2009 UNLV Rebels football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 2009 UNLV Rebels football UNLV Rebels wordmark.svg 175 Mountain West Conference MW 5–7 3–5 Mike Sanford Sr. 5th Todd Berry 3rd Dennis Therrell 2nd Sam Boyd Stadium The 2009 UNLV Rebels football team represented the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) as a member of the Mountain West Conference (MW) during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by Mike Sanford Sr. in his fifth and final year as head coach, the Rebels compiled an overall record of 5–7 record with mark of 3–5 in conference play, placing sixth in the MW. The team played home games at Sam Boyd Stadium in Whitney, Nevada. In November, Mike Sanford was fired after five losing seasons, a 16–43 overall record, and no bowl game appearances. He won his last game as head coach against San Diego State on November 28, 28–24, with a fourth quarter comeback.Associated Press, College football | Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin dismisses 2 players https://web.archive.org/web/20091120200218/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/collegesports/2010284632_grid17.html November 20, 2009 , The Seattle Times, November 16, 2009 Schedule 2009 NCAA Division I FBS AP Pacific September 5 7:00 p.m. w y Sacramento State Sam Boyd Stadium Whitney, NV 38–3 22,195 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=292482439 Sacramento State Hornets vs. UNLV Rebels Box Score ESPN October 12, 2009 September 12 8:00 p.m. l y Oregon State 24 Sam Boyd Stadium Whitney, NV CBSCS 21–23 25,967 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=292552439 Oregon State Beavers vs. UNLV Rebels Box Score ESPN October 12, 2009 September 19 8:00 p.m. w y Hawaii Sam Boyd Stadium Whitney, NV mtn., CBSCS 34–33 29,717 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=292622439 Hawaii Warriors vs. UNLV Rebels Box Score ESPN October 12, 2009 September 26 12:00 p.m. l y Wyoming War Memorial Stadium Laramie, WY 27–30 19,196 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=292692751 UNLV Rebels vs. Wyoming Cowboys Box Score ESPN September 26, 2009 October 3 1:00 p.m. l y y Nevada Mackay Stadium Reno, NV Fremont Cannon 28–63 24,078 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=292762440 UNLV Rebels vs. Nevada Wolf Pack Box Score ESPN October 12, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091007101505/http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=292762440 October 7, 2009 live October 10 7:00 p.m. l BYU 20 Sam Boyd Stadium Whitney, NV mtn. 21–59 25,597 http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=292832439 Brigham Young Cougrs vs. UNLV Rebels Box Score October 11, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091016084454/http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=292832439 October 16, 2009 dead October 17 7:00 p.m. l y Utah 24 Sam Boyd Stadium Whitney, NV mtn. 15–35 26,315 http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=292902439 https://web.archive.org/web/20120219171646/http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=292902439 dead February 19, 2012 Utah Utes vs. UNLV Rebels Box Score ESPN October 18, 2009 October 24 5:00 p.m. w y New Mexico University Stadium Albuquerque, NM mtn. 34–17 24,021 http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=292970167 https://web.archive.org/web/20120219171710/http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=292970167 dead February 19, 2012 UNLV Rebels vs. New Mexico Lobos Box Score ESPN October 24, 2009 October 31 1:00 p.m. l y TCU 6 Amon G. Carter Stadium Fort Worth, TX Versus 0–41 33,541 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=293042628 UNLV Rebels vs. TCU Horned Frogs Box Score ESPN October 31, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091103214103/http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=293042628 November 3, 2009 live November 7 7:00 p.m. w Colorado State Sam Boyd Stadium Whitney, NV mtn. 35–16 15,902 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=293112439 Colorado State Rams vs. UNLV Rebels Box Score ESPN November 8, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091111112317/http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=293112439 November 11, 2009 live November 14 3:00 p.m. l y Air Force Falcon Stadium Colorado Springs, CO mtn. 17–45 25,370 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=293182005 UNLV Rebels vs. Air Force Falcons Box Score ESPN November 15, 2009 November 28 Sunday 6:00 p.m. w San Diego State Sam Boyd Stadium Whitney, NV mtn. 28–24 13,730 https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=293322439 San Diego Aztecs vs. UNLV Rebels Box Score ESPN.com January 