Quantcast
Home manage Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Jobs Cars Homes Shopping Travel Weddings Golf Best of Las Vegas Photo   Search:

RECENT EDITIONS
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Sports


UNLV no lock for spot in bowl

Even with 6-6 finish, Rebels might not get postseason invitation

To guarantee a bowl appearance this season, UNLV needs to help itself and receive help from others.

With a 4-6 record, the Rebels (1-5 Mountain West Conference) will become bowl eligible if they beat Wyoming (4-6, 1-5) at 6 p.m. Thursday at Sam Boyd Stadium and win at San Diego State (1-9, 0-6) on Nov. 22.


Most Popular Stories
  • COTTO CONQUERED: Pacquiao in seventh heaven
  • COTTO CONQUERED: Pacquiao in seventh heaven
  • ED GRANEY: Pacquiao awaits bell for Mayweather fight
  • Pacquiao vs. Mayweather is hot topic
  • ED GRANEY: Cotto tough but lacks talent to win tonight
  • Potential replacements plentiful
  • SAD STATE OF UNLV FOOTBALL: Sanford: Program neglected
  • ED GRANEY: Sanford's ouster comes as no shock
  • VACANCY DRAWS CROWD: UNLV takes spin on 'carousel'
  • UNLV BASKETBALL: Oscar-winning ending
  • UNLV fires football coach Sanford
  • UNLV fires football coach Sanford




  • Even then, there is no guarantee UNLV receive its first postseason appearance since the 2000 Las Vegas Bowl.

    Should the Rebels finish 6-6, their only Mountain West-affiliated postseason hope would be the New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 20. To lock up a bid there, UNLV must hope No. 8 Utah (10-0, 6-0) beats San Diego State on Saturday and No. 16 Brigham Young (9-1, 5-1) on Nov. 22, putting the Utes in a Bowl Championship Series game and freeing up a Mountain West bowl slot.

    If the Utes pull that off, UNLV also needs Colorado State (4-6, 2-4) to lose to either New Mexico (4-7, 2-5) on Saturday or Wyoming on Nov. 22. The Rams would probably get the nod over UNLV for the New Mexico Bowl if both are 6-6, especially because Colorado State won the regular-season meeting, 41-28.

    "That's a big factor," New Mexico Bowl executive director Jeff Siembieda said. "Especially with the economy the way it is, the fans of one school (Colorado State) being able to drive as opposed to the other (UNLV) having to fly is something you would consider."

    The Rebels also didn't help themselves Saturday when an announced crowd of 13,154 attended their 27-20 victory over New Mexico. New Mexico Bowl director of operations Cary Colbert was at the game.

    However, Siembieda said he is hopeful a bowl bid would energize Rebels fans, though the New Mexico Bowl is on the same day as the UNLV-Arizona basketball game and the Las Vegas Bowl.

    A Utah loss in either of its final two games would probably eliminate the Utes from BCS consideration, leaving UNLV out of the New Mexico Bowl no matter what happens.

    But there is some hope for an at-large berth, and the Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 24 and Texas Bowl on Dec. 30 might have vacancies.

    "Las Vegas is Hawaii's eighth island, so no question there's an affinity with Las Vegas, and a lot of Hawaii people live in Las Vegas," Hawaii Bowl executive director David Matlin said. "That team in this state would add some appeal to the game."

    As for the Rebels, they're happy they have meaningful games to play, something rare for this time of the year.

    "It's a different team and it's a different attitude, but the fact we have something to play for definitely has an impact," coach Mike Sanford said.

    UNLV received a major boost by beating New Mexico, not only staying alive for a bowl, but ending its five-game losing streak.

    "I came in (Sunday) morning, and the energy level was really high," defensive tackle Malo Taumua said.

    • NOTES -- Deante' Purvis was named Mountain West special teams player of the week. He blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown and averaged 34.3 yards on three kickoff returns. ... Fans 16 and under receive free admission to Thursday's game by wearing a youth sports team jersey or donating two canned food items. Anyone older than 16 who donates two food items gets in for $5. The food drive benefits Three Square, a local charity.

    Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.

    Newsvine Digg Fark Technorati reddit StumbleUpon del.icio.us Slashdot Propeller Mixx Furl Twitter MySpace Facebook Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks Windows Live Favorites Ask MyStuff myAOL Favorites

    Leave Your Comment 23 Reader Comments
    Terms & Conditions
    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.

    Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
    Current Word Count:

    Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

    RebCam wrote on November 13, 2008 08:48 AM: Well, that didn't work out as planned. Oh well, such is life.

    OK, you're reaching now and we've both gotten pathetic. I'm sure you're a good man, happy holidays.


    RebCam wrote on November 13, 2008 08:42 AM: Well, that didn't work out. Oh well, such is life.


    RebCam wrote on November 13, 2008 07:58 AM: UNLV1,

    It was determined that Santee would start at center weeks ago, do your homework and keep up before you comment.

    Regis Sputs,

    You have no idea whether or not the marketing of rebelution has effected any player. Don't assume and be so drastic.

    Johhny5,

    I agree with most of your listed comments concerning their play. We differ on your sky is falling approach though. sbrebelphi already has mentioned that a reread of Eriks post will help you. I agree there was too much 1 on 1 and not enough of the renowned motion offense that Kruger installed the first year he got here. They have an offense, it just wasn't ran nearly at all well by the players last night. I too mentioned to my buddy at the game that I missed Terry. He was unorthodoxed but something about him poured confidence and he was a constant catalyst in our victories. He got it done, same as Kevin. They had something in common though that I think people could be overlooking, they were seniors.

