after the 1985 season and a 5-5-1 record and the discovery that several players on the 1984 Rebels were ineligible. The Rebels were forced to forfeit their entire 1984 season, including the California Bowl.
Wayne Nunnely
became the program's fifth head coach on September 20, 1986 and he coached the Rebels to a 17–7 victory over Wisconsin
in front of the first sellout crowd in Silver Bowl Stadium history, a then record 32,207 fans. One of Nunnely's key players was Elbert "Ickey" Woods
, the first Rebel and PCAA running back to win the national Division I rushing title, as he rushed for 1,658 yards and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals
in the 1988 NFL Draft
.
1994 was another memorable season for the Rebels, as wide receiver Randy Gatewood set two single-game receiving records in a 48–38 loss to Idaho
on September 17. The Rebels then stunned the heavily favored Nevada
, 32–27 to win a share of the Big West Conference championship, the program's second title (but the first one they were allowed to keep). The Rebels then defeated Central Michigan
52–24 in the Las Vegas Bowl
on their home field.
In 1996 the Rebels, along with San Jose State
left the Big West Conference and became a member of the heavily expanded Western Athletic Conference
. The league announced that it would hold a championship game for the top team in each of the two divisions at the end of each season and that the game would be held at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. The Rebels lost their first WAC game, 65–17 to Air Force
on September 7. The Rebels finally won their first WAC game in a 44–42 shootout against San Diego State
on November 16, in a game in which freshman quarterback John Denton set a NCAA freshman record for passing yards with 503. Although the Rebels finished an abysmal 1-11, Denton still set ten NCAA freshman records. On October 17, 1998, UNLV played their first overtime game, losing to San Diego State 20–17. In 1999 the Rebels finished with the program's first winless season, but had their first consensus First Team All-American in punter Joe Kristosik, who averaged a nationally-best 46.2 yard per punt average.
, but also by announcing that the program had hired legendary collegiate and professional coach John Robinson
as their eighth head coach. The school would repeat its conference hardships in the Mountain West as they lost their conference opener on September 25, 52–14 to Utah
. The Rebels won their first Mountain West game on October 9, 35–32 against Wyoming. Although 1999 was a rough year, a UNLV win in week two featured one of the most improbable endings in college football history. The Rebels trailed on the road against Baylor 24-21 with ten seconds left. Baylor had the ball at the UNLV five yard line and UNLV was out of time outs. A kneel down would have given Baylor the victory, but Baylor chose to run the ball, fumbled, and UNLV's Kevin Thomas recovered and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown and a 27-24 Rebel win. 2000 seemed to be the year in which Rebels football would finally turn around, as the Rebels made numerous gains to become a competitor for the Mountain West crown. The Rebels started by upsetting previously undefeated Air Force 34–13 on September 30 in the first time that ABC came to Las Vegas for a Rebels football game. The Rebels then ended a five-game skid to rival Nevada
, defeating the Wolf Pack 34–13 in front of the largest crowd to see a game in the Battle for Nevada
. The season went down to the wire as the Rebels had to pull out a 34–32 victory on the road against Hawai'i
to clinch their third berth in a bowl game. The Rebels were chosen as the Mountain West representative for the Las Vegas Bowl on December 20. The Rebels would continue their undefeated streak in bowl games as they defeated Arkansas
31–14 in front of a Las Vegas Bowl record 29,113 fans. They finished the season 8-5.
Before the start of the 2001 season, the Rebels garnered national accolades as the team was ranked #25 in Sports Illustrated's preseason Top 25 and #24 in Football Digest's rankings. Quarterback Jason Thomas was named a candidate for the Heisman Trophy
, ranking as high as #7. Although the Rebels seemed good on paper, the team did not gel and ended the season a disappointing 4-7. On October 5, 2002, the Rebels defeated rival Nevada 21–17 for Robinson's 200th career coaching victory. Robinson retired after the 2004 season, having led the Rebels to a bowl game and five consecutive victories over rival Nevada.
On December 6, 2004, the Rebels hired Utah assistant coach Mike Sanford
as their ninth head football coach. In his first three years at the helm of the Rebels football program, Sanford failed to win more than two games and had back to back 2-10 seasons, finishing last in the Mountain West all three years. Sanford failed to beat Nevada all five years he coached at UNLV. Sanford has sent former Rebels Eric Wright
and Beau Bell
to the NFL draft.
The Rebels finished the 2008 season with a 5-7 record after starting the season 3-1. This was the best win-loss record UNLV had since going 6-6 in 2003. It also marked the first time UNLV did not finish last in their division since 2004. Their 23-20 victory over #15 Arizona State was the first time the Rebels had beaten a ranked opponent since 2003.
