2008 Nevada Wolf Pack football team

The 2008 Nevada Wolf Pack football team represented the University of Nevada, Reno during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Nevada competed as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The Wolf Pack were led by Chris Ault in his 24th overall and 5th straight season since taking over as head coach for the third time in 2004. They played their home games at Mackay Stadium.[1][2]

2008 Nevada Wolf Pack football
ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference
2008 record7–6 (5–3 WAC)
Head coachChris Ault (24th season)
Offensive coordinatorChris Klenakis (15th season)
Offensive schemePistol
Defensive coordinatorNigel Burton (1st season)
Home stadiumMackay Stadium
(Capacity: 29,993)
2008 Western Athletic Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 11 Boise State $  8 –0     12 –1  
Louisiana Tech  5 –3     8 –5  
Nevada  5 –3     7 –6  
Hawaii  5 –3     7 –7  
Fresno State  4 –4     7 –6  
San Jose State  4 –4     6 –6  
Utah State  3 –5     3 –9  
New Mexico State  1 –7     3 –9  
Idaho  1 –7     2 –10  
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Nevada utilized Ault's own creation, the "Pistol" offense. The offense was directed by offensive coordinator Chris Klenakis in his 15th overall and 8th straight season and defense was led by first–year defensive coordinator Nigel Burton.

Nevada finished the regular season with a 7–5 mark and 5–3 in WAC play, which resulted in a three-way tie for second-place in the conference. Hawaii and Louisiana Tech both likewise finished with 5–3 conference records. During the season, the Wolf Pack played three ranked teams: Texas Tech, Missouri and Boise State. Nevada lost each game, but gave Boise State its closest contest in conference play, losing by seven points.[3] Nevada, however, suffered a setback when they lost to New Mexico State, who were called by one publication the "perennial WAC bottom feeders".[4][5]

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick was named 2008 WAC Offensive Player of the Year. During the regular season, he passed for 2,479 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushed for 1,115 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was aided by running back Vai Taua, who ran for 1,420 yards and 14 touchdowns. It was the first time in school history that Nevada had two 1,000 yard rushers on the team simultaneously.[3][6]

Nevada secured its fourth straight bowl game appearance and faced Maryland in the 2008 Humanitarian Bowl. The Wolf Pack lost in a high–scoring and record–setting game by 35 to 42.

Previous season

The Wolf Pack finished the 2007 season 6–7 and 4–4 in WAC play to finish in a three–way tie in fourth place and lost the New Mexico Bowl to New Mexico by 0 to 23.

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 306:00 p.m.Grambling State (Div. I FCS)*
W 49–1322,772[7]
September 66:00 p.m.No. 12 Texas Tech*
  • Mackay Stadium
  • Reno, NV
L 19–3524,453[7]
September 139:30 a.m.at No. 6 Missouri*
CSNBA/FSNL 17–6954,202[7]
September 277:00 p.m.at UNLV*
MWSNW 49–2733,078[7]
October 42:00 p.m.at Idaho
KAME-TV/CSNCAW 49–1415,013[7]
October 111:00 p.m.New Mexico State
  • Mackay Stadium
  • Reno, NV
ESPNGPL 45–4812,475[7]
October 181:00 p.m.Utah State
  • Mackay Stadium
  • Reno, NV
W 44–1713,159[7]
October 259:00 p.m.at Hawaii
KAME-TV/CSNCA/Oceanic PPVL 31–3840,225[7]
November 76:00 p.m.at Fresno State
ESPN2W 41–2833,207[7]
November 151:00 p.m.San Jose State
  • Mackay Stadium
  • Reno, