Though he won't do it, Mike Sanford has every reason to hit the panic button. Since replacing John Robinson as head coach at UNLV two years ago, the former Utah offensive coordinator has endured plenty of tough times.
In fact, he's currently in the midst of one. The Rebels (1-6, 0-3) visit Rice-Eccles Stadium this Saturday on a six-game skid. They'll face the Utes without quarterback Shane Steichen and running back Erick Jackson, who were injured in last week's 52-7 loss at BYU.
"You don't want to panic, and we are not panicking. But at the same time there are things that we have to improve on and change," Sanford said earlier this week. "We have to intervene and say 'enough is enough."'
After the setback in Provo, Sanford vowed to have a "serious evaluation" of players and staff. He went so far as to say UNLV would travel to Salt Lake City with just 20 players if deemed necessary. The Rebels, who have lost 13 straight road games dating back to the Robinson regime, are just 3-15 overall under Sanford.
Injuries and the rebuilding process have proven to be difficult hurdles to overcome. So, too, has a lack of consistency when it comes to execution. The Rebels turned the ball over six times last weekend at BYU.
"We have got to eliminate turnovers. That was a travesty in my mind," Sanford said. "That game got out of hand because of turnovers."
Things may not be easier this week. The Utes have defeated the Rebels 10 straight times. UNLV hasn't won a game in this series since the opener — a 43-41 decision at home in 1979.
Leading the charge to reverse the trend is former USC quarterback Rocky Hinds. The sophomore has started six times this season, completing 95-of-188 passes for 1,082 yards, two touchdowns and seven interceptions. With Steichen's career finished by a broken ankle, Hinds will finish the season as the primary signal caller.
"He knows he is the guy, and we live and die with him. That is a good position to be in, and I think it is a great opportunity for him," Sanford said. "He is learning. I didn't exactly know how he was going to progress, and we have learned a lot more about him, about what he does well and what things he needs to work on. That is all part of a process that is going to help him develop."
In UNLV's win over Idaho State, Hinds threw for 322 yards — a school record for a quarterback in his starting debut.
Utes on the air
UNLV (1-6, 0-3) at Utah (4-4, 2-2)
Saturday, 2 p.m.
Rice-Eccles Stadium
TV: The mtn.
Radio: 700AM
E-mail: dirk@desnews.com