Wednesday, May 19, 2004 | 9:18 a.m.
Call him a glutton for punishment or just plain relieved but UNLV quarterback Kurt Nantkes is looking forward to the start of informal team workouts in early June.
Seems the 6-foot-4 senior from Aurora, Colo., can't wait to get out on those 100-degree nights to run some wind sprints.
"Believe it or not, I'm actually looking forward to it," Nantkes said. "I can't wait to start running some sprints again."
The reason for Nantkes' enthusiasm is the fact he has finally been cleared to resume running at full speed for the first time in almost seven months after sustaining a dislocated pubic bone on a sack in the first half of UNLV's 37-35 victory at New Mexico on Nov. 1.
The injury was originally diagnosed as a badly strained groin muscle. Nantkes limped badly through the rest of the season and sat out the Rebels' 7-0 loss against San Diego State the following week. But he returned to play in each of UNLV's final two games and came off the bench to rally the Rebels to a 35-24 season-ending victory at Wyoming.
The injury continued to plague Nantkes during the winter. Six doctors and a trip to a sports medicine clinic in Vancouver later, it was finally discovered that Nantkes had actually dislocated the pubic bone. Doctors then popped the bone back into place and Nantkes began an extensive 12-week rehabilitation program which forced him to miss spring practice.
Little wonder, then, that the strong-armed senior can't wait to join his teammates for twice-a-week informal workouts starting June 7.
"I've got the green light to go full-go," Nantkes said. "I've still got to do about 15 to 20 minutes of stretching exercises before I start my drills. But this is the best I've felt going back to last summer. I'm very close to pain-free."
Nantkes made three trips to the Vancouver clinic this spring for treatment and follow-up care.
"The next time I go to Vancouver is for vacation," he said.
The Rebels, who open their season on Sept. 5 at Tennessee, begin fall practice drills on Aug. 10.
The conference is an outgrowth of the successful CHAMPS/Life Skills Program and involves up to 350 student-athletes from NCAA schools. Each institution nominated four student-athletes who have demonstrated a strong desire to be leaders and who also are in good academic standing with athletic eligibility remaining. Butler, who started his college career at an Ivy League school, Penn, before transferring to the Rebels, was UNLV's choice.
"I'm really looking forward to it," Butler said. "There are all different kinds of forums that you attend. Topics are everything from Title IX to players and their relationships with coaches."
Look for Butler and fellow Rebel senior linebackers Ryan Claridge, Adam Seward, Zach Bell, John Andrews and Terrence Young to appear on a UNLV football poster later this fall. The group posed for pictures to be used on the poster earlier this week.
Tennessee officials asked for the switch so that the Vols can wear special white throwback jerseys that night for the game that will be nationally televised by ESPN2.
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