Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Another view of UNLV

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 1998 | 11:29 a.m.

STEPPING ON TO the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, was a most pleasant experience. I had traveled north with with Mark and Debbie Howard for the BYU-UNLV football game. Mark is president/CEO of Mountain View Hospital and leads the local Cougar Club. BYU President Merrill J. Bateman had graciously extended me an invitation to visit his campus. There couldn't be a better time to accept the invitation than in the fall, on the day of a football game.

From the moment we arrived on campus our hosts displayed the hospitality that has made Utah and the Rocky Mountain States a special part of our country. The only thing that even came close to being equal to the warm hospitality was the delicious taste of vanilla ice cream made right there on campus. The UNLV football team ended the afternoon by losing its sixth game, but certainly didn't leave the field in disgrace. In other words, they didn't quit or dog it when behind by a couple of touchdowns. Except for a last-minute field goal, the Rebels would have gone to the dressing room at halftime tied instead of trailing 17-14.

During the pregame briefing, UNLV broadcaster and former football star Hunkie Cooper, a Utah sportswriter and a former Cougar football star addressed the group gathered as Bateman's guests. Cooper was great and gave a pep talk about the Rebels and UNLV that every Nevadan should hear. He knew his team was the underdog but this made no difference to him as he extolled the virtues of UNLV and how the school had helped him along the road of life.

It's always good to hear others talk about subjects of interest. Even more important is the opportunity to hear how others view us and our institutions. Rondo Fehlberg, athletic director for BYU, held nothing back when discussing the new and strong relationship between his school and UNLV. Remember, it was BYU that earlier had a strong voice in keeping the Rebels out of the Western Athletic Conference for several years. The Cougars had good reason to believe our school didn't have a desire to meet the high standards of academics and athletics desired by the conference. That has all changed now, and the BYU administration is looking forward to Las Vegas becoming the host for an even bigger postseason bowl for the newly formed conference to replace the WAC.

Fehlberg, a former All-America NCAA wrestler, is an excellent speaker who doesn't mince words. I was especially interested in hearing his views about present and future Rebel roles in the new conference. He left little doubt that UNLV athletic director Charles Cavagnaro has played and is playing a key role in the formation of the new conference. Cavagnaro does have the respect of his fellow athletic directors and can make a difference in where and how far the Rebels can travel. It's always nice to hear other people say good things about your state and local university.

The last time I was on the Provo campus was during the winter, more than 20 years ago, for a basketball game. Although UNLV won that game rather easily it was still a long flight home. Last Saturday, the warm fall sunshine illuminating the mountains and canyons was a perfect setting for university football. The bands from both schools and the 61,000 fans added to the drama of the afternoon.

Although neither team entered or left the game with a 1998 record worth bragging about, there is good reason for the fans to expect a more exciting game when the Cougars travel to Las Vegas next September. They have been playing football at the "Y" for more than 100 years and they have a coach who has been there for more than a quarter of a century. During that period of time, congenial La Vell Edwards has accumulated a record of 235 wins, 86 losses and three ties.

During the game, and when leaving the stadium, I had the feeling that the BYU faculty, students and fans would have been just as gracious if they had been at the short end of the score. Saturday they were winners on the field and off the field. Spending a few hours with the Howards and their daughter and son-in-law driving into the nearby towns reminded me of my college days in Moscow, Idaho.

When the three of us boarded the plane for our return flight home, I had no doubt that it had been a most enjoyable day. Furthermore, it was a day which made me hope that Americans 100 years from now will continue to gather on fall afternoons to watch a football game in stadiums across our country.

You don't have to wait a century to enjoy America's sport. Wyoming will be ready to play UNLV at 4 p.m. Saturday out at Sam Boyd Stadium and the price is right.