Coaches establish friendly rivalry
By Ferd Lewis and Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writers
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — For University of Nevada-Las Vegas football coaches John Robinson and Bruce Snyder, this is the weekend "that guy" comes to town.
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Friday night at Las Vegas' Sam Boyd Stadium, where UNLV meets the University of Hawai'i, the 50-year-old Jones will be the head coach on the sidelines opposite Robinson, UNLV's head coach, and Snyder, his trusted long-time assistant.
"We go back a hundred years," Snyder said.
"One hundred and six," Robinson said.
Jones recalled: "Robby recruited me to Oregon. In fact, he came in to my high school and worked me out, which I don't know if it was even legal in those days. But I went there (to Oregon) because of those guys."
When Jones got buried in a depth chart that included Norv Turner, he eventually transferred to UH in 1973, where he fell off the radar screen of Robinson and Snyder.
Five years later they were watching the NFL on television and Snyder remembered seeing Jones again, this time in an Atlanta Falcons uniform. "And, I'm like, 'Hey, that's that guy!' " Snyder said.
"I think that probably surprised them," Jones said.
No more so, perhaps, than seeing him become an NFL and college head coach.
Since then, there have been additional sightings and, after running into each other at coaches' meetings and in the NFL, where Robinson and Snyder were together with the Los Angeles Rams, a friendship has begun.
"When Bruce was (head coach at Cal) and Arizona State and Robby was at USC, they used to come to our (NFL) camps," Jones said. "Now, they probably know our offense as well as anyone."
"I think June has made Hawai'i an outstanding football team," Robinson said.
• Probing eyes: NFL scouts Larry Bryan (Houston) and Tom McConnaghy (San Diego) spent yesterday watching UH's 2 1/2-hour practice and meeting with coaches.
They are primarily looking at seniors Jeremiah Cockheran, Travis LaBoy, Kelvin Millhouse and Isaac Sopoaga, coaches said.
• Odds say it's even: Oddsmakers have listed the UH-UNLV game as "even" on several betting lines and the Warriors no more than a one-point underdog on any line.
• Defensive ends ailing: Defensive end Tony Akpan suffered what has initially been diagnosed as bruised ribs and sat out most of yesterday's practice.
Defensive end Mel Purcell also sat out with an elbow injury and is listed as questionable for Friday's game.
Freshman wide receiver Jason Rivers (hamstring) said he will return to practice today and plans to play Friday.
• Packing a punch: The Rebels are calling themselves "Pac-10 East" with four transfers from the Pac-10 on their roster, including running back Larry Croom, who came from Arizona and leads the team with a 6.1 average per rush.
Since Robinson arrived at UNLV in 1999, seven former Pac-10 players have played for the Rebels.
• Smart answer: A cheer went out after yesterday's practice from the UH receivers and defensive backs when they were excused from running sprints, something that UH coach June Jones said he does on occasion for the players who pretty much sprint more than others during plays and drills.
But to be excused, they must pass a quiz, receiver Michael Miyashiro said.
"Coach asked me, 'Did you run enough today?' " Miyashiro said. "I had to tell him 'no' because that's the right answer."
• Brother act: UNLV junior linebacker Mike Tinoisamoa is the younger brother of former UH linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, a rookie starter with the St. Louis Rams.
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044 .
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042 .
