Thomas shows improvement in workouts

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2000 | 10:09 a.m.

After taking a long three-day weekend to celebrate the only bye on their schedule following a grueling 10-game stretch, the UNLV Rebels returned to the practice field on Monday afternoon.

And the good news is that the extra time off seemed to do wonders for the sore right foot of starting quarterback Jason Thomas.

"It felt pretty good," Thomas said. "We did some drops and stuff and it felt much better. I'd say it's probably about 90 percent right now."

Most of the players were out on the field for less than an hour. The heavy duty practices in preparation for Saturday's key game at San Diego State (3-7, 3-3) begin tonight at Rebel Park.

UNLV head coach John Robinson said he liked what he saw of Thomas during the brief workout on Monday.

"He doesn't show any effects of the sore foot," Robinson said. "I kind of feel pretty good about him."

UNLV (5-5, 3-3) must win its final two games -- Saturday at San Diego State and Dec. 2 at Hawaii -- to garner a Las Vegas Bowl berth.

A healthy Thomas -- or even a Thomas at 90 percent -- dramatically increases the odds of that happening.

"We have to play better offensively," Robinson said. "We need to get our 'stick' back. And we've got to get Jason Thomas back on the practice field."

So far, so good.

"I sat with Sultan's mom and next to Kareem Kelly's parents," Thomas said. "I went to a party with those guys after the game. It was cool to see everybody back there again."

Somewhat surprising, though, is that Thomas, who transferred to UNLV from USC after a falling out with Trojan coach Paul Hackett, also spent part of Friday afternoon at Heritage Hall.

Among his stops was the office of Paul Hackett.

"He was great to me," Thomas said. "He invited me into his office and we talked for a while. He told me he was happy that I was doing so well (at UNLV)."

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