12, 2010 UNLV Rebels Schedule 2009 https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/2439/season/2009 ESPN August 17, 2025 2009 UNLV Rebels Schedule and Results https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/nevada-las-vegas/2009-schedule.html College Football at Sports-Reference.com Sports Reference August 17, 2025 2009 Football Schedule https://unlvrebels.com/sports/football/schedule/2009 University of Nevada, Las Vegas August 17, 2025 Preseason At the 2009 Mountain West Conference Media Day in Las Vegas, the Rebels were picked to finish fifth in the conference, the highest preseason ranking since the Rebels were picked to finish tied for fifth with BYU in 2004.Greene Ryan UNLV picked fifth in MWC preseason football poll Las Vegas Sun July 21, 2009 http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/sports-unlv/2009/jul/21/unlv-picked-fifth-mwc-preseason-football-poll/ https://web.archive.org/web/20090830041422/http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/sports-unlv/2009/jul/21/unlv-picked-fifth-mwc-preseason-football-poll/ August 30, 2009 live August 12, 2009 ESPN NFL analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. named the Rebels, along with Miami (FL), California and SMU, as one of his sleepers that could make "national noise" in 2009.Greene Ryan UNLV football notebook: ESPN mention begins exciting morning for Rebels Las Vegas Sun August 6, 2009 http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/aug/06/unlv-football-notebook-espn-mention-begins-excitin/ August 8, 2009 Kiper stated: "If Omar Clayton, their quarterback, can stay healthy and get the ball to Ryan Wolfe, UNLV, I think, can go bowling for the first time in a long time and be a factor in the Mountain West Conference."Staff ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. taps UNLV football as a sleeper in 2009 Las Vegas Sun August 6, 2009 http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/elsewhere/2009/aug/06/espns-mel-kiper-jr-taps-unlv-football-sleeper-2009/ August 8, 2009 Paul Myerberg of The New York Times ranked UNLV in the 84th position in their preseason Quad Countdown, in front of Ball State and behind UTEP. The ranking was an improvement of 27 spots from their 2008 preseason ranking of 111th. Myerberg predicted that the Rebels would go 6-6 and earn their first bowl berth since their 2000 Las Vegas Bowl victory against Arkansas.Myerberg Paul The Quad Countdown: No. 84 UNLV The New York Times June 9, 2009 http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/09/the-quad-countdown-no-84-nevada-las-vegas/ August 8, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090628220657/http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/09/the-quad-countdown-no-84-nevada-las-vegas/ June 28, 2009 live Junior quarterback Omar Clayton received much praise during the preseason including that from The New York Times and Mel Kiper, Jr. and was named as one of the favorites to be named the conference's Offensive Player of the Year by Bleacher Report's Mountain West Conference writer.2009 Mountain West Conference Media Days Bleacher Report https://bleacherreport.com/articles/219103-2009-mountain-west-conference-media-days August 8, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090817124903/http://bleacherreport.com/ August 17, 2009 live Senior wide receiver Ryan Wolfe was named as one of the best non-BCS receivers in the country by The New York Times and was named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list during the preseason.Greene Ryan Wolfe one of 37 on Biletnikoff Watch List Las Vegas Sun August 11, 2009 http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/sports-unlv/2009/aug/11/wolfe-one-37-biletnikoff-watch-list/ August 12, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090819071142/http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/sports-unlv/2009/aug/11/wolfe-one-37-biletnikoff-watch-list/ August 19, 2009 live Wolfe entered the season only 50 receptions and 900 yards away from breaking the conference's career receptions and receiving yards records. Wolfe and senior linebacker Jason Beauchamp were both named to the All-MWC preseason team.Greene Ryan Rebels not satisfied despite praise in preseason poll Las Vegas Sun July 22, 2009 http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jul/22/rebels-not-satisfied-despite-high-praise-preseason/ August 8, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090825103246/http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jul/22/rebels-not-satisfied-despite-high-praise-preseason/ August 25, 2009 live On July 3, sophomore linebacker Bryce Saldi suffered severe injuries following a skateboarding accident while in southern