Ex-NFL great Jerry Rice watches son, UNLV practice
Jerry Rice was easy to miss as he stood behind a gate and in the shade to watch UNLV practice Friday morning.
He certainly didn’t go out of his way to bring attention to himself, but even at a secluded location at Rebel Park, someone will notice the presence of the greatest wide receiver in football history.
The 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee was there to watch his son, Jerry Jr., a wide receiver who was cleared to practice for the first time after transferring from UCLA. The Rebels also added safety Frank Crawford, a Mississippi transfer, to the roster.
Both players graduated and were free to transfer and play without having to sit out a year.
“I came out here and saw the school and I liked what I saw,” Rice Jr. said. “I like the way this team is going up, so I wanted to join it and hopefully get it on the rise.”
His dad, who helped lead the San Francisco 49ers to three Super Bowl titles, agreed and said he also thinks the Rebels will provide Rice Jr. with a better chance to play.
The younger Rice (5 feet 11 inches, 185 pounds) had nine career catches for 69 yards with the Bruins.
“All Jerry wants is an opportunity to compete,” Rice said. “At UCLA, he got some chances, and whenever he got on the football field, he showed what he could do. So I feel like he could really help this program and hopefully get some wins under their belt.
“He’s one of those individuals that’s always going to give 100 percent. He’s a team player, and he wants to try to do something special here at UNLV.”
Rice, who is all over the NFL record book, noted his son “has very good hands.”
“I don’t know where he got that from,” Rice said jokingly. “He had a couple of drops out there (Friday), so I have to tell him, ‘Any time the ball touches your hands, you have to make the catch. Make your quarterback look good, no matter what.’
“I’m going to get on him a little about that, but (he’s got a) great work ethic.”
Rice said he will spend a lot of time in Las Vegas after his son’s final college season, and even will make the four-hour drive to Ely to spend a little time watching training camp. The Rebels leave Saturday for the eastern Nevada town.
Even before preseason practices, Rice stopped by Rebel Park to catch the team as it went through summer conditioning.
“The coaches couldn’t be on the field, and these guys still came to practice,” Rice said. “There were a lot of guys, so it’s a different type of atmosphere around here, and that was one of the things that the head coach said he wanted to change.
“It’s all about teamwork. Everybody’s got to buy into it. If everybody should buy into it, I think this team is going to have an exceptional year.”
Crawford (6-1, 180) will try to improve UNLV’s situation at safety. He started three games at Ole Miss in 2011, and last season he had an interception.
His brother, Dre, played safety at UNLV last season and started twice at safety. He recommended the school to Crawford.
“He said it was a good place with a lot of young guys, with a lot potential,” Crawford said. “Coming over with my experience, I can really help this team be successful.”
Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.