Rebels settle for eighth

All it takes is one glance at the treacherous schedule to know first-year UNLV coach Bobby Hauck could have a rough introduction to Rebels football.

"It's one of the most difficult schedules in the country," Hauck said at Tuesday's Mountain West Conference media days at Red Rock Resort.

So there was little surprise when the media picked the Rebels to finish eighth in the nine-team Mountain West, placing UNLV just ahead of New Mexico.

Texas Christian, which received all 31 first-place votes, was picked to retain the conference title. The Horned Frogs return 16 starters from a team that went 12-1 last season and finished sixth in both major polls.

Texas Christian dominated the preseason conference honors. Senior quarterback Andy Dalton (offense), junior linebacker Tank Carder (defense) and senior return man Jeremy Kerley (special teams) were named preseason players of the year.

Utah, which plays its final season in the Mountain West before departing for the Pac-12 Conference, was picked to finish second. The Utes went 10-3 last season.

UNLV returns 15 starters, so it might not seem a giant leap to expect the Rebels to improve on last season's 5-7 record.

But their 13-game schedule includes a date with Wisconsin at home and trips to West Virginia, Brigham Young and Utah. Nine of this year's opponents appeared in bowl games last year.

Hauck knows the Rebels have a daunting challenge, and he is concerned about a defense that was among the nation's worst last season.

The Rebels have some strengths offensively, such as junior wide receiver Phillip Payne, UNLV's only preseason All-Mountain West selection. Payne caught 58 passes for 661 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

The Rebels also have a talented group of quarterbacks and one of the conference's top offensive lines.

"I think that Mike (Sanford) did a really nice job," Brigham Young coach Bronco Mendenhall said of the previous UNLV coach fired last year. "I think he's got them close. Bobby will probably come in and say from what he sees that they're a long ways away, but I think after playing with those kids for a year, he'll realize maybe he's closer than he thinks."

In addition to the tough schedule, history is against the Rebels. They have failed to post a winning record or make a bowl appearance since 2000.

Hauck was brought in from Montana, where he went 80-17 in seven seasons and appeared in three national title games, to change UNLV's fortunes.

That could happen, but the conference media doesn't think UNLV will make the leap in 2010.

"I see it as motivation," senior linebacker Ronnie Paulo said of the poll.

Beginning Sept. 4 against Wisconsin at Sam Boyd Stadium, Paulo and his teammates have a chance to use that motivation to their advantage.

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