RENO, Nev. — Nevada senior running back Luke Lippincott likely will get a hardship waiver for a sixth year of eligibility in 2009 after being lost for the season with a knee injury in Saturday's loss to Texas Tech, running back coach Jim Mastro said.

Coach Chris Ault will file a request for such a waiver after the season and it is "almost a slam dunk" the NCAA will grant it, Mastro told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Lippincott's top priority the next several months is to have his torn left ACL surgically repaired and then begin rehabilitation.

However, the Western Athletic Conference's rushing leader from a year ago may end up remaining with the team on road trips — even though travel squads are limited to 60 players — because of the leadership he offers, Mastro said Monday.

"Well see what the doctors say," Mastro said. "We dont want anything to affect his rehab. Im sure Coach (Ault) will look into that. Games that are close, hell drive to. Hes that kind of kid. But the most important thing for him is to rehab."

Lippincotts presence would be a big boost for the corps of backs the Pack has remaining. But Mastro also said the lead-by-example Lippincott has already made a big impact on the four sophomore Vai Taua, who is listed as the starter for Saturday's game at No. 6 Missouri; second-teamer Brandon Fragger, a junior; third-teamer Lampford Mark, a redshirt freshman; and sophomore Courtney Randall.

"If this would have happened last year, we would have had Vai, who was acting like a 2-year-old; Fragger, who was always hurt; and Courtney, who couldnt really figure things out," said Mastro, who believes Lippincotts hardship request is

"So we had Luke and that was it. Theyre all men now. Theyre grown up and theyre men, and a lot of it is because of Luke. They saw the approach he took to the game and theyve kind of emulated it.

"The guys took it upon themselves that theyre not going to let Luke go out like that. Theyre going to make him proud. Everythings going to be good. Thats why we have depth."

Taua, a 5-foot-10, 225-pound back from Lompoc, Calif., who turns 20 next month, apparently has matured nearly 18 years in the last 12 months. He quit the team in the first week of October and then two weeks later approached Ault about returning. Ault hasnt always been receptive to such requests, but allowed Taua to return.

"I have a lot more maturity," said Taua, who led the Pack with 103 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the season-opening, 49-13 win over Grambling State on Aug. 30. "I understand things better and why things happen.

"Yeah, definitely, (returning to the team) was the best decision I ever made." Fragger, 5-9, 195, has had shoulder and hamstring issues last season and in camp this year, but when hes healthy hes been productive.

"Were all like brothers," Fragger said. "(Lippincotts injury) affected us a lot emotionally, but its something to build off of. Were ready to pick up the flag and keep going. We know what weve got to do."

The wild card could be the 6-1, 200-pound Mark, who had a shoulder injury in camp and has yet to see the field. He is the fastest of the Pack backs.

"Hell get back in the mix," Mastro said. "Were not losing a whole lot except for experience and your leader. But as far as talent, theyre all about the same. Youre losing your captain, your dad, the father figure of the group."

And theres a decent chance "Dad" will be back in 2009.

"The first thing he said to me after the game was, one, Coach, I didnt lay on the field," Mastro said of Lippincott, who hobbled off the field after the injury. "And, two, Notre Dame."

Nevada opens the 2009 season at Notre Dame on Sept. 5.

"Those are the first things he said to me as we were walking off the field," Mastro said. "Thats typical of what he is."