Robinson ready to start ‘99 campaign, hire assistant coach

Steve Guiremand

Monday, July 26, 1999 | 10:17 a.m.

COLORADO SPRINGS --- How did new UNLV football coach John Robinson spend his 64th birthday on Sunday?

How about getting serenaded with "Happy Birthday" by 400 people at the Mountain West Conference's Inaugural Football Kickoff Dinner at the Marriott Hotel here.

Robinson, along with UNLV players Len Ware and James Sunia, took part in the program and will stick around for today's inaugural Mountain West Conference football media day.

Yes, gang, it is football season again.

Robinson, who vacationed for two weeks with wife, Linda, in Hawaii, beat his assistant coaches back from a month-long vacation on Friday. The staff is due to report back to the Lied Athletic Complex today.

Freshman and junior college recruits report for orientation on Saturday, Aug. 7, and will practice on Aug. 9 and 10. Veterans report on Aug. 11 and begin practice on Aug. 12 in preparation for the team's Sept. 2 opener at North Texas.

"This kind of kicks off a whole bunch of activities that start you on a whirlwind schedule through the season," said Robinson, who replaced Jeff Horton as Rebels' head coach last December. "I've been through a lot of these things through the years. They help to build the excitement and anxiety of getting the season under way."

Robinson said he did more than just lounge by the beach or the pool during his Hawaiian trip.

"I worked on some detail things for the season and practice," he said. "Sometimes its easier to get things accomplished when you're away from the office and have some time to just think."

But now things really begin to heat up for Robinson and company.

He flies back to Las Vegas tonight where he will meet with former USC and New England Patriots star Mosi Tatupu, who will be in town the next two days inteviewing for an assistant coaching position.

Rebels' special teams and tight ends coach Jeff Kearin was named the new head coach at Cal State Northridge on Friday. Tatupu, who played fullback for Robinson at USC in the mid-70's, will interview for that position.

"He still has some kids in school back in New England, so we'll have to see whether he thinks it's worth making the move," Robinson said.

* THOMAS TO SIT OUT: Robinson said that Jason Thomas, the highly-touted quarterback transfer from USC, will not play this season and will redshirt.

The 6-5, 220-pound Thomas had talked about petitioning the NCAA for a special residency release from the Trojans which would have made him eligible to play this fall.

"Jason will sit out and have three years to play three," Robinson said. "It probably is the best thing for him. Now he can spend the year working on his mechanics and learning the offense."

Junior college transfer Jason Vaughan is penciled in as the Rebels' starting quarterback heading into fall camp.

Another former Trojan, safety Darnell Lacy, is expected to transfer to UNLV this fall once he clears up some academic matters at USC.

* TURNER INELIGIBLE: All members of Robinson's first UNLV recruiting class met NCAA eligibility requirements except for Cheyenne High School star Lawrence Turner.

Turner, the Sun's Offensive Player of the Year, failed to meet NCAA test score requirements. He is expected to attend a junior college part-time this fall while continuing to take the SAT and ACT, and could enroll at mid-year if he passes his exam.

The 6-0, 170-pound Turner led the Desert Shields to an 11-1 record as a senior, including the team's second straight Sunset Division title.