UNLV football gearing up for season opener: ‘This is a huge week for us’
There are three more training camp practices before things get really interesting for UNLV football.
Three more until coach Dan Mullen and his assistants begin game-week preparations for the first time as a staff.
Before all the positive thoughts about how good the Rebels could be this season are eventually put to the test.
The Rebels on Monday practiced at the Raiders indoor facility for the second time in four days, able to beat the heat and focus on all sorts of special situations.
It all leads up to a season opener against Idaho State on Aug. 23 at 1 p.m. at Allegiant Stadium.
“I mean, the nation is starving for football right now,” Mullen said. “The whole country is starving. All of a sudden, it will be Week Zero and it’s like, ‘Finally!’
“Everyone is going to be paying attention because they can’t wait for football to get back. Holy cow! It’s right around the corner. It’s about to start here and that makes it exciting and fun. It will be fun to be out there and show what type of team we are.”
Coaching points
The installation part is over for UNLV. Nothing new will be put in at this point. Any changes will be minor adjustments or variations.
UNLV held its second fall scrimmage Friday and Mullen said he was “pretty pleased” with how things went. That any mistakes are coachable, and not because players had no idea what they were doing.
That’s the way you want things — small coaching points that can improve the overall product without having to make major changes.
Mullen is treating the quarterback position like he does all of them. He’s far more interested in which players are earning practice reps over which ones might start.
He has said it often: It’s the ones who finish games that are most important in his mind.
He said both junior transfer quarterbacks — Anthony Colandrea (Virginia) and Alex Orji (Michigan) — are earning such time on the field.
“Both are doing a good job,” Mullen said. “Not even close to (naming a starter). Maybe the second or third or fourth game. I don’t even know.”
UNLV last season finished 23rd nationally, the first time in school history it was ranked in a final Associated Press poll.
This year’s AP preseason rankings were unveiled Monday, and the Rebels were among those “also receiving votes” with 21. It’s a number Mullen would rather see several months from now.
“It’s all fun preseason stuff,” he said. “We have to go play and earn it. That’s the fun part. It’s kind of cool, but I’m much more concerned about how our postseason looks and how many votes we get then.
“Hopefully, if we get 21 then, the 21 is with parentheses around it and they’re first-place votes. I’ll take that in a final poll.”
Ready to go
The Rebels got out of the heat Monday and for the most part worked on things you might need a lot of during a season and some not so much. Two-minute drills. Every kicking situation imaginable. As Mullen would tell his team, they’re things you don’t need until you need them.
But they could end up being some of the most important plays of a season.
Then, the focus became quite clear.
“This is a huge week for us,” Mullen said. “Obviously, we had the scrimmage and have been very special situation based. But these next three practices are the most critical ones. This is the polish and confidence building. We might make little adjustments but it’s knowledge based.
“Come Thursday, we’re ready to transition completely into game week with a lot of confidence and ready to go take that next step.”
It’s almost here with as many positive thoughts surrounding this team as you can imagine.
Almost time to put it all to the test.
Contact Ed Graney at egraney@reviewjournal.com. Follow @edgraney on X.