    Don't forget guys that we had a terrible game against Montana St. last year and then turned it on for another good year. Be patient, it's Kruger, and we know he'll have them ready for battle.


    DOA wrote on November 13, 2008 07:33 AM: RebCam

    I have concluded my case study of your FALLOW mind. My original opinion of you is confirmed, I hereby certify you a HERMAPHRODITE! Don't bother me with anymore of your RACIST mutterings you idiot! Oh, BTW you sent the same message twice, DUMB ARSE! GOODBYE


    RebCam wrote on November 12, 2008 09:11 PM: Hey dead on arrival,

    HE'S AN ANTHROPOLOGIST!!!! WHAHOOOO!!! BOW DOWN TO THE KING!!! The leader of all humanity has arrived!

    I tell you what dead on arrival, I'm so impressed I could kiss your feet. So this is what h*m* rage looks like. Thanks for showing us all.

    I'm not a racist but I do believe that you are a boring and effeminate anthropologist. I'll break it down for you little guy since you used your manly relationship with your male professor to get you graduated. Sometimes, when blogging, when we want to make a point or insult someone such as a clueless idiot like yourself, we make fun of their name. I had no idea what your moronic name meant, all I know is that I wanted to tell you what a loser you and your boyfriend are. It was a pun and it worked.....you do know what a pun is don't you dead on arrival? The only thing I want to see buried is your corpse after you slice your wrists. Let me know when you have something intelligent to say about UNLV. Wait,...never gonna happen. It was nice trading punches but all things must come to an end. Make sure you give Sufferin' a big kiss for me. I'm out.


    RebCam wrote on November 12, 2008 09:04 PM: Hey dead on arrival,

    HE'S AN ANTHROPOLOGIST!!!! WHAHOOOO!!! BOW DOWN TO THE KING!!! The leader of all humanity has arrived!

    I tell you what dead on arrival, I'm so impressed I could kiss your feet. So this is what h*m* rage looks like. Thanks for showing us all.

    I'm not a racist but I do believe that you are a boring and gay anthropologist. I'll break it down for you little guy since you used your manly relationship with your professor to get you graduated. Sometimes, when blogging, when we want to make a point or insult someone such as yourself, we make fun of their name. I had no idea what your moronic name meant, all I know is that I wanted to tell you what a loser you and your boyfriend are. It was a pun and it worked.....you do know what a pun is don't you dead on arrival? The only thing I want to see buried is your corpse after you slice your wrists. Let me know when you have something intelligent to say about UNLV. Wait,...never gonna happen. It was nice trading punches but all things must come to an end. Make sure you give Sufferin' a big kiss for me. I'm out.


    Steelers#1 wrote on November 12, 2008 12:45 PM: I'd like to say give Sanford one last season since he has one year remaining on his contract. If he does not win a minimum of 9 games fire him ASAP at the end of the season. That would be the final telling statement of his tenure as head coach (5 seasons). And due to the sorry state and national budget and due to the fact the program has sucked forever anyhow what would it hurt to let him sit one more year to dictate his own fate by wins or more losses.

    Go Steelers#1


    Steelers#1 wrote on November 12, 2008 12:38 PM: Hey Shooter it's Steelers#1 not Steelers #32 that was the past, which I don't loive in. And the Steelers finally won a Super Bowl in my adult life so I can rest easy. Anyhow it's all good. And yes they lost to the Colts last Sunday and Big Ben has thrown 1 TD and 8 picks in his last 8 games, which hurts!!!!

    I'm having fun reading the fight between Rebcam and DOA. Let's get these guys in the ring.

    Later...

    UNLV football still sucks, which I'm not proud to say because I am a true native. I celebrated in the streets with the entire city when they won it all in hoops in 1990.


    DOA wrote on November 12, 2008 10:33 AM: RebCam,

    So you are saying you're a MENSA! LOL You are nothing but a RACIST PIG! And by the way DOA is not what you think it is. Your STUPIDITY is amazing! I am a Dr. Of Anthropology you NIT-WIT! I am sure I could find you buried under a ROCK!


    RebCam wrote on November 12, 2008 08:15 AM: DOA (we all wish that you were),

    Stupid is as stupid does........wow, I'm sure that Forrest Gump is your hero. So what you're saying is that those that call people stupid are....stupid,...and then you called me stupid. Priceless, you are the genius of the year. I can see now why you're so upset recently, Proposition 8 passed and now you're marriage is in jepordy. Don't worry, your husband (Sufferin') will put together a long list of his useless stats to help persuade the supreme court to overrule the public.

    As far as feeling like a weakling, I don't think that anybody who is having a battle of wits with someone who is unarmed (that's you doa) could ever feel weak.

    Coach Stan....hmmmmm....I wonder what his pricetag would be and would he ever head coach at UNLV?.....hmmmmm. Once again for the mentally challenged, NO MONEY EQUALS NO COACH! And even if we had it do you think that anyone with any prestige would come here. You really are a witless worm. Or should I say Sufferin'. Even if you are not him, which I still believe you are, he is your all time mentor and you are his all time worthless attack dog. I guess he's to busy picking out your sheets to defend himself.


    Read All Comments