Saturday, June 10, 2006 | 7:20 a.m.
THE GRASS IS SOMETIMES GREENER
A $300,000 renovation expected to transform UNLV's Peter Johann Field from a cow pasture, which it had become, back to the emerald jewel it used to be is under way.
"This project is long overdue," UNLV athletic director Mike Hamrick said in a statement about the upgrade to the Rebels' soccer facility.
Hmmm.
He didn't exactly say that last November, when the Sun's Rob Miech quoted several coaches about the "horrendous" condition of the pockmarked pitch during the Mountain West women's soccer tournament.
In fact, he didn't say anything.
Hamrick referred an inquiry to senior associate athletic director Jerry Koloskie, who told the Sun he attended every game of the tournament and didn't hear any complaints.
"I certainly didn't see any problem," Koloskie said.
So I'm wondering when the project became long overdue.
My guess is shortly after that story was published.
GAMES REBELS PLAY
UNLV announced its nonconference basketball schedule this week. This is what I make of it:
Interesting games: Hawaii, Arizona, Hawaii again (the distant nonconference rivals will once again play twice; a weird arrangement, for sure, but one for which Hamrick should be applauded), UNR, Minnesota, Texas Tech, Houston.
Game that would have been interesting in 1955-56: San Francisco.
Get-to-20-wins-and-get-the-boosters-off-your-back games: Eastern Washington, UC Santa Barbara, Washburn, Northern Arizona, South Florida, Norfolk State, Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
Next-to-bottom line: I've seen better schedules.
Bottom line: I've also seen many worse.
ROLL UP THE SIDEWALKS
The wackiest statement about the UNLV basketball schedule in the official news release was Rebels coach Lon Kruger referring to playing a home game against Northern Arizona in St. George, Utah, as an "exciting adventure."
"St. George" and "exciting" are two words seldom used in concert by those who live in Las Vegas.
Kruger hails from Silver Lake, Kan., population 1,358. Apparently, he didn't get to go to the movies in Topeka nearly enough as a teenager.
PHILIPPI PUMPED ABOUT NEW GIG
Although Mark Philippi apparently is to blame for UNLV's futility on the football field - after all, he was the only one fired after last year's 2-9 season - the World's Strongest Man and former Rebels strength and conditioning coach still has a few friends on Maryland Parkway.
This 98-pound weakling can't speak for Philippi in the weight room. But considering he was crowned the World's Strongest Man, one would assume he has the proper credentials.
So I was happy to learn that Philippi, always quick with a smile and a handshake (I've still got bruises to prove it), has landed on his feet in the UNLV kinesiology department. He is heading a new strength and conditioning degree program that should lead graduates to opportunities in that field or as private trainers.
"I can't say enough about (chairman) John Mercer and the other faculty in the department," Philippi wrote in an e-mail. "They bent over backward to create a position for me."
Strength coaches at the NCAA level usually spend their careers behind the scenes. Philippi was different. He spent his off-season pulling Winnebagos around on national TV.
In fact, I remember Hamrick saying how enamored his kids were of the World's Strongest Man, and how that helped figure in his decision to take the Rebels' job.
Too bad it didn't help Philippi keep his.
I WANT MY CSTV
Viewing update: There are only 81 channel-surfing days left before the start of the Mountain West Conference football season on College Sports TV.
And you still can't get CSTV on Cox Cable.
Former UNLV star Hunkie Cooper's place on Arena Football's 20 Greatest Players in History list
Former UNLV star Randy Gatewood's place (tied) on the same list
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Arena Football MVP/Offensive Player of Year awards won by former Iowa Barnstormers quarterback Kurt Warner
Arena football quarterback Sherdrick Bonner
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