UNLV-Fresno State football series delayed

Fresno State's admission into the Mountain West Conference next year figured to give UNLV a new opponent in which to start building a regional rivalry.

The two schools still might develop a heated competition, but in football at least, it won't begin until 2014.

That's because the Rebels and Bulldogs will not play each other in 2012 and 2013 according to a new schedule rotation released by the league Tuesday.

Each school now will skip a conference opponent beginning in 2012 in what will be a 10-team football league with the additions of UNR, Hawaii and the Bulldogs.

"When I was in the Pac-10, that was the way we did things," Rebels coach Bobby Hauck said. "It's kind of hit and miss who you don't play.

"It's not like we won't ever play (Fresno State). We'll get that started. They'll be on our schedule for a long time. That (rivalry) will have a chance to develop."

The 2012 season will be the first time the Mountain West, which began competing in football in 1999, will not play a complete league schedule.

The reason is it will be the first time the conference will be home to as many as 10 members, and schools like the ability to have flexibility with nonconference scheduling. Air Force, which plays two other service academies each season in addition to the Mountain West schedule, would have been particularly impacted without the rotation.

The new scheduling system also allows each school to play an equal number of home and away conference games.

The Mountain West made what appeared to be some sensible scheduling decisions. Hawaii and Wyoming, for instance, will skip each other in 2012 and 2013.

But San Diego State and New Mexico also won't face each other. That's odd timing considering new Aztecs coach Rocky Long was head coach of the Lobos for 11 years. And with next season's game in San Diego, there won't be the buzz of a Long homecoming in Albuquerque in 2012.

Then there is the decision to have UNLV and Fresno State skip each other despite their close proximity. But Hauck sympathized with the schedule makers.

"To get everyone to agree is probably not going to happen," he said.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.