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| Wednesday, September 13 Thomas lives up to Vegas-sized hype By Ed Graney Special to ESPN.com | |||||
| So this is what all the hype was about.
O.K. We get it now. Almost.
Hand it to Jason Thomas. He showed up. He accepted the heavy weight -- think of, oh, the MGM Grand sitting atop your shoulders -- of reenergizing UNLV's floundering football program and responded with an opening night Wayne Newton might cheer.
Thomas is the sophomore quarterback who until Saturday in Ames, Iowa had not played a real game in three years. The last time he stood under center for something other than a practice or scrimmage or weekend get-together with the boys was at Dominguez High in Compton, Calif.
"I learned pretty quickly this is a different level," Thomas said.
Like the pool at Mandalay Bay is different than your backyard spa.
UNLV lost its season-opener to Iowa State 37-22, lost because the Rebels still aren't all that big defensively and still make the kind of mistakes that won't hold up against legitimate opponents.
But in Thomas emerged an explosive weapon, one whose resume since arriving as from USC was coated in potential. Now, it actually includes some hard numbers.
Thomas rushed 21 times for 107 yards, scoring on a 45-yard dash. He completed just 9-of-25 for 190 yards with an interception, but also had scoring tosses of 56 and 31 yards. The passing part is still a question. He has the arm, but the decision-making and touch and accuracy is still maturing. Thomas wasn't helped in Ames by winds that reached 35 miles per hour.
"He was very exciting at times," said UNLV coach John Robinson. "He had some 12-yard runs that lasted five minutes. He struggled some, made some mistakes, got a little flustered, had some long completions called back. But he also realized "I can do this stuff."'
And when you get past the 6-foot-4, 240-pound frame and big arm and strong legs and gaudy resume, what sets Thomas apart?
"Vision," Robinson said. "I don't care what sport you play, you have to have it. He recognizes everything he needs to out there. Study all the great ones, and they have vision. This guy has it."
And, finally, some real numbers.
Around the Mountain West Air Force We know, we know. Why hasn't the Air part been as big a Force over the years as it was against BYU? For one, the passing attack has posted better numbers than many realize. Dee Dowis threw for 1,285 yards in 1989 and Beau Morgan had consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 1995 and '96 and Blane Morgan went for 1,114 two years ago. But it's no secret current quarterback Mike Thiessen (four TD passes against BYU) is arguably the best throwing cadet ever to run the option. "I really think play-action is the toughest part of the passing game to defend," said coach Fisher DeBerry. "And that's all we do. That makes it very tough to play the pass and also worry about stopping our option." ... Not a surprise: Air Force, picked by most not to make a difference in the conference race, has started a season 2-0 for the sixth straight year. "I really think it's because our team was so unhappy with how last season ended," said DeBerry on losing to Colorado State and New Mexico. "They used those games as incentive during summer and spring workouts. It shows how committed they are, how determined everyone is to have a good season." BYU
Here go the Rams again, carrying the torch for all MWC teams. The league is 4-11 in non-conference games, but CSU is ranked 25th and owns a victory against Colorado. This week, Sonny Lubick's side travels to Arizona State. "It would be good to see a couple more teams win some games this week," Lubick said. "This week is very important." Why? Of the league's seven non-conference opponents, four are from BCS leagues. ... The best thing about a 41-7 blowout of East Tennessee State? CSU had 67 players see the field. "Nothing is better than seeing some of those guys get to play in a live game," Lubick said. ... The search for Kevin McDougal's replacement at running back continues to be more committee than one-man show. Cecil Sapp -- one of the team's fastest players at 221 pounds -- started last Saturday and led a four-player contingent in the backfield. ... A chink in the armor? Place-kicker C.W. Hurst missed one field-goal attempt Saturday, had another blocked and an extra-point try blocked. Things like that don't matter in blowouts. They lose games in November. New Mexico Lobos fans are counting the days until basketball practice begins. They want to know what it's like to score points again. It's tough to find an offensive rhythm with no passing game, which New Mexico doesn't have right now. When this happens, you lose by eight points to a Pac-10 opponent (Oregon State) because you throw for just 132 yards and go oh-for-everything on third down. "I'm sure every week now people are going to stack the line of scrimmage until we prove we can move the ball better," said coach Rocky Long. "It has been really frustrating." ... Rudy Caamano (12-of-21 passing against OSU) wasn't terrific in his first start at quarterback, but the sophomore did enough to keep the job another week. "We were just more efficient," Long said. "At least we appeared to know what we were doing with (Caamano) playing." ... A few silver linings: