Hanson finds spot with Rebels — at long snapper

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, Aug. 18, 1999 | 10:40 a.m.

Ryan Hanson was the Orange County Register's Offensive Player of the Year last season after putting up some eye-popping numbers -- 3,082 yards passing, 31 touchdowns and just three interceptions -- at perennial Southern California powerhouse Los Alamitos High.

But if the 6-3, 225-pound freshman cracks UNLV's lineup this fall, it will probably be at the unlikeliest of positions ... long snapper.

Hanson is No. 2 on the depth chart behind senior running back Tim Dombrowski for long snapping duties. But because he could come through in a pinch at two key positions, quarterback and long snapping, he might see himself making some trips this year.

"(UNLV's coaches) said there's a chance I could contribute there this season," Hanson said after practice Tuesday night at the Rebel Park practice field. "But right now there's a senior in front of me who has the job. I think he may be snapping a little better than I am right now. And in high school, I didn't have to block, so I'm not used to that yet."

How did Hanson become so proficient at a position usually reserved for a tight end or burly offensive lineman?

"It was my dad's idea," he said. "He knew that it's kind of a lost art. A friend of ours played at Oregon State and did it and kind of taught me how to do it."

Despite his strong arm and good mobility, Hanson actually played center for his junior high football team.

"I was the only guy who could snap it back seven yards without looking at the quarterback," he said.

Then his sophomore year at Los Alamitos he made the varsity as a backup quarterback and starting long snapper.

Hanson continued doing double duty last year when he was named the Sunset League MVP and led the Griffins to a 12-1 record, losing only to eventual CIF Southern Section Division I champion Mater Dei High School of Santa Ana in the semifinals.

Hanson was asked if he knew of any other quarterback who had also long snapped.

"At Los Al they had another quarterback who did it," he said. "His name was J.T. Snow."

Snow, now a first baseman with the San Francisco Giants, also was pretty talented at hitting and fielding a baseball for the Griffins.

* RADIO DEAL ANNOUNCED: Better late than never.

A little over two weeks before their Sept. 2 season opener at North Texas, UNLV's football team finally has a radio station to broadcast its games.

KBAD 920-AM will carry UNLV football, men's basketball and women's basketball beginning this fall and continuing through the 2001-2002 season.

The station will also host the one-hour "John Robinson Radio Show" each Monday night following Monday Night Football. The show will originate from the entrance of the Sunset Brewing Company at the Sunset Station hotel-casino and will be co-hosted by Rebel play-by-play man Tony Cordasco. The first show will be on Aug. 30.