Columnist Ron Kantowski: UNLV finally decides on ‘quality’ kickoff time

Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2000 | 10:09 a.m.

Ron Kantowski's notes column appears Tuesday. His Page One column appears Thursday. Reach him at ron@lasvegassun.com or 259-4088.

Given some of the wacky times at which UNLV has played home football games over the years, one might think Rebels officials used an old Dr. Pepper bottle rather than rhyme or reason for inspiration.

You know, 10, 2 or 4.

But in the case of 4 p.m. -- which was the time Saturday's game against Air Force got under way -- it works.

At first, the starting time appeared more bizarre than Oregon's home football uniforms. But when you consider the unusual kickoff time gave Rebels fans plenty of time to do yard work in the morning while leaving their evenings free, the 4 p.m. start seemed to work out well.

Likewise, the weather complied. It was hot at kickoff, but not blazing hot. Just warm enough to keep the fans on the sunny side of the field queuing up in the beer lines. Then when the sun was blocked out by the Airway Tower press box during the second half, it was absolutely delightful for all in attendance.

But don't give UNLV too much credit for figuring all of this out on its own. The 4 p.m. game time was mandated by ABC's regional television coverage.

Around the horn

Prediction: If UNLV is bowl eligible (seven-plus wins) in December, it will play in the Las Vegas Bowl. But it would be nice to see the LV Bowl make it on its own, rather than count on the Rebels' presence to survive one more year.

While most agree that the 34-13 whupping the Rebels put on Air Force was the second-biggest win in school history (after 1981's 45-41 upset of nationally ranked BYU), UNLV fans should defer to the Louisiana State faithful when it comes to how to celebrate a major conquest.

At the conclusion of Saturday's game, a couple of hundred UNLV fans "swarmed" the field. There weren't even enough to tear down the goalposts, had Metro and stadium security not had both of them surrounded.

At the conclusion of Saturday's LSU-Tennessee game, what must have been 20,000 fans streamed onto the field when a fourth-down Volunteers pass fell incomplete, preserving the Bayou Bengals' overtime victory.

It was an incredible scene. It looked like a bunch of sailors congregating at a Pam Anderson centerfold signing -- or the same sensation UNLV quarterback Jason Thomas must have experienced when all those BYU blitzers were coming after him two weeks ago.

Last year, former UNLV offensive coordinator and BYU aide Charlie Stubbs was the toast of the town for his play-calling as Alabama quarterbacks coach. His name even was being bandied about in conjunction with various Division I head jobs, including the one at BYU, were LaVell Edwards to quit. But last week Stubbs was more or less demoted by Crimson Tide coach Mike DuBose, who sent another assistant to the press box to help Stubbs in diagramming plays.

Maybe two headsets are better than one. Struggling Alabama beat previously undefeated South Carolina 27-17.

Local hockey fans apparently are so starved for something to do that 11,880 of them turned out for Saturday's meaningless NHL exhibition game between the Colorado Avalanche and LA Kings at the MGM Grand. Perhaps the Las Vegas Thunder of the IHL was put into mothballs a bit prematurely.

Let's see, at first there was talk of playing the Super Bowl on that valuable parcel of land downtown adjacent to the Spaghetti Bowl. And now it's going to be a place where you shop for a table and chairs?

In terms of a letdown, that's kind of like playing Ball State between Nebraska and Texas.

Maybe the mayor's office should get Kansas State coach Bill Snyder to cut the ribbon at our new La-Z-Boy outlet -- er, downtown furniture showroom.

Go figure. The women who appear in newspaper advertisements for local gentleman clubs are cropped into a mug shot. Yet a Monday Night Football ad currently running for the Plaza hotel-casino features three bikini-clad models with overinflated breasts while another for Station Casinos features a striking model in a skin tight T-shirt and shorts that might have fit her in the fifth grade.

Thanks to the solitary caller who set me straight that there are two female Supreme Court justices. Ruth Bader Ginsburg succeeded Sandra Day O'Connor in receiving her black robe and gavel, having been nominated by Bill Clinton in 1993.

If it's any consolation, I also used to forget that Larry Doby was the second black ballplayer to play in the major leagues.

No word on whether One Mow Reason to Cancel My Cable would compete.