Nantkes ready to test injury

Steve Guiremand

Monday, Nov. 17, 2003 | 9:56 a.m.

Kurt Nantkes' injured left groin had improved enough by Friday for him to take 4-year-old son Conner on his first trip to Disneyland.

Now the question is, will it be good enough for him to go through a regular two-hour practice on Tuesday night?

If not, get ready for true freshman Shane Steichen to make his first college start on Saturday when the Rebels (5-5, 1-4) play host to defending Mountain West Conference champion Colorado State (6-5, 3-3) at Sam Boyd Stadium.

"If Kurt can't go on Tuesday, then we'll have to go with Shane," Robinson said Sunday night before the Rebels held a brief one-hour practice. "Kurt has to practice during the week in order to be effective during the game. He has to get better and quicker and all of that. If he can't do that, then Shane will get the start."

Steichen and Nantkes split snaps with the first unit on Sunday night during non-contact drills. Nantkes appeared to be much improved at being able to take a snap from center and drop back to set up, something he couldn't do in UNLV's 7-0 loss to San Diego State on Nov. 8.

"It's getting better day by day, little by little," Nantkes said. "But it's not 100 percent by any means."

Nantkes was asked if he thought he would be close to 100 percent again this season.

"I doubt it at this rate," he said. "We'll just have to play it by ear. I'm just going to try to do as much as I can to get better. We'll know on Tuesday how much I'm going to be able to play the rest of the week. There's still a lot of plays I can't do because of the injury."

Still, Nantkes can at least walk now without a noticeable limp. And he made it through a long day at the Magic Kingdom without any side effects.

"It was the first time he has been there," Nantkes said of son Conner. "It was fantastic. Just watching him was so much fun. It was nice to have a bye week so you could get away and relax and get your mind off football for a little bit."

A lot of Rebels said the week off allowed them to get rejuvenated both mentally and physically for a very important season-ending two-game stretch. If UNLV can defeat both the Rams and Wyoming on Nov. 29 in Laramie, it will likely get an invitation to the Las Vegas Bowl.

"These next two games are crucial," linebacker Adam Seward said. "We need to win them both. Just to be able to have some extra time this week to regroup and get our focus back was big. I know Kurt and a lot of players needed the extra time to get well. I was banged up myself. I was sick and my shoulder was a little beat up. But I feel good now. Having those couple of days off helps."

"It gave us a chance to get some treatment for a lot of nicks and bruises and also gave us some time off of our legs," junior linebacker Reggie Butler said. "And mentally it gives you an extra week to prepare. It was beneficial both mentally and physically for us to have the week off."

Judging by some of the nifty runs made by Kirkland, the Rebels might want to make that part of their own regular offensive package.

"His speed is ridiculous," Butler said. "I put it this way: For years to come he's going to be a great asset for this team."

Kirkland is 12th nationally in punt returns with a 13.7 average but has seen very limited minutes at wide receiver.

Butler called Van Pelt, who has rushed for 778 yards and eight touchdowns this season, the best scrambler the Rebels will face this year.

"(Hawaii's) Timmy Chang could scramble real well, too, but he always threw the ball," Butler said. "Van Pelt is the perfect combination, though. He can both run and pass on the run."

"I told (CSU coaches) them, 'I'm sore, but if I can't do what you need me to do to win, I'll take myself out of the game,' " Van Pelt said.

Van Pelt had to be helped off the field following a hit by Aztecs linebacker Kirk Morrison after a 25-yard gain.