Rebels’ Hawaii trip will be all business

Steve Guiremand

Monday, Nov. 27, 2000 | 10:51 a.m.

Thanks to Amar Brisco's game-winning 72-yard interception return in the final minute of Saturday's exciting 31-24 come-from-behind victory at San Diego State, the Rebels (6-5, 4-3) find themselves just one win away from their first bowl appearance since 1994.

But Saturday night's game at 3-8 Hawaii could be a whole lot tougher than it looks.

Why?

Consider this scenario: your average college male student staying across the street from sunny Waikiki Beach and its many young bikini-clad women.

Get the picture?

Talk about your distractions before the biggest game of the season. It may be the ideal location for a vacation, but not for concentrating on trying to defend Hawaii's Run-N-Shoot offense.

But in the euphoria of UNLV's winning locker room Saturday night at Qualcomm Stadium, Rebel players were at least saying the right things.

"It isn't going to be all fun and games," said junior defensive tackle Ahmad Miller, who broke through the middle of the San Diego State offensive line to pressure Aztec quarterback Lon Sheriff on Brisco's interception. "We know we have to win this last game to go to a bowl. We're going there to have a little fun, but come Saturday we're going to be ready to play the game."

"We better be focused because it ain't no vacation," wide receiver Nate Turner, who had career highs in receptions (11) and yardage (158 yards), said. "It ain't a vacation until Sunday and won't be a vacation if we lose. We have to think about business first, pleasure second."

"We've got to keep our concentration because we want to go bowling, man," sophomore quarterback Jason Thomas added. "We didn't do all this for nothing. We could have lost (to San Diego State) and went out there and had fun. But we want to win."

The early outlaw line released Sunday night has the Rebels as 7 1/2-point favorites.

"We certainly think it will be on (TV)," Cavagnaro said. "We've been trying for the last three weeks (to have it televised). My understanding is that it's going to be done. I don't know all the particulars, but it will be on."

Cavagnaro said he expected an official announcement to be made by today.

Willie Hurst, a part-time starting running back for Rose Bowl-bound Washington, joined Thomas in the locker room celebration.

"I was home (for Thanksgiving)," Hurst said. "When I heard that Jason was playing down here, I just had to come down."

"That's my good luck charm over there," Thomas said with a smile while pointing to Hurst.

Hurst briefly considered transferring to UNLV during the summer when Husky head coach Rick Neuheisel moved him to wide receiver in the spring. Neuheisel later admitted the switch was a mistake after Hurst help lead the Huskies to a share of the Pac-10 title when starting tailback Paul Arnold was slowed by injuries.

Even though the game ended at 7:15 p.m., the Rebels didn't land back at McCarran airport until 12:30 a.m. thanks to the lengthy detour to the north.