Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004 | 10:02 a.m.
The second floor of the Lied Athletic Complex is missing one of its normal occupants this week, and it isn't retiring UNLV head football coach John Robinson.
Nope, the famed Fremont Cannon, which normally adorns the lobby near the elevator entrance and goes to winner of the annual UNLV-Nevada-Reno football game, has been moved to a top secret location for safe keeping.
While most of the attention around town the past couple of days has centered around Robinson's retirement announcement, Rebels football players say they've focused more on trying to keep possession of the cannon for a school-record fifth consecutive year when they play host to the Wolf Pack (2-2) on Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium.
"Never losing the cannon, that's my goal," senior linebacker Adam Seward said. "All the seniors here, we fought for the seniors in the past to help them win the cannon. I'd be completely devastated if we lost that thing my senior year because that thing means the world to me.
"Having that cannon and making sure that it's red and being able to walk by it every day in the athletic complex, being able to touch it and see the score on there, that's important to me. I want to keep it for this team another year."
Linebacker Reggie Butler said: "Reno, if we can't get up for that game, shame on us because that's our rival."
Senior quarterback Kurt Nantkes said: "If there's any week to bounce back and regain your focus, it's playing Reno this week."
Nevada-Reno holds a 15-14 edge in the series and has twice won five in a row in the rivalry. The Wolf Pack won 10 of the previous 11 meetings before UNLV started its current four-game streak with a 38-7 victory in 2000.
The game takes on extra meaning in the Seward household because younger brother Mark, a freshman safety from Bonanza High School, turned down a grayshirt scholarship opportunity (January enrollment) with UNLV to redshirt this year for Chris Ault's squad.
"I know they really want to get this cannon back," Adam Seward said. "Coach Ault has his boys playing strong and my brother is up there so I get to see him this week. With us being 0-4 so far, it's been a frustrating year. And that obviously makes winning this week that much more important for us."
Both UTEP head coach Mike Price, who coached against Robinson's USC teams while he was at Washington State, and Fresno State head coach Pat Hill had nothing but kind words for Robinson.
"I think he's one of the most wonderful people I know in coaching," Price said. "I'm going to miss having him in the profession."
Hill added: "That's really a shame. He's a great coach and a great person. There comes a time in your life ... that your personal life becomes a large factor in it. I just wish him the best of luck for him and his family."
Hill never coached against Robinson in his career but said he used to attend Rams practices when Robinson was head coach of the NFL squad from 1983-91.
"And I've been to UNLV to visit with him before," Hill said. "The guy has a great deal of knowledge about the game and how to build a football team. He's been great for the game of football."
Price chuckled while telling a story about coaching against Robinson in Pullman back in the mid-'90s.
"It had snowed before the game and there was snow in the stands," Price said. "I was standing out there talking to him and our fans were throwing snowballs at him. I said, 'Come on, move over and get out of the way of the snowballs.' He said, 'No, I'm using this to motivate my team.' And then they came out and beat the heck out of us in the snow."
A 5-foot-7, 170-pound senior from Tulare, Calif., Dorsey was plagued by muscle cramps most of the second half against the Aggies. He is averaging 105.2 yards per game. That ranks him 20th nationally in rushing.
Tickets are $75 for the general public and $65 for faculty and staff. Tables of 10 are available for $700.
For further information, contact Kara Jeffries at 895-3678.
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