California. Saldi was placed in the intensive care unit at Loma Linda University Medical Center.Greene Ryan UNLV linebacker Bryce Saldi remains hospitalized in California Las Vegas Sun July 28, 2009 http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/sports-unlv/2009/jul/28/unlv-linebacker-saldi-remains-hospitalized-califor/ August 8, 2009 Game summaries Sacramento State Hornets 0 3 0 0 Rebels 10 0 7 21 UNLV opened their season as a 22-point favorite against NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) squad Sacramento State from the Big Sky Conference. Both teams' passing games were hampered by the 32 mph wind gusts that were recorded around the stadium. UNLV took a 10–3 lead into halftime after a one-yard touchdown run by junior runningback Channing Trotter and a 39-yard field goal by senior kicker Kyle Watson gave UNLV the 10–0 lead after the first quarter. Sacramento State scored their only points of the game on a 44-yard field goal by Hornets' kicker Chris DinizMagruder Jack Dailey shines in Sac State's loss Sacramento Bee September 6, 2009 http://www.sacbee.com/395/story/2163866.html September 7, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090909173011/http://www.sacbee.com/395/story/2163866.html September 9, 2009 dead mdy-all In the second half, the Rebels exploded on offense, starting with another 1-yard touchdown run by Trotter late in the third quarter. Trotter scored his third one-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to push the Rebels lead to 24–3. The Rebels increased their lead midway through the fourth on a 55-yard strike from senior quarterback Omar Clayton to senior wide receiver Rodelin Anthony. Clayton's backup, sophomore Mike Clausen, played the final minutes of the game and sealed the Rebels victory with a 4-yard touchdown run. The win against Sacramento State was their fourth straight opener.Greene Ryan Rebels slam door on Hornets with huge second half, 38-3 Las Vegas Sun September 6, 2009 http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/sep/06/rebels-slam-door-hornets-huge-second-half-38-3/ September 7, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090908175305/http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/sep/06/rebels-slam-door-hornets-huge-second-half-38-3/ September 8, 2009 live Oregon State 2009 Oregon State Beavers football team Beavers 0 6 14 3 Rebels 0 0 7 14 Hawai'i 2009 Hawaii Warriors football team Warriors 10 10 0 13 Rebels 7 7 7 13 Wyoming Rebels 7 6 7 7 Cowboys 3 10 7 10 Nevada Battle for Nevada Rebels 0 21 7 0 Wolf Pack 14 7 14 28 BYU 2009 BYU Cougars football team Cougars 10 14 21 14 Rebels 0 7 7 7 Utah 2009 Utah Utes football team Utes 7 21 0 7 Rebels 3 3 9 0 New Mexico Rebels 14 7 3 10 Lobos 0 3 7 7 TCU Rebels 0 0 0 0 Horned Frogs 10 10 7 14 Colorado State Rams 0 7 3 6 Rebels 0 14 7 14 Air Force Rebels 0 3 7 7 Falcons 7 17 7 14 San Diego State Aztecs 14 7 3 0 Rebels 7 0 0 21 Personnel Recruiting yes 2009 Jordan Barrett LB Sherman Oaks, CA Notre Dame HS 6 3 225 4.7 2009-01-28 3 3 B.J. Bell DE Santa Ana, CA Santa Ana College 6 4 245 4.65 2009-01-09 3 3 Caleb Herring QB Perris, CA Citrus Hills HS 6 4 180 4.75 2008-06-05 3 3 Bradley Randle RB Murrieta, CA Vista Murrieta HS 5 10 190 4.40 2008-11-25 3 3 Nathan Holloway DT Las Vegas, NV Spring Valley HS 6 2 332 5.36 2008-12-07 2 3 Doug Zismann OL Phoenix, AZ Shadow Mountain HS 6 2 265 5.3 2008-11-01 2 3 Kenny Brown DB Santa Clarita, CA College of the Canyons 6 0 180 — 2008-12-16 1 3 Alex Degiacomo DB Torrance, CA El Camino College 6 1 190 4.57 2008-12-17 1 3 Brandon Babineaux WR Folsom, CA Folsom HS 6 4 200 — 2009-02-04 2 2 Courtney Bridget DB Baltimore, MD Dunbar HS 6 3 185 4.5 2008-12-16 2 2 Mark Barefield WR Mesquite, TX North Mesquite HS 6 2 180 — 2008-09-29 2 2 Charles Childress DB Las Vegas, NV Bishop Gorman HS 6 0 182 4.59 2008-11-03 2 2 Mike Grant DB Rocklin, CA Sierra HS 5 10 180 4.5 2008-10-26 2 2 Sidney Hodge DB Las Vegas, NV Palo Verde HS 5 8 162 4.47 2009-02-04 2 2 Thomas Kilgore OL Fresno, CA San Joaquin Memorial HS 6 5 305 — 2009-01-28 2 2 Andrew Mack OL Plano, TX Plano West HS 6 2 290 — 2008-11-30 2 2 Irshad Stolden WR Rancho Cucamonga, CA Rancho Cucamonga HS 5 8 180 — 2009-01-18 2 2 Marcus Sullivan RB North Las Vegas, NV Cheyenne HS 5 8 162 4.55 2008-12-11 2 2 John Therell DB Las Vegas, NV Bishop Gorman HS 6 1 170 – 2008-12-15 2 2 Reggie Umuolo LB Peoria, AZ Centennial HS 5 11 195 4.7 2008-06-26 2 2 Robert Waterman OL Stevenson Ranch, CA Vista Ranch HS 6 2 275 — 2009-02-04 2 2 Warren Ziegler DB San Mateo, CA College of San Mateo 6 1 180 4.4 2008-11-30 2 2 yes 2009 UNLV Commit List for 2009 UNLV: Commits unlv 84 March 24, 2009 yes References UNLV Category:UNLV Rebels football seasons UNLV Rebels football