Major Rebel-ding

Enter in Bobby Hauck, the 10th rebel coach in UNLV history. Hauck made some major waves in seven seasons leading Montana to three national championship games in the NCAA FB champion subdivision compiling a 80-17 record. Last season the rebels were 5-7. This season on paper looks like they may have gone in reverse. On the season UNLV is 1-7 but also has faced a brutal schedule according to the sagarin ratings this season with the 14th toughest schedule in the country. Games against Wisconsin, West Virginia, Air Force (Nov 18th), Nevada, and TCU certainly hasn't made the rebel life any easier. Nine of their opponents played in bowl games last season.

The rebels last league title was in 1994 (Big West co-champs) and likely won't be on the horizon anytime soon. Hauck certainly has a major rebuilding project on his hands. On the season UNLV has played over 23 freshman including having to shuffle in a replacement for starting center Andrew Mack hours before kickoff last week (appendicitus) against TCU. On defense the rebels have 10 true freshman on its two deep depth chart. The defense is ranked #96 in the nation while the offense is #113th which very well could also be reflective not only due to youth/inexperience but also the schedule.

Although, it might look rather bleak for the rebels the cupboard isn't exactly bare. Hauck will certainly have some tools to work with who should be active in saturdays matchup. The offense starts with dangerous dual threat senior QB Omar Clayton and was rated the best scrambler per Lindys. The political science major has thrown for over 1000 yards on the season with 4 INTs and 6 TDs. In the backfield is a pair of playmakers in freshman Tim Cornett and Channing Trotter. Cornett has rushed for 263 yards for 2 TDs and averages nearly 5 yards per game. Clayon's wideouts include juniors Phillip Payne and Michael Johnson. Payne a vegas native has 25 catches on the year with 416 yards and 2 TDs. Johnson is another explosive weapon who has 395 receiving yards with 35 receptions and 4 TDs. He also serves as the PR and KR specialist.

Hauck is a solid coach but certainly has his share of severe obstacles this season with all the inexperience, transition and the brutal rebel schedule. Give him a few solid recruiting rebuilding classes and the rebels should be back in the hunt. On saturday look for the jerseys in blue to post another cougar victory who are favored by 18 per usatoday marching towards a possible post season bowl.