New coach adds intensity to UNLV defense

      The quarterback took the snap, faked a handoff, rolled out and found a receiver wide open. Some 58 yards later, the receiver was standing in the end zone celebrating a touchdown.
      The UNLV defense was beaten badly again.
      For Rebel football fans, this was all too familiar.
      What followed, however, was anything but familiar -- new defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill absolutely lost it.
      Before the official had signaled a touchdown, McNeill was storming across the field. With his arms flailing and a pained look on his face, the imposing McNeill had a Woody Hayes-like meltdown as he jumped in his players' faces and scolded them for blowing the play.
      It didn't matter to McNeill that the second-team defense was playing the Rebels' first-team offense at the time.
      Yes, McNeill has brought a new defensive system to UNLV. But the 38-year-old coach also has brought a fiery emotion and a new attitude that suggests failure will not be tolerated.
      "I act the way I act because I love the kids, and I want so much success for our players here, because they've paid the price," McNeill said following Saturday's scrimmage. "These kids want to win, and they're hungry for success. You can sense that. ... So far, their attitudes have just been so great."
      Now if McNeill can only make their skills great.
      The Rebels fielded one of the nation's worst defenses the past two seasons, allowing more than 530 yards and 45 points per game.
      The shoddy defense is a major reason UNLV is 3-20 in its last 23 games, including 1-11 in 1996. It's also the reason Rebels coach Jeff Horton fired three defensive assistants after last season and hired the impassioned McNeill to try and turn things around.
      "I love it," Horton said of McNeill's demeanor. "I think that breeds an attitude. It breeds enthusiasm, and the kids feed off that. ...
      "He's an in-your-face guy, but I think (the players) respond to that. And they know he loves them, but they know he's going to challenge them and not accept nothing but the best. That's what I liked about him, and he hasn't disappointed me since he got here."
      Somewhat surprisingly, McNeill apparently hasn't disappointed his players either.
      In the age of sensitive college athletes, players on UNLV's defense seem to have embraced McNeill's emotional hands-on coaching methods.
      "He does it in a loving kind of way," said senior linebacker Scott Patton, one of the few bright spots on last year's defense. "That's what coaches have to do to get the job done. It's their job to make us better, and if that's what they've got to do, that's what they're going to do. He'll come up afterwards and pat you on the back, too."
      Said junior linebacker Greg Gales: "Coach is fired up all the time. He yells, but he pulls you to the side and lets you know what you did wrong (and) puts you back in the game to correct that mistake. He's just a fiery coach. That's not a problem. We have no problem with it at all."
      Gales and Patton also don't have a problem with McNeill's 4-3 system, which is more aggressive and designed to confuse opposing offenses with multiple looks.
      So far, the defense has had seven spring practices to get accustomed to the new system. And despite the big play given up Saturday, the unit performed decently, especially considering the offensive players are much more polished, having worked for a year in their system.
      "I think we're doing really well right now," Patton said. "It's a little complicated, but guys are picking it up, and the coaches are doing a great job of coaching it. And when everyone's enthusiastic about learning and doing the job, you pick it up much faster. I think the enthusiasm is much higher than it was last year at this time."
      Gales agreed.
      "It's the best thing to happen to us," he said. "I love it. I love the new system; I love playing for Coach McNeill. We have a whole new attitude. Our minds are set on being (Western Athletic Conference) champs. That's all we're going for, nothing less."
      Now, that would be something to yell about.
      -- NOTES -- Wide receiver Carlos Baker and quarterback Chad Reed were the only players to suffer significant injuries Saturday. Baker, who led UNLV with 71 catches last year, bruised cartilage in his right knee after being tackled following a reception. Horton said Baker will have an MRI this week and might need arthroscopic surgery. Reed, who is fighting for the backup quarterback job, aggravated an ankle sprain, and Horton said the junior will be evaluated Monday. ... Starting quarterback Jon Denton looked sharp in his first scrimmage. Unofficially, the sophomore was 11 of 16 for 193 yards and two touchdowns, including the 58-yard pass to a wide-open Damon Williams. Other unofficial statistics were: running backs Dahrin Footman (12 carries, 46 yards, one TD) and James Wofford (11 carries, 40 yards, one TD); and receivers Williams (four catches, 78 yards, two TDs) and Todd Floyd (two catches, 60 yards). ... The Rebels continue spring practice Monday. They will have two more scrimmages, one on Saturday and another when camp ends April 26.