There have been many great teams in Wolf Pack history. Teams that stand out because of records set or thrilling wins or individual accomplishments. But one of the greatest teams to ever will the Silver and Blue – perhaps the greatest football team to date – came 20 years ago.
It was 1990 and half of Nevada’s current roster weren’t even born yet. Nevada wasn’t a Division I-A (now FBS) school yet. The aerial attacks that would come to mark Wolf Pack football later in the decade were not a thought just yet. The Pistol Offense that was created by Chris Ault and is now the hottest offense in college football was 15 years from its conception.
The Wolf Pack went 13-2 on the year, including a perfect 9-0 at home with the help of some of that “Mackay Magic.” After a 27-14 win over UL-Monroe to open the I-AA playoffs, Nevada would go on to post unforgettable back-to-back triple-overtime victories over Furman and Boise State to advance to the national championship game.
One of the defining qualities of the 1990 team has nothing to do with prolific numbers or individual accolades. No, what made that 1990 squad special were the characteristics that Coach Ault still preaches today: Every member of the team filling a role; Picking up the flag and moving forward in the face of adversity; A relentless never-say-die attitude; And the coming together of a group of individuals to form a singular, forceful unit with a common and unmistakable goal.
Sure, there were individual talents that stood out. A number of members of that 1990 Wolf Pack team would go on to professional careers. Many would take the life lessons learned by competing within a team environment and go on to lead successful lives beyond college. A handful would be enshrined in the Wolf Pack Hall of Fame.
But no individual was greater than the team itself. And the accomplishments of that team, which is the only team in the 104-year history of Nevada football to play for a national championship, speak for themselves.
For more on the 1990 team and a chronicle of the season, please read this story written by Joe Santoro of examiner.com: 1990 Nevada Football Team
On Saturday, the University of Nevada will welcome the 1990 team for its 20-year anniversary. More than 50 members of that team are expected back in Northern Nevada for the reunion. With help from the Nevada Football Alumni Association, here is a Where Are They Now on a number of members from that special team:
1990 Team Reunion – Where Are They Now? Tony Amantia, No. 55
Linebacker
Now Living In: Reno, Nev.
Career: High School Teacher/Head Football Coach (Damonte Ranch HS)
Family: Wife Autumn; Son Wyatt; Daughter McKayla
Stays Busy With: Fishing and riding mountain bikes
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: “The whole deal. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night, and I have a mullet and lots of muscle and we’re flying on a plane back from one of our many victories. Then I realize I was just dreaming.”
Bob Blair, No. 50
Linebacker
Now Living In: Reno, Nev.
Career: Patent Attorney
Family: Wife Cathy; Son Trent; Daughter Kate
Stays Busy With: Coaching youth sports, golfing and hunting
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Back-to-back overtime victories against Furman and Boise State in the playoffs, and watching Steve Bryant cover the opening kickoff after having his jersey shot off by the Fremont Cannon as the team ran out to start the game.
Michael Breaux, No. 66
Guard/Tackle
Now Living In: Miami Springs, Fla.
Career: Investigator
Family: Wife Ileana Sotolongo-Breaux
Stays Busy With: Coaching high school football and pursuing a graduate degree in Justice Management from Nevada.
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Beating Boise State in triple overtime.
Steve Bryant, No. 42
Linebacker/Defensive End
Now Living In: Sparks, Nev.
Career: Juvenile Probation Officer
Family: Wife Shelly; Sons Drew and Bubba
Stays Busy With: Coaching youth football, baseball and basketball
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Playing for the National Championship and getting shot by the Fremont Cannon
George Buddy, No. 57
Defensive End
Now Living In: Reno, Nev.
Career: General Manager of the Nugget Casino and Owner of the Wolfden
Family: Wife Margaurite; Children Parker, Beyonca and Deacon
Stays Busy With: Golf and recreation sports
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Joining the Wolf Pack and beating Boise State in the NCAA I-AA Playoffs.
Matt Clafton, No. 45
Middle Linebacker
Now Living In: Reno, Nev.
Career: VP/GM Panattoni Construction, Inc.
Family: Wife Kathleen; Son Zach; Daughter Riley
Stays Busy With: Coaching youth football and basketball and serving as a board member for the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundations and ACE High School.
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Watching the ball sail over the receiver’s head on 4th down in the third overtime against Boise State, and realizing the Wolf Pack would play for the National Championship.
Mark Drahos, No. 60
Defensive End
Now Living In: Carson City, Nev.
Career: General Manager at blue Mountain Steel, Inc.
Family: Wife Jodi; Daughter Makayla; Son Jacob
Stays Busy With: Mountain biking with his children and playing poker
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Beating Boise State in triple overtime to advance to the national championship game and watching fans tear down the goal posts as Ray Charles’ “Georgia on my Mind” played on the sound system.
Forey Duckett, No. 23
Defensive Back
Now Living In: Seattle, Wash.
Career: Real Estate Broker for Coldwell Banker
Family: Wife Janie; Daughters Camille and Lila; Expecting another child in December
Stays Busy With: Coaching basketball and track and fishing for salmon and steelhead.
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Making two interceptions in the last six minutes of the game against Montana State to put the Wolf Pack in position to win the game.
Anthony Edwards, No. 76
Right Tackle
Now Living In: Reno, Nev.
Career: High school teacher (Galena HS)
Family: Son Nathan; Daughter Ashley
Stays Busy With: Coaching the varsity football team at Galena HS
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Being part of the unbelievable run to the playoffs.
Jason Frierson, No. 2
Full Back
Now Living In: Las Vegas, Nev.
Career: Attorney
Family:
Stays Busy With: Running for Nevada State Assembly District 8
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Realizing the team chemistry the Wolf Pack had after beating Sacramento State.
Fred Gatlin, No. 1
Quarterback
Now Living In: Valencia, Calif.
Career: Teacher, personal trainer and author
Family: Wife Michele
Stays Busy With: Golf, acting and volunteering with the Sherriff Department’s Vital Intervention and Directional Alternatives Program
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Starting the season 9-0 and hearing the cannon go off after every scoring drive.
Nick Harker, No. 58
Linebacker
Now Living In: Bakersfield, Calif.
Career: Business Owner/Entrepreneur
Family: Wife Tammi; Children Hanz, Halle, Chaz; Niece Kira
Stays Busy With: Coaching, fishing, hunting and being active in his church group
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Beating Boise State in the playoffs.
Neil Hulbert, No. 77
Defensive Line
Now Living In: Reno, Nev.
Career: Dentist
Family: Wife Patty; Daughter Aubrey
Stays Busy With: Coaching youth sports and doing community dental volunteer work
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Winning the Big Sky Championship and establishing life-long friendships.
Harry “Paul” Jackson, No. 13
Defensive Back
Now Living In: Seattle, Wash.
Career: Gaming Agent
Family: Children Arianna, Jayden and Justin
Stays Busy With: Coaching youth football, baseball and basketball
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Beating Boise State in triple overtime in a packed Mackey Stadium to advance to the National Championship.
Jeff Kondra, No. 99
Defensive Tackle/Defensive End
Now Living In: Las Vegas, Nev.
Career: Father
Family: Wife Cheryl; Sons Tyler and Trevor
Stays Busy With: Coaching flag football and raising money for injured athletes
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Beating Boise State in triple overtime.
Tom Matter, No. 86
Tight End
Now Living In: Reno, Nev.
Career: Business Development
Family: Wife Kara; Child Kolten
Stays Busy With: Nevada Football Alumni Association, golfing, snow skiing and wakeboarding
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Back-to-back triple overtime wins against Furman and Boise State in the playoffs
Alan “A.J.” Maxwell, No. 67
Offensive Line
Now Living In: St. Paul, Minn.
Career: VP of Human Resources at Lockheed Martin
Family: Wife Tera; Children Jalen, Jayce and Malena
Stays Busy With: Spending time with family, enjoying time outdoors, volunteering with youth programs and serving the Mormon Church.
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Celebrating the triple overtime victory over Boise State to advance to the national championship game in the endzone at Mackey Stadium.
Kevin McKelvie, No. 15
Placekicker
Now Living In: Laguna Niguel, Calif.
Career: Supply Chain Consulting
Family: Daughter Brianna
Stays Busy With: Golf, snowboarding and mountain biking
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Sharing the excitement of the playoff victories with the team.
Sean Murphy, No. 78
Defensive Tackle
Now Living In: Orange County, Calif.
Career: Owns a Fashion design business with his wife
Family: Wife Renee; Son Ethan; Daughter Eva
Stays Busy With: Martial Arts and MMA
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: The comebacks and the “NEVADATUDE” the team developed.
David Norman, No. 43
Linebacker
Now Living In: San Jose, Calif.
Career: Runs an investment fund that invests money for company’s and private clients in the stock market
Family: Son Noah; Daughter Micaela
Stays Busy With:
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Celebrating on the field after the Furman game and playing in the championship game in Georgia.
Ryan O’Donnell, No. 52
Center
Now Living In: Rocklin, Calif.
Career: High School Teacher
Family: Wife Andrea (a former Nevada cheerleader); Daughters Alexandra and Rachel
Stays Busy With: Coaching high school football
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Beating Boise State and watching the fans storm the field and pull down the goal posts.
Roger Pelham, No. 72
Offensive Guard and Defensive Tackle
Now Living In: Sparks, Nev.
Career: Senior Planner for Washoe County
Family: Wife Kelly; Son William
Stays Busy With: camping, serving as a Cub Scout/Boy Scout leader and amateur rock hounding
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Beating Boise State to advance to the National Championship.
Shar Pourdanesh, No. 68
Left Tackle
Now Living In: Irvine, Calif.
Career: Corporate Executive, Public Speaker
Family: Sons Kamran, Julian and Alex
Stays Busy With: Playing basketball, working out and traveling
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: The last drive of the Wolf Pack’s come from behind victory against Idaho.
Dio Shipp, No. 90
Defensive Tackle
Now Living In: Riverside, Calif.
Career: Human Resources Director
Family: Wife Tracy; Sons Dyvon, Derrian and Dalen; Daughter Jennae
Stays Busy With: Church and coaching sons’ Little League baseball teams.
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Beating Boise State in triple overtime to advance to national championship game and watching the Wolf Pack fans tear down the goalposts after the game.
Kevin Sims, No. 30
Strong Safety
Now Living In: Colorado Springs, Colo.
Career: President and CEO of two fundraising and special events companies; Partner in an internet marketing company
Family: Wife Shalah
Stays Busy With: Community projects and golf tournaments
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Winning, playing for Coach Ault and building a relationship as a team.
Chris Vargas, No. 10
Quarterback
Now Living In: Reno, Nev.
Career: Financial Planner
Family: Wife Katie; Sons Nick and Drew
Stays Busy With: Nevada Football Alumni Association, golf and coaching youth sports
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Beating Boise State in triple overtime to advance to the national championship game.
Chris Wells, No. 61
Defensive Tackle
Now Living In: Reno, Nev.
Career: High School Teacher (Wooster HS)
Family:
Stays Busy With: Coaching football and track & field at Wooster HS
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Watching brother Tony Wells dominate the defensive end from Boise State.
Tony Wells, No. 78
Offensive Tackle
Now Living In: Reno, Nev.
Career: Senior Juvenile Probation Officer—Mental Health Unit
Family: Wife Petra; Daughters Kendall and Reese
Stays Busy With: Coaching volleyball
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Playing in the National Championship game.
Thomas Werbeckes, No. 56
Offensive Line
Now Living In: Reno, Nev.
Career: New Car Manager at Reno Toyota
Family: Wife Amanda; Son Hayden; Daughter Ava
Stays Busy With: Golf, skiing and traveling
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Returning to the team after knee surgery.
Raymond Whalen, No. 22
Running Back
Now Living In: Sacramento, Calif.
Career: Correctional Officer
Family: Girlfriend Carin Sanchez; Sons Neo and Leo
Stays Busy With: Diving
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Winning the league.
Tom Williamson, No. 81
Tight End
Now Living In: Reno, Nev.
Career: Sales Executive/Owner
Family: Wife Kathleen; Son Taylor; Daughter Bailey
Stays Busy With: fishing, cycling, golfing and coaching
Favorite memory of 1990 Season: Back-to-back triple overtime wins against Furman and Boise State in the playoffs