New Mexico leads the conference in kickoff return average (25.1), is second in total defense (287.3) and first in sacks (12). ... This week offers what is becoming a dreaded matchup with in-state rival New Mexico State. The Lobos have dropped two straight to the Aggies for the first time since 1967-68. UNLV Robinson says a team improves most between its opener and second or third game. "Then," he said, "you kind of settle into what you're going to be. So we better show a lot more this week." The Rebels, losers of six straight dating to last season, play their home-opener against North Texas on Saturday. Robinson: "We haven't won at home since the Civil War." ... Last season, UNLV allowed Iowa State 24 points. This season, it was 37. Still, coaches believe the Rebels are better defensively. Well, at least they're faster. "We didn't get physically handled like last season, but we still lack great size," Robinson said. "We just drowned in our errors." Fumbles, interceptions, blocked kicks. Typical first-game mistakes. San Diego State Webster's definition of the knee: joint between the thigh and lower leg. SDSU's definition: a royal pain. Eight players on the two-deep that opened fall camp have suffered major knee injuries. Three -- starting offensive linemen Chris Williams and Zach LaMonda and all-conference tight end Gray McNeill -- are gone for the season. The team is down to one tight end (junior Brian Gelt) and also lost starting defensive end Akbar Gbajabiamila (Achilles tendon) for the year and two others (starting guard Johnathan Ingram and tight end Raleigh Fletcher) for 3-4 weeks. ... Coach Ted Tollner said the 49-13 loss to No. 21 Illinois on Saturday was arguably the worst of his seven-year tenure. Mind you, that includes the 1996 debacle against then-winless UNLV, a loss that likely cost SDSU a Holiday Bowl berth. Of course, the Aztecs didn't roll over in that one. "We played awful against a good Illinois team," Tollner said "The score was pretty much indicative of how we played. We were manhandled in every phase. We didn't play tough. We didn't play physical. We didn't run to the ball. We blew assignments. We fell on our face. We were lousy." ... When you know things are bad: Larry Ned returns at running back, rushes for 47 yards on 18 carries against Illinois and is named the team's Player of the Game. Utah Philippe Wells learned a valuable lesson near the end of a 24-21 loss at Cal. Composure is essential to success. Utah's senior wide receiver caught four passes for 22 yards, but it was his mental blunder that cost Utah a better chance at winning. Utah had no time outs remaining when it stood 33 yards from the end zone with 29 seconds left. Wells got tangled up with a defensive back, then began arguing with him and a referee as the seconds ticked away. By the time Wells woke up and hustled back to the line of scrimmage, only seven seconds remained. "I don't know what he was thinking," said Utah coach Ron McBride. "That was very, very, very poor judgment. We could have had a few more plays. What the heck was he thinking?" ... Mike Anderson made national news Sunday when he rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns for the Denver Broncos. Last season, the big back did his damage for Utah. Notice the words big back. McBride has apparently seen enough of smaller, quicker D'Shaun Crockett. The Utes host Washington State on Saturday, when Dameon Hunter and Nick Morgan are expected to get more carries. "There will be some changes," McBride said ... The quarterback controversy appears no more, as senior Darnell Arceneaux moves into the No. 1 role. That is, until he gets injured, which is more likely than snow atop the Wasatch Mountains come December. Wyoming MWC coaches have been told to schedule strong non-conference games with the hopes of winning enough to open more eyes within the Bowl Championship Series. There is risk, of course. Ask SDSU. Ask Wyoming. Consecutive losses to Auburn (35-21) and Texas A&M (51-3) have left the Cowboys without their top two quarterbacks. Starter Jay Stoner (bruised sternum, concussion) could miss several weeks and backup Matt Swanson (ribs) is out this week against Central Michigan. Also, senior leader/running back Al Rich (wrist) is gone for the season. "I'm not sure the schedule is the reason for it," said Cowboys coach Vic Koenning. "Sometimes, you get hurt more by playing lesser teams because you're kids don't go as hard. I just think we need to protect the quarterback better, whether we're playing Texas A&M or Nevada." ... So who throws passes this week? Sophomore Brandon Neill and redshirt freshman Casey Bramlet will likely split time. ... Koenning opened up his bag of tricks three times at College Station, opting for an onsides kick while leading 3-0 and two fake punts. He went 1-for-3. "I wanted us to remain in an attack mode," he said. "We'll do those things all season to try and get an edge. I'm sure every opponent we play from now on will have to spend practice time on those things." Ed Graney covers college football for the San Diego Union Tribune and can be reached at ed.graney@uniontrib.com | ALSO SEE Big East notebook Big Ten notebook Big 12 notebook Big West notebook Conference USA notebook MAC notebook WAC notebook | ||||
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