The 2009 season was a disappointment, and it led to Sanford's dismissal as coach. UNLV was picked to finish fifth in the conference, but the team began to fall apart after a surprising loss at Wyoming. That was followed by losses at Nevada, against Brigham Young and Utah, and at Texas Christian and the Air Force Academy — games in which UNLV was outscored 243-81. They rebounded toward the end of the season and finished 5-7.
After the Air Force loss on Nov. 14, the school announced Sanford's last game as coach would be the season finale against San Diego State. Former Montana
head coach Bobby Hauck was named the program's next head coach on December 21, 2009. Former TCU
, Alabama
and Texas A&M
head coach Dennis Franchione
was also interviewed for the position.
Source:
Source:
once opened with Les Lye
's announcement that UNLV's home game with the UCLA Bruins
was being preempted because "uclavsunlv is a dirty word in Yugoslavian
."
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
team that represents 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...
(commonly known as "UNLV"). The team is currently a member of the Mountain West Conference
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). The program which began in 1968, is coached by former Eddie Robinson Award
Eddie Robinson Award
The Eddie Robinson Award is awarded annually to college football's top head coach in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision . The award was established by The Sports Network in 1987 and is voted upon by the division's sports information directors and selected sports writers...
finalist Bobby Hauck
Bobby Hauck
Bobby Hauck is a college football coach, currently the head coach of the UNLV Rebels. Hauck was previously the head coach at Montana, where he led the Grizzlies to seven conference titles and postseason berths in as many seasons, including three national championship game appearances.-Early...
. The team's home games are played 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 Whitney, Nevada
Whitney, Nevada
Whitney is an unincorporated town in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 18,273 at the 2000 census.-Background:...
.
The early years
In 1967, Nevada Southern University announced that they would field a collegiate football program beginning in 1968 and announced that the team would be a Division II Independent and that Bill Ireland would be the program's first head coach. The Rebels played their first game of their inaugural season on September 14, 1968 against the St. Mary'sSaint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church...
Gaels at Cashman Field
Cashman Field
Cashman Field is a stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada owned and operated by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Its primary use is for baseball, and is the home field of the Las Vegas 51s Triple-A minor league baseball team, an affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Cashman Field opened in 1983...
in Las Vegas. The Rebels won the game, defeating the Gaels 27–20 in front of 8,000 fans. The Rebels remained undefeated until the last game of the season, losing to Cal Lutheran
California Lutheran University
California Lutheran University is a university of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Thousand Oaks, California.-Mission statement:The University's mission statement is as follows:...
Kingsmen, 17–13, as the Rebels finished their inaugural campaign 8-1. The following year the Rebels played their first game against in-state rival Nevada
Nevada Wolf Pack football
The Nevada Wolf Pack Football program represents the University of Nevada, Reno in college football. The Wolf Pack competes in the Western Athletic Conference at the Football Bowl Subdivision level of the NCAA...
, losing to the Wolf Pack 30–28. UNLV gained revenge, defeating Nevada
Nevada Wolf Pack football
The Nevada Wolf Pack Football program represents the University of Nevada, Reno in college football. The Wolf Pack competes in the Western Athletic Conference at the Football Bowl Subdivision level of the NCAA...
the following year, 42–30, in the first year that the Fremont Cannon
Fremont Cannon
The Fremont Cannon is the trophy awarded to the winner of the Battle for Nevada, a college football rivalry game between the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas . The trophy was built in 1970 and is a replica of a 19th century Howitzer cannon that accompanied...
was awarded. On September 25, 1971, the Rebels played their first game against a Division I school, when they played Utah State
Utah State University
Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities....
of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA), ultimately losing 27–7. On October 23, 1971, the Rebels opened their new home, Las Vegas 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...
, against Weber State
Weber State University
Weber State University is a public university located in the city of Ogden in Weber County, Utah, USA. It was founded in 1889 and is a coeducational, publicly supported university offering professional, liberal arts and technical certificates, as well as associate, bachelor's and master's degrees...
, losing 30–17. At the end of the 1972 season with a disappointing 1-10 record, Coach Ireland announced he was stepping down, leaving the Rebels with a 26-23-1 record.
Ireland was replaced by Ron Meyer
Ron Meyer
-References:...
before the start of the 1973 season and Meyer led the Rebels back to powerhouse status with an 8-3 record, including their first victory over a major college opponent, thrashing Marshall
Marshall Thundering Herd football
The Marshall Thundering Herd football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports program of Marshall University. The team represents the university as a member of the Conference USA Eastern division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, playing at the Division 1 Bowl Subdivision...
