Duly noted for October 29, 2005

Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005 | 9:40 a.m.

Hey, maybe those smart guys can play

If UNLV President Carol Harter is successful in raising the minimum grade-point-average admission standard from 2.5 to 3.0 it could have an effect on the Rebels' athletic program.

But probably not a major one.

If the standard is raised, it may result in extra paperwork for football coach Mike Sanford and basketball coach Lon Kruger. But it won't mean that prospects falling under the 3.0 limit will be off-limits.

Athletic director Mike Hamrick told me that even if the GPA is raised, prospective student-athletes will still be eligible to play for UNLV provided they meet the minimum NCAA requirement of 2.0.

Those potential running backs and power forwards -- or for that matter, piano players and hotel-management majors -- would have to apply for an NCAA admissions waver.

In other words, UNLV probably is not in jeopardy of becoming Stanford or Northwestern any time soon -- not that that would be a bad idea, given the Cardinal's 4-2 record and the Wildcats' No. 21 ranking.

Leaving Las Vegas

Channel 3 sports director Mitch Roberts is leaving Las Vegas to pursue a similar opportunity in Nashville, Tenn. He also plans to find out if he has what it takes as a songwriter, his hobby.

Roberts' last day on the job will be Friday.

While Roberts tended to get a little too close, sometimes literally, to his subject matter ("Ball! Ball! Ball!" he would yell to high school defensive backs while roaming the sidelines), he also deserves credit for spotlighting prep football in his weekly "Operation Football" highlight packages.

Wolf Pack football simply gets no respect

Only 8,377 fans turned out for UNR's recent 37-27 victory over Louisiana Tech, the smallest crowd to see a game at Mackay Stadium since 1984 when the Wolf Pack played in NCAA Division II.

The crazy thing about the sparse turnout is that UNR is winning. It is 4-2 overall, 3-0 in the Western Athletic Conference and well on its way to a bowl berth.

Maybe it's time for Chris Ault and his staff to set up a satellite ticket booth at the Burning Man Festival.

All in a name

Eight Professional Bull Riders bulls whose names were inspired by the entertainment field or former U.S. presidents:

1. Kidd Rock

2. Uncle Charlie

3. Ray Charles

4. Crossfire Hurricane

5. Sling Blade

6. Shane

7. Coyote Ugly

8. Slick Willy

The numbers

The number of 90-point rides by Professional Bull Riders star Chris Shivers since 1998.

20th

Centennial High's national ranking in Student Sports magazine's Fab 50 girls' basketball preseason poll.

Utah center Jesse Boone

"The way I understand, he's still got to take his offensive line out to dinner every week. If those guys were blocking for me like that, I wouldn't take 'em out to dinner. I'd go get 'em some Burger King or something."

on former teammate Alex Smith's struggles as 49ers quarterback.