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Take Five: Getting to know UNR
A shoot-out — or a solid season from the Wolf Pack regardless of Saturday’s outcome — should surprise few.
AP PHOTO
UNR quarterback Colin Kaepernick fires a pass during the Wolf Pack’s 35-0 loss at Notre Dame. Kaepernick & Co. are 0-3 so far this season after facing lofty preseason expectations. The junior QB accounted for just 463 yards of total offense and five turnovers in the Pack’s first two games, but looked more like himself in last week’s 31-21 loss to Missouri.
Friday, Oct. 2, 2009 | 2:30 a.m.
UNLV vs UNR Preview
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Ryan Greene and Christine Killimayer preview the Battle for the Fremont Cannon and address UNLV's new approach to the media this week.
The Battle is Back
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UNLV players and coaches talk about what it will take to win the Battle for the Fremont Cannon for the first time in five years.
October 1: UNLV News and Notes
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Christine Killimayer and Ryan Greene recap what went wrong in UNLV's 30-27 to Wyoming.
The Rebel Room
Wyoming reflection, UNR prognostication
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Ryan Greene and Christine Killimayer, back safely from Wyoming, discuss what went wrong for the Rebels in a 30-27 loss to Wyoming, then take a look at how it translates forward for Mike Sanford's 2-2 club. Plus, Dan Hinxman of the Reno Gazette-Journal chimes in to offer some insight on UNR, who UNLV faces up in Reno this weekend in a must-win for both sides.
Related content
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- Notebook: Wolfe takes on added duties; Clayton questionable
- Mondays with Mike: Rebels running a tight ship in preparation for UNR
- UNLV looks to bring Fremont Cannon back from Reno
- Kaepernick too much as UNR pounds Rebels, 49-27 (9-28-08)
- 2009 UNLV Season Stats
What others are saying
Read what other writers are saying about UNLV's upcoming game against UNR:
- Reno Gazette-Journal: Lippincott gets another shot at No. 1 role
- Reno Gazette-Journal: Rebels' improvement is no mirage
- Reno Gazette-Journal: Groth 'not thinking' about Ault's job status
- Nevada Sagebrush: Wolf Pack seniors look to stay undefeated
- Nevada Sagebrush: Ault’s everlasting bond with UNLV
- Nevada Sagebrush: Police promise extra game security
- San Jose Mercury News: Nevada likely without starting RB Taua vs. UNLV
- Reno Gazette-Journal: Wolf Pack Football: The Sunday Review
- Reno Gazette-Journal: Nevada stuck in neutral with third loss
- Nevada Sagebrush: Records don’t matter: Rivarly week is here
- Nevada Sagebrush: UNR-Nevada Southern rivalry has legacy of hijinks
The big question as UNLV and UNR prepare for their 35th meeting is pretty simple: Who needs it more?
The Rebels head up north at 2-2, with the wounds of an embarrassing 30-27 loss at Wyoming still fresh. After the Wolf Pack comes the remainder of a brutal Mountain West Conference schedule, starting with back-to-back home games against BYU and Utah.
Chris Ault's club is 0-3, but no one can blame him of fearful non-conference scheduling. Those three setbacks have come against Notre Dame, Colorado State and Missouri — three probable bowl teams with a combined 10-2 record this season. However, UNR will venture into a somewhat soft WAC slate after this weekend, and a bowl berth is still a very real possibility regardless of what happens this weekend.
UNLV's issues — inconsistent defense, turnovers, etc. — have been well-documented. Here's a look at how the other side is living.
1) They're starting to look like themselves ... or at least himself
The high-powered offense which guided UNR to a 7-5 regular season in 2008 finally showed itself in last Friday's 31-21 loss to Missouri, after failing to trade blows for the most part with Notre Dame and CSU.
And it all starts with junior quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who produced 416 yards of offense and five total touchdowns in last year's 49-27 triumph at Sam Boyd Stadium.
He was completely quieted in the Wolf Pack's first two losses, combining for 463 yards, four interceptions and one fumble lost.
Against Missouri, he accounted for just 205 yards, but produced two scores and — more important — no turnovers.