31–9. The Rebels continued their strong campaign, breaking the national Division II top-10 and announcing their first All-American, running back Mike Thomas, who ran for the Division II national rushing title with 1,741 and setting nine school records in the process. The Rebels' success continued in 1974 with the only undefeated season in school history, finishing 11-0 and ranking second in the national Division II polls, the highest any Rebels football team has ever placed. The Rebels embarked on their first post-season journey in a national quarterfinal against Alcorn State
Alcorn State University
Alcorn State University is an historically black university comprehensive land-grant institution in Lorman, Mississippi. It was founded in 1871-History:...
, defeating the Braves 35–22 in Las Vegas. The Rebels memorable season ended in the national semifinals in the Grantland Rice Bowl
Grantland Rice Bowl
The Grantland Rice Bowl was an annual college football bowl game, one of four regional NCAA college division championships from 1964 to 1972. It was the Mideast Regional championship, played in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, from 1964 to 1968...
, losing to Delaware 49–11. Coach Meyer left the program in 1976 to take the head coaching position at collegiate powerhouse, Southern Methodist University
SMU Mustangs football
The SMU Mustangs football program is a college football team that represents Southern Methodist University . The team competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member Conference USA...
.
The move to Division I
Former Boise StateBoise State Broncos football
This page discusses the Boise State football program. For more Boise State athletics, see Boise State Broncos.The Boise State Broncos football program represents Boise State University in college football and compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I as a member of the Mountain West...
coach, Tony Knap
Tony Knap
Anthony Joseph "Tony" Knap was a college football head coach and former player. He was the head coach at Utah State , Boise State , and UNLV , compiling a career college football record of 143–53–4.-Biography:The oldest son of Polish immigrants, Knap was raised in Milwaukee,...
, took over the Rebels in 1976, after Ron Meyer's departure. Knap was able to continue the Rebels prior success under Meyer, with a 9-3 record, a ranking of 7th in the nation, and a berth in the Division II playoffs, ultimately losing to Akron
Akron Zips football
The University of Akron Zips are a college football program representing the University of Akron that competes in NCAA Division I FBS Mid-American Conference football...
27–6 in the national quarterfinals. After ten years as a Division II independent, the program made the jump to the Division I level in 1978, independent of any conference affiliation. On September 9, the Rebels played their first game as a Division I school, losing to Washington State
Washington State Cougars football
The Washington State Cougars football team is the intercollegiate football team of Washington State University. The team is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference...
34–7. The Rebels defeated their first major college opponent away from Las Vegas, with a 33–6 victory over Colorado State
Colorado State Rams football
The Colorado State Rams football program, established in 1893, represents Colorado State University and is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Mountain West Conference under head coach Steve Fairchild...
in Fort Collins
Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins is a Home Rule Municipality situated on the Cache La Poudre River along the Colorado Front Range, and is the county seat and most populous city of Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Fort Collins is located north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. With a 2010 census...
. At the end of the season, the Rebels made a trip to Yokohama, Japan to compete against college football powerhouse Brigham Young, losing 28–24. Even with the hard end to the season, the Rebels still produced a memorable year, going 7-4 in their first campaign at the Division I level. The 1981 season proved to be the last in Knap's tenure at UNLV, as he retired from coaching after a year of accomplishments including the Rebels' first appearance in the ABC's
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
Regional Game of the Week (a 45–21 loss at Wyoming
Wyoming Cowboys football
The Wyoming Cowboys are a college football team that represents the University of Wyoming. They compete in the Mountain West Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I. The team has won 15 conference titles...
), a 45–41 upset of 8th-ranked BYU in Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
, and securing the programs 100th win (27–20 at Texas-El Paso
UTEP Miners football
The UTEP Miners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Texas at El Paso . With a history dating back to 1914, UTEP currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of Conference USA . UTEP currently plays their home games at the Sun Bowl...
).
1982 was a big year in UNLV football history as the program hired its fourth head coach, Harvey Hyde
Harvey Hyde
Harvey Hyde is a sports journalist and former American football head coach, most notably of the UNLV Rebels football team.Hyde started his college head coaching career at Pasadena City College.The Rebels had unprecedented success in the 1984 season; with...
and the Rebels finally became affiliated with a college athletic conference when they joined the Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA). The Rebels first PCAA game was a 29–27 loss to Pacific on October 2. It took the entire season before the Rebels won their first conference game, a 42–23 victory against Cal-State Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton is a public university located in Fullerton, California. It is the largest institution in the CSU System by enrollment, it offers long-distance education and adult-degree programs...
on November 27. The Rebels won their first conference championship in 1984 as the Randall Cunningham
Randall Cunningham
Randall W. Cunningham is a former American football quarterback.After playing college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he was selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he remained through the 1995 season...
