Dorsey earns praise from Hall of Famer

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2001 | 10:28 a.m.

NFL Hall of Fame running back and Las Vegas resident Hugh McElhenny has been a frequent visitor to UNLV coach John Robinson's weekly luncheons the last few years.

And Monday at the Richard Tam Alumni Center, Robinson had a unique introduction for the former San Francisco 49ers great.

"Hugh McElhenny will now be known as the second best running back in Las Vegas now that Dominique Dorsey is here," Robinson said with a smile.

McElhenny, who along with the rest of the 100 or so luncheon guests watched highlights from Dorsey's 18-carry, 180-yard performance in Saturday's 27-12 victory at Nevada-Reno, came away impressed.

"That's the first time I've really gotten a chance to watch him run," McElhenny said. "This guy is small, kind of a Walter Payton or Barry Sanders type. He's zip-zip like a butterfly. He's going to be a really good one."

Robinson, who grew up in the Bay Area during McElhenny's prime, has compared the 5-foot-6, 153-pound Dorsey's ability to find the hole and quickly accelerate to that of McElhenny, O.J. Simpson and Marcus Allen.

"You don't have to teach (Dorsey) anything," McElhenny said. "He's just a natural.

"(Jeremi) Rudolph last year had the same kind of ability but this kid is a lot quicker. I would say I was pretty much the same way. Gale Sayers, O.J., Marcus Allen ... We were different types of runners but we had those same instincts when it came to finding the hole. You can't teach it."

Don't be surprised if Dorsey earns a mention in this week's issue of Sports Illustrated.

* TURF TIME: One of the things that impressed Robinson during Saturday's game at Mackay Stadium was the new FieldTurf synthetic grass surface Nevada-Reno installed in the summer of 2000.

It's the same surface that Nebraska and Washington have. And Robinson, who takes over athletic director duties from Charles Cavagnaro on Jan. 1, would like to eventually install the turf on the Rebel Park practice field.

"We are going to push forward on it and hope to talk about it in the not-too-distant future," Robinson said.

UNLV's grass fields wear out during the season from the grind of daily practices. Some small holes have even been spotted in certain areas.

"We'd like to turf the practice field, which is a nice mid-sized field, which would allow every other sport to use it at any time of the year," Robinson said. "Soccer has a nice facility, but on a rainy day or a growing period they could use it. Same with baseball, softball and all the intramurals. There's a whole bunch of things we could begin to use it for."

According to Robinson, the price tag for the FieldTurf surface would be about $1 million. It is expected to last at least 10 years.

"We are in the process of talking to some of our boosters about it," he said. "I just think it's an economically wise thing. Plus, I think it gives you a recruiting edge. You would come in and look at facilities that are a step above most."

Robinson was asked if the surface would also wind up one day at Sam Boyd Stadium, which has had major problems keeping its grass in tip-top shape during the season.

"Don't know yet," Robinson said. "They have other requirements, other shows that they would have to figure out if it would work for. I think it's the best possible surface you can have if it would endure the other kinds of entertainment they have there."

Meanwhile, hard-hitting sophomore linebacker Ryan Claridge is now No. 1 nationally in forced fumbles with six, just one off the school single-season record set by Bruce Gray in 1970. The Rebels are also tied for No. 1 in the nation in fumble recoveries with nine.

"That's what he was officially measured at when he came in for fall practice," Wallington explained. "The height in the media guide is the information we had before he got here."

As for Dorsey's weight, a reporter witnessed the tiny tailback tip the scales at 153 pounds during the middle of fall two-a-days.