Friday, November 12, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

FROTHING FRUSTRATION: Seward raps commitment

UNLV linebacker says Robinson to blame for not forcing offseason work

By MARK ANDERSON
REVIEW-JOURNAL

"I don't feel we get the credit we deserve in a lot of the games we do win. This game, it obviously was our fault. ... We didn't do what we needed to get done, but to come out and blast the defense ...'' ADAM SEWARD UNLV SENIOR LINEBACKER, ON TEAM'S ONGOING STRUGGLES

UNLV linebacker Adam Seward said Thursday that the team's struggles and injuries can largely be traced to a lack of commitment to the summer workout program.

Seward said the team averaged about 30 players per workout, compared with about 90 for undefeated Utah. He blamed coach John Robinson for not providing enough direction to stir more interest.

The Rebels, who have lost many key players to serious injuries, are 2-7 entering Saturday's 9 a.m. PST game at Colorado State.

"We don't have the consistent commitment to workouts," Seward said. "A lot of the knee injuries are just unfortunate incidents, but I think some of them can be prevented with work ethic and summer workouts. You have guys all out of shape, and a lot of injuries occurred.

"Coach Robinson on his radio show said he did not believe that football should be a year-round sport. He thinks that you should be able to take time off. I really believe that's hard to do. Football's so competitive right now. You should be working out year-round getting ready for the season, and when you don't have a commitment from the top pushing a workout, pushing a strength regimen, it gets tough.

"A lot of college players need guidance, they need assistance. If you don't have someone constantly letting them know what they need to do and kind of helping them out and pointing things out for them ... the undisciplined player won't do those kinds of things."

Robinson responded briefly to Seward's comments.

"Summer workouts are voluntary," Robinson said.

Seward also wasn't happy with Robinson's criticism of the defense after last Saturday's 53-45 triple-overtime loss to Wyoming.

In his postgame news conference, Robinson said, "It was the worst exhibition of poise by a defense that I have ever seen."

"I don't feel we get the credit we deserve in a lot of the games we do win," Seward said. "This game, it obviously was our fault, but a lot of people fail to mention we fumbled the ball on the 5-yard line and had three turnovers. From our standpoint, the defense didn't do the job. We didn't do what we needed to get done, but to come out and blast the defense ...

"The games that we do win, like BYU where we forced five turnovers, we still only won by four points. When we lost to New Mexico, we turned the ball over five or six times. We lost by four, so we're keeping our team in the game. To constantly come out and play well, it's really hard for any defense."

Robinson did not respond to that comment.

As for Seward, he is nearing the end to a record-breaking career. The Bonanza High School graduate has 410 tackles, far and away the school's best.

However, he didn't want his senior season to go this way.

"Starting off 2-7 has nothing to do with talent as far as I'm concerned," Seward said. "We're plenty talented enough. Obviously, we have numerous guys up for postseason awards. It's just disappointing when you look at our record and see we're 2-7. I don't think on paper anybody can ever expect that."