Robinson looking for ‘killer instinct’ from his Rebels

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Sept. 15, 2000 | 10:28 a.m.

Forget the 12-game home losing streak.

Forget the football axiom that a team improves the most between its first game and second game.

Forget that highly touted USC transfer Jason Thomas will be making his long-awaited home debut.

UNLV football coach John Robinson says there is something else much more pressing for the Rebels (0-1) when they host North Texas (0-2) in their 2000 home opener on Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium.

"I want us to go out and play with a vigor, an aggression that's fun to watch," Robinson said. "We need to play hard without any hesitation and not worry about making mistakes.

"There are times when a team needs to come together and make its move," Robinson continued. "It's time for us now. It's time for us to step up and be reckoned with."

With a Mountain West Conference opener at BYU just a week away, Robinson knows it's crucial that his young team get a win under its belt. And although the Rebels scored a 26-3 victory over the Mean Green in Robinson's Rebel coaching debut last year in Denton, Saturday's game could be tougher than the records might suggest.

North Texas, which will be starting a true freshman, Scott Hall, at quarterback for the first time, has more than held its own in two losses to Big 12 foes Baylor (20-7) and Texas Tech (13-7). In fact, the Mean Green almost pulled out a win at Lubbock over the weekend, but wide receiver LaDarrin McLane fumbled near the Tech goal line in the final two minutes while going in for what would have been the go-ahead touchdown.

"I'm a littler nervous with how close they keep their games," Robinson admitted. "We've got to be able to move the football on them early and score some points."

North Texas held Tech's high-powered offense to just 13 points and 318 total yards. And although highly touted Red Raider quarterback Kliff Kingsbury completed 42 of 55 passes, he garnered just 238 passing yards and was intercepted three times.

Offensively, North Texas is led by senior tailback Ja'Quay Wilburn from famed Texas prep powerhouse Odessa Permian. Wilburn, who has 10 career 100-yard rushing games, is the school's career rushing leader with 2,412 yards.

The Mean Green also uses the Wishbone extensively, something the Rebels had trouble with at Iowa State in their opener.

"I expect they'll probably run it about 40 times on Saturday," Robinson said. "But we run the option ourselves some, so we see it in practice every day."

Robinson said he will be looking for a big improvement in the Rebels' special teams, which were downright awful in a 37-22 loss at Iowa State last week. UNLV had a punt, field goal and PAT blocked.

"And I'll also be looking for how we handle jitters," Robinson said. "It won't be unknown territory now. You go out and you play."