Aug. 5, 2015
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RENO, Nev. - One by one, Nevada football's student-athletes began trickling into the Cashell Football Center, most of them hours early. The Wolf Pack's early arrival to the 2015 fall camp symbolized the team's eagerness to kick off the season.
The Wolf Pack reported back to campus on Tuesday for the team's first meeting of the season before officially opening the calendar year on Wednesday with a conditioning test in the morning and practice in the afternoon. Just like that, the 2015 season is underway here in Reno.
"We're all very happy and excited to be back with the team and on the verge of fall camp," said head coach Brian Polian, entering his third season at the helm after leading Nevada to a bowl game in 2014. "The first day back is like Christmas. There's a lot of energy in the building."
Returning 31 letter winners and 12 starters from last year's team that went 7-6, the Wolf Pack now has 29 practices before it's countdown to kickoff clock hits zero. Nevada opens the 2015 campaign on Thursday, Sept. 3, against UC Davis in Mackay Stadium.
10 tidbits from Nevada football's season-opening press conference:
1.) Practice time change fueled by academic interests
After practicing in the afternoon in the previous two years of the Polian era, Nevada will now practice in the morning this season. Practices are set between 8 and 9 a.m. most days as the team will get their on-field work done early, and have the rest of the day for academics.
Nevada is part of a growing trend in college football as more teams look to practice early. Nevada joins Oregon, Boston College, Iowa and a numerous Division I schools to switch to morning practices this fall. Polian spoke with multiple head coaches nationally before meeting with Wolf Pack academic advisor Andrew Caudill, and the findings were unanimous; it's feasible to schedule practice in the morning and class in the afternoon, and doing so will be positive both on and off the field.
The move will help on the field because the players will be fresh in the morning, rather than rigid after being stationary in a classroom for a large chuck of the day. It will also help in the class room as each player will have the entire afternoon to focus on academics, while also having the opportunity to take night classes.
"It was an academic-driven decision," said Polian. "The trend for professors is they want to teach more late in the morning and in the afternoons and we saw that a lot of players had to leave practice early last season. I think it will also benefit us coaches to get the players early and when they're fresh, but the main motivator in this decision was academics first."
2.) Two criteria for winner of QB battle; take care of the ball, score touchdowns
No stranger to taking questions about Nevada's quarterback battle entering fall camp, Polian made it pretty simple for what he expects from his to-be starting quarterback; Polian is looking for ball security, and the ability to get the offense into the end zone. Additionally, Polian said he won't rely on fashion points or statistics in making a decision.
"Whoever takes care of the rock and can lead us to touchdowns will play," said Polian.
That person will either be junior Tyler Stewart, sophomore Dante Mayes and redshirt-freshman Hunter Fralick. The Wolf Pack is also still awaiting word from the NCAA on the eligibility of sophomore Austin Kafentzis, who could factor into the QB battle if deemed eligible to play.
Stewart - the most experienced player in the competition - was one of four players to meet with the media today. When asked about the pressure of being in a position battle, Stewart responded that it's not much different than last year, when he was in a position battle for the No. 2 job behind Cody Fajardo.
"To be honest, I don't worry much about what's going on outside of the football field," said the 6-foot-4 native of Simi Valley, Calif. "I just go out there and take it play by play. I'm going about it the same way as last year; just go out there and do what I need to do."
3.) Henderson receives the "all clear"
Wide receiver Hasaan Henderson missed the final three games of the season last year after a tackle at Air Force resulted in a head and spinal concussion. It was a scary moment for all, as Henderson laid on the field for nearly 10 minutes before being carted off the field and taken to a Colorado Springs hospital.
It once looked as though Henderson's football career could be in doubt, but those days are long gone as the junior received the all clear to practice and play from Nevada's medical staff, some of the top doctors in the west coast, and even experts in the NFL, who received tapes and information on Henderson from Polian.
"It feels good to be recovered (and) not hurting after weights or rehab," said Henderson, who caught 45 passes for 579 yards in 2014 prior to his injury. "It feels good to be around the team more, too."
As for Henderson's individual goals for the season? The 6-foot-5 wideout said he hoped to catch everything that came his way, play more aggressive and to be a player his teammates look up to.
