Rebels quiet ready to face UNR

With his team off to an 0-4 start and facing arguably the biggest game of his five-year UNLV coaching career, Rebels head football coach Jeff Horton has decided to circle the wagons this week at Rebel Park.

Horton has issued a gag order to the media for his team. He's afraid some of the quotes might be used as bulletin board fodder by archrival Nevada-Reno, which invades Sam Boyd Stadium on Saturday night in the annual battle for the Fremont Cannon.

"This game is a big game for us," Horton said. "I know how the media can be sometimes in situations like this, maybe asking a leading question or two, like maybe asking them to make a prediction on the game or something like that. I want our kids to focus entirely on the game. I'll handle the press this week."

Ah, coach. Got some bad news for you. Seems some of your players already were asked about the Reno contest before the press ban went into effect.

The good news? They were all smart enough not to say anything that the Wolf Pack can use for motivation.

"They're the biggest game of our season," senior quarterback Kevin Crook said. "They're our state rival. We want to beat them."

"It's the biggest game for me," senior center Bubba Gonzalez added. "Since I've been here, we haven't won the cannon. The cannon is important to all of us."

And this one from redshirt freshman quarterback Chris Hayward: "It's going to be huge. It's the battle for Nevada. That says it all."

And that, apparently, is all the UNLV players, who made their comments immediately following last Saturday's 38-16 loss at Colorado State, will say this week on the subject.

Strong support

Judging by the full turnout at Tuesday's weekly Rebel Football Foundation luncheon at the Palace Station, not too many UNLV football fans have jumped ship despite the disappointing 0-4 start and nine-game losing streak dating to Oct. 11, 1997.

Horton spelled out a lot of reasons why Saturday night's game is a big one for his squad.

"First, we need a victory," Horton said. "It's been a long time since we've had one. We need that more than anything to get ourselves steamrolling, to get that thing rolling downhill and get a lot of victories under our belt.

"The second reason is for the bragging rights for the state. ... our number one goal is to start dominating this battle.

"Third reason, obviously, is being a member of the WAC and going on to a new division, we want to set a new example for that new conference. We want to start winning some nonconference football games to develop ourselves as a key member in that new conference.

"The final reason is for you the people, for your support week in and week out through more tough times than good times."

Horton failed to mention perhaps the biggest reason of all: His job could be riding on the outcome.

A victory over the Wolf Pack would at least soften what could be a very frustrating year for the Rebels. A loss? Well, there isn't a team remaining on UNLV's schedule that the Rebels will be favored against. An 0-11 or 1-10 finish is a very real possibility.

And although he was quietly given a one-year contract extension through the 1999 season before the start of the 1998 campaign, Horton, who has compiled a 13-37 record at UNLV, may find it hard to survive a fourth straight loss to Nevada.

"Nobody probably wants to win this game more than me," said Horton, who left Nevada-Reno to become UNLV's head coach in 1994.

* REBEL NOTES: UNLV director of community relations Terry Cottle received the first Bill "Wildcat" Morris Distinguished Service Award at Tuesday's luncheon. ... One player who was invited to break the gag order and speak at the luncheon was placekicker Tim O'Reilly. "Coach Horton said he wouldn't let any players talk to the media this week, so he didn't bring a player, he brought a kicker," quipped master of ceremonies Tony Cordasco . ... A crowd of about 18,000 is expected Saturday night.

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