-led Rebels finished 11-2, including the program's first trip to a bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
, a 30–13 victory over Toledo
Toledo Rockets
The Toledo Rockets are the athletic teams that represent the University of Toledo. The Rockets are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association and play in the Mid-American Conference . The school's colors are midnight blue and gold.Toledo's...
in the California Bowl
California Bowl
The California Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game played annually at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, California, from 1981 to 1991. The games matched the championship teams from the Big West Conference with teams from the Mid-American Conference...
in Fresno, California
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
. Hyde stepped down after the 1985 season and a 5-5-1 record and the discovery that several players on the 1984 Rebels were ineligible. The Rebels were forced to forfeit their entire 1984 season, including the California Bowl.
Wayne Nunnely
Wayne Nunnely
Wayne Nunnely is an American football defensive line coach for the National Football League's Denver Broncos...
became the program's fifth head coach on September 20, 1986 and he coached the Rebels to a 17–7 victory over Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
in front of the first sellout crowd in Silver Bowl Stadium history, a then record 32,207 fans. One of Nunnely's key players was Elbert "Ickey" Woods
Ickey Woods
Elbert L. "Ickey" Woods is a former American football fullback who played his entire NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football at UNLV...
, the first Rebel and PCAA running back to win the national Division I rushing title, as he rushed for 1,658 yards and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
in the 1988 NFL Draft
1988 NFL Draft
The 1988 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24–25, 1988. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and...
.
1994 was another memorable season for the Rebels, as wide receiver Randy Gatewood set two single-game receiving records in a 48–38 loss to Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
on September 17. The Rebels then stunned the heavily favored Nevada
Nevada Wolf Pack football
The Nevada Wolf Pack Football program represents the University of Nevada, Reno in college football. The Wolf Pack competes in the Western Athletic Conference at the Football Bowl Subdivision level of the NCAA...
, 32–27 to win a share of the Big West Conference championship, the program's second title (but the first one they were allowed to keep). The Rebels then defeated Central Michigan
Central Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
52–24 in the Las Vegas Bowl
Las Vegas Bowl
The Maaco Bowl Las Vegas is an NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A post-season college football bowl game that has been played annually at 40,000-seat Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. since 1992. From 1992 to 1996, matchups featured the champion teams from the Big West and Mid-American...
on their home field.
In 1996 the Rebels, along with San Jose State
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
left the Big West Conference and became a member of the heavily expanded Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
. The league announced that it would hold a championship game for the top team in each of the two divisions at the end of each season and that the game would be held at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. The Rebels lost their first WAC game, 65–17 to Air Force
Air Force Falcons football
The Air Force Falcons are a college football team from the United States Air Force Academy, located just outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the NCAA Division I and the Mountain West Conference.-Style:...
on September 7. The Rebels finally won their first WAC game in a 44–42 shootout against San Diego State
San Diego State Aztecs football
The San Diego State football team represents the San Diego State Aztecs in college football. The Aztecs, a Division I FBS team and a member of the Mountain West Conference, play their home games at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The field is natural grass and has a maximum capacity of...
on November 16, in a game in which freshman quarterback John Denton set a NCAA freshman record for passing yards with 503. Although the Rebels finished an abysmal 1-11, Denton still set ten NCAA freshman records. On October 17, 1998, UNLV played their first overtime game, losing to San Diego State 20–17. In 1999 the Rebels finished with the program's first winless season, but had their first consensus First Team All-American in punter Joe Kristosik, who averaged a nationally-best 46.2 yard per punt average.
Present
In 1999, the Rebels made headlines, first by leaving the WAC with seven other schools to form the Mountain West ConferenceMountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
, but also by announcing that the program had hired legendary collegiate and professional coach John Robinson
John Robinson (football coach)
John Alexander Robinson is a former American football player and coach best known for his two stints as head coach of the University of Southern California football team and for his tenure as head coach of the NFL's Los Angeles Rams...
as their eighth head coach. The school would repeat its conference hardships in the Mountain West as they lost their conference opener on September 25, 52–14 to Utah
Utah Utes football
The Utah Utes football program is a college football team that currently competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I and represents the University of Utah. The Utah college football program began in 1892 and has played home games at Rice–Eccles...
