RENO, Nev. (AP) Nevada head coach Chris Tormey doesn't care if
it's in-state rival UNLV or Division I-AA Southern Utah he's not
treating the game any differently.
Tormey is hoping to get his first win against the Rebels (3-1)
Saturday as head coach of the Wolf Pack (3-1). Tormey is 0-3
against UNLV as his leads his team in his fourth season at the Reno
school.
``I don't think we approach our preparation for this game any
different than any other game,'' Tormey said at his weekly
Quarterback Luncheon. ``I don't think that sends a very good
message.''
The Wolf Pack is off to its best start since 1994. Last week,
Nevada improved to 2-0 in the Western Athletic Conference with a
12-9 win over SMU.
Nevada ranks first in the WAC with 17 sacks and third overall in
total defense, allowing 331 yards per game. The Pack ranks fourth
in the conference in total offense.
``There are a lot of ways to win,'' Tormey said. ``One of those
is by playing great defense and taking the ball away.''
It will be the first time each school has had a winning record
entering the game since 1994, when a 5-4 UNLV squad secured a Las
Vegas Bowl bid with a 32-27 win over then 9-1 Nevada.
The Rebels have won the past three games in the series,
including a 21-17 win last year in Las Vegas.
Nevada has a 15-13 lead in the all-time series, in which the
winner takes home the Fremont Cannon.
``It's going to be a flat-out war out there,'' said Nevada
defensive tackle Derek Kennard Jr., who leads the team with five
sacks. ``The best team will win. The team that makes the fewest
mistakes will come out with a victory.''
The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Mackay Stadium in Reno.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)