Like it is: Fun and games over, lights to shine on football

WALLY HALL
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

LAS VEGAS -- No more slots, dice or cards.
No more talk, tours or hype.
It's game time, and even though this state doesn't allow gambling on UNLV, the Rebels are a one-point favorite and that shouldn't surprise anyone.
This is a home game for the host team.
The team may have moved to the MGM Grand Hotel, but that's less than a half-mile from its campus, which most of the players can see from their luxurious rooms.
Plus, Sam Boyd Stadium is their home field and this is the home of their fans.
Granted, Sam Boyd Stadium is 9 miles from campus, but that isn't like going from Fayetteville to Little Rock.
And the Rebels were very clever at the final news conference.
Either they were trying to blow smoke up the Razorbacks' face masks, or they believe they have two chances of winning -- slim and none.
Offensive tackle John Greer, who looks like he could be a body guard for Mike Tyson, said: "Quinton Caver should have been an All-American."
Defensive back Randy Black said: "For us to be able to play an Arkansas says it all."
Head Coach John Robinson said: "They are a representative of a conference that has the best athletes in the country."
When the Rebels players were asked if they thought the casinos could be more of a distraction for the Hogs, Greer quickly said: "We certainly hope so."
Sounded more like hogwash than flattery, because every other breath was about how they, the Rebels, deserved to be here and that this was the coronation of a new beginning for UNLV football.
When all the back-patting was over and the room was cleared of all the smoke, Caver was sitting to one side taking in everything.
Did it sound to him like they were getting a heavy dose of "poor us" in hopes of giving the Hogs a false confidence?
"Probably," Caver said. "But it won't work. We're ready to play."
Which was the same thing he and Kenny Sandlin said when asked if they were uptight.
It should be explained that they were asked that 20 minutes before the news conference, when they were sitting in a room reading the bowl guides from both schools.
And they were asked because several reporters said, "They seem uptight."
When asked, both said basically the same thing.
"It is time to get our focus right," Sandlin said. "We're just a little more than 24 hours to game time."
So you aren't uptight?
"No," Caver saaid.
"Not a bit," Sandlin said.
Even Houston Nutt, who was unaware of that question, took a small part of his time at the podium to say: "We are getting into our game mode now. This is our Friday. It is time to be serious."
And it seems the Razorbacks, or at least the largest majority of them, are ready for anything that doesn't include gambling.
There have been a few lucky ones, but for the most part the Hogs were typical tourists in Vegas, taking a side trip to Bustville.
Tuesday night, though, many of the Rebels were sitting at blackjack or crap tables.
"Yeah, I lost money," Greer said. "And that makes me mad because I know better."
Perhaps the biggest difference in team presentation was at the luncheon, which was a bit of a star-studded tribute to Vegas and its bowl.
There was a bit of a battle of the marching bands.
When the UA band ran into the room, the Razorbacks stood out of respect.
When the UNLV band ran into the room and started playing, many of the players stood up and started dancing.
It was obvious the Hogs had been to a bowl before. They know to dance after the game.
They are also acutely aware, thanks to Nutt and his coaching staff, that it took overtime for Ole Miss to beat UNLV 43-40.
The same Rebels team that beat the Hogs 38-24.
So how does this one play out?
Did UNLV give the Hogs false hope? Will the Rebel cry "we get no respect" be enough?
As sure as starting tailback Brandon Holmes was fifth team in August, the Razorbacks go into this game with something they haven't had since the Georgia game.
Healthy quarterbacks.
Make it Arkansas 27, UNLV 24.

This article was published on Thursday, December 21, 2000

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