ERIC M. JUKELEVICS

UA sophomore halfback Clarence Farmer attempts to break away from some UNLV defenders during Saturday's game at Arizona Stadium. Farmer was benched for most of the second half after the referees told head coach John Mackovic that the running back might be ejected for conduct on the field.

Tuesday September 25, 2001

UA sophomore running back Clarence Farmer was noticeably absent for most of the second half of Saturday's win against UNLV because of numerous reasons, one being that the sophomore was talking trash to his opponents.

His fumble in the first half also made the decision easier for UA head coach John Mackovic.

"He was not limited by only his fumble," Mackovic said. "The referees came to me and told me that he was talking a lot of trash in (player's) faces, and everyone could see it. It was pretty obvious and (the referees) said, 'Coach, you better get him out of here because you got trouble brewing.' We just had to give him a chance to calm down a bit."

Mackovic said he didn't mind the referees bringing up the problem.

"What I really appreciate about referees in our league is that they are looking to head off trouble," Mackovic said. "Most of the time when something happens, before they come to me, they have already tried to say, 'Calm down guys, watch what your doing.'"

Farmer, who finished the game with 43 yards, had just three carries in the second half, the last coming with nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Along with bringing a high-powered offensive attack to Arizona, Mackovic brought a new post-game tradition - the "Bear Down" Award - to honor players that made significant plays during games.

This week's "Bear Down" winner was sophomore halfback Anthony Fulcher for running a play-fake on the UNLV defense, allowing freshman running back Tremaine Cox to break away for an 80-yard touchdown run.

"Anthony's job was to fake to the left real hard, and he flew out of the back field, and three guys took a step - just a step," Mackovic said. "By that time, Tremaine was gone. Had he loafed, had he just gone over there like, 'Why do they have me coming over here?,' those guys would have stood still, and one of them would have made the tackle. Once Tremaine got past them, they couldn't catch up to him."

Along with Fulcher, senior defensive end Eli Wnek - who has been sidelined with a stress fracture in his foot since the beginning of the summer - was honored with Mackovic's award.

"Another guy who got the 'Bear Down' award was Eli Wnek, who watched (UNLV's) sidelines, called substitutions, called out personnel and tried to be part of the game," Mackovic said.

Through its first three games, the UA football team has remained virtually injury-free.

Freshman defensive end Fata Avegalio will most likely see action this Saturday after dislocating his elbow at San Diego State and not playing against Idaho and UNLV.

"I've been working hard all this time trying to get back as soon as possible," Avegalio said. "They told me eight weeks. No. It wasn't going to happen."

Senior defensive end Alex Luna, who finished last season with 22 tackles, will likely miss this week's game against Washington State after having surgery to remove cartilage from his knee.

Mackovic said junior offensive lineman John Vorsheck, sidelined with an ankle injury, will work back into the rotation this week and should be ready to go against Washington State. Vorsheck served as the team's long-snapper on Saturday.

Senior cornerback Anthony Banks will be available this week after coming off an academic suspension.

Mackovic said he is hopeful Wnek will be available against Washington on Oct. 20.

"He's now in a boot for another two weeks, and then they take the boot off followed by CAT scan," Mackovic said. "It then becomes a matter of tolerance."