Friday practice notes: Ah, the sweet sound of smacking plastic

By Ryan Greene

Friday, Aug. 8, 2008 | 7:06 p.m.

Maybe the NCAA rules aren't so bad, huh?

You know, the ones that force college teams to slowly progress up to full pads from the start of fall practices. The Rebels went this week from just helmets, to helmets and shoulder pads, to the full outfits on Friday.

The first four days of practice for UNLV almost served as one big tease. Over the course of the week, the trash talk picked up, and it came to a head of sorts Friday, as jawing was accompanied by the sounds of plastic smacking plastic.

Head coach Mike Sanford said he didn't mind, and that's just how kids are these days.

But ...

"I think one of the things that's important, though is it can't get out of control and out of hand," he said. "We're making a big focus on being a disciplined football team that doesn't get stupid, unnecessary penalties."

It never got out of hand Friday morning at Rebel Park, though without question, the most spirited portion of the practice came when the running backs met the linebackers in one-on-one collision drills, and the offensive and defensive linemen did the same.

With the two units lined up across from one another, players stepped up one by one from each side to see who could give their respective group the bragging rights.

Two backs who managed to make some noise were Frank Summers and Channing Trotter.

Summers successfully trucked linebacker Rusty Worthen (yeah, he lived up to that 'Tank' nickname and then some all week long). Then Trotter went head-to-head with Ronnie Paulo, who checks in at 35 pounds heavier than the tailback counterpart. After putting Paulo on his back, Trotter bounced around, yelling and taking slaps on the head.

It was brutally clear for some that Aug. 30 can't get here soon enough.

Howard makes a statement

Geoff Howard, who by default is the Rebels' top cornerback still practicing following the injury this week to Quinton Pointer, had quite a three-repetition stretch Friday.

In a red zone passing drill, he broke up a fade toss to the corner intended for Tate Knutson. In his next two turns, he recorded interceptions.

"That's what I usually do, so I'm just trying to keep it going," he joked after practice.

On the other side of the field, freshman Will Chandler saw most of the reps with the No. 1 defensive unit.

Another new face

Add the name Kyle Watkins to the fold for the Rebels. A 6-foot-2 tight end from Phoenix, Watkins last played at Scottsdale Community College. Originally out of Cactus Shadows High School, he has three years of eligibility remaining.

Play of the day

In 7-on-7 drills, freshman wideout Phillip Payne, a Western High product, had the centerpiece of his impressive afternoon. On a pass over the middle from Mike Clausen, he stretched and made a one-handed grab for a score, and earned plenty of praise from Sanford following practice.

Bumps and bruises

Freshman tight end Austin Harrington, who was hurt Wednesday night in practice and hobbled around in street clothes Thursday with a deep bruise in his lower leg, was walking around in a boot and on crutches Friday.

Next up

The team will head up north Saturday to Ely for a 10-day practice stretch away from campus.

"You start out camp, and you're like 'Oh man, we've got to go to Ely again?'" said senior receiver Casey Flair. "And then your practice in 110 degree weather again, and you're like 'When do we go to Ely?'"

Practice conditions there during the height of the afternoon are expected to be 20-30 degrees cooler in Ely than they will be in Las Vegas.

Flair said he's also looking forward to the NFL training camp-like trip for bonding purposes ... and to exact a bit of rookie hazing.

"There's a lot of seniors who have been here for a long time - It's our chance to make them do a little work like we had to do," said the fifth-year player. "I think there's six young receivers, and they laugh it off, but they won't laugh when we get up there."