Rebels hope to pick themselves up off mat

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Sept. 12, 2003 | 9:51 a.m.

With the year's biggest prizefight between Oscar De La Hoya and "Sugar" Shane Mosley on tap for Saturday, UNLV coach John Robinson decided to compare the 12-game Rebels football season to a 12-round boxing match.

"We won the first round," Robinson said referring to a season-opening 28-18 victory against Toledo. "But then we got knocked down and took a standing eight count in round two (a surprising 46-24 loss at Kansas). Now we have to get ourselves back up and ready to answer the bell for round three."

No doubt Robinson is hoping for more of a Rocky Balboa type of attitude and performance on Saturday morning in Madison, Wis., when the Rebels (1-1) face 14th-ranked Wisconsin (2-0) at wild and crazy Camp Randall Stadium.

UNLV is coming off a lackluster performance at Kansas during which its much heralded 3-4 defense definitely exhibited a glass jaw, allowing 32 first downs and 546 yards in total offense.

Now the Rebels will try to pick themselves off the canvas against a physical Wisconsin team that has two legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates in running back Anthony Davis and speedy wide receiver Lee Evans and is picked by some experts to win a very competitive Big Ten Conference this year.

"You've got to put an end to a bad performance and go back to playing good," Robinson said when asked about his 12-round boxing analogy. "And then when you have a good performance you have to put an end to that, too, so you can get ready for the next round. I think it's crucial that you have that kind of mindset during the season."

Robinson believes UNLV's season could very well be determined a success or failure by how the team finishes in its final three games of the year against San Diego State, Colorado State and Wyoming.

"For us, we've said that rounds 10, 11 and 12 will decide our season," Robinson said. "We may (screw) it up before then, but if we are going to have a good season, how you close it out ... not just for us but everybody in our conference ... is key. Those will be deciding games. It doesn't matter who they're against because they all will be tough games.

"That's why you have to take it week by week. You've got to get back up and keep fighting and continue to work on the things that can help you improve as the season goes on."

The odds are strong that the Rebels will at least get their noses bloodied by Barry Alvarez's Badgers, who are 20-point favorites entering the game. Wisconsin defeated UNLV, 27-7, last year at Sam Boyd Stadium in a contest that was stopped with 7:41 still remaining after a nearby electrical transformer blew and sent the stadium into darkness.

There won't be that problem on Saturday, however, as the game is scheduled for an 11 a.m. kickoff in Madison (9 a.m. PDT). The only possible snag is the chance of a lightning from possible thunderstorms in the area.

"His feet keep bothering him and he's fallen behind," Robinson said. "If he redshirts we'd have him and (Ohio State transfer) Ja Ja (Riley) each for the next two years."

Marshall, rated by some scouting services as the top JC running back in the nation, said his arches and ankles have been bothering him since the end of last season.

"It's frustrating for anybody who can't play in the game," Marshall said.