Las Vegas Bowl notebook: Rudolph catches up with old friend

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2000 | 10:03 a.m.

As the old Walt Disney song goes, it's a small world after all.

Just ask UNLV starting tailback Jeremi Rudolph and Arkansas starting quarterback Robby Hampton.

Five years ago the pair were teammates on the Dunedin Blue Jays of the single-A Florida State League. In fact, they even played in the same outfield.

Now both will play key roles for their teams offensively in Thursday night's Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Remarkably, it wasn't until a chance meeting during a team function at Gameworks on Monday that the two realized they'd be reunited on the football field this week.

"I was just standing there and Robby looked at me and said, 'Jeremi?' " Rudolph said. "I really didn't even know until then that he was on their team."

Not only on the team but starting at quarterback, too, despite playing four years of minor league baseball for Toronto.

Meanwhile, Rudolph, a seventh-round draft pick of the Blue Jays out of Apopka (Fla.) High School in the June 1995 amateur draft, played just two years of minor league baseball before deciding to give football another try.

"I played center field and Robby played in right and left," Rudolph said. "He was a good baseball player. I remember he had a very hard work ethic. It wasn't like we were best friends or anything, but we'd talk to each other out there in the outfield and stuff.

"It was really surprising to see him. It just shows you how small a world it is."

UNLV out-hogged the Hogs in Monday afternoon's pie-eating contest at Gameworks and then proved it wasn't a fluke by winning Tuesday night's Buffet Bowl at the Fremont Street Experience.

Rebel offensive guard Tony Terrell received a trophy as the biggest eater in the Buffet Bowl.

Boy, bet mom is really proud.

"He could aggravate or tear something else in there, so the decision was made not to play," Wilson said.

Quarterback Jason Thomas (sore foot), cornerback Kevin Thomas (sprained ankle) and center Pete Tramontanas (knee) all took part in Tuesday afternoon's final full practice and will start.

The Rebels and Razorbacks both were scheduled for brief walk-throughs at Sam Boyd Stadium this afternoon.

UNLV's special ticket annex at the Fertitta Tennis Complex on campus (Harmon near Swenson) will be open from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday. UNLV will also set up a special ticket center near the Sam Boyd Stadium box office in the south end zone area that will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on game day.

Both $50 sideline and $30 end zone seats are still available.