Musburger no stranger to Vegas

Long before Brent Musburger broadcast Wednesday's MAACO Bowl Las Vegas for ESPN at Sam Boyd Stadium, he called UNLV's 103-73 rout of Duke in the 1990 NCAA men's basketball championship game in his final appearance for CBS Sports.

"The other thing I remember most about that team is when you went to practice, that was one of the hardest practices we saw all year," the 71-year-old Musburger said. "I don't think people realize how hard Shark (former Rebels coach Jerry Tarkanian) worked and what kind of defense those great Vegas teams played back in the day."

Raised in Big Timber, Mont., the same hometown as Bobby Hauck, Musburger remains a fan and close friend of the Rebels football coach, who coached at the University of Montana before he was hired by UNLV.

"I really hope he has success here and is able to bring in some players and turn the Rebels around," Musburger said. "This (stadium) would be a neat place filled for Vegas football. It would be great to see the Rebels come back and become a power under Hauck."

Musburger, who will broadcast the Bowl Championship Series national title game between Auburn and Oregon, predicted a strong effort by Utah before the game.

"I think it will be a better game than people think," he said. "I think Utah will show up and play in this one."

Musburger, whose son Scott used to live here, said he always enjoys coming to Las Vegas.

"I have a great time whenever I come," he said. "I tell people, 'If you want to go to great entertainment and for great food, go visit Vegas.' I'm unlike the White House. I say you've got to go visit that town."

■ FOOTBALL WEATHER -- When it was announced that Boise State would play in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas, most Broncos fans envisioned taking a pleasant trip to sunny Southern Nevada.

Instead, many drove 11 hours here -- through rain, snow, fog and ice -- from Boise, Idaho, only to be met by more harsh conditions.

But few Broncos fans complained.

"It's a hell of a lot nicer here than at home," said 63-year-old George Sewell, who lives outside Boise. "It's football weather."

■ HAPPINESS IS A COLD KEG -- The inclement weather didn't seem to bother recent Utah graduates Marko Biljanic, Chase Winsor and Troy Jannelle, who drove to the game from Salt Lake City. They were just happy their keg of beer was flowing.

"That's the most important thing," the 24-year-old Biljanic said at noon as he and his friends struggled to attach a tarp to their (anything but) E-Z Up portable shelter in the blustery conditions.

The Utes fans especially savored their keg, which they purchased in Las Vegas, because it's illegal to possess one in Utah.

So how, you might ask, can they have an old-fashioned college keg party back home?

"Everyone in (Salt Lake City) drives up to Evanston (Wyoming) and brings it back down," Jannelle said.

COMPILED BY TODD DEWEY
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL