In today’s edition of The Gazette is my story on UNLV. I concentrated on the Rebels’ turbulent season and the fact coach Mike Sanford likely needs to get them to a bowl to save his job.

According to the players I talked to, they aren’t concerning themselves with that.

“The coaches make sure we only worry about winning games,” quarterback Omar Clayton said.

UNLV needs to win its last two games to become eligible for its first bowl bid since 2000. But Sanford and the players said they like the pressure of having their “backs against the wall.”

“Adversity is something we’re used to,” linebacker  Jason Beauchamp said.

Also, on-line only, is my Around the Mountain West Conference notebook. Today’s deals mostly with the gargantuan showdown in Fort Worth on Saturday: No. 16 Utah vs. No. 4 TCU.

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