Hauck worried more about his Rebels than No. 4 TCU

UNLV football coach Bobby Hauck will worry more about No. 4 Texas Christian next week. He said the focus during this week's bye is trying to improve his own team, which is 1-6, including 1-2 in the Mountain West Conference.

"It doesn't do a lot of good to spend extra time on TCU," Hauck said on this morning's Mountain West teleconference. "We're trying to get better."

He said his banged-up team needs the open week to heal more physically than mentally.

"Most of our problems are physical right now, and getting some players back next week will help us," Hauck said.

The Rebels have played 14 incoming freshmen, but Hauck said he isn't working toward making the second half of the season simply preparing for the future. He wants to balance getting experience for the young players while also rewarding the veterans for their hard work.

"(Linebacker) Calvin Randleman said it best, 'There are only a finite number of games left,'" Hauck said.

Though suspended wide receiver Phillip Payne is back working with the regular offense, Hauck said no decision has been made on his return.

"That's probably going to be a week-to-week ongoing thing, and he did a nice job yesterday in practice," Hauck said.