Rice thinks second open scrimmage will help Rebels’ learning process

By Taylor Bern

Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014 | 2 a.m.

During his first four preseasons at UNLV, Dave Rice has often talked about the importance of getting out under the lights and in front of fans in the Thomas & Mack Center. Rice thinks it’s so important the Rebels are going to do it again.

At 11 a.m. Saturday, the Rebels are holding another scrimmage at the Mack, a little more than two weeks after the Scarlet and Gray Showcase. There will be refs and the event is open to the public, although Rice said he’s still figuring out the exact format.

“It’s another opportunity to get out in front of people,” Rice said.

The second dress rehearsal checks off a number of boxes for Rice, but the most important might be another game-day-like experience for the young players. The idea is to help speed up the learning process for a group that features eight newcomers, including five true freshmen who will help replace all five starters.

“We don’t have the luxury this year of giving our freshmen a whole year to grow up,” Rice said.

It’s easy to be optimistic this time of year, and UNLV is no exception. Still, adding the scrimmage shows Rice and his staff are trying to be proactive in getting the team on the same page.

The Rebels like where they’re at and the progress they’ve made, but “it still takes time to learn what we’re trying to do and to play at a higher rate of speed than maybe guys are comfortable with,” Rice said.

Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.