’09 Rebels football schedule includes seven home games

Maybe the Mountain West Conference looked at UNLV's seven home football games next season and tried to balance out its schedule.

The conference placed a Sept. 26 road trip to Wyoming in what could have been an open week before the Rebels travel to UNR. Instead, the open date isn't until the week before the Nov. 28 finale at home against San Diego State.

Rebels coach Mike Sanford emphasized the positive, noting he was particularly pleased that his team opens with three consecutive home games for the first time in 20 years.

Visiting Sam Boyd Stadium are Sacramento State on Sept. 5, Oregon State on Sept. 12 and Hawaii on Sept. 19. UNLV later hosts Brigham Young on Oct. 10, Utah on Oct. 17 and Colorado State on Nov. 7 as well as San Diego State.

This is the second year in a row the Rebels play seven home games.

"We start and finish the year at home, which is good," Sanford said. "It's a great home schedule for the fans. You've got three games to open up, and then you've got BYU and Utah in the middle."

Ten games overall are expected to be televised, though nothing has been announced for the Oct. 3 game at UNR. That also is the only game for which a time has not been set.

One game, the Oct. 31 trip to Texas Christian, will be shown nationally on Versus.

Eight opponents played in bowls last season, a school record.

Sanford said not getting a bye the week before playing UNR was offset by the placement of the Wyoming game. "I'll take going up to Wyoming early in the year," he said.

Citing the recession, UNLV did not raise season-ticket prices.

"I think it's the right thing to do," Sanford said. "That's what we should be doing."

• NOTE -- UNLV's first scrimmage is today. It is scheduled to begin at 9:45 a.m. at Rebel Park.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. To read more about the Rebels, go to lvrj.com/blogs/unlv_sports.

2009 UNLV FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

DATE OPPONENT TV TIME

Sept. 5 Sacramento State None 7 p.m.

Sept. 12 Oregon State CBS-C 8 p.m.

Sept. 19 Hawaii The Mtn. 6 p.m.

Sept. 26 at Wyoming* None Noon

Oct. 3 at UNR TBA TBA

Oct. 10 Brigham Young* The Mtn. 7 p.m.