. The Rebels won their first Mountain West game on October 9, 35–32 against Wyoming. Although 1999 was a rough year, a UNLV win in week two featured one of the most improbable endings in college football history. The Rebels trailed on the road against Baylor 24-21 with ten seconds left. Baylor had the ball at the UNLV five yard line and UNLV was out of time outs. A kneel down would have given Baylor the victory, but Baylor chose to run the ball, fumbled, and UNLV's Kevin Thomas recovered and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown and a 27-24 Rebel win. 2000 seemed to be the year in which Rebels football would finally turn around, as the Rebels made numerous gains to become a competitor for the Mountain West crown. The Rebels started by upsetting previously undefeated Air Force 34–13 on September 30 in the first time that ABC came to Las Vegas for a Rebels football game. The Rebels then ended a five-game skid to rival Nevada
Nevada Wolf Pack football
The Nevada Wolf Pack Football program represents the University of Nevada, Reno in college football. The Wolf Pack competes in the Western Athletic Conference at the Football Bowl Subdivision level of the NCAA...
, defeating the Wolf Pack 34–13 in front of the largest crowd to see a game in the Battle for Nevada
Fremont Cannon
The Fremont Cannon is the trophy awarded to the winner of the Battle for Nevada, a college football rivalry game between the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas . The trophy was built in 1970 and is a replica of a 19th century Howitzer cannon that accompanied...
. The season went down to the wire as the Rebels had to pull out a 34–32 victory on the road against Hawai'i
Hawaii Warriors football
The Hawaii Warriors football team represents the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team, which is currently coached by Greg McMackin, is part of the Western Athletic Conference until 2012, when the team joins the Mountain West Conference.The Hawaii Warriors...
to clinch their third berth in a bowl game. The Rebels were chosen as the Mountain West representative for the Las Vegas Bowl on December 20. The Rebels would continue their undefeated streak in bowl games as they defeated Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks football
The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
31–14 in front of a Las Vegas Bowl record 29,113 fans. They finished the season 8-5.
Before the start of the 2001 season, the Rebels garnered national accolades as the team was ranked #25 in Sports Illustrated's preseason Top 25 and #24 in Football Digest's rankings. Quarterback Jason Thomas was named a candidate for the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
, ranking as high as #7. Although the Rebels seemed good on paper, the team did not gel and ended the season a disappointing 4-7. On October 5, 2002, the Rebels defeated rival Nevada 21–17 for Robinson's 200th career coaching victory. Robinson retired after the 2004 season, having led the Rebels to a bowl game and five consecutive victories over rival Nevada.
On December 6, 2004, the Rebels hired Utah assistant 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...
as their ninth head football coach. In his first three years at the helm of the Rebels football program, Sanford failed to win more than two games and had back to back 2-10 seasons, finishing last in the Mountain West all three years. Sanford failed to beat Nevada all five years he coached at UNLV. Sanford has sent former Rebels Eric Wright
Eric A. Wright
Eric Andrew Wright is an American football cornerback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at USC and UNLV.-USC Trojans:Wright attended USC for two years before attending...
and Beau Bell
Beau Bell (American football)
James Beaumont "Beau" Bell is an American football linebacker for the Spokane Shock of the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
to the NFL draft.
The Rebels finished the 2008 season with a 5-7 record after starting the season 3-1. This was the best win-loss record UNLV had since going 6-6 in 2003. It also marked the first time UNLV did not finish last in their division since 2004. Their 23-20 victory over #15 Arizona State was the first time the Rebels had beaten a ranked opponent since 2003.
The 2009 season was a disappointment, and it led to Sanford's dismissal as coach. UNLV was picked to finish fifth in the conference, but the team began to fall apart after a surprising loss at Wyoming. That was followed by losses at Nevada, against Brigham Young and Utah, and at Texas Christian and the Air Force Academy — games in which UNLV was outscored 243-81. They rebounded toward the end of the season and finished 5-7.
After the Air Force loss on Nov. 14, the school announced Sanford's last game as coach would be the season finale against San Diego State. Former Montana
Montana Grizzlies football
The Montana Grizzlies football program represents the University of Montana in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision of college football. The Grizzlies have competed in the Big Sky Conference, where it is a founding member, since 1963...
head coach Bobby Hauck was named the program's next head coach on December 21, 2009. Former TCU
TCU Horned Frogs football
The TCU Horned Frogs football team is the intercollegiate football team of Texas Christian University. TCU competes as a member of the Mountain West Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, but will move to the Big 12 Conference for the 2012 season. TCU began playing football...
