Rebels look to pick up pieces

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Sept. 20, 2002 | 10:28 a.m.

NEXT UP

WHAT: UNLV at Toledo

When: Glass Bowl, Toledo, Ohio

TV: KFBT, Cox ch. 6

Radio: KBAD 920-AM

Line: Toledo by 7 1/2; Total is 53 points

TOLEDO, Ohio -- UNLV coach John Robinson has said he believes his 2002 Rebel football squad has strong senior leadership. That theory will no doubt be put to the test Saturday night against the University of Toledo at the Glass Bowl.

The Rebels (1-2) can ill afford to be caught feeling sorry for themselves after getting embarrassed by Oregon State 47-17 last week on national TV if they hope to bounce back with a victory against the defending MAC champs.

One of those senior leaders, tailback Joe Haro, believes the Rebels will be able to move on.

"We've done a good job of picking each other up," Haro said. "I'm not going to kid you. That loss (to Oregon State) was a hard one to get over with for a day or two. But things like that happen in this game. You just have to move on."

Haro said the Rebels have had a good week of practice in preparing for the Rockets (2-1).

"A real good week," he said. "We've done a good job of picking up the speed and tempo of our practice. I've had a good feeling about us all year as a unit and being a close team. I think that we'll definitely come together. This is a big game for us."

It is an especially big game for Haro, a preseason all-Mountain West Conference pick who has scored a touchdown in each of the first three games.

Haro, who lived in the Chicago area until the age of 10 before moving to Clifton, N.J., has friends and relatives driving in on both sides of the Interstate 80-90 toll road to Toledo.

"This is the closest I've ever come to New Jersey since I started playing here," Haro said. "It's about a seven hour drive to Toledo for them. I also have a lot of family in Chicago. I've got about 40 people coming to the game. Obviously I'm really excited about this game."

Though he wouldn't mind keeping his TD streak alive, Haro said that isn't his main objective this week.

"I just want to win," he said. "This is a really important game for us. We're going into a bye week and a win would be a real positive for us. But Toledo is a very tough team that we're playing. It's going to be a tough game for us."

Sophomore Kurt Nantkes went to St. Rose Dominican Hospital with severe stomach pains that at first was feared to be an appendicitis attack. However, after undergoing several tests it was determined that he was suffering only from gastritis.

"They gave him some stomach medicines and he should be OK by Saturday," Rebel trainer Kyle Wilson said.

Who would back up starter Jason Thomas if Nantkes can't go?

"It would be (redshirt freshman) Scott Turner or (true freshman) Tyler Arciaga," Robinson said. "But we'd like to try and redshirt Arciaga."

Turner is the son of former Washington Redskins head coach and current Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Norv Turner.

"He looked really good," Wilson said. "He should be OK for the game. He has two more days for it to heal up, too."

The Rockets' five starters average 320.2 pounds per man led by 6-foot-9 junior right tackle Erik Faasen, who tips the scales at 353 pounds.

Robinson's next luncheon will be held on Sept. 30th at noon.