My lifelong dream about to come true

Editor's note: Former UNLV wide receiver Casey Flair writes a weekly journal for the Las Vegas Review-Journal from training camp with the Locomotives of the United Football League:

One of the most anxiety-ridden moments of my life was walking into the locker room on the day that the Locomotives cut our 62-man training camp roster to 52 players.

It was dead quiet, no music or laughing, as players got dressed for practice hoping they were not told they needed to go speak with the coach.

Luckily, I made it out of the locker room and onto the field. Then coach Jim Fassel called me over and asked to speak to me.

Jogging slowly over to where he stood, all I could think was, "Did he have to wait until I got dressed and taped and came to the field?"

Coach Fassel informed me he was pleased with my performance during camp and that he was keeping me on the team, though I would be on the practice squad for now. He told me to keep working and improve myself.

All I could think was: "I made the team. I could be packing up my things and taking the five-hour drive back to Las Vegas instead. I have my foot in the door; now I just need to keep working and my time will come."

We were off the next day, Friday, but got back to work Saturday game-planning for the season opener and trying to fine-tune our offensive execution.

At practice I tried to prove I deserved to be on the active roster. I used the same mindset that I did as a walk-on freshman at UNLV seeking a scholarship: every day was game day.

After practice Monday, Coach Fassel and wide receivers coach Mike Wilson called me with their decision to activate me and told me I would be playing Thursday against the California Redwoods in our first game.

I had been waiting for this day since playing football in the streets of Alaska as a kid, where temperatures routinely dipped below zero and catching the football felt like catching a rock.

I called my family, friends and former coaches to let them know I would be playing my first professional football game for the Las Vegas Locomotives at 6 p.m. Thursday at Sam Boyd Stadium.

It will be the inaugural game of the United Football League, a historic day on many levels and for many reasons. For me, it will mean one of my lifelong dreams coming true.

I have no idea how much I will play, when I will play or the significance my role will carry. But I do know I will be standing on the sideline that I stood on so many times as a proud UNLV Rebel -- ready and willing to do anything to contribute to a win.