, Alabama
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
and Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
head coach Dennis Franchione
Dennis Franchione
Dennis Wayne Franchione , also known as Coach Fran, is an American football coach. He is currently the head football coach at Texas State University, a position he held from 1990 to 1991, when the school was known as Southwest Texas State University, and resumed in 2011...
was also interviewed for the position.
Coaching history
| Name | Seasons | All | Win% | NCs | Conf | Win% | CCs | Bowls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobby Hauck | 2010- | 2–11–0 | .154 | 0 | 2–6–0 | .333 | 0 | 0–0 |
| Mike Sanford | 2005–2009 | 16–43–0 | .259 | 0 | 7–32–0 | .179 | 0 | 0–0 |
| John Robinson | 1999–2004 | 28–42–0 | .400 | 0 | 14–28–0 | .333 | 0 | 1–0 |
| Jeff Horton | 1994–1998 | 13–44–0 | .228 | 0 | 9–27–0 | .250 | 1 | 1–0 |
| Jim Strong | 1990–1993 | 17–27–0 | .386 | 0 | 10–16 | .385 | 0 | 0–0 |
| Wayne Nunnely | 1986–1989 | 19–25–0 | .432 | 0 | 13–15–0 | .464 | 0 | 0–0 |
| Harvey Hyde | 1982–1985 | 26–19–1 | .576 | 0 | 16–9–1 | .635 | 1 | 1–0 |
| Tony Knap | 1976–1981 | 47–20–2 | .695 | 0 | Independent | |||
| Ron Meyer | 1973–1975 | 27–8–0 | .771 | 0 | ||||
| Bill Ireland | 1968–1972 | 26–23–1 | .530 | 0 | ||||
Source:
Bowl History
| Date | Bowl | W/L | Opponent | PF | PA | Notes | |
| December 15, 1984 | California | W | Toledo Toledo Rockets football The Toledo Rockets football team is a college football program in Division I FBS, representing the University of Toledo. The Rockets compete in the Mid-American Conference. Toledo began playing football in 1917, although it did not field teams in 1931, and 1943-1945. Since the inception of the AP... |
30 | 13 | *forfeited game due to NCAA violation | |
| December 15, 1994 | Las Vegas | W | Central Michigan Central Michigan Chippewas football The Central Michigan Chippewas football team is a college football program in Division I FBS, representing Central Michigan University. They are a top 25 program in terms of all-time winning percentage and top five amongst all teams from non-BCS automatic qualifying conferences... |
52 | 24 | ||
| December 21, 2000 | Las Vegas | W | Arkansas Arkansas Razorbacks football The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association... |
31 | 14 | ||
| Total | 3 Bowl Games | 2–0 | 113 | 51 |
Rushing records
- Most rushing attempts, career: 519, Dominique DorseyDominique DorseyDominique Ramone Dorsey is a professional American and Canadian football running back and kick returner who is currently a free agent. He most recently played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. He was originally signed by the Roughriders as an undrafted free agent in...
(2001–04) - Most rushing attempts, season: 274, Mike Thomas (1973)
- Most rushing attempts, game: 37, Ickey WoodsIckey WoodsElbert L. "Ickey" Woods is a former American football fullback who played his entire NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football at UNLV...
(November 7, 1987 vs. Long Beach StateCalifornia State University, Long BeachCalifornia State University, Long Beach is the second largest campus of the California State University system and the third largest university in the state of California by enrollment...
and November 21, 1987 vs. Pacific) - Most rushing yards, career: 3,149, Mike Thomas (1973–74)
- Most rushing yards, season: 1,741, Mike Thomas (1973)
- Most rushing yards, game: 314, Mike Thomas (November 3, 1973 at Santa ClaraSanta Clara UniversitySanta Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
) - Most rushing touchdowns, career: 37, Mike Thomas (1973–74)
- Most rushing touchdowns, season: 20, Mike Thomas (1973)
- Most rushing touchdowns, game: 4, several tied
- Longest run from scrimmage: 89 yards (81.4 m), Darin Brightmon (September 23, 1989 vs. New Mexico StateNew Mexico State AggiesNew Mexico State University's teams are called the Aggies, a nickname derived from the university's agricultural beginnings. Since 2005, they have competed in the Western Athletic Conference. The mascot is known as "Pistol Pete". NMSU's colors are crimson and white. The current athletics director...
