Robinson, Arkansas AD have old rivalry

Steve Guiremand

Monday, Dec. 11, 2000 | 10:03 a.m.

UNLV head coach John Robinson and Arkansas athletic director Frank Boyles didn't need any introductions when the two got together last week for the official Las Vegas Bowl team introductions press conference.

The two go back almost three decades when Robinson was making his first head coaching stint at USC and Broyles was the main college color man on ABC with Keith Jackson.

Broyles and Jackson spent many an afternoon at the Los Angeles Coliseum doing play-by-play of the last of the USC football glory years, including 1978 when the Trojans earned a share of the national championship. Broyles worked for ABC from 1977 to 1985.

"I remember it was student body left and it student body right," Broyles said. "(Robinson) perfected that play more than any coach that ever played the game. It was his bread and butter. We'd just kind of giggle and say, 'Here it comes again!'

"Everybody in the stands knew it was coming. Everybody on both teams knew it was coming and they still couldn't stop it."

Broyles said he isn't surprised to see Robinson still coaching college football in his mid-60's at a place like UNLV.

"John has said his mission in life is football and coaching," Broyles, who coached Arkansas to a share of the national title in 1964, said. "He still has the energy. Obviously, he's been to the summit. He's one of the great coaches of our era. So, no, I'm not surprised. And I think he's done a great job."

Robinson is just as big a fan of Broyles, who left the coaching profession after the 1976 season at the age of 51 to go into athletic administration and also do TV commentary.

"Like all of us who have been in this profession for a lot of years ... when you start you have people that you hold up as the ultimate," Robinson said. "When I started in coaching, Frank was one of those people.

"(Broyles) had a historical impact on football with what he called the "monster" defense. We on the West Coast called it the slant defense. It revolutionized how the game was played. And he set a standard that everybody like me tried to be like."

Results of an MRI on the knee of senior starting linebacker Tyler Brickell came back negative and he is expected to return to practice on Friday.

"It was just a bad bruise on that turf," Wilson said. "There was no cartilage or ligament damage."

The news was not quite so good for special teams star Nate Rydalch, who excels at the "gunner" position on punt coverage.

Rydalch suffered a partial tear of his ACL. However, there is the possibility he could play with the aid of a knee brace.

"He wants to try and play," Wilson said. "We'll have to see if there is enough time for him to do that. It's a long shot."

The Rebels practiced on Friday, Saturday and Sunday before taking this week off to concentrate on final exams. There were no serious injuries during those workouts.

A no-host reception will be held at 7 p.m. followed by dinner and awards presentations at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $65 for the general public and $54 for UNLV faculty and staff. Tables of 10 and table sponsorships are also available. Tickets can be reserved by calling Joli Hatch at 895-2458.