Injuries mounting as Rebels prepare to open

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2004 | 10:54 a.m.

The big news from UNLV football practice Tuesday night was that there weren't any more serious injuries to Rebels players.

Finally.

Things have gotten so bad on the injury front that Rebels head coach John Robinson learned during the team's off-day on Monday that a seemingly minor knee sprain suffered by senior defensive end Pete Dunbar a night earlier more than likely will be season-ending.

"It looks like he tore part of the ACL in his right knee," head trainer Kyle Wilson said. "There isn't much swelling, but we'll just have to see how it progresses the next couple of weeks. If he can't go, then we'll have to operate."

Dunbar, a 6-foot-4, 260-pounder, is the fourth player who entered preseason camp as a starter on the depth chart to go down, joining offensive tackle Tyler Crandal (back surgery), all-Mountain West Conference punt returner Tremayne Kirkland (separated shoulder) and starting tight end Greg Estandia (knee).

Robinson, in his 27th season as a college and professional head coach, said he couldn't remember having a training camp that resulted in as many injuries to key players.

"Never," Robinson said. "And the injuries are all serious, too.

"It is the worst injury situation I think I have ever had in my career. We have four starters who are not going to play in the game (at 14th-ranked Tennessee on Sunday night), and two of them are out for the year. ... This is looking like a war zone here. But that is part of college football."

What makes Dunbar's injury even more frustrating is the fact that he had spent the entire 2003 season rehabilitating from a hernia injury.

"He may be able to get a sixth year (of eligibility)," Robinson said. "It's obviously cruel that this had to happen to him."

Senior Brian Nicholson (6-foot-5, 275), who had two sacks last year in a reserve role, is expected to replace Dunbar in the starting lineup.