Tiller thanks Rebels

Steve Carp

Tuesday, Nov. 19, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

If there's a little extra some thing in Jeff Horton's Christmas stocking, it likely came from Laramie, courtesy of Wyoming coach Joe Tiller.

Thanks to UNLV's 44-42 upset of San Diego State, the Cowboys are Las Vegas-bound to play in the Dec. 7 WAC championship game at Sam Boyd Stadium against the winner of Saturday's Brigham Young-Utah game.

"Jeff and Jon Denton are at the top of my Christmas card list," Tiller said Monday. "Going in, I thought San Diego State would win, given the year UNLV was having. But I knew UNLV would score based on what they did against us. I didn't have any idea how many they'd score."

Actually, the concern was how many would the UNLV defense give up. Tiller left Hughes Stadium knowing UNLV was leading in the fourth quarter. But it wasn't until he got home and saw his daughter putting up congratulatory signs that he had an inkling the Rebels had held on.

And even then, he wasn't completely sure.

"I was trying to get the score on that sports ticker they have on CNN, but I never saw it," Tiller said. "Three or four people called to congratulate me, but I still hadn't seen the score. But then my son called and said UNLV had won and it was at that point I was willing to accept it."

There's excitement throughout the state as the search for tickets and hotel rooms has begun. Wyoming has ordered close to 7,000 tickets and, according to WAC commissioner Karl Benson, the conference office was being flooded with phone calls regarding room availability.

And it won't hurt Wyoming's cause that the National Finals Rodeo is in town that weekend. The Cowboys figure to pick up additional support from the cowboys competing in the NFR as well as the fans who will pack the Thomas & Mack Center nightly.

"I think it'll enhance the number of tickets sold," Benson said of the NFR's presence. "It should help in the promotion of the game."

Las Vegas Events president Tucker DiEdwardo said having the No. 20-ranked Cowboys in the title game helps validate the WAC's promise to deliver two top teams to the inaugural conference championship.

"The WAC has delivered," he said. "It's going to be an outstanding game, whether it's BYU or Utah against Wyoming. We're very excited about these next two weeks."

BYU or Utah?

BYU is rolling, looking at a possible berth in the bowl alliance. Utah has a chance to save its season.

So who wins Saturday's Mountain Division showdown at Salt Lake City?

UTEP's Charlie Bailey gives the 8-2 Utes a shot.

"If they can run the ball and control the tempo, Utah can win the game," said Bailey, whose Miners have lost to both teams. "But if Utah has to throw it, BYU will win."

New Mexico's Dennis Franchione, whose Lobos also lost to the Cougars and Utes, said if Utah comes into the game from its off week healthy, Utah can pull off the upset.

"When they've got everybody healthy, they're a very good team," Franchione said. "They weren't at full strength when they played us and they still looked very strong."

A lot will depend on how much progress big fullback Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala makes in practice this week. The 276-pound sophomore has been out with a knee injury and coach Ron McBride lists him as 85 percent.

"The next three days will tell if he plays or not," he said.

UNLV's Horton likes BYU, whether or not the big guy plays.

"They've got so much momen tum right now and with a shot at the alliance, I think they'll get it done," he said of the 11-1 Cougars, a 5 1/2-point favorite in Saturday's game.

Make love, not war

Hawaii's Fred vonAppen is still trying to make sense of the brawl that broke out in the stands during the late stages of Saturday's 45-14 loss to BYU that eventually found his players in the middle of the melee.

One of several fights apparently included the father of Hawaii quarterback Glenn Freitas and also found vonAppen's wife, Thea, in the middle as well. Freitas went into the stands to protect his dad and was joined by some of his teammates.

"An incredible happenstance," vonAppen said. "I can't explain what happened. There is no explanation.

"It's senseless, mindless behavior which escapes my logic."

Hawaii officials were still trying to sort out what happened at Aloha Stadium. As for his wife, vonAppen said she's fine after receiving a cut lip.

"She's tough," he said.