UNLV offers free tickets to students

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2000 | 10:20 a.m.

UNLV Athletic Director Charles Cavagnaro obviously is in the Christmas spirit.

How else do you explain the surprise announcement Cavagnaro made at Monday morning's Las Vegas Bowl celebration at Rebel Park?

Cavagnaro said the school has decided to purchase about 3,000 general admission tickets priced at $10 apiece for the Dec. 21 matchup against Arkansas and will give them out free to UNLV students who are interested in attending the school's first bowl game since 1994.

"We wanted to make sure our students were able to continue their great support for this Rebel football team, which has gone undefeated at home this fall for the first time since 1977," Cavagnaro said. "Offering full-time students a free ticket to the game is a big step in preserving our successful atmosphere."

Cavagnaro said that he has thought about doing the free ticket promotion for a number of years dating to his days as an athletic director at Memphis.

"Four times we could have gone to a bowl game if we won our last game there, but each time we lost," he said. "But this time we did it here.

"I've always wanted to do it to share what's going on the campus community. There's a lot of seats (36,800) out there, what's another 3,000? And we want to have the right environment for our team."

Especially because Arkansas officials are hinting they may need more than their required allotment of 12,500 to satisfy fans interested in making the trip. It would be embarrassing if UNLV, which saw a crowd of just 17,562 attend its last bowl game against Central Michigan, is outdrawn this time around by the Razorbacks.

Details about the student ticket pickup were still being worked out on Monday.

UNLV's allotment of Las Vegas Bowl tickets went on sale at a special ticket center set up at the Frank and Vicki Fertitta Tennis Complex on Harmon Road, just off Swenson. The office, which will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday and from 10 to 6 on Monday, was set up to avoid delays by the National Finals Rodeo being held this week at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Ticket prices range from $10 to $125, plus a $6 parking fee by Sam Boyd Stadium. They can also be obtained by calling 895-UNLV during regular business hours.

The 6-3, 200-pounder from Indian Springs High School suffered a number of nasty abrasions after he got sideswiped by a Jeep while riding a motorscooter down Kalakaua Ave. along Waikiki Beach.

"It was a one-way street," Olsen said. "I was in the far left lane. The Jeep next to me ... I don't know if he didn't see me or what ... changed lanes, pulled into me and hit me and sent my skidding along the sidewalk."

Fortunately, Olsen didn't suffer any broken bones or serious injuries as a result of the accident although both arms, his left leg and foot, his chest and his hands were heavily bandaged as he attended Monday morning's invitation ceremony at Rebel Park.

"He lost a little skin," UNLV trainer Kyle Wilson said. "It'll grow back. He'd probably be able to play this weekend if we had a game."

The driver of the Jeep sped away from the scene and was not apprehended.

"It's as rewarding a season as I've had in my life," he said.

Even as rewarding as winning the 1978 national title at USC?

"That was great, too," Robinson said. "I don't know if you're ever able to measure those kinds of things. You just don't. But this has been a special year."