) - Most games with at least 100 rushing yards, career: 17, Mike Thomas (1973–74)
- Most games with at least 100 rushing yards, season: 9, Ickey Woods (1987) and Mike Thomas (1973)
- Most games with at least 100 rushing yards, season: 6, Kyle "Boomer" Toomer (1989)
- Most games with at least 200 rushing yards, career: 5, Mike Thomas (1973–74)
- Most games with at least 200 rushing yards, season: 3, Ickey Woods (1987) and Mike Thomas (1973)
Passing records
- Most passing attempts, career: 1,029, Randall CunninghamRandall CunninghamRandall W. Cunningham is a former American football quarterback.After playing college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he was selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he remained through the 1995 season...
(1982–84) - Most passing attempts, season: 506, Jon Denton (1996)
- Most passing attempts, game: 61, Jon Denton (November 23, 1996 at San José StateSan José State Spartans FootballThe San Jose State Spartans represent San Jose State University and the Silicon Valley in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The Spartans play all home games in Spartan Stadium, which offers a seating capacity of over 30,000...
) - Most passing completions, career: 596, Randall Cunningham (1982–84)
- Most passing completions, season: 277, Jon Denton (1996)
- Most passing completions, game: 33, Jon Denton (November 23, 1996 at San José State)
- Most passing yards, career: 8,020, Randall Cunningham (1982–84)
- Most passing yards, season: 3,778, Sarn King (1981)
- Most passing yards, game: 503, Jon Denton (November 16, 1996 vs. San Diego StateSan Diego State Aztecs footballThe San Diego State football team represents the San Diego State Aztecs in college football. The Aztecs, a Division I FBS team and a member of the Mountain West Conference, play their home games at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The field is natural grass and has a maximum capacity of...
) - Most passing touchdowns, career: 59, Randall Cunningham (1982–84)
- Most passing touchdowns, season: 25, Jon Denton (1996)
- Most passing touchdowns, game: 5, 3 times, most recently by Shane Steichen (October 14, 2006 vs New Mexico) (also a Mountain West ConferenceMountain West ConferenceThe Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
record) - Longest pass completion: 87 yards (79.6 m), Carlton Kelley to Henry Vereen (October 1, 1977 vs. Northern ArizonaNorthern Arizona UniversityNorthern Arizona University is a public university located in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and has 39 satellite campuses in the state of Arizona. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.As of...
) - Most games with at least 200 passing yards, career: 24, Randall Cunningham (1982–84)
- Most games with at least 200 passing yards, season: 11, Sarn King (1981)
- Most games with at least 300 passing yards, career: 9, Jon Denton (1996–97)
- Most games with at least 300 passing yards, season: 6, Sarn King (1981)
Receiving records
- Most receptions, career: 187, Damon Williams (1995–98)
- Most receptions, season: 88, Randy GatewoodRandy GatewoodRandy Gatewood Randy Gatewood Randy Gatewood (born January 31, 1973 in Wichita Falls, Texas is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League and Arena Football League. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 1995. He played college football at...
(1994) - Most receptions, game: 23, Randy Gatewood (September 17, 1994 vs. IdahoUniversity of IdahoThe University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
) (also a NCAA record) - Most receiving yards, career: 2,604, Earvin Johnson (2001–04
- Most receiving yards, season: 1,346, Jim Sandusky (1981)
- Most receiving yards, game: 363, Randy Gatewood (September 17, 1994 vs. Idaho)
- Most touchdown receptions, career: 24, Henry Bailey (1991–94)
- Most touchdown receptions, season: 11, Sam Greene (1980)
- Most touchdown receptions, game: 4, Henry Bailey (September 17, 1994 vs. Idaho) and Nathaniel Hawkins (October 30, 1971 vs. New Mexico HighlandsNew Mexico Highlands UniversityNew Mexico Highlands University is a public university located in Las Vegas, New Mexico.-History:The university was first established as New Mexico Normal School in 1893, with the prominent archaeologist Edgar Lee Hewett serving as its first president...
) - Most games with at least 100 receiving yards, career: 8, 4 players, most recently by Earvin Johnson (2001–04)
- Most games with at least 100 receiving yards, season: 8, Jim Sandusky (1981)
Source:
Alumni currently in pro football
- Johan AsiataJohan AsiataJohan Asiata is an American football guard who is currently a free agent. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chicago Bears in 2009. He played college football at University of Nevada at Las Vegas and at Yuba Junior College...
: Free AgentFree agentIn professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
Chicago BearsChicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... - Jason Beauchamp : Sacramento Mountain Lions
- Beau BellBeau Bell (American football)James Beaumont "Beau" Bell is an American football linebacker for the Spokane Shock of the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
: Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Sam BrandonSam BrandonSamuel Terrill Brandon is an American football player. A fourth year veteran who plays safety and is currently a free agent, he was drafted in 2002 in the fourth round, 131st overall by the Denver Broncos. He previously played college football at UNLV....
