UNLV Rebels

By Jason Beauchamp · November 17, 2008 · 10:04 PM

Once again, we tasted victory, and it feels great.

I think what made the biggest difference as far as this past week was the fact that it was Senior Night. As a team we've been through so many close games, and so many ups and downs that we felt like we owed it to the seniors, owed it to the coaches and owed it to ourselves to make this game memorable and make this season memorable, because the Mountain West is a really tough conference this year.

We expected even a lot more out of ourselves, but, I mean, we took whatever we could get. I think Devin Moore is probably one of the best running backs we've played against this year, and that's a good credit to them and their line.

Mike Clausen, he's not exactly Omar. He's efficient, but he's not going to score at will like Omar. I think that does make a difference as far as pushing the defense and understanding that we have to hold them. Mainly, Rusty Worthen and Jacob Hales and Thor Pili, we've actually got really good seniors on defense that have a starting role. I think they're pretty well respected, and they all played huge. That made a big difference, being that it was Senior Night.

All the younger players saw that, and Wyoming, New Mexico and just this season in general is just one that you can put your name on, put your stamp on and be like 'Hey, I was a part of that, I'm glad to be a part of that.' I know Casey Flair and all those seniors should be proud to say that. They were at the start of something great, of a winning program. I'm lucky enough that I have another year, and hopefully we can continue this success, because this is the first year I've been here where I've been able to see this.

I talk to Beau Bell everyday. I talked to him today and he was saying 'I knew I should have redshirted'. It takes time. Not everyone realizes how much time. I know when I got here as a freshman, I would have never known that it would take that long, but I really see how much time it takes.

I think coach Sanford's done a wonderful job with us, and what he said was true. It was a long road, and you doubted some things and questioned some things. Losing, having four 2-10 seasons, what he says is true about growing. He's been through a lot of criticism, and we've got to give a lot of respect where respect's due. Congratulate that man. Don't criticize him and put him on the back burner like everyone does, because he lived up to what he said now. I think that next year will be even bigger. It should be to where it continues, and UNLV is always bowl eligible and always a big team in the Mountain West.

This past weekend, having a Thursday game, it being on national television, I think that was a huge step for us. I think that everyone will be proud just to say they were part of it.

That win right there was just all about the team, all about us. Not downplaying Wyoming, but we wanted that game so bad. We wanted to be able to say it was Senior Night and let people know we've changed, we're ready to make a difference and we're ready to go to a bowl game.

On to San Diego State ...

I'm a San Diego native, and I know the same goes for a lot of guys on the team. I watched the Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium growing up, and being able to play in Qualcomm Stadium is huge. I know I can't wait for that game. Guys like Ryan Wolfe, Geoffery Howard, there's plenty of guys from SoCal. Really, that game will be a great way to end our regular season play.

My most fond memory was watching Junior Seau blitzing. it was amazing to me. I loved how he played with fire. I knew back then, and remember thingking 'Man, does this guy know the plays?' I didn't get it. But at this point I understand. He was really a student of the game, and that's what made him better. That's what let him play in the league so long, and kept him healthy, too. He understod each week exactly who he was playing against and what he needed to do. If you've ever watched Junior Seau, he'll shoot through the line and hop into the exact gap where the ball's going. That was my favorite memory of watching the Chargers in Qualcomm Stadium.

What we can't do is let up. They're in the position that we were once in. In 2006, our last game was Air Force, they needed one more win to make it to a bowl game. Literally, our whole season, the one thing we could lay our hat on and the one thing we could say we did was we stopped Air Force from going to a bowl game. And that's what we did. They're in the same position right now.

They have nothing to lose. From a defensive standpoint, we have to be ready for anything. Reverses, trick plays, anything. The only thing they can do is spoil it for us and say 'Hey, we spoiled UNLV's season.'

For myself, personally, I'm just happy I'm still playing, happy I'm healthy, and I'm gonna go out there and have fun. Football season's a short season, and you never know when your time's up as far as playing this sport. I looked in the eyes of a couple of the seniors, guys like Johan Asiata, it was hard to really just look at them and know that's the last time they were gonna be in our home locker room, the last time they went through all of that.

It's kind of scary, because no one knows exactly what you're going to do after college. I'm just glad I have another year.

Signing off until next week, this is Jason Beauchamp.