Result familiar, but progress evident

This was one of those win-any-way-possible games. Pretty. Ugly. High scoring. Defensive snoozer.

You can't be picky when trying to rebuild a college football program, when working to change a culture, when hoping to excite a fan base that long ago accepted losing as more tradition than temporary.

Still, UNLV awaits a time to alter such perception.

Again, it came up short.

It lost the season opener of Bobby Hauck's third year as head coach Thursday night, falling to Minnesota 30-27 in three overtimes of a game the Rebels had every chance to win and yet didn't before 16,013 at Sam Boyd Stadium.

It's always the same thing when teams are fairly well matched as UNLV and Minnesota proved to be. The same as Alabama-Louisiana State. You know, without all the speed and strength and skill and NFL prospects that defines that particular matchup.

Little things matter more. One play, one muffed punt, one bad angle on a coverage, one roughing the passer penalty, 100 or so missed blocks by the Rebels offensive line, can mean the difference in who celebrates. It was no different Thursday.

These were two below average teams that, well, tried really hard and aren't all that smart.

There is much promise in Nick Sherry, the redshirt freshman quarterback for UNLV who made his first career start and, while not on his back from being hit all evening, did far more good than bad.

One of his worst throws of the night came early, when Sherry aimed into double coverage and was intercepted deep in Minnesota territory. He should have taken the sack. It's a learning play.

But he's big enough and has enough arm and didn't at all appear rattled, despite how many times he saw white jerseys in his face. He was composed for parts of overtime, forcing a third extra period with a fourth-down scoring pass from 6 yards out. He wasn't when throwing his third interception on the second play of that final overtime.

He was being pressured then, too.

I'm not saying UNLV's offensive line made the Gophers look like the 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers rushing at will, but it was far closer to that than it should have been with a Rebels front where four of five players started all 13 games last season and a senior tackle - Yusef Rodgers - who played in his 32nd career game Thursday.

UNLV needs to block better. A lot. Youth is no longer an excuse. Class standing means nothing. Game experience does. The Rebels might have someone special in Sherry if they can keep him upright.

Minnesota is no great shakes, but that doesn't mean UNLV's defensive effort was any less impressive.

Understand: This is a Rebels side that hasn't stopped anyone in forever, one that allowed averages of 40 points and 443 yards last season. They couldn't tackle a statue the last few years. It was brutal at times, comical always.

That wasn't the case Thursday. The breakdowns were minimal. The Rebels appeared to be the bigger, more physical defense that drew positive thoughts from so many during camp in Ely.

Kenneth Penny took a bad angle covering a first-half pass that led to a 39-yard gain from which the Gophers scored the following play and another secondary breakdown led to a Minnesota field goal and again in overtime, but rare has been the week where UNLV's defensive woes could be counted on one hand.

J.D. Williams is the new defensive coordinator and if he can extract the same level of energy and execution from his players in the weeks to come, the progress UNLV hopes to make in terms of competing late into games with a chance to win should occur.

Minnesota isn't going to keep coaches at Michigan or Ohio State or Wisconsin up late at night. I'm not even sure New Hampshire is all that worried about its game against the Gophers next week.

They have won just six games over the last two seasons and for some reason thought such ineptitude should lead them to not releasing a two-deep until just before kickoff Thursday.

What in the world were they hiding, one of the three punters who wore No. 38 who shanked balls all over the field?

This was a beginning for UNLV, not the one it desired but not all that bad.

The Rebels competed. Had a chance to win.

It's progress.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be heard from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on "Gridlock," ESPN 1100 and 98.9 FM. Follow him on Twitter: @edgraney.