Banged-up Rebels seek second win against visiting Wyoming

Mired in unremarkably similar seasons, Wyoming and UNLV meet today in a sad-sack matchup of football teams saddled with five-game losing skids.

Wyoming (2-8, 0-6 Mountain West Conference) -- coming off a 34-31 loss to previously winless New Mexico, which the Rebels (1-8, 1-4) routed 45-10 -- probably represents UNLV's final realistic chance at victory this season. The Cowboys are 4½-point favorites in the 7 p.m. game at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Both teams rank in the lower half of the Mountain West in every major statistical category.

The Rebels' struggles this season under first-year coach Bobby Hauck are not surprising. But Wyoming showed promise last season, going 7-6 and winning the New Mexico Bowl.

Cowboys coach Dave Christensen pointed out that five of his team's victories in 2009 were decided by a play that easily could have gone the other way. "Then we would've been an awful program last year," he said.

But Christensen said he sees plenty of reasons for optimism.

Wyoming could have a significant edge tonight given the Rebels' injury concerns. Their injury report lists 26 players.

UNLV cornerback Sidney Hodge (arm) is doubtful, and safeties Mike Clausen (leg) and Alex De Giacomo (arm), wide receiver Michael Johnson (leg) and running back Deante Purvis (leg) are questionable.

"A good number of our older guys are nowhere near 100 percent, and then our younger guys, the physical challenge as well as the mental part of it is uphill for them," Hauck said. "We've been severely challenged with what we've been able to come to the table with on Saturdays."

Injuries have been an ongoing issue for UNLV, and De Giacomo acknowledged that the revolving door of players has made establishing chemistry difficult.

"Sometimes you're used to being lined up with certain guys, and then they're out of the picture," De Giacomo said. "Sometimes the communication isn't the same. So it's definitely a challenge, but it's something we've got to adapt to."

The banged-up Rebels had almost no chance the past two weeks against Texas Christian and Brigham Young, losing by a combined 90 points.

Today's game appears to be a more even matchup. But UNLV's games at Idaho and Colorado State also looked like close ones on paper, and the Rebels lost by a combined 56 points.

But Hauck is training his eye on the big picture.

"No one knows how this is going to play out the next few months and years, but we're firm believers the future's bright here," Hauck said. "We were disappointed on Saturday (a 55-7 loss at BYU) and have been numerous times this fall, but we're not discouraged."

■ NOTE -- Wyoming's top tackler, safety Shamiel Gary, won't play because of a death in his family. ... UNLV's 2000 team, the last to post a winning record or appear in a bowl, will be honored between the first and second quarters of tonight's homecoming game. The Rebels went 8-5 that season and beat Arkansas 31-14 in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.