Ware to undergo knee surgery, miss 2 weeks

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Oct. 5, 1999 | 10:24 a.m.

As if UNLV didn't have enough problems trying to score points ...

Senior wide receiver Len Ware, the Mountain West Conference leader in kickoff returns (35.1) and the team co-leader in receptions with 18, will undergo arthroscopic surgery on Wednesday to repair possible torn cartilage.

Ware, who suffered the injury in the second half of UNLV's 52-14 loss to Utah on Sept. 25, is expected to be sidelined at least two more weeks. Because UNLV has a bye next week, there's an outside chance he could return in time to play in the Rebels' Oct. 23 Homecoming game against BYU.

"He's got something in his knee," UNLV coach John Robinson said. "They've looked at it. We thought he was going to heal, and he did to a point. But there's something in there."

Ware actually was cleared to play by UNLV's training staff last Thursday but decided to get a second opinion on Monday after the pain persisted during warmups prior to Saturday's loss at Nevada-Reno.

"I know when he runs he says, 'Oh, I feel something,' " Robinson said. "Probably a piece of cartilage is loose or torn partially. They're going to go in Wednesday and take whatever that piece is out.

"He'll be out two weeks probably. He might be back for the BYU game, but probably the week after that (Oct. 30 at New Mexico)."

The injury probably eliminated any chance of Ware breaking roommate Damon Williams' school career reception record of 187. Ware trails Williams by 39 catches and would have to average 10 catches in his final four games if he doesn't return until Oct. 30 as expected.

"He's a kid who is going to have a chance to play in the NFL, maybe as a low-round draft pick," Robinson said. "He's got the maturity and he's got the size to make a club. He could make it as a special teams player, maybe as a fifth wide receiver, and then work his way up through the ranks of the NFL."

Sophomore Duane James, who has five receptions, will take Ware's spot in the lineup for Saturday's Mountain West game at Wyoming.

* CHEETANY SHINES: Could UNLV have the nation's top punter for the second straight year?

Junior Ray Cheetany, picking up where 1998 consensus All-American Joe Kristosik left off, is ranked No. 2 in the nation this week with a 47.5 average.

Not bad for someone who began the year as a backup to true freshman Ryan McDonald and was expected to handle just the team's kickoff duties. But Cheetany averaged 48.8 yards per punt against Utah and 48.0 yards per kick at Nevada-Reno last weekend.

"Ray doesn't have any form whatsoever, but he doesn't care," Robinson said. "It's just, 'Give me the ball and let me kick it.' ... But he's been impressive."

* BREAKOUT TIME FOR JEREMI: Robinson said he considered Saturday's game by junior tailback Jeremi Rudolph "a breakout game" for the 5-9, 175-pounder.

Rudolph gained 120 yards on 20 carries and also caught a team-high six passes for 56 more yards, including a spectacular 40-yard touchdown grab during which he weaved his way through the Wolf Pack defense.

"We learned a little something about him," Robinson said. "We need to find more ways to get him the ball. He's very impressive in that if you give him a little bit of space, he's able to do something with it."

* BORN TO RUN: Robinson and UNLV announcer Tony Cordasco landed a major coup on their weekly John Robinson Coaches' Show Monday night at Sunset Station hotel-casino when guitarist Nils Lofgren of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band stopped by for an informative and well-paced 15-minute interview.

Robinson and close friend John Madden had previously dined with noted sports junkie Lofgren in Phoenix. When Lofgren found out Robinson was in the hotel doing a radio show, he stopped by on his own to do the on-air chat.

Only one mild criticism: Robinson and Cordasco didn't pin Lofgren down on any possible Las Vegas dates for the current Springsteen tour.

Hey, we gots to know!

* QB SWITCH: Sophomore Matt Swanson will replace junior Jay Stoner at starting quarterback for Wyoming on Saturday against the Rebels.

Stoner has started the first four games for the Cowboys (3-1), but Swanson has played every game in a rotation that coach Dana Dimel instituted.

So far this season, Wyoming's offense has produced better under Swanson than Stoner. Swanson is 33-of-50 with six TD passes.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.