Friday, Sept. 24, 2004 | 10:07 a.m.
Going into the 2004 season, one of the strengths of the UNLV football squad was expected to be the team's senior leadership.
Quarterback Kurt Nantkes, All-American safety Jamaal Brimmer, linebackers Adam Seward, Ryan Claridge and Zach Bell as well as center Marcus Johnson all either played or were key scout team members back in 2000, when the Rebels last made it to a bowl game, defeating Arkansas, 31-14, in the Las Vegas Bowl.
That squad started slowly with a 1-2 record and appeared all but hopelessly out of the bowl picture after a 38-16 thumping by Utah dropped them to 4-5. But UNLV rallied to win its final regular-season games against New Mexico, San Diego State and Hawaii to finish 7-5 and earn the bowl berth.
It is that experience that has veteran players such as Nantkes, back in the starting lineup for Saturday night's game against Utah State (1-2), staying positive despite the Rebels' disappointing 0-3 start.
"The seniors are definitely a factor in helping us keep our head above water at a time like this," Nantkes said. "Right now we're not thinking any negative thoughts. I don't know if that's passed on through the coaching staff or not. I think it's just that we have enough leaders on this team who have been in this situation before and fought back through all the adversity."
Nantkes said the Rebels have bounced back from the frustration of getting upset in their Mountain West Conference opener by Air Force, 27-10, on Saturday night.
"It was a good, up-tempo week of practice, especially after all the hard losses we have suffered," he said. "You definitely can feel that we're not out here just to put (the season) away. We're out here to win."
Nantkes, who sat out most of the Air Force loss after suffering shooting pains in his pelvic area a week earlier at Wisconsin, said he has not had any more problems with the injury.
"I feel great," he said. "I haven't really taken a hit in about three weeks, so I should feel pretty good."
And, like most of his teammates, he is looking ahead to the final eight games of the season.
"The past is behind us and we're just looking forward to this weekend's game with the Aggies," Nantkes said. "We know that the season is not over at all. It's way too early to count us out."
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