New Rebels coach Robinson hits the gridiron running

Tim Graham

Tuesday, Feb. 10, 1998 | 10:44 a.m.

Tommie Robinson has no time to waste.

UNLV's new running backs coach touched down in Las Vegas Sunday night, immediately met with his fellow assistants and now has to prepare for his first formal practice when spring practice begins Wednesday.

"He's hitting the ground running," head coach Jeff Horton said. "We'll give him the crash course.

"I told him 'You can call the players by their numbers for the first few days until you learn their names.'"

Robinson, 34, comes to UNLV after spending his last four years as the wide receivers coach at Texas Christian. He also has worked at Utah State, Arkansas and his alma mater, Troy State.

"It's a great situation right now," said Robinson, who interviewed at one other school but chose not to reveal which one. "I think Coach Horton has assembled a great group of coaches here. I think they did some good things last year and have some momentum going into this year."

Robinson has yet to study the horses in his stable. The Rebels return their top two running backs from 1997: junior Coury Hankins and sophomore James Wofford. Hankins rushed for 641 yards and two touchdowns while Wofford ran for 624 yards and four scores in UNLV's pass-oriented, one-back offense.

"They have a great system here," said Robinson, who will recruit in the fertile Texas and Louisiana areas. "I'm just coming to hopefully help UNLV continue its momentum from last year. I just want to help their process.

"Naturally, when you're coaching a position, you want to make them the best they can be, and we will within the system. If the system calls for a 1,000-yard rusher, that's what we'll do."

Robinson is the second and final assistant Horton has had hired for his 1998 staff. Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Buzz Preston was brought in to replace Charlie Stubbs, who left to become quarterbacks coach at Alabama.

Horton also announced Monday that defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill also will be the assistant head coach, a role Stubbs fulfilled last year, and that offensive line coach Robert Anae also will act as the team's running game coordinator.