Iowa State stirs up bitter memory for Rebels

The memory of the controversial conclusion to UNLV's football game at Iowa State two years ago lives on -- and not just in the YouTube clip that features an angry Rebels coach Mike Sanford.

Sanford's postgame rant is the most memorable part of that September 2006 night, but the tirade was important for a reason other than making it onto the popular Internet site.

The controversy regarding how the game's end was handled by the Mountain West Conference officials and Big 12 Conference replay official resulted in at least one aftereffect.

It caused the Mountain West to review its review process.

Now, on a close final play that could decide a game's outcome, the referee must wait to see if a review is being conducted.

"That's the common practice, because of the potential of a game-changing play, and you don't want them leaving the field," Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson said this week.

Another change not directly related to that game was a switch from a hometown replay official to one from a neutral site.

There also is a move to mix crews. The Mountain West and Western Athletic Conference have combined their officials this season, and the Big 12 joins that group next year.

While the future could be changed, the past cannot, and the UNLV players who were in that game still are smarting over the 16-10 loss. The teams meet for the first time since that game at 6 p.m. Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium.

UNLV had a chance to snatch the victory, but quarterback Shane Steichen's last-second pass into the end zone was ruled incomplete when wide receiver Aaron Straiten was called out of bounds.

Sanford immediately wanted a replay and kept the Rebels on the field for about 15 minutes before finally heading to the locker room. The lengthy YouTube clip includes Sanford, after searching for the officials, running back onto the field, tripping, getting up and then yelling at his team, "We're staying!"

"My whole point was why do you have review?" Sanford said this week. "It's the last play of the game, and it's close. It could've been a game-decider. You should have a game stoppage. It was all admitted to me later that's what should've happened. If that had been done, it would never have been an issue."

The Big 12 replay official, Tom Ahlers, did release a statement that night saying he reviewed the play. Mountain West referee Gerald Wright told UNLV athletic director Mike Hamrick he waited to see if there was a buzz from the replay official in the press box, and he never received one.

To this day, however, Sanford remains unconvinced, saying the referee immediately held up the ball to indicate the game was over.

"Obviously, there was no time for anything to be reviewed before he said, 'Game over,' and ran off the field," Sanford said. "That's what upset me."

UNLV players believe they left a victory back in Ames, Iowa, and are hungry to finish the job this weekend.

"I've been waiting for this week for two years," UNLV defensive tackle Malo Taumua said. "Just losing how we did to Iowa State two years ago, it really makes you want to get back at them."

Maybe this time the Rebels won't leave the ending up to a game or replay official.

Maybe they will create a different kind of YouTube clip, one they will remember with a smile rather than a cringe.

"That's one we let get away," wide receiver Casey Flair said. "We've got to come out and this week prove that we're a better football team now than we were then."

• NOTES -- Defensive end Isaako Aaitui (knee) returned to practice and will play Saturday. Offensive tackle Evan Marchal (ankle) practiced a "very limited amount" for the second day in a row, Sanford said, and will be a game-day decision. ... Iowa State fans bought 3,000 tickets allotted to the school, but a Des Moines Register blog stated about 10,000 were expected. They could have purchased tickets from UNLV. An overall projected crowd size has not been announced. ... Quarterback Omar Clayton will do an hour-long live chat at 1:30 p.m. today on UNLV's Web site (unlvrebels/cstv.com).