Rebels have revenge in mind

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Aug. 29, 2003 | 9:52 a.m.

John Robinson has been on the losing side 62 times in his 190 games as a college head coach. But when it comes to embarrassing losses, nothing tops last year's 38-21 defeat at Toledo.

"We frankly stunk up the joint," Robinson said of the game that saw his uninspired UNLV squad fall quickly behind, 21-0, in the first quarter and 24-0 at halftime to the eventual MAC West Division champs.

The Rebels, however, have a chance to make amends for that loss when they host the Rockets in their season-opener tonight at Sam Boyd Stadium on ESPN.

All-Mountain West Conference inside linebacker Adam Seward, who had a team-high 11 tackles at Toledo, says his team hasn't forgotten that long night at the Glass Bowl ... and for good reason.

"At the start of fall camp, Coach Robinson reminded us of how badly we played that night," Seward said. "He said, 'Guys, that's one of the worst losses I've ever experienced as a coach.' We all just kind of sat there silent. No one said anything. We just kind of looked around. It was kind of like, 'Gosh, is he serious? He's been coaching forever.'

"It was real disturbing to hear him say that," Seward continued. "But I think we'll do something about it come (tonight)."

Junior Kurt Nantkes, who mopped up for Jason Thomas in the second half of that game, takes over at quarterback for the Rebels this season. He remembers the Toledo defeat vividly.

"We were simply embarrassed by our performance," he said. "It's nothing against Toledo because they're a very good team. But we embarrassed ourselves with the way we came out to play that night."

"I remember coming in at halftime and wondering, 'What happened?,"' Seward said.

The Rebels will unveil a more attacking, blitzing style of defense tonight patterned after the one employed so successfully by New Mexico.

"I can't wait," said Seward, a Bonanza High grad. "No one can sleep that I talk to on the team. We're going to make mistakes. With the kind of defense we have, they're going to pop a few. But if we keep playing hard and keep playing fast good things will happen."

UNLV found out on Thursday that it will be without star wide receiver Earvin Johnson, who has been suspended for one game for his part in the school's "Phonegate" probe. But Robinson refused to use Johnson's absence as a potential excuse tonight against the Rockets.

"Football is a game where you just don't rely on one individual," Robinson said. "Obviously it hurts that (Johnson) is not going to be there but David Relf is a veteran player and gets his chance to play now. You lose players all the time in this game to injury but you have to just move on."