UNLV’s Guice quickly gets over Division I growing pains

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Sept. 8, 2005 | 9:50 a.m.

It didn't take UNLV cornerback John Guice long to find out that having a big reputation in junior college doesn't mean much when you move on to Division I-A football.

Guice, a first-team J.C. All-American at Grossmont College in El Cajon, Calif., found himself the center of attention early during UNLV's 24-22 loss to New Mexico as the Lobos passed early and often to his side of the field.

But Guice, UNLV's fastest defender with time of 4.36 and 10.5 in the 40- and 100-meter sprints, overcame the early assault and some painful bruised ribs to lead the Rebels with 10 tackles and two pass breakups. He also had a nice diving interception of a Kole McKamey pass late in the first quarter that was wiped out by a roughing the passer penalty.

Guice never was beaten deep by New Mexico receiving star Hank Baskett and improved steadily throughout the contest.

"I'm glad to get it out of the way," Guice said. "It was my first Division I game. It started kind of fast for me playing against a receiver like Baskett who pushed off a lot on me. He was just testing me because he couldn't go deep on me. So I had to just play the shorter routes because he wasn't going to outrun me."

UNLV coach Mike Sanford admitted he was surprised the Lobos threw Guice's way on three plays during their first series of the game, two of which were completed for 9 and 8 yards respectively.

"I think they obviously have a tremendous respect for Hank Baskett," Sanford said. "I think they didn't know much about John Guice. But I think as the game went on ... people saw that he was the real deal."

Especially when Guice stretched out to make an apparent interception of a pass up the right sideline by McKamey. That play was wiped out, however, when safety Joe Miklos was flagged for roughing the passer.

"It was my first collegiate interception, so yeah, I was a little disappointed," Guice said. "But you just play on."

What made losing the interception even more painful was the fact Guice injured his ribs on the play. In fact, it was initally thought he may have even broken some. But Guice stayed in the game.

"When I fell to the ground I landed on top of the ball," he said. "That bruised my ribs. I wasn't scared (that they might be broken). I just didn't want to come out of the game."

Sanford recruited Guice during his time as an assistant coach at Utah last year. And when he left the Utes to become head coach of UNLV, Guice was one of his first recruits.

"When I was at Utah, I went down to Grossmont during a bye week and watched him practice," Sanford said. "Loved him. I was on the phone with him constantly. And when I made the changeover, he wanted to be recruited by us.

"From day one I thought he was a great player."

Whether that will happen still remains to be seen. But it appears Guice is off to a good start.

Fisher transferred to UNLV from Santa Monica (Calif.) City College.

"There's been an academic situation from a previous institution where he is, at this point of time, ineligible," Sanford said. "He still has to earn his Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree. We are expecting him to come back to UNLV when he does."

Fisher will still have two years of eligibility remaining if and when he returns to UNLV.

Freshman Jacob Hales of Las Vegas High School, who had two tackles in his Division I debut at New Mexico, has moved up to No. 2 on the depth chart at defensive tackle with starting tackle Isaiah Tafua now listed as Fuimaono's backup at nose guard.

Wright, who started four games with the national champion Trojans last year, must sit out the 2005 season per NCAA transfer rules. But it has been clear in practices that the 6-foot, 180-pounder is going to be a special player for the Rebels next fall.

"It feels good," Wright said. "It's coming back to me. I'm just a little rusty, trying to get my footwork back and working into this system. I want to learn as much as I can for next year."

Holt also coached linebackers at USC from 2001-03. And one of the players he recruited to the Trojans was a defensive back from Riordan High in San Francisco named Eric Wright.

"Coach Holt is a heckuva guy," Wright said. "I love him as a person and as a coach."

Idaho runs a defense very similiar to the one the Trojans ran while Wright was there. And Wright said he'll pass on any trade secrets he may have picked up to his new team.

"I'll just try and help out my team as much as possible," Wright said. "I'll relay some things I know to some of the players and hopefully it will work out."

"We might have him call the defenses," Sanford joked. "It is ironic Nick Holt recruited him to SC."