Road worriers: Rebels seek way to win away from home

ELY -- UNLV football players have a ritual where they clap in unison during parts of practice as a way to pay attention to what's happening on the field.

Sometimes they add a quick chant to that clap, and on Thursday that statement was "Road win!"

It will be quite a statement if the Rebels actually win a road game this season. UNLV not only went 0-7 on the road last season, the Rebels were blown out in every game. Their closest game was a 30-7 loss at Idaho.

"We just didn't play well," coach Bobby Hauck said. "We didn't play hard enough. We waited around to see what was going to happen. It just wasn't good enough."

Now the Rebels have to come up with some answers on how to improve their road performances, especially because their first two games are away, including the Sept. 1 opener at Wisconsin.

Hauck said he and the staff are still searching for answers.

"We have seven home games this year, and if we don't play better on the road, it's going to be a long season," Hauck said. "We're trying to work on different things.

"It's hard to address. We're trying to do everything, from winter conditioning and spring ball to today's practice."

Sophomore quarterback Caleb Herring was one of the few Rebels to have some success in road games. Three times he came off the bench to throw a touchdown pass that was UNLV's only trip into the end zone.

"It's all about mental focus," Herring said. "You've got to play just as hard as you play when you're at home. You've got to go to that away stadium with the mentality that it's yours."

The issue isn't a new one. Previous Rebels coach Mike Sanford went 3-25 on the road over five seasons.

"We have not been strong on the road for a long time," Hauck said. "Winning on the road is not easy. When you're out West, you're traveling great distances."

NOTABLE

Redshirt freshman William Vea (6 feet, 220 pounds) was moved from linebacker to fullback. He played eight-man football at Pahranagat Valley High School before entering a two-year Mormon mission and joining UNLV last season. "We like his progress," tight ends/fullbacks coach Brent Myers said. ... Freshman tight ends Tyler Bergsten, Nick Gstrein and Jake Phillips have shown promise, but are at a crowded position. Myers said no decision has been made to redshirt or play any of them, but he liked their work. "I think they're going to be very successful here, but they still have a lot to learn," Myers said. ... Sophomore Marcus Sullivan and senior Michael Johnson, both wide receivers, hauled in touchdown catches of more than 60 yards.