Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

UNLV searching for improvements in season opener

Now it's game time

Watch UNLV football players and coaches preview their season and home opener against Utah State coming up on Saturday.

Season opener

  • Time: 7 p.m.
  • Where: Sam Boyd Stadium
  • Last year: UNLV 2-10, Utah State 4-7
  • Tickets: $17 to $29. Call 702-739-FANS or click here
  • Next game: Utah, 5 p.m., Salt Lake City

Forget the fact that UNLV -- 2-10 a year ago -- is a 12 1/2-point favorite Saturday night against Utah State at Sam Boyd Stadium in a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Covering that, which would undoubtedly make a bit of a statement, and meeting oddsmakers' expectations doesn't matter to Mike Sanford & Co. as they face a team widely regarded a year ago as the worst in the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I) ranks.

"The statement that I believe we want to make is just to win," the UNLV coach said humbly. "That's the No. 1 thing, we want to play sharp, play disciplined and get a win."

Doing that seems far from out of the question, as the Aggies appear to be facing more hurdles than the Rebels.

Utah State's biggest question mark heading in centers around senior quarterback Sean Setzer, who makes his first career start Saturday night in the wake of Jase McCormick leaving the team in the opening days of fall camp.

Of the four quarterbacks left on the roster, Setzer is the only one with any Division I experience (he completed one 2-yard pass in 2006 against Boise State).

"I think what happens with that whole situation is you go into the game with a plan, and then you see how he's reacting, and then you make adjustments as you go along -- it could go either way," Sanford said. "We could be conservative, or we could go after him. We'll just see how the game goes."

Where the game could more or less be decided is in the matchup between USU's defense and a relatively experienced UNLV offense. The Aggie defense is anchored by veteran linebackers Jake Hutton and Paul Igboeli, both of whom are on the preseason Butkus Trophy watch list.

"It's an interesting matchup, because they're a good defense, and we have nine out of 11 starters back on offense," Sanford said. "We have a quarterback that's played some, they have a quarterback that hasn't played much at all."

For the Rebels, sophomore Omar Clayton, a former walk-on, makes his fourth career start. He'll have the aide of solid experience surrounding him at each skill position, plus a line that returns four of five starters.

"I was (nervous) earlier in the week, but as you get closer to gametime, you remember it's football," Clayton said. "You don't have to go out there and do anything you don't know how to do."

Even though the Rebels are playing the calm, cool card, there is some urgency to win the 2008 opener. Aside from Sanford needing more wins in his fourth year to help secure his future status, the Utah State game will be UNLV's only matchup at home until Sept. 20, when Iowa State comes to town. On top of that, the next two weeks include road trips to face Utah and Arizona State -- two schools almost certain to land bowl berths this year.

Notes

Senior running back Frank Summers on Thursday was one of 43 players around the country named to the Doak Walker watch list. The award is given each year to the nation's top ball carrier. It will be awarded on Feb. 6 in Dallas, Texas, at the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards show on ESPN ... Sophomore corner back Quinton Pointer, the team's top defensive back, is a gametime decision. Pointer dislocated his elbow during the first week of fall camp, and returned to practice this week in a limited capacity.

Check lasvegassun.com after the game for stories, video and photos.

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