The Wolf Pack offense appears to be getting back on track, and it all stems from the 6-foot-6 junior.
2) When one door closes, another opens
The carousel that involves the starting tailback within the UNR offense now brings senior Luke Lippincott once again to the forefront.
Lippincott was the clear-cut starter as a sophomore in 2007, finishing with 1,420 yards on the ground, another 295 receiving and 18 total touchdowns. A torn ACL early last season, however, put the load on the shoulders of Vai Taua.
Taua, a junior, stepped in to finish with a mirror image of Lippincott's sophomore season in 2008, totaling 1,764 yards and 18 TDs.
Now it's Taua who is out. After dislocating his elbow early in last Friday's game, Lippincott stepped up and ran for 114 yards on 23 carries. He'll get the start again this weekend as Taua heals.
3) Pressure? What pressure?
Chances are slimmer than you'd think that UNR is feeling some heat to reach its fifth consecutive bowl game after an unsightly 0-3 start.
The biggest reason for that has been the Wolf Pack's steady hand in WAC games during that run.
Since 2005, Chris Ault's club has averaged 5.3 conference wins per season, including a winning record in three of those four campaigns.
With that said, even if UNLV prevails this weekend, it's a safe bet that UNR will be fighting for a postseason spot up until the bitter end.
4) Don't be shocked by a shootout
If the 2009 edition of the Battle for the Fremont Cannon mirrors 2008's version in terms of offensive fireworks, don't be shocked.
Fans in Las Vegas have already seen UNLV's deficiencies on the defensive side of the ball, as the Rebels rank 75th out of 120 FBS programs in total defense, allowing 368 yards per game.
Apparently, the situation is the same on the other side of the state, as the Wolf Pack rank 112th in total defense, succumbing 457 yards per game.
Granted, each of UNR's first three opponents have fielded prolific offenses, with Notre Dame ranking 15th in the nation in that category, while Missouri is 16th and Colorado State is 57th. UNLV fits right in there at 43rd.
That said, another high-scoring affair should alarm no one.
5) Not everything about the defense is porous
You won't be able to keep an eye out for him, with the game not being televised, of course, but junior defensive end Dontay Moch at least gives the unit some bite.
Although a tad undersized, at 6-foot-1, 245 pounds, Moch is the UNR's most productive defender up front.
His 18 tackles, 6.5 stops for loss and one sack have him on pace to live up to his second team All-WAC performance in 2008 as a sophomore, when he was tied for second in the league and 17th in the nation with 9.5 sacks to go with his 15 tackles for loss.
Discussion: 11 comments so far…
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Rebel's, fully utilize DeGiacomo #22 and win!
UNLV CONSIDER JOINING THE WAC: In football both Nevada universities would have one more non conference game on their schedule, and UNLV would be more competitive. In basketball, for ease of scheduling the WAC needs one more team, and UNLV would be a good fit. UNLV would be better off in the WAC than the MWC!
Sept. 27, 2008 Nevada 49, UNLV* 27
Sept. 29, 2007 Nevada* 27, UNLV 20
Sept. 30, 2006 Nevada 31, UNLV* 3
Sept. 17, 2005 Nevada* 22, UNLV 14
Oct. 2, 2004 UNLV* 48, Nevada 13
Oct. 4, 2003 UNLV 16, Nevada* 12
Oct. 5, 2002 UNLV* 21, Nevada 17
Oct. 6, 2001 UNLV 27, Nevada* 12
Oct. 7, 2000 UNLV* 38, Nevada 7
Oct. 2, 1999 Nevada* 26, UNLV 12
Oct. 3, 1998 Nevada 31, UNLV* 20
Sept. 6, 1997 Nevada* 31, UNLV 14
Oct. 5, 1996 Nevada 54, UNLV* 17
Oct. 28, 1995 Nevada* 55, UNLV 23
Nov. 19, 1994 UNLV* 32, Nevada 27
Oct. 2, 1993 Nevada* 49, UNLV 14
Oct. 17, 1992 Nevada 14, UNLV* 10
Sept. 7, 1991 Nevada* 50, UNLV 8
Oct. 20, 1990 Nevada 26, UNLV* 14
Nov. 11, 1989 Nevada* 45, UNLV 7
Oct. 3, 1987 UNLV* 24, Nevada 19
Nov. 16, 1985 Nevada* 48, UNLV 7
Sept. 3, 1983 UNLV* 28, Nevada 18
Sept. 15, 1979 UNLV 26, Nevada* 21
Sept. 16, 1978 Nevada 23, UNLV* 14
Nov. 19, 1977 UNLV 27, Nevada* 12
Nov. 20, 1976 UNLV* 49, Nevada 33
Nov. 22, 1975 UNLV 45, Nevada* 7
Nov. 16, 1974 UNLV* 28, Nevada 7
Nov. 17, 1973 Nevada* 19, UNLV 3
Nov. 18, 1972 Nevada 41, UNLV* 13
Nov. 20, 1971 UNLV 27, Nevada* 13
Nov. 21, 1970 UNLV* 42, Nevada 30
Nov. 22, 1969 Nevada* 30, UNLV 28
Crying shame this game will not be on tv. Infuriating even. Somebody needs to get it together, you're letting us down big time.
