Robinson: Nantkes still ‘the man’

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2003 | 9:42 a.m.

By just about any definition, Kurt Nantkes has struggled in his first year as UNLV's starting quarterback.

A 6-foot-4, 225-pound junior from Hinkley High School in Aurora, Colo., Nantkes was a fan favorite a year ago when he came off the bench to replace Jason Thomas. This season Nantkes ranks seventh in the Mountain West Conference and 92nd nationally in passing efficiency with a 102.5 rating. He has thrown just seven touchdown passes in eight games. And he has suddenly developed a nasty habit of pulling away on center snaps, fumbling four in the past two games, including one that allowed BYU to get back into Saturday's game that was eventually won by the Cougars in overtime, 27-20.

But Rebels head coach John Robinson stressed again at his weekly Rebel Football Foundation luncheon on Monday that Nantkes will still be "the man" at quarterback for UNLV (4-4) for the final four games of the 2003 conference season.

"Kurt's our quarterback," Robinson said matter-of-factly. "We're not going to make a change."

Although true freshman Shane Steichen finished fall camp as arguably the team's most impressive quarterback, Robinson doesn't want to take him out of a redshirt year this late in the campaign. Plus, as Nantkes has proven so far this season, looking good in practice and team scrimmages is quite different than doing it with 30,000 people in the stands on Saturday afternoon.

"Shane Steichen we feel has a real good future," Robinson said. "It's not appropriate now to use this year of eligibility knowing what his development level is. We just need to get Kurt playing."

Nantkes saw limited practice time before the BYU game after taking a hard shot at the end of the Rebels' 28-10 loss to Utah a week earlier. Although it was initially reported by Nantkes that he had taken a hit to the ribs, Robinson said his quarterback had actually injured his shoulder on the play.

"Last week Kurt did not practice," Robinson said. "He had a shoulder injury which kept him off the field. This week we need to get him back on the field and improve on the little things. He wasn't bad (against BYU). He didn't do negative things. He didn't have any interceptions until the last play of overtime. But he's not giving the impetus or drive that you want or expect from a (junior) quarterback."

Part of that could be experience, or lack of it. At the start of the season, Nantkes had started just two football games in five years since leading Hinkley High School to the Colorado state 4-A title. He originally played two years of professional baseball in the Oakland Athletics organization before enrolling at UNLV in 2000.

Every other school in the Mountain West Conference had a returning starting quarterback entering the 2003 campaign except UNLV. And it's obvious Nantkes is experiencing his share of growing pains this year.

"I think that does really count a lot," Robinson said. "There's no question that the experience, especially when you're going through it, is important for a quarterback. You can see how much it's meant for quarterbacks like (Colorado State's Bradlee Van Pelt) and Air Force's Chance Harridge and how much they've improved each year."

When eight 2003 starts now under his belt, the Rebels are hopeful that they'll start seeing similiar progress from Nantkes the final month of this season.

"We still have four games left," Robinson said. "If we win all four games, we've had a great season. If we win three of the four, we've had a really good season. These are the things that are ahead of us."

The Rebels' home game against San Diego State on Nov. 8 will kick off at noon and be shown by KFBT Gold 33 (Cable 6) as well as on ESPN-Plus. Following a bye on Nov. 15, the Rebels host Colorado State at 4 p.m. at Sam Boyd Stadium in a game that will be shown on KLAS-TV (Channel 8).

UNLV's finale at Wyoming on Nov. 29 will also be shown by KLAS-TV starting at 10 a.m. in Las Vegas.