: Free AgentFree agentIn professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise.... - Dominique DorseyDominique DorseyDominique Ramone Dorsey is a professional American and Canadian football running back and kick returner who is currently a free agent. He most recently played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. He was originally signed by the Roughriders as an undrafted free agent in...
: Saskatchewan RoughridersSaskatchewan RoughridersThe Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor... - Greg EstandiaGreg EstandiaGreg Estandia is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent. He was originally signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Nevada-Las Vegas.Estandia has also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars.-External links:**...
: Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Joe Hawley : Atlanta FalconsAtlanta FalconsThe Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
- Anton PalepoiAnton PalepoiAnton Palepoi is a former American football defensive end. He attended high school at Hunter High School in West Valley City, Utah where he played basketball and football for the Wolverines. He played at UNLV in college before moving to the NFL. He played for Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, and...
: Free AgentFree agentIn professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise.... - Adam SewardAdam SewardAdam Hartford Seward is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
: Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville JaguarsThe Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - 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...
: San Diego ChargersSan Diego ChargersThe San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Martin TevaseuMartin TevaseuMartin Tauamanu Tevaseu born October 7, 1987) is an American football nose tackle for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2010 as an undrafted free agent. He played college football at UNLV.-Early years:...
: New York JetsNew York JetsThe New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Eric WrightEric A. WrightEric Andrew Wright is an American football cornerback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at USC and UNLV.-USC Trojans:Wright attended USC for two years before attending...
: Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
Other notable alumni
- Randall CunninghamRandall CunninghamRandall W. Cunningham is a former American football quarterback.After playing college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he was selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he remained through the 1995 season...
- Retired QuarterbackQuarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... - Randy GatewoodRandy GatewoodRandy Gatewood Randy Gatewood Randy Gatewood (born January 31, 1973 in Wichita Falls, Texas is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League and Arena Football League. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 1995. He played college football at...
- Retired Wide ReceiverWide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... - Suge KnightSuge KnightMarion "Suge" Knight, Jr. is the founder and CEO of Black Kapital Records and co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records. Death Row Records rose to dominate the rap charts after Dr. Dre's breakthrough album The Chronic in 1992. After several years of chart successes for artists including...
- Retired Defensive EndDefensive endDefensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
, better known as co-founder and CEO of Death Row RecordsDeath Row RecordsDeath Row Records is a record label founded in 1991 by Marion "Suge" Knight Jr., Andre Young , Tracy Lynn Curry and Michael Harris . It is known to have been home to many popular West Coast hip hop artists such as Dr... - Kenny MayneKenny MayneKenneth "Kenny" Wheelock Mayne is a sports journalist and comedian for ESPN.-Sports career:A native of Kent, Washington, Mayne is a former honorable mention junior college All-American quarterback in 1978 at Wenatchee Valley Community College in Wenatchee, WA...
- Retired QuarterbackQuarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
, better known as an ESPNESPNEntertainment 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....
SportsCenterSportsCenterSportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
anchor - Keenan McCardellKeenan McCardellKeenan Wayne McCardell is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League and current wide receivers coach for the Washington Redskins. He was drafted by the Redskins in the 12th round of the 1991 NFL Draft...
- Retired Wide receiverWide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... - George J. Maloof, Jr.George J. Maloof, Jr.George J. Maloof, Jr. , also credited as George Maloof Jr. of the Maloof Family, is the son of Colleen and George J. Maloof, Sr...
- Retired cornerbackCornerbackA cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
, better known as a casino mogul - Kyle "Boomer" Toomer - Retired Running backRunning backA running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
, better known as a Robbery Detective Las Vegas Metro Police Dept. - Ickey WoodsIckey WoodsElbert L. "Ickey" Woods is a former American football fullback who played his entire NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football at UNLV...
- Retired Running BackRunning backA running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
In popular culture
An episode of You Can't Do That on TelevisionYou Can't Do That on Television
You Can't Do That on Television is a Canadian television program that first aired locally in 1979 before ultimately airing internationally in 1981...
once opened with Les Lye
Les Lye
Leslie Earnest "Les" Lye was a Canadian actor. Best known for his numerous roles as one of the two adults on the children's program, You Can't Do That On Television , he enjoyed a television and radio career spanning nearly half a century.-Career:Following a stint in the armed forces after high...
's announcement that UNLV's home game with the UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
was being preempted because "uclavsunlv is a dirty word in Yugoslavian
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
."