UNLV might be coming off three consecutive two-win seasons, but the Rebels could draw record crowds to Sam Boyd Stadium next season.
Home games Sept. 8 against Wisconsin, Sept. 15 against Hawaii and Oct. 13 against Brigham Young could help the Rebels break records set in 2002. That season, 165,493 attended, an average of 27,582.
Advertisement
Those three opponents account for eight of the top nine crowds for UNLV home games, with Wisconsin topping the chart with 42,075 fans in 2002 and 40,091 in 1996. The Badgers also attracted 32,207 in 1986. A crowd of 34,287 watched the Rebels play Hawaii in 2003, and BYU has helped break the 30,000 figure four times.
The one downside is UNLV does not get a bye between the Hawaii game and the Sept. 29 trip to rival UNR. A home game against Mountain West Conference opponent Utah was inserted into the Sept. 22 slot.
"In the ideal world, you'd like to have (the bye), but that isn't anything we can control," UNLV coach Mike Sanford said. "The bottom line is it's a great schedule for the fans."
The Rebels also host Colorado State on Oct. 20 and San Diego State on Nov. 10. Their opener is Aug. 30 at Utah State.
"I think the fact we open on the road at Utah State is a formidable challenge, because what we've got to do this year is win on the road," Sanford said.
A school-record seven bowl teams from last season help make up the schedule, and two games will be nationally televised. The game against Wisconsin will be on Versus, and CSTV will show the San Diego State contest.
The mtn. is scheduled to televise games against Hawaii, Utah, Air Force (Oct. 6), BYU, Wyoming (Oct. 27) and New Mexico (Nov. 24).
