Rebels more committed to summer work

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, July 7, 2005 | 10:06 a.m.

UNLV football players stopping by UNLV's Lied Athletic Complex on Wednesday afternoon following a Fourth of July holiday break were greeted by a bulletin board which read, "60 More Days!"

Yes, it's less than two months now before the Mike Sanford Era of Rebels football officially kicks off with a Labor Day morning contest at Mountain West Conference preseason favorite New Mexico. And a month from tomorrow the team reports for the start of fall camp.

However, it would be a mistake to think the Rebels are waiting until August to start getting in shape for the 2005 season.

Unlike recent years, most of the UNLV football team is enrolled in summer school. And unlike recent years, attendance at voluntary conditioning workouts is close to 100 percent.

The Rebels, it seems, can't wait to put behind a dismal 2-9 season.

"It's 10 times better (than last summer)," sophomore linebacker Beau Bell said of the turnout. "I can tell by the guys in my group that everybody is showing up. Basically, it's the same stuff as last year but we have more people here."

"The attendance is way up," added senior safety Joe Miklos. "It's one of the better summers we've had since I've been here. Not only is the attendance up but so is the intensity of the workouts, too."

It's against NCAA rules for football coaches to attend the voluntary summer workouts. However, team strength coaches are allowed to oversee the conditioning drills.

"Coaches can't supervise it and we can't be there," Sanford said. "It's not mandatory. But our team has kind of taken it among themselves to kind of enforce it themselves. (Strength coach) Mark Philippi and our strength coaches can work with them. They're telling us that the work ethic has been great."

Players have their choice to attend conditioning sessions either at 6:30 in the morning or 5:30 at night depending on their class and work schedules.

"It's just different," plackicker Sergio Aguayo said. "People are showing up now. People have more drive to come down. I feel the team is coming together a lot more. There's a totally different vibe out there."

Sanford said athletic director Mike Hamrick should get some of the credit for the increased turnout.

"I've gotten a really good commitment from Mike Hamrick and our administration as far as summer school (funding)," Sanford said. "We have a huge amount of our players involved, which is going to help us in a lot of ways. Basically, the whole team is here this summer."

Whether that hard work produces more victories this fall remains to be seen, however.

"Everybody is working really hard," Miklos said. "Everybody is getting bigger and faster. But you've still got to translate that into playing good football, too."

One of Bernardi's recruits, quarterback Travis Dixon of Hamilton High in Chandler, was named the game's MVP after completing 9 of 23 passes for 146 yards and three touchdowns in leading his team to a 36-12 victory. Another recruit, running back Channing Trotter of Red Mountain High in Mesa, caught a 50-yard touchdown pass. Both Dixon and Trotter are grayshirt recruits who will enroll at UNLV in January.

However, Bernardi's son, Joe, an all-state center from Flagstaff who signed with Fresno State, had to sit the contest out after suffering a torn ACL in practice. He will undergo knee surgery this weekend.

Another Bernardi recruit who will enroll in January, wide receiver Ryan Wolfe of Hart High School in Newhall, Calif., starred in the 54th annual Shrine All-Star Football Game last month in Walnut, Calif. The 6-foot-2 Wolfe was named a team captain for the Public School squad, which defeated the Private schools, 42-23, and also caught four passes for 59 yards.

"I'm really impressed with Ryan Wolfe's work ethic and his ability to do whatever it takes," Public schools head coach Jim Benkert said.