A football program that seemed to be on the move and in 1992 had its first winning season (6-5) since 1986, UNLV has taken a tumble in 1993.
The Rebels, who host Utah State Saturday at 8 p.m. MDT for their homecoming in the Sam Boyd Silver Bowl in Las Vegas, are 0-1, 1-5 and have lost their last three games.The last loss, two weeks ago, 24-18 at home to Cal State-Northridge, which just made the move from Division II to I-AA, was termed by the Rebels' own press notes as one of the most disappointing losses in school history. UNLV did play reasonably close at Clemson (24-14 loss) and at Kansas State (36-20 loss), but it lost 49-14 at Nevada and 41-24 at UTEP. Its only win was 33-20 over Central Michigan.
The Rebels were wracked by season-ending problems during spring practice for three important players - quarterback John Ma'ae (fractured navicular), last year's starter, incoming JC QB Jared Brown (knee) and first-team all-Big West fullback Shannon McLean (academics). Also, free safety Rodney Mazion left football to concentrate on a pro baseball career.
Add to that injuries this season to leading receiver Henry Bailey (assorted hand and leg problems), who is expected to play Saturday with two fractured hands; tight end Randy Brewer (out four games with a knee injury - expected to play Saturday); and at least 10 other players, many of them starters.
And add to that persistent rumors throughout summer and fall that coach Jim Strong will be fired - perhaps during the season.
Not a good environment.
But, says Aggie coach Charlie Weatherbie, whose own team hasn't lived up to expectations at 1-1, 1-5, "UNLV has some talented players. They have a great running back (Omar Love, 4.5 average gain, four TDs) we're going to have to shut down. They have good receivers (Bailey, career 17.5 average; Demond Thompkins, career 16.6 average), good skill players."
And the Rebels are coming off a bye week that gave them a chance to return about eight players who had been injured and to think up ways to combat Utah State's 436-yards-a-game total offense.
"We obviously needed an off week," says Strong. "We'd take one this week if we could get away with it, but I think Utah State will come down and play."
Strong started redshirt sophomore Jason Davis (19-44-263, 0 TD, 0 int.) against Northridge, but veteran Bob Stockham threw 33 passes in that game to Davis' eight. However, Strong indicated he feels forced to play the youngster again Saturday.