You can get the game on the Nevada Wolfpack website. Its only a staduim feed so it will look like a high school game but at least its something. Its only a 5 dollar one time fee. We are hooking our computer to our TV so we get the most out of the picture. Better than just the radio.
clausen take more snaps in practice this week?
Dartstock:
I hear what you are saying about UNLV and UNR being in the same conference, but I have to ask you a question: ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?
Why would UNLV even think about leaving a near BCS conference, with tremendous academic quality and athletic competition, for the disgrace that is the WAC?
I suppose it would ensure UNLV goes to more bowl games since the schedule is so darn easy. I bet anything UNR goes to another bowl game this year and then everyone is going to forget just how much their success is a product of their weak conference, not from their good team.
I want UNLV shooting for the stars. I want us to set our sights on the PAC-10, not the WAC.
Now, I would be all for UNR joining the MWC when the time comes. Sadly, and I do mean sadly, I think we will take Boise because it will ensure us a BCS auto-bid. Boise is like a glorified community college and will really drag down the character of the MWC in terms of the institutions it is comprised of. But, I digress. Its all about the $$$ baby and if Boise gets us to the promised land, we will take them.
That will be the absolute death blow to the WAC as well. In all seriousness, once that happens and with the economy the way it is, UNR and the rest of the WAC may be forced back down to the FCS (formerly Division 1-AA).
yawn.... this article is doing nothing to light this fire. i know we dont need anything like ed graney's article "reno stinks" but the scarlett and grey soldiers are awful quiet today. lets go boys. lets have some faith... we can win this game. just because the spread is moving like crazy... and prolific hawai'i puts up 80 points against us and 6 against louisiana tech... ugh. see you guys in the reno jail.
JOIN THE WAC??????
Maybe the funniest comment I've ever read on the internet.
They should rename the WAC. Call it Conference Boise State. When they join the MWC, the WAC will die.
The level of competition in the MWC, at least when it comes to football, is clearly superior, but otherwise, WAC membership probably would be the better deal for UNLV.
- Gets UNLV back on ESPN/ESPN 2 so people can watch our games again
- Frees up non-conference football and basketball games by making annual game with Reno a conference matchup
- We could actually win some games in football and maybe go to a bowl game, dominate in basketball and go dancing every year
- Gets us out a conference dominated by and run for the benefit of the two Utah schools.
On the whole, WAC membership's not a bad deal, but probably not as good as MWC membership if only for the fact that because the MWC is such a good football conference, the BCS will have to let it join sooner or later, whereas the WAC has no shot at BCS membership anytime soon.
We were in the WAC before the schools split out into the MWC. The darn TV deal is what is killing us.
Can someone please explain why I can stay home and watch games that being played in Las Vegas, but can't watch road games? There was a time when KLAS would pick them up and at least stick the broadcast over on chanel 1 or 19. This is an insult to the fans to keep shutting us out.
Ryan, why don't you just save the bandwith on this joke of a team and use it to hype the bball team pre-season.