Out with a bang?

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Nov. 15, 2002 | 9:58 a.m.

NEXT UP

What: Air Force at UNLV

When: Saturday, noon

Where: Sam Boyd Stadium

TV: KFBT, Ch. 6

Radio: KBAD 920-AM

Line: AFA by 6 1/2. Total is 53.

Tickets: Tickets are $26 and $13. Call 739-FANS or order them online at unlvtickets.com.

Note: Saturday is Senior Day. The 24 Rebel seniors will be introduced in a ceremony before the game.

Shortly before noon on Saturday, Jason Thomas will take the field at Sam Boyd Stadium for the final time during his UNLV football career.

Arguably the most decorated football recruit in Rebel history, Thomas admits it will be "kind of bittersweet.

"There will be a lot of emotions, man, a lot of different emotions because there are a lot of different vibes in that stadium."

Vibes as in memories, both good and bad, that have occurred during his three-year career with the Rebels.

The good?

"I'd say that win against Arkansas (in the 2000 Las Vegas Bowl) and even the Wyoming game this year," Thomas said.

The bad?

"The New Mexico loss this year and the Utah loss last year when the crowd was pretty rough on me," he said.

Although he didn't win a Heisman Trophy or lead UNLV to a conference championship as many had hoped when he transferred to UNLV from Southern Cal, Thomas did establish a pretty nice legacy both on and off the field.

Consider:

But it was his decision to attend UNLV over national powers such as Nebraska, Miami, Syracuse and Kansas State that may have been his biggest contribution to the program. That opened the recruiting door a whole lot wider in Southern California for the Rebels.

"I don't think there's any question that it put us on the map," UNLV coach John Robinson said. "People began to take us seriously right from the get-go."

"No doubt he opened some eyes," said running back Larry Croom, a transfer from Arizona who played at perennial prep powerhouse Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High School.

"When he came here to play for Coach Robinson, a lot of people in the Long Beach and Compton area took notice. I know I watched a game he played against Iowa State and he played well. I started watching his progress and followed the program a lot more than I would have before he got there."

Still, after raising Rebel football expectations to a fever pitch after his Las Vegas Bowl MVP performance, Thomas has endured his share of boos as UNLV got off to disappointing starts in each of the last two years. And after a stunning 26-15 loss to New Mexico earlier this season, he was the object of what Robinson called "the most vicious booing" of any player he had ever witnessed in college or pro football.

When asked what he thought his UNLV legacy would be, Thomas paused.

"I haven't really thought about that," he said.

"I would hope it would be that I was someone who came in here to help better the program. I don't think the program has taken too much of a dip since I've been here. We kind of stalled a little bit, but we didn't go backwards, I don't think. Hopefully my legacy will be of someone who came in and improved the program."

Any regrets about bypassing the major powers to play at a school that had lost 16 consecutive games just one year before he arrived?

"Oh, no, there are no second thoughts," Thomas said. "I've got my daughter (Jalynn) and a lot of things that I wouldn't have if I hadn't come here. I'm happy with my decision to come here. I wish we could have won more games ... but I can walk out of here with my head held high knowing I gave my all no matter what the score was and that I have the respect of my teammates because I always played my heart out."

He also has the respect of his coach.

"I don't think that I've ever coached a guy who wanted it more or tried harder for it," Robinson said. "He had some downs and the team had some downs, but I just loved coaching him. He's been a heckuva competitor for us."

Jason Thomas will be one of 24 players honored in Senior Day ceremonies prior to the start of Saturday's game. Among the pregame festivities that are scheduled include a stadium fly-over by the Nellis Air Force Base Thunderbirds and members of the Air Force Academy Parachute Team jumping into Sam Boyd Stadium. ... UNLV will learn on Monday the game time for its season finale at Colorado State. Depending on whether it is televised or not, there is a possibility the game could start as early as 10 a.m. ... Because of next week's bye, there will be no John Robinson luncheon on Monday at Big Dog's Cafe. The final luncheon will take place Nov. 25 at noon.