Notebook: Tevaseu back in the groove following family tragedy

By Ryan Greene (contact)

Friday, Nov. 6, 2009 | 2:30 a.m.

While facing a tough time at home with his family two weeks ago, UNLV senior defensive tackle Martin Tevaseu leaned on his responsibilities to his football family to remain balanced.

Now, things are starting to get back to normal for the Rebels' 6-foot-2, 340-pound man in the middle.

Preparing for the team's 34-17 victory at New Mexico back on Oct. 24 didn't go as originally planned.

Instead, Tevaseu was at home in the Bay Area for the week leading up to the game, mourning the loss of his 19-year-old sister, Zsorhzinnia, who was killed in a car accident on Oct. 17 in Oakland, Calif.

"It was pretty hard, but like I said, it's life," Tevaseu said. "You've got to learn to adjust and adapt. When I went home, I was studying film, calling coach (Andre Patterson), getting all the plays and trying to balance both of them."

While watching DVDs of the Lobos at home, he was at the same time reflecting on memories of his sister, who he was quite protective of. He was the same way with all seven of his siblings growing up.

When Tevaseu was playing juco ball at nearby Santa Rosa Junior College when Zsorhzinnia was still in high school, and tried to remain as involved in keeping her on the right path as possible.

"We were pretty close," he said. "Every Friday, I used to go down and have meetings with all of her teachers. I'd get all her homework and make sure everything was going well in her classes. She'd get mad, but then she understood that all I was trying to do was help her."

After a week of reflection, Tevaseu admits he was beyond nervous for the game at New Mexico, meeting his teammates there after a week away from them. He didn't start, but played, and in turn gave one of his most inspired efforts in two seasons as a Rebel, which included his first sack of the season.

It couldn't have come at a better time.

In Albuquerque, Tevaseu was part of the Rebels' best run-stopping performance of the season, as New Mexico was the only opponent that UNLV has held under 100 yards rushing this season.

A repeat could be necessary this weekend against Colorado State if the 3-6 Rebels want to keep their bowl hopes alive for another week.

"To get a sack (at New Mexico), it was awesome," he said. "Every time I go on the field, I think about her and my family I've lost. It motivates me."

No time to sulk

It may feel like ages ago when the Rebels were 2-1 and still brutally optimistic about making the 2009 season a true turning point for the program.

Now, with three games to go, UNLV finds itself in the same position it was in at this point a year ago.

Three games to go, no room for error.

"It is disappointing because we've put ourselves in this position again, saying that we weren't going to in the first place," sophomore safety Chris Jones said. "Now, we've just got to make the best out of the situation."

In their last foray into do-or-die territory, the Rebels knocked off Wyoming and New Mexico in back-to-back home contests before falling a step short of bowl eligibility with a 42-28 loss on the road to a San Diego State team that had two wins coming in.

"We got some momentum on our side but obviously didn't finish it out," senior receiver Ryan Wolfe said. "As bad as it was last year, we can learn from it going into these next three games. It's improtant that we hone in on this first week. Because if we don't get it done this week, then it's all for naught the next two weeks.

"We put ourselves in this situation, so it's important for us to dig ourselves out of it."

Full health?

The Rebels this weekend may be fielding the healthiest team they've had since the Sept. 5 opener against Sacramento State.

Expected to go at full speed are sophomore defensive back Deante' Purvis, junior linebacker Starr Fuimaono, sophomore tight end Kyle Watkins and senior receiver Rodelin Anthony.

Purvis had a slight hamstring strain earlier this week, but was back at full strength on the practice field by Wednesday.

As for the other three, they'll all be at 100 percent after each dealing with ankle sprains.

Watson, Wolfe draw honors

UNLV senior kicker/punter Kyle Watson was one of 42 nominatees announced this week for the Ray Guy Award, which is given each season to the nation's top punter.

Watson, who is punting for the first time as a Rebel this season, is averaging 42.3 yards per boot this season, including eight kicks landed inside the 20-yard line and seven attempts of more than 50 yards.

The list of candidates will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists on Nov. 13, followed by another cut-down to three finalists. The award will be given during the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show airing on ESPN on Dec. 10.

Meanwhile, Wolfe, who two weeks ago became the Mountain West Conference's all-time leading receiver, will now try to become the first Rebel football player to be named a CoSIDA Academic All-America winner.

He was one of two receivers to land on the 2009 CoSIDA ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Eight Team on Thursday. The national CoSIDA academic team will be announced on Nov. 24.

Wolfe currently maintains a 4.0 GPA in graduate school as he's pursuing a master's degree in sports education leadership. He already earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology with a cumulative 3.55 GPA.

Ryan Greene can be reached at ryan.greene@lasvegassun.com or 702-948-7844.