Thomas garners national spotlight

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2000 | 10:35 a.m.

Jason Thomas already has seen his share of blitzes during his five games as UNLV's starting quarterback. And because he has been able to handle the heat on the field, he's getting hit with a much more welcome blitz this week.

A media blitz.

The nation's No. 2-rated quarterback in passing efficiency did interviews with four newspapers before and after Tuesday night's chilly practice at Rebel Park, including the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News.

Today he is scheduled to do a national online chat on ESPN.com. And then on Thursday comes the really big one: an interview with Sports Illustrated.

All this before arguably UNLV's biggest game of the year, a Saturday night game at Colorado State that will be televised nationally on ESPN2.

But Thomas says he doesn't feel any extra pressure brought on by the increased media attention.

"Hey, I'm kind of used to it, though," said Thomas, who grew up under the scrutiny of the media in Southern California. "I've had it here on a smaller scale. I just treat it like anything else and be myself. I'm not going to change because it's Sports Illustrated or anything. If they want to interview me, good, because it brings more exposure for the program."

Thomas has been really big news in Colorado this week, especially after Rams head coach Sonny Lubick said he's "the best quarterback to ever come into Hughes Stadium."

That's covering a lot of big-time players, including BYU quarterbacks Ty Detmer, Steve Young and Jim McMahon (who completed 44 of 68 passes for 539 yards and seven touchdowns in a game at Hughes Stadium in 1981) and Fresno State's Trent Dilfer.

Lubick wasn't backing down from that statement on Tuesday.

"At least in the years I've coached there we haven't played against anybody like him," Lubick said. "I was just so impressed with what I saw of him on film. If you had his receivers covered, he ran. If not, he threw it right on the money.

"You're kind of damned if you do and damned if you don't when you try and defend him. I like the way he throws the ball. He runs like a tailback. I just think he's a very, very talented quarterback. He can make good plays out of bad ones. He can do it all."

Thomas just smiled when asked about Lubick's comments before practice on Tuesday night.

"I don't know about all that," he said. "I know there have been a lot of guys who have been through there that have done a lot more things than I have done. I'm just getting started. I'm just a young puppy.

"I appreciate the comments," Thomas continued, "but I don't believe it. Maybe he's saying that just to fire his team up. All I know is that if I'm the best quarterback in the country, then it's not looking too good for quarterbacks. I'm still young and I know I'm going to make a lot more mistakes than I've made. I appreciate the compliment, but maybe not right now."

Davis, who has played in just two games this year and will petition for a medical hardship year, was a second team all-Mountain West Conference pick in 1999 when he caught 51 passes for 665 yards and three touchdowns. He also is an outstanding punt returner.

UNLV trainer Kyle Wilson said he hopes to get the results this afternoon or Thursday morning.

It is believed Sunia tore his right ACL in Saturday night's 38-7 win over Nevada-Reno and is out for the season.