4.) Polian honored to attend father's Hall of Fame induction ceremony
Coach Polian will be by his father's side in Canton, Ohio, when the National Football League presents Bill Polian with a sculpture and gold jacket as part of this week's NFL Hall of Fame ceremonies. The Hall of Fame dinner is set for Thursday, while the enshrinement is set for Saturday.
Polian will take a late flight after practice today to Ohio to celebrate with his family. Assistant head coach Jim Hofher will run practices on Thursday and Friday. Polian won't be the only one leaving a camp to attend the ceremony; Peyton Manning will take a day off the Denver Broncos' camp to celebrate with Bill Polian, who drafted him in 1998 to the Colts.
"It's not a decision (to leave practice) I took lightly, but at the end of the day, that's my father and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity," said Polian. "Although I wish I didn't have to miss a practice, I decided this wasn't something that I wanted to miss and that I want to share this moment with my family."
5.) Corbett not impressed with Outland Trophy watch list nomination
One of the youngest players on a prestigious national watch list, Austin Corbett received numerous congratulations from family and friends on being named to the Outland Trophy watch list earlier this season. With poise and expectations that exceed his youth, Corbett said he's not ready to rest on the laurels of a watch list.
"I don't feel like I've arrived yet," said the local product from Sparks. "I don't see it as being as cool as others might have. At the end of the day, I want to be the one guy on the list who is left standing in December."
Corbett started in 12 games last season as a freshman, emerging as a breakout player on the team and in the MW. Despite being just a sophomore, he'll be expected to lead a rather youthful Union in 2015.
6.) Polian reveals top position battles
A quarterback competition draws all the preseason headlines, and as such, it's no secret that the Wolf Pack enters fall camp with a QB competition. That's not the only position up for grabs, however, as Polian revealed other areas he expected to have healthy competition.
Polian said Nevada's most prominent position battles will be at quarterback, cornerback, safety, center and right tackle. Nevada will look to replace Cody Fajardo's 13,141 career yards of total offense at QB, four starters in the defensive backfield and three starters on the offensive line.
"Everywhere in college football, (people) ask about what question marks a team has entering the season - that's the nature of this sport," said Polian. "The only way to begin to answer those questions is to get out there and compete, and that will start this afternoon."
7.) Butler looks to be a leader
James Butler entered last season as a wide-eyed, nervous freshman before rushing for 648 yards and five TDs in a stellar rookie campaign. Part of the reason that was made possible was due to mentoring from his older teammates, particularly senior RB Don Jackson.
Now a sophomore, Butler is looking to return the favor and carry a leadership role for his position unit and the offense.
"It's crazy (the jump from high school to college), but luckily I had guys like Don, Nate McLaurin and Kendall Brock to help me along," said Butler, a native of Bloomingdale, Ill. "I hope I can be that for the young guys this season."
Nevada returns a combined 1,592 yards and 12 touchdowns from Jackson (957, 7) and Butler (635, 5), and will have one of the top 1-2 punches at running back in the conference.
8.) Nevada enters fall camp with a healthy roster
The Wolf Pack is in good shape on the injury front, as Polian only had two injury updates to make with the media. Junior WR Kam Richardson will likely be out three to five weeks with a broken toe, while sophomore LB Travis Wilson is three to four days away from recovering from a hamstring strain.
"The vast majority of our team is in good shape, and hopefully it will stay that way," said Polian.
9.) Wolf Pack announces open practices
Coach Polian announced three open practices during today's practice. Nevada will host an open practice to members of The Blitz - Nevada football's financial support group - on Friday, Aug. 14. The Wolf Pack will host an open practice to all fans at Mackay Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 15. Lastly, Nevada will host a faculty and staff day with an open practice to all university faculty on Saturday, Aug. 22.
More information regaurding open practices will be released on NevadaWolfPack.com.
10.) Polian excited about the renovations to Mackay Stadium
The Nevada athletic department is currently putting its finishing touches on its renovation plan for Mackay Stadium. The $11.5 renovation began this spring with the construction of a two-story, 2,800-square foot restroom facility. By the 2016 season, Nevada will add an 8,000-square foot stadium club, loge boxes and club seats, and chairback seating on both sides of the stadium.
"Whenever we can improve the fan experience and we can show recruits that there is investment in the program, that's a huge benefit for us," said Polian. "We already have artwork of the renovations that we're currently showing to recruits."
