Here’s what UNLV must improve on: everything

Jim Livengood wanted most to see a football team with a brain, a side that while not as good and unquestionably not as big or physical as its Midwest opponent, at least gave the appearance of having a clue.

UNLV did so at times Saturday night.

Now it needs to work on specific skills.

Like how to block someone. Anyone.

Bobby Hauck's first game as UNLV's coach went as most expected, a 41-21 loss to 12th-ranked Wisconsin before 31,107 at Sam Boyd Stadium.

The final margin fairly defined how things played out. You never really thought Wisconsin was in trouble because you never really believed UNLV could move the ball well enough.

"I just want to see that we look disciplined, that we can play at this level," Livengood said shortly before his first football game as UNLV's athletic director. "For a new staff's first year, this is a tough game to open against a physical opponent like this. I just want us to look like a football team.

"The outcome -- and I don't want to misshape this -- is far less important than how we look. We just need to look like we're always going to hustle and like we're focused, and we'll be fine."

Some believed Hauck might have purposefully downplayed his team's chances entering the opener, that he might have believed UNLV had a better opportunity at success than his words suggested.

I'm guessing not after watching UNLV's offense through three quarters.

The Rebels had two plays over 5 yards with eight minutes remaining in the third.

That kind of offense. Those kinds of struggles.

Here's the thing: The Rebels were never going to stop Wisconsin, something that became apparent from the visitor's first drive, which might still be going.

The Badgers went 80 yards in 14 plays and took forever to do so, setting a pace that UNLV's defense couldn't prove stout enough to match over four quarters.

It received two critical first-half plays from junior cornerback Will Chandler -- a 19-yard interception return for one score and an 82-yard fumble return that set up another -- but the defense spent all but 6:19 of the opening 30 minutes on the field.

You knew the defense would be gassed as the game wore on. You knew the fact UNLV trailed only 17-14 at intermission while managing 12 yards and two first downs was eventually going to take its toll on those trying to slow the Badgers.

The Rebels weren't very good overall defensively -- they allowed 475 yards, 278 on the ground -- but it's not as if they had any help from the other side.

Mike Clausen started at quarterback for UNLV, and while the junior's numbers were forgettable (4 of 10 passing for 23 yards and a touchdown), he didn't have much chance to do anything.

He was sacked three times behind an offensive line that, while starting three seniors, was overmatched from the first snap.

Put it this way: The Outland Trophy committee isn't waiting on any UNLV tape from this one.

It was tough to gauge how the Rebels might be under Hauck offensively, given that the game was decided by the time senior Omar Clayton replaced Clausen in a 27-14 game midway through the third quarter.

Quarterback at this point has to be a position in flux for UNLV. When he wasn't being pressured, which seemed like every snap, Clausen didn't appear comfortable with much of anything. Clayton rushed for 59 yards and threw for 82 and a score. He didn't look overly special, but managed things better than Clausen.

Bottom line: You can't stay in games against this good an opponent if you can't run the ball a lick. The Rebels finished with 103 yards on the ground, but had only 48 entering the final quarter.

"I think we've made great progress in terms of the foundation of a program," Livengood said. "It's way too early to tell what kind of team this is going to be, but in terms of a program and its discipline, the kinds of things that won't be accepted or tolerated, the kinds of things that will be expected going forward to how we perform on the field and act off it, I've been incredibly pleased so far.

"I think we are on the right track."

A new era began the way most expected.

It's just one game. There is a ton to work on.

UNLV can get better at everything.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618.