Against the Warriors, Kretschmer rushed for 162 yards in 2001 and 73 last season. The Wolf Pack won both games, dominating the time of possessions largely because of Kretschmer's grind-it-out running style. He missed the 2002 game because of a knee injury.

Although Nevada coach Chris Ault is trying to open the passing lanes with his newly implemented three-wide Air Wolf offense, Kretschmer remains a threat.

"He's a tough runner," UH linebacker Chad Kapanui said. "That guy is real strong, and he's a hard worker."

"He's always going for that extra yard," Kapanui said.

UH coach June Jones said: "That back is a big-time player. He killed us up there (in Reno) three years ago. He's legitimate. He's got a motor on him. You've got to get two, three, four guys on him. He's got great leverage, and he's powerful, and he's always going forward."

Kretschmer, who led the nation in rushing as a second-year freshman in 2001, developed his strength working on his family's Nevada ranch and maintained it with his intense weight training. He also is a follower of the Lion King's Diet.

"I love meat," he said. "I'm a big meat fan — beef, chicken, pork. A good dinner begins with steak. I don't eat any vegetables or fruits."

Participating in 50 to 60 plays per game, "it's definitely a pounding, even if you're not carrying the ball," he said. "It's part of the game. You have to be mentally tough. I keep driving because I want to score. I hate to lose."

UH defensive coordinator George Lumpkin said the key to containing Kretschmer is to use the techniques employed in the second half of last week's 44-16 victory over Tulsa.

In the first half, the Warriors missed 14 tackles, enabling the Hurricane to gain an additional 73 yards after the misses (YAM). In the second half, the Warriors missed two tackles for an extra five yards.

"You have to use your legs when you try to tackle a guy like Kretschmer," Lumpkin said. "This is why you're in the weight room lifting weights and squatting and doing leg curls and leg extensions. In the first half (against Tulsa), too many of our guys were leaving their feet. When you do that, you have no power."

Lumpkin said each UH defender is instructed to bend his knees and, with his shoulder pads at the same height as an opponent's jersey number, wrap his arms around the ball-carrier.

"And then if you roll your hips and use your legs (for leverage), he'll come down, just like the rest of them," Lumpkin said. "If you do those things, the chances are you'll make the tackle."

UH safety Leonard Peters said: "You have to wrap up. That's the main thing. He can't run without his legs. If you wrap him up, he'll go down."

Kretschmer's strategy is this: "I have to keep my legs moving and try to break tackles."

Kretschmer noted the UH defenders are "big guys, man. They hit hard and they play tough. You have to take the beatings. If you meet a collision with a collision, it usually works out. If you're not running hard, they'll take your head off."