Another bumpy season

By Brian Hilderbrand (contact)

Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007 | 7:13 a.m.

THE CONFERENCE: MORE STRUGGLES AGAINST MOUNTAIN WEST OPPONENTS

Mike Sanford insists UNLV was a more competitive football team this season than it was in his previous two years as the Rebels' head coach.

Although technically true - the Rebels were outscored by an average of 16 points in their 10 losses this season as opposed to 20 points in their nine defeats in 2005 - the problem remains that the program has not shown improvement where it counts the most: in the win column. UNLV went 2-10 this season and is 6-29 in Sanford's tenure. That is not progress.

Led by a pair of freshman quarterbacks, Travis Dixon and Omar Clayton, the Rebels' offense never achieved anything resembling consistency. Although UNLV's offense was more productive this season thanks to the addition of running back Frank Summers, the Rebels were last in the conference in scoring offense and red-zone offense, averaging 18.2 points per game.

Sanford preaches to his players about not playing up or down to an opponent, yet that is precisely how the Rebels' season unfolded. They turned in an inspired effort against then-fifth-ranked Wisconsin in a 20-13 loss in the second week of the season and, two weeks later, shut out Utah 23-0 and snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Utes.

They played eventual Mountain West Conference champion BYU close at home before losing by 10 but then dropped home games to conference also-rans Colorado State and San Diego State.

Sanford points to the abundance of underclassmen who started this season or saw significant playing time as one sign that there is reason to believe there are better times ahead for the program. It also partly explains the inconsistent and, at times, undisciplined nature that marked UNLV's season.

8

Consecutive losses by UNLV to end the season. Seven of those were to Mountain West conference teams.

15

UNLV's losing streak in conference road games. Four of those losses are from this season.

3-21

UNLV's Mountain West Conference record in three seasons under head coach Mike Sanford.

83

Total points by which the Rebels were outscored in conference play this season. UNLV scored 148 and allowed 231.

THE OFFENSE: STIFLED IN THE RED

23

UNLV's national ranking in pass defense (passing yards per game allowed) among the 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams.

40

Percentage of times the Rebels scored a touchdown when their offense had the ball inside the red zone (15 of 37).

4

Number of 100-yard rushing games this season for junior running back Frank Summers.

784

Sophomore Ryan Wolfe's team-leading receiving yardage.

THE DEFENSE: THE BEAU BELL SHOW

5

Fumbles forced by UNLV senior linebacker Beau Bell - most among Mountain West Conference players.

126

Bell's conference-leading tackles total in 2007 - 16 more than those of the two players who tied for second.