Rebels forming tighter bonds

The laughter, the spontaneous clapping for teammates.

Those seemed almost foreign sounds at the UNLV football team's post-practice players' meetings before this year, but they are much more common this August than the previous three under coach Mike Sanford.

Players also walk off the fields smiling more often than in the past, when practice was anything but fun and offensive players barely acknowledged their defensive counterparts and vice versa.

Offensive and defensive players roomed together earlier this month at training camp in Ely, and friendships began to form.

"Last year, we were real separated," said sophomore linebacker Ronnie Paulo, a Western High School graduate. "There was tension, and this year we're much more of a team. I think it shows on the field.

"We didn't want to take care of each other (last year). We were out there to kill."

Sophomore defensive tackle Malo Taumua roomed with incoming freshman offensive lineman Sean Tesoro but grew close to junior wide receiver Ryan Wolfe.

"I'd never hang out with the receivers, but I'd find myself hanging out with them," Taumua said.

There also is no significant cloud of controversy hanging over this team as it readies for Saturday's 7 p.m. opener against Utah State at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Last year's camp was overshadowed by the uncertainty of quarterback Rocky Hinds' future after he aggravated a right knee injury. Hinds left Ely for Southern California, and coaches didn't know from day to day whether he would return as Travis Dixon prepared to take Hinds' place.

But beyond the Rebels being mostly controversy free this offseason, players point to the well-attended and intense summer conditioning workouts as a key to the unity.

Sophomore quarterback Omar Clayton said players gave up more than vacation time for the greater team good. Players made the commitment even though they don't receive scholarship stipend checks in late summer.

"I feel like we're more of a team than we were last year, especially from what I could tell coming in," Clayton said. "A lot of the older guys are embracing the younger guys better."

Sanford noticed the combination of cohesiveness and dedication to improving in the spring and then watched it grow. He said the emphasis on recruiting players from successful high school and junior college programs helped develop chemistry because they brought winning attitudes.

"I think it's a more serious team, but I think they enjoy each other and know each other better and get along with each other better," Sanford said. "I guess there's more chemistry, so it appears they're more loose, but they enjoy being together more."

This all sounds nice now. Everyone gets along, and the sun shines every day, and $2-a-gallon gasoline is around the corner.

Then there is Saturday and beyond. Will the goodwill generated make a difference? Will morale remain high even if times become tough?

Answers come soon, but the Rebels like the camaraderie they take into the season.

"We can watch each other, and if we're slacking off a little, we can cheer each other up and get each other going," Taumua said. "It's not only my position cheering on my position. It's me cheering on everybody else.

"That togetherness, that's what we've been missing here. Nobody hung out with anybody. We made our own little groups, and when you make your own little groups, nothing clicks."

• NOTES -- Sophomore cornerback Quinton Pointer (dislocated left elbow) will be a game-day decision. If he does not start, the probable replacement is redshirt freshman Will Chandler. ...

UNLV football and men's basketball games will be broadcast on a Reno radio station in addition to Las Vegas' KWWN-AM (1100).

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.