Rebels slotted 6th in media football poll

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, July 30, 2003 | 8:50 a.m.

MWC PRESEASON POLL

The Mountain West Conference preseason football media poll, with first-place votes in parentheses:

1. Colorado State (18) 164

2. New Mexico (1) 140

3. Air Force (1) 113

4. BYU (1) 110

5. Utah 73

6. UNLV 67

7. San Diego State 62

8. Wyoming 27

If the Mountain West Conference preseason media poll is any indication, the theme for the 2003 UNLV football team could be "Six Degrees of Separation."

The Rebels were picked for sixth place in the eight-team conference, just ahead of San Diego State and Wyoming. Defending champion Colorado State, which garnered 18 of 21 first-place votes, was picked first followed by New Mexico, Air Force, BYU and Utah.

"I think it's important that we evaluate the evaluators," joked UNLV coach John Robinson.

UNLV running back Larry Croom said he liked the idea of the Rebels, who are coming off a disappointing 5-7 campaign, being low-balled in the preseason poll.

"It's something I definitely like because now we can sneak up on people," Croom said. "We have a lot higher expectations for ourselves than other people have for us, that's for sure. We're going to take advantage of that."

Junior safety Jamaal Brimmer, who along with linebacker Adam Seward and wide receiver Earvin Johnson was selected to the preseason all-Mountain West squad, said the poll could serve as extra motivation for the Rebels, who start practice Tuesday.

"I don't think the team will take this very well," said Brimmer, a former Durango High star. "I think they'll look at it and say, 'How is that?' "

But Brimmer said the Rebels have only themselves to blame following back-to-back losing seasons.

"We're picked there because of how we've played those last two seasons," Brimmer said. "If we want to do anything about this, we've got to change our play and go out and win some more games."

New Mexico coach Rocky Long, who is used to seeing his team ranked lowly in the preseason polls, said he wasn't putting any stock in the fact his squad, which returns 17 starters from a team that went to the Las Vegas Bowl, was picked to finish second and received one first-place vote.

"I really don't have an emotional response to it," Long said. "When we were going here and people were picking us seventh or eighth and not putting any of our players on the preseason team I didn't believe it. Now they're picking us second and I still don't believe it. I couldn't care less where we are picked in the preseason."

"They both need to work on their academics," Robinson said. "We're hopeful they'll return when they get things straightened out in that area."

Marcus Allen, who won the 1981 Heisman Trophy at USC under Robinson -- Jackson was the running backs coach then -- is one of the players who will be honored this weekend.

"It's a special moment," said Robinson, who gave the induction speech for former Rams offensive lineman Jackie Slater two years ago and also attended Ronnie Lott's induction ceremony. "I think it's such a big deal. It's an awesome event. I want to be there."

Robinson and Jackson will fly back on Monday morning in time for the start of fall camp that afternoon.

"When you start looking at it realistically, you're looking for the guy who this job becomes the job of his career," Robinson said. "You're also looking for someone who is well-rounded in the business. Each of these men (Montana's Wayne Hogan, East Carolina's Mike Hambrick and Idaho's Mike Bohn) have really good credentials.

"All have what you should be looking at --- young guys who will be around 10 years with a proven track record and exposure to Division I football. You're looking for a candidate who is about to emerge on the national scene. And the three candidates that we've got have a legitimate shot at doing that."