UNLV FOOTBALL: 2013 PRE-SEASON REPORT CARD

PUBLICATION ORDER: Sections of the Pre-Season Report Card are published in the following order: (1) Schedule; (2) Coaching; (3) Momentum (4) Discipline On The Field (i.e. penalties); (5) Turnovers; (6) Special Teams; (7) Defense; (8) Offense; and (9) Summary.

COACHING

Head Coach

Current Tenure as Head Coach at UNLV: Bobby Hauck is in his fourth season as the Head Coach at UNLV.  Hauck has an overall record of 6-32 (15.8% wins) as the Head Coach at UNLV.  Hauck is also the Special Teams Coordinator at UNLV.

Last Coaching Position: Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator at Montana (FCS) (2003-2009)

Prior Experience as Head Coach: Montana (FCS) (2003-2009).

Other Notable Facts: Hauck was an extremely successful Head Coach at Montana (overall record of 80-17 (82.4% wins))(Big Sky Coach of the Year in 2006, 2007, and 2009)(7 Big Sky Conference Championships  / Co-Championships), but is “on the hot seat” at UNLV

Offensive Coordinator

Current Tenure as Offensive Coordinator at UNLV: Timm Rosenbach is in his first season at the Offensive Coordinator at UNLV.  Rosenbach is also the Quarterbacks Coach at UNLV.  Rosenbach is facing the challenge of improving a UNLV offense that was ranked #88 in the nation for total offense last season.

Last Coaching Position: Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach at Montana (FCS) (2012)

Prior Experience as Offensive Coordinator: Montana (FCS) (2012), New Mexico State (2009), and Eastern Washington (FCS) (2001-2002)

Other Notable Facts: While Rosenbach was Offensive Coordinator at Montana in 2012, the Montana offense was #14 in the FCS for total offense.  Rosenbach was a highly successful quarterback at Washington State.  Rosenbach was a first round pick in the 1989 supplemental NFL draft, but his pro career only lasted 3 seasons due to injury.

Defensive Coordinator

Current Tenure as Defensive Coordinator at UNLV: Tim Hauck is in his first season as the Defensive Coordinator at UNLV.  Hauck is also the Cornerbacks Coach at UNLV.  Hauck is facing the challenge of improving a UNLV defense that was ranked #98 in the nation for total defense last season.

Last Coaching Position: Defensive Backs Coach for Cleveland Browns (NFL) (2012)

Prior Experience as Defensive Coordinator: None

Other Notable Facts: Tim Hauck is the younger brother of Head Coach Bobby Hauck.  Most of Hauck’s coaching experience is in the defensive secondary.  Hauck was twice selected as a 1st Team All-American Safety at Montana (FCS) and twice selected as the Defensive MVP of the Big Sky Conference.  Hauck played safety in the NFL for 13 seasons.

Special Teams Coordinator

Current Tenure as Special Teams Coordinator at UNLV: Head Coach Bobby Hauck is also the Special Teams Coordinator at UNLV

Last Coaching Position: Head Coach and Special Teams Coordinator at Montana (FCS) (2003-2009)

Prior Experience as Special Teams Coordinator: UNLV (& Head Coach) (2010-current), Montana (& Head Coach) (FCS) (2003-2009), Washington (1999-2001), and Colorado (1995-1997)

Other Notable Facts: See above

GRADE (Coaching): C minus

SCHEDULE

Total Home Games: 7

Consecutive Home Games:

§  Week 2 (Arizona), Week 3 (Central Michigan), and Week 4 (Western Illinois)

§  Week 10 (San Jose State) and Week 11 (Utah State)

Total Away Games: 5

Consecutive Away Games:

§  Week 8 (at Fresno State) and Week 9 (at Nevada)

Bye Weeks:

§  Week 6 (October 1, 2013 through October 7, 2013)

§  Week 12 (November 12, 2013 through November 18, 2013)

MWC Non-Division Games (i.e. games against MWC Mountain Division Teams):

§  Week 5 (Away at New Mexico)

§  Week 11: (Home vs. Utah State)

§  Week 13 (Away at Air Force)

Week 1: UNLV at Minnesota

Game #: 1

Game Date: Thursday, August 29, 2013

Kickoff Time: 6:00pm CT (4:00pm PT)

Stadium: TCF Bank Stadium (Minneapolis, MN)(Very Impressive.  Check it out: http://www.gophergridiron.com/page/show/327408-gopher-facilities)

Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea level

Elevation Change for UNLV: insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)

Travel Distance for UNLV: 1,286 miles (flight time is approximately 3 ½ hours)

Time Change for UNLV: increase by 2 hours (PT to CT)

Field Surface: artificial (FieldTurf)

Weather: (Kickoff time TBA) temperature may be in the 90’s at kickoff (6:00pm CT), but will cool during the game

Stadium Noise: moderate

Commentary: Some UNLV players may have difficulty handling the combination of heat and humidity.  Last season, Minnesota beat UNLV by a score of 30-27 in a thrilling triple-overtime game that ended past midnight.  Fun Fact: The mosquito is the state bird of Minnesota J

Week 2: Arizona at UNLV

Game #: 2

Game Date: Saturday, September 7, 2013

Kickoff Time: 7:30pm PT (8:30pm MT)

Stadium: Sam Boyd Stadium (Las Vegas, NV)

Elevation of Stadium: 1,600 feet

Elevation Change for Arizona: insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)

Travel Distance for Arizona: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)

Time Change for Arizona: decrease by 1 hour (MT to PT)

Field Surface: artificial (TurfTech)

Weather: Temperature may be around 100 degrees at kickoff (7:30pm), but will cool during the game.  Arizona practices in similar weather in Tucson.

Stadium Noise: moderate

Commentary: Arizona has an extra day to prepare for this game because Arizona plays a Friday game in the prior week (Week 1).  UNLV has two extra days to prepare for this game because UNLV plays a Thursday game in the prior week (Week 1).

Week 3: Central Michigan at UNLV

Game #: 3

Game Date: Saturday, September 14, 2013

Kickoff Time: TBA

Stadium: Sam Boyd Stadium (Las Vegas, NV)

Elevation of Stadium: 1,600 feet

Elevation Change for Central Michigan: insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)

Travel Distance for Central Michigan: 1,682 miles (flight time is approximately 4 hours)

Time Change for Central Michigan: decrease by 3 hours (ET to PT)

Field Surface: artificial (TurfTech)

Weather: (Kickoff time TBA)  Kickoff will likely be around 7:00pm due to high heat in Las Vegas.  Temperature may be around 100 degrees at 7:00pm.

Stadium Noise: moderate

Week 4: Western Illinois at UNLV

Game #: 4

Game Date: Saturday, September 21, 2013

Kickoff Time: TBA

Stadium: Sam Boyd Stadium (Las Vegas, NV)

Elevation of Stadium: 1,600 feet

Elevation Change for Western Illinois: insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)

Travel Distance for Western Illinois: 1,358 miles (flight time is approximately 3 ½ hours)

Time Change for Western Illinois: decrease by 2 hours (CT to PT)

Field Surface: artificial (TurfTech)

Weather: (Kickoff time TBA)  Kickoff will likely be around 7:00pm due to high heat in Las Vegas.  Temperature may be around 100 degrees at 7:00pm.

Stadium Noise: moderate

Commentary: Fun Facts:  Western Illinois mascot is “Fighting Leathernecks.”  “Leatherneck” is a nickname for a US Marine: http://www.usmcpress.com/heritage/usmc_terms.htm.  Semper Fi!  US Department of Defense granted permission to Western Illinois to use the official seal and mascot of the US Marine Corps.

Week 5: UNLV at New Mexico

Game #: 5

Game Date: Saturday, September 28, 2013

Kickoff Time: 6:00pm MT (5:00pm PT)

Stadium: University Stadium (Albuquerque, NM)

Elevation of Stadium: 5,100 feet

Elevation Change for UNLV: increase by 3,500 feet

Travel Distance for UNLV: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)

Time Change for UNLV: increase by 1 hour (PT to MT)

Field Surface: artificial (FieldTurf)

Weather: insignificant (night game in late September)

Stadium Noise: moderate

Commentary: New Mexico has an extra week to prepare for this game because New Mexico has a bye in the prior week (Week 4).  Fun Fact: There is a city in New Mexico called Las Vegas.

Week 6: October 1, 2013 through October 7, 2013

BYE WEEK

Week 7: Hawai’i at UNLV (MWC West Division Game)

Game #: 6

Game Date: Saturday, October 12, 2013

Kickoff Time: TBA

Stadium: Sam Boyd Stadium (Las Vegas, NV)

Elevation of Stadium: 1,600 feet

Elevation Change for Hawai’i: increase by 1,560 feet

Travel Distance for Hawai’i: 2,758 miles (flight time is approximately 5 ½ hours)

Time Change for Hawai’i: increase by 2 hours (HT to PT)

Field Surface: artificial (TurfTech)

Weather: (kickoff time is TBA) temperature will likely be around 100 degrees during the daytime

Stadium Noise: moderate

Commentary: Jet lag could be a problem for some of the younger Hawai’i players who are not accustomed to Hawaii’s long trips.  UNLV has an extra week to prepare for this game because UNLV has a bye in the prior week (Week 6).

Week 8: UNLV at Fresno State (MWC West Division Game)

Game #: 7

Game Date: Saturday, October 19, 2013

Kickoff Time: 7:00pm PT

Stadium: Bulldog Stadium (Fresno, CA)

Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea level

Elevation Change for UNLV: decrease by 1,265 feet

Travel Distance for UNLV: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)

Time Change for UNLV: none

Field Surface: artificial (FieldTurf)

Weather: insignificant (night game in mid-October)

Stadium Noise: moderate

Commentary: Fresno State has an extra week to prepare for this game because Fresno State has a bye in the prior week (Week 7)

Week 9: UNLV at Nevada (MWC West Division Game)

Game #: 8

Game Date: Saturday, October 26, 2013

Kickoff Time: TBA

Stadium: Chris Ault Field at Mackay Stadium (Reno, NV)

Elevation of Stadium: 4,610 feet

Elevation Change for UNLV: increase by 3,010 feet

Travel Distance for UNLV: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)

Time Change for UNLV: none

Field Surface: artificial (FieldTurf)

Weather: (kickoff time TBA) temperature could drop to the 40’s by nighttime

Stadium Noise: high

Commentary: Rivalry game

Week 10: San Jose State at UNLV (MWC West Division Game)

Game #: 9

Game Date: Saturday, November 2, 2013

Kickoff Time: TBA

Stadium: Sam Boyd Stadium (Las Vegas, NV)

Elevation of Stadium: 1,600 feet

Elevation Change for SJSU: increase by 1,515 feet

Travel Distance for SJSU: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)

Time Change for SJSU: none

Field Surface: artificial (TurfTech)

Weather: (Kickoff time TBA) insignificant (early November)

Stadium Noise: moderate

Commentary: UNLV plays rival Nevada in the prior week (Week 9)

Week 11: Utah State at UNLV

Game #: 10

Game Date: Saturday, November 9, 2013

Kickoff Time: TBA

Stadium: Sam Boyd Stadium (Las Vegas, NV)

Elevation of Stadium: 1,600 feet

Elevation Change for Utah State: decrease by 3,110 feet

Travel Distance for Utah State: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)

Time Change for Utah State: decrease by 1 hour (MT to PT)

Field Surface: artificial (TurfTech)

Weather: (Kickoff time TBA) insignificant (early November)

Stadium Noise: moderate

Week 12: November 12, 2013 through November 18, 2013

BYE WEEK

Week 13: UNLV at Air Force

Game #: 11

Game Date: Thursday, November 21, 2013

Kickoff Time: 7:30pm MT (6:30pm PT)

Stadium: Falcon Stadium (near Colorado Springs, CO)

Elevation of Stadium: 6,621 feet

Elevation Change for UNLV: increase by 5,021 feet

Travel Distance for UNLV: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)

Time Change for UNLV: increase by 1 hour (PT to MT)

Field Surface: artificial (FieldTurf)

Weather: temperature could drop down to the 20’s by the end of the game; possible light snow before or during game

Stadium Noise: moderate

Commentary: UNLV will be dealing with both a significant elevation increase (5,021 feet) and significant temperature decrease (approximately 40 degrees).  Moreover, most UNLV players have significant experience playing in hot weather, but little or no experience playing in cold weather.  Last season, UNLV played VERY poorly in cold weather.  Neither Air Force nor UNLV will be adversely affected by the short week (Thursday game) because both teams have a bye in the prior week (Week 12).

Week 14: San Diego State at UNLV (MWC West Division Game)

Game #: 12

Game Date: Saturday, November 30, 2013

Kickoff Time: TBA

Stadium: Sam Boyd Stadium (Las Vegas, NV)

Elevation of Stadium: 1,600 feet

Elevation Change for SDSU: increase by 1,525 feet

Travel Distance for SDSU: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)

Time Change for SDSU: none

Field Surface: artificial (TurfTech)

Weather: insignificant (game in late November)

Stadium Noise: moderate

Commentary: UNLV has two extra days to prepare for this game because UNLV has a game on Thursday in the prior week (Week 13)

GRADE (higher grade indicates favorable schedule): B minus

NOTE: Grading Standards

Grades are based on a national scale.  Unlike modern academia, my grades are not inflated.  A grade of “C” is average.  A grade of “C” is neither good nor bad; it is simply average.  A grade of “A” or “F” is rare.