Nevada Tomorrow

Dave Reardon searches for Nevada fans in a Reno watering hole, talks to the bartender, and writes about Nevada's freshman sensation QB, Colin Kaepernick.

Kaepernick, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound redshirt freshman, took over during the Fresno State game on Oct. 6 when starter Nick Graziano was lost for the season due to injury. After Nevada lost to FSU, Kaepernick caught the nation's eye with a breakout performance in a four-overtime 69-67 loss at Boise State. On national television, he rushed for 177 yards and two TDs and passed for 243 and three.

Since then, he's led the Pack to three consecutive wins. Kaepernick is 10th nationally in passing efficiency and has thrown just one interception as a starter.

"I'm very impressed. The young kid has played phenomenal," Hawaii coach June Jones said.

Dan Hinxman of the Reno Gazette-Journal has more about Kaepernick in an article comparing what Colt Brennan has accomplished in his career to Kaepernick, who is just getting started. Watching him play against Boise and Fresno, he's like a cyborg gazelle. The UH defense will need to play a great game to contain him and the Nevada rushing attack. It's an exciting matchup.

Further down the page of the Star-Bulletin article, Brian McInnis writes that Colt Brennan is cleared to play, but...

Just because Brennan is cleared doesn't necessarily mean he will receive the bulk of playing time against the Wolf Pack. He took just five snaps against the Warriors' scout team during practice yesterday, and backups Tyler Graunke and Inoke Funaki still got the lion's share of the work.
"Tyler will be next and Inoke will probably get some playing time as well," quarterbacks coach Dan Morrison said. "They'll both see playing time. You have to prepare for this, and they're both planning on doing that. So in their mind-set, they assume they will play."

Awww yeah. More excitement from the offense.

Stephen Tsai writes about Brennan receiving limited practice time yesterday, injuries to Malcolm Lane and Kenny Estes, and the promotion of A.J. Martinez to starter on the kickoff team. He also gets reaction from Nevada coach Chris Ault to UH running the pistol last week.

Against Fresno, the Warriors ran the Pistol eight times — four rushes for 33 yards, four pass completions for 80 yards.

"We did see that," said Nevada coach Chris Alt, who created the scheme three years ago.

In the Pistol, the quarterback is in the shotgun, 4 yards from the line of scrimmage, and the running back is 3 yards directly behind the quarterback. In UH's four-wide offense, Brennan also is 4 yards from the line of scrimmage, but the running back is aligned on his side.

Syracuse also has started to use the Pistol.

"It's getting pretty widespread," Alt said.

Brian McInnis has a Notebook article with quotes from the UH coaches about the challenges facing the Warriors against the Wolf Pack.

But McMackin will make no excuses about the No. 13 Warriors' final regular-season road game, especially regarding the quick turnaround from a physical Fresno State contest.

"This is a Thursday for us because we lose a day," he said of yesterday's team practice, "(but) we worked on Nevada during the bye week (before Fresno State). So, we broke down the film and looked at what they did and plan, then compare it to what they've done. We've had enough time, it's just the players getting refreshed. I think we've had a chance to be prepared."

Meanwhile, offensive line coach Dennis McKnight was wary of the Wolf Pack defensive front, calling them "probably the best D-line we'll play." He knows the Pack's D-line coach, Jim House, and his team's tenacious game plan.

"Their ends are up the field, and if you lean on them they'll spin back inside on you," he said. "Their inside guys press the pocket and are relentless like junkyard dogs, which is what you want."

Also from that article:

Quarterback Colt Brennan was named yesterday as one of five candidates for the Johnny Unitas Award, along with Oregon's Dennis Dixon, Kentucky's Andre Woodson, Boston College's Matt Ryan and Louisville's Brian Brohm.

Right on.

UPDATE: Here's a preview of the game from the AP's Scott Sonner.

The weather also could benefit Nevada, with the game time temperature expected to be in the upper 40s.

But don't try to tell that to Brennan, who prepped at Irvine, Calif., before moving to the islands.

"Everyone talks about the conditions. I think everyone on our team is tired of hearing about it," Brennan said.

"When you get out there on the football field, you're running around. Your body temperature rises up. I love playing in the cold. I played some my best football in the cold," he said.

"So I'm dying to get out there Friday because I really want to play because I think I can have a really good day."