Rebels target softer foe

There are no breathers for 1-5 teams, but at least UNLV gets to play a team more on its own level.

The Rebels have had only one such opportunity and they took advantage, blowing out winless New Mexico by 35 points on Sept. 25. Now they visit Colorado State (1-5) at 11 a.m. PDT Saturday.

UNLV has played two Mountain West Conference games, but now enters league play full time. The Rebels' only remaining nonconference is the season finale at Hawaii on Dec. 4.

"We're looking forward to getting into conference play," coach Bobby Hauck said. "We're looking at it from a positive standpoint. We're 1-1 in the Mountain West Conference."

So far, Hauck's first season has been almost entirely about the schedule, which included three ranked teams in the first five weeks. Then Saturday, UNLV lost at West Virginia 49-10, an outcome that lifted the Mountaineers into The Associated Press poll at No. 25 on Sunday.

Though the Rebels were beaten and beaten up by those tough foes, perhaps they'll be better for the experience.

One trait UNLV players have shown is the willingness to keep playing hard, one of the few promises Hauck made when he was hired in December.

That was noticeable even after the Rebels trailed West Virginia 35-0 at halftime. The Mountaineers began substituting liberally, but UNLV also played many reserves and played the Mountaineers to within 14-10 over the final 30 minutes.

"It doesn't matter what the score is, we go out and we bust heads every play," linebacker Calvin Randleman said, "and we're not giving up like teams past. That's not who we are. That's not a knock on past teams, it's just this team. This coaching staff won't allow us to not be the first person off the ball (at the snap)."

Such efforts might not pay dividends this season, but Hauck is coaching for the long term and trying to set a new standard.

That's at least part of the reason Hauck didn't let junior wide receiver Phillip Payne travel to West Virginia after the player's negative tweets about the coaching staff last week. Payne's level of contrition and rededication this week might etermine his future with the program.

If any case, he could stand as an example to teammates that even star players are expected to adhere to guidelines.

It won't be known until later in the week whether Payne will make the trip to Colorado State.

The players Hauck takes to Fort Collins will play an opponent that has struggled similarly to the Rebels. Colorado State has been outscored 216-82, including 49-27 loss at Air Force on Saturday, and UNLV beat Colorado State 35-16 last year in Las Vegas.

Colorado State, however, achieved its lone victory this season over Idaho, a team that beat UNLV 30-7 on Sept. 18.

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