UNLV’s football program has recently fallen on hard times. The great teams that included Randall Cunningham and Elbert “Ickey” Woods are long gone and the Rebels now find themselves as one of the worst teams in the Mountain West Conference.
Former Utah offensive coordinator Mike Sanford is entering his fourth year as the Rebels’ head coach with a dismal coaching record. During his tenure, Sanford is 7-29 and has won no more than two games in three seasons.
But coming into Saturday’s game against Utah, the Rebels have something they haven’t had in years8212;bragging rights.
Last year, the Rebels stunned the Utes, who were fresh off a big win against UCLA, with a 27-0 shutout. The loss snapped their 11-game winning streak against the Rebels.
However, things have changed from a year ago. Although Utah is once again coming off a big win against a BCS opponent, the Utes are now ranked in the Top 25 and are not immersed in a quarterback debacle.
And, unlike last year against Utah, UNLV will no longer have home-field advantage and will face the Utes in their backyard.
This year, UNLV began the season on the right track by beating a lowly Utah State 27-17. It’s the second year that the Rebels beat Utah State in their opening game to start the season with a win.
“We played good enough to win,” Sanford said. “But I think we are going to get better and better on defense. I expect that.”
The UNLV defense did a great job last year with shutting down the Utes’ rhythm on offense by putting pressure on fill-in quarterback Tommy Grady and, in the second half, Brian Johnson. The Rebel defense also caused the Utes to fumble three times and held them to only 1 of 5 on fourth-down attempts.
On the other side of the ball, UNLV’s offense had a terrific start against the Utes last season and will look to running back Frank Summers to have a repeat performance against the Utes. Last year, Summers rushed for 190 yards and scored three touchdowns in the UNLV victory.
The other big name for UNLV on offense will be quarterback Omar Clayton. In the victory over Utah State, Clayton threw for 192 yards and three touchdowns.
Despite the win against the Aggies, UNLV has not had much luck in continuing success through the year. For the last two seasons, the Rebels have won their season opener only to finish the season at 2-10.
Mike Sanford and UNLV will look to extend the Rebels’ early season success against Utah, but Sanford doesn’t think last year’s game will be a factor this year.
“It is a new year and we are a different team and Utah is a different team,” Sanford said. “Last year doesn’t mean anything. We are playing in Salt Lake and I think it is a new, different thing.”
Lennie MahlerFrank Sommers scored three of UNLV?s touchdowns against Utah in the shut-out game last season. Even though UNLV comes in to this weeks game with bragging rights, its team doesn?t look as promising.