UNLV Rebels

By Jason Beauchamp · October 29, 2008 · 11:16 AM

This week at BYU, it felt like it was gonna happen, just getting over that hump.

We didn't let anything really stand in our way. We took a bus ride up there that I think was seven or eight hours there and back. I actually think that brought us a little closer. I think teams are really built on being close and spending time with each other. I think that brought us closer. And I think just playing against BYU and understanding that they have one of the longest winning streaks at home in the nation and they're very proud of that, we being the team that we are, we're always looking for something that we can claim, call our own, just be proud of.

That was what really got us up for that game. The team that you saw on Saturday was the team that we can always be, and we can even play better. You would never see it in our record right now, but those that have taken the journey with us, they understand that there's guys out there who put their hearts on the line.

You've got Omar Clayton, you've got Phillip Payne, you've got a lot of guys who took huge hits and are taking huge hits all the time, and they're putting their bodies basically through hell. And they get up because we have a lot of pride in this team. Our record won't show that right now, but to anyone that's watched the game and been there step by step, you have recognized that this is a changed team this year. Whtever we can get and whatever is in our grasp, we're going to do everything in our power to take it.

These last four games have just not gone our way. It's all a building process. We've gotten better every year to now where those games are expected to be wins. We've just got to get that winner's mentality. I talked about everything being mental and just taking a wear on you mentally when you lose games like that. That's all it is. It's a part of growing up. It's a part of building a great team. All great teams have started somewhere.

Once we're old and come back to our alma mater, hopefully we can be proud of something we started. As far as from coaches, players that have been through this long haul, they keep their heads up and keep fighting because 7-5 doesn't sound bad, and that's a chance to go to a bowl game, so that's still in our grasp. There's the understanding that we are still building and still making a name for ourselves.

On to TCU ...

This week, we have a huge challenge, but the great thing is we have it at home against TCU. Once again, our backs are against the wall, there is no turning back. It's either now or never. TCU, they're great competitors, they have great athletes and it's going to be a track race. Those guys can move, and I think they have that winner's mentality. I don't think they'll take us lightly.

We're always looking to send a message out, and taking nothing away from other games that we play after this, this is a great opportunity to make a statement. It's a statement for the community and Las Vegas and for ourselves that we're a really good team and we can play against anybody. It would be convincing. It's not only that TCU is ranked and beat BYU and everything, but it would be a huge ego booster. I think that's really what we need at this point. We need confidence in ourselves and confidence that we can go out and win every game.

Hopefully we'll react and see that BYU game as a sign that we're that much closer to finishing that out. That's three straight games where it's come down to the last couple of minutes. And we should feel like we're ready to take that step right now, because I guarantee you that everyone is getting real tired of losing in that fashion. Hopefully time has paid its toll, and this will be the game where we just get over that hump and just finishing the game with a 'W'.

One step closer to continuing the journey, one step closer to our goals, this is Jason Beauchamp, signing off.