August 6, 2007
by Mike Sims
Rebel fans beware its going to be a long season. There are whispers around campus that the over under on wins this season is going to be…1. That really makes me sick.

But hey before I start in on the team and its questionable offence I want to point out some bright spots.

Just like the basketball team last season there is a big question mark on what they can actually do. I believe the 2000 squad had a big question mark as well and they went on to a nice bowl win and the best season in the last 20 years.

Rocky Hinds coming of a knee injury is scary but this is the first time in recent memory that I can actually say we have a nice plethora of talented quarterbacks that can come in and take over for Rocky right away.

At all other positions seem to have locks on the players in them like David Peeples at running back and Ryan Wolfe, Casey Flair and Renan Saint Preux returning at wide receiver.

Beau Bell will lead the defense that has a lot of questions with Eric Wright’s departure to the NFL.

Mike Sanford is going into this third season and for most new coaches the third year is the turnaround year most of the players are your recruits and there should be some progress made. But the comments that I have been hearing are really not that promising and if UNLV has a two win season or less they are going to have some serious questions in the coaching department.

The Rebels do have a very tough schedule this season with Wisconsin and Hawaii coming to Las Vegas. Quite possibly they could squeak out a win and boost the season moral but they need to a lot of confidence and winning that opening game on the road at Utah State might be the factor to the rest of the season.

Sanford is going to have a lot of weight on his shoulders this year and hopefully they can have at least a four win season. That is all I expect out of this team who was picked to finish dead last almost 25 points behind the next team. UNLV needs to get there act together this year or else it might be time to think about dropping out of division one if they want to the fans to come back.

I guess we will have to strap in and hope the ride isn’t too bumpy.

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