Friday September 21, 2001

Robinson and Mackovic face new challenges

It would seem Arizona is the overwhelming favorite for tomorrow night's game against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

After all, Arizona is 2-0 and the Rebels are 0-2.

The Wildcats average 29.5 points per game while UNLV averages just 19 points per game.

The Rebels have not defeated a Pacific 10 Conference team since 1991, when they beat Oregon State.

UNLV junior quarterback Jason Thomas has four interceptions, while UA junior quarterback Jason Johnson has only thrown one - off a deflected ball in the season opener.

But why do the Wildcats picture themselves as underdogs?

"If you look at their track record, they lost two games that they should have won," Johnson said. "They are probably going to be the best team that we have played so far."

UNLV head coach John Robinson and UA have a long-standing rivalry, but it goes back to Robinson's days at Southern Cal, where he was the Trojans' head coach for 12 years. UNLV and UA have never played against each other.

Robinson said he is familiar with Arizona's unorthodox style of defense, considering his Trojans beat the Wildcats in five of seven tries.

"I have had a lot of experience playing Arizona and (the double-eagle flex) defense," Robinson said. "Obviously, (UA head) coach (John) Mackovic brings another dimension to the offense. We know that Arizona is a good team."

Mackovic and Robinson have never faced each other on the collegiate level, but they battled once in the NFL.

When Robinson coached the Los Angeles Rams, his team shut out the Mackovic-led Kansas City Chiefs, 16-0.

Times changed, and the coaches are now accustomed to their new programs, both of which struggled in recent seasons.

The Rebels finished the 1998 season with a dismal 0-11 record, while Mackovic - hired following two sub-par seasons from former UA head coach Dick Tomey - is trying to lead the Wildcats to a bowl game for the first time in three seasons.

This game could be the turning point in each coach's season - one team is looking for their first victory, the other is trying to avoid their first loss.

With a Wildcat victory, Mackovic could open the season 3-0, something the Wildcats accomplished once in the past six seasons.

If the Rebels lose, they'll be 0-3 for only the fourth time in team history - and it will be the first time in Robinson's 25 years of coaching.

If the Rebels want to win, they must stop Johnson.

The junior quarterback excelled in his first two starts as a collegian, completing 66 percent of his passes.

"Jason has had two good weeks," Mackovic said. "He has done a very good job of avoiding traffic and getting rid of the ball when he needs to. We will continue to change things just enough to keep defenses off balance, and Jason continues to learn week by week. He is coming along very well."

UNLV coaches said this week UA sophomore tailback Clarence Farmer impressed them. Farmer leads the Arizona ground attack with an average of 104 yards per game and three touchdowns so far this season.

On the defensive side of the ball, Robinson said he is well aware of Arizona junior middle linebacker Lance Briggs.

Briggs has given opponents nightmares this season, leading the Wildcats with 16.5 tackles. He also has one sack.

"The middle linebacker position has been a phenomenal position down through the years," Robinson said. "I think (Briggs, Brandon Nash, and Ray Wells) are the keys to that defense with their ability to run and makes plays."