Motivation not in short supply for our rivalry game at UNR

We're a month into the football season, and we're getting a feeling of where we are as a team.

We know we have to be more consistent from week to week. Every program in the country strives for that. We have to make sure we're making consistent progress and not demonstrate wild swings in performance levels. We need to maximize our preparation and be focused on the right things.

We had the first of our two byes last week, and we used it for all business. We got back to work, and I think it was productive, as our offense and defense worked each other over pretty good during four heavy practices. I think that it will pay dividends for us, not just this week but going forward.

We have our rivalry game Saturday at UNR, and we want to see evidence of our hard work these past two weeks since we last took the field. One of the greatest things in sports is the college football rivalry game. If you have a traditional rival, it matters to just about everyone in the state and stays with them throughout the year.

Our players are excited to be playing UNR. Having a chance to go to Reno and play your rival is great tonic for getting on with the season after a loss.

Remarkably, this will be the Wolf Pack's first home game of the season. It will be a great atmosphere in Mackay Stadium regardless of it being the home opener. Rivalry games always should be different. It's the easiest week of the year to get your guys revved up. Our players are aware that everyone in the state has an opinion about this one. This is the game everyone wants to talk about all year.

UNR's squad last year was a special one, and even though the team sent a lot of players to the NFL, its roster is still full of talent. It's a tough outfit to stop.

Look at the Wolf Pack's numbers every year, and there's no doubt they can gain yards and score in bunches, and their defense will play hard the entire game. It's a big challenge, but one that we are looking forward to.

We've always been a proponent for playing the rivalry game at the end of the season. When we are part of the same conference starting next fall, I hope we can play each other as the last game of the regular season and make the rivalry that much more meaningful.

If you can't make it to the game, make sure to watch on Cox Cable 96. Kickoff for the Battle for the Fremont Cannon is 4 p.m.

Go Rebels!

Bobby Hauck writes a weekly column on UNLV football for Rebels Report.