Thursday, Nov. 17, 2005 | 7:10 a.m.
At the recent Mountain West Conference women's soccer tournament, several veteran UNLV fans talked disparagingly about the state of the turf at Peter Johann Field.
It's patchy and brown, looking like a sorry sandlot baseball field.
Texas Christian coach Dan Abdalla had spent 12 years at UNLV, as a player and assistant coach, before taking over the Horned Frogs program this year. He said the field is hardly as plush and manicured as he remembers it.
"I thought it was horrendous," Abdalla said. "It's the worst I've ever seen it. All of the conference coaches brought it up. Hopefully, someone will make them do something about it."
Rebels athletic director Mike Hamrick referred an inquiry about the condition of the field to senior associate athletic director Jerry Koloskie, who said he attended every game of the women's tournament and didn't hear any complaints.
Koloskie said the UNLV administration wants all of the school's fields to be well maintained, but that usage, changing seasons and overseeding requirements can affect appearance.
"I certainly didn't see any problem," Koloskie said. "I would disagree with the (allegation). It's no different than any other natural-grass field. Hell, look around the country."
Abdalla has, and he said Johann is the worst he saw all season. He also said the school took over maintenance of the field from UNLV men's coach Barry Barto last summer and that its current condition would not help recruiting.
"Those guys (administrators) have a different view of reality," Abdalla said laughing. "I know when Barry took care of the field it never looked like that. He watered it by hand, and we'd fill in divots after games.
"I talked to (Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson) about it last Saturday. The administration might not be aware of it, but the conference certainly is. Maybe (UNLV) just doesn't have the knowledge to take care of the field. It's comical."
Tough season
Barto endured a 2-16-1 season that included no victories in 10 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation games, marking the 17th consecutive year the Rebels have missed the NCAA tournament.
UNLV went to the NCAA tourney in five of Barto's first seven seasons.
"There's always frustration when you're not winning and not getting to the tournament," he said. "But there's never frustration coming to work every day and trying to figure out ways to get it done. That's always the challenge and what drives me."
Barto believes the program can be turned around with several top young returnees, some key players who redshirted this season and a couple of new recruits who are defensive aces.
"It goes far beyond the winning and losing," he said. "Believe me, it really does."
Also noted
By the numbers
1974 -- The only time the Socceroos, Australia's national team, played in a World Cup. The Aussies' 4-2 penalty-kick victory over Uruguay secured their spot in Germany next summer.
0 -- The total number of World Cup appearances for Trinidad & Tobago, which earned its first Wednesday by beating Bahrain.
Rob Miech can be reached at 259-4087 or at [email protected]
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