2,000 yards still in Haro’s reach

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2002 | 11:22 a.m.

NEXT UP

What: Wyoming at UNLV

When: Saturday, 4 p.m.

Where: Sam Boyd Stadium

TV: KLAS, Channel 8

Radio: KBAD 920-AM

Line: UNLV by 8.

Somewhat lost in UNLV's 31-21 setback at San Diego State last Saturday was another 100-yard rushing performance by steady senior tailback Joe Haro.

Actually, Haro finished with 110 yards on 14 carries against the Aztecs and now has 549 yards and five touchdowns on just 105 carries (5.2 avg.) this season. He needs 279 yards in UNLV's final four games to become just the fourth back in Rebel history to rush for 2,000 yards in a career.

And if the 5-foot-10, 195-pound senior from Clifton, N.J., can come close to matching the numbers he put up against this week's Rebel opponent, Wyoming, in a 47-26 victory last year in Laramie, he shouldn't have any trouble reaching that plateau.

Haro had the best game of his UNLV career that afternoon against the Cowboys, rushing for 226 yards on 22 carries, including a 65-yard touchdown.

"I'd like to hit another one of those," Haro said with a smile. "I think I'm due for a big game."

But he also realizes that Wyoming (2-6, 1-2), coming off its first conference win in three seasons, a 34-26 victory over Air Force, will be extra motivated to shut him down this time around.

"They're hyped," Haro said. "Last year we put a pretty good hurtin' on them, so you know they're going to be hanging tough for this game. Getting their first (Mountain West Conference) win in a while, especially against a team like Air Force, is going to have them even more jacked and ready to go for us. We know it's not going to be an easy game."

Haro, one of the senior leaders on the Rebels, doesn't feel his team will suffer a letdown after last week's disappointing loss at San Diego State.

"I'm not going to let that happen," Haro said. "I talked to Tony (Terrell) today and we're going to let anything like that happen.

"This is it for us seniors. As long as we still have a shot (at a bowl game) ... which we still do ... nobody is going to pack it up. I can promise you that."

And as for moving up the UNLV career rushing chart -- he needs just 30 more yards to pass Raymond Strong (1,750 yards in 1978-79) into eighth place -- Haro said that is not his focus.

"The main thing is I really want the win," he said. "That's what is important now. Because we still control our own fate. The win, not the records, is the No. 1 thing now."

How will the crowd respond this time around?

"I don't think about it," Thomas said. "I just want to go out and play. I want to get out there and execute. And when I'm not out there, I'll cheer for Kurt (Nantkes) and put the headphones on."

Wyoming coach Vic Koenning said he can sympathize with Thomas.

"Tell him I know how he feels," Koenning said. "I've had stuff thrown on me and yelled at me every game. To have students cuss at you like a dog ... is not right."

Of course many of those same fairweather Cowboy fans where patting Koenning on the back after the Cowboys stunned Air Force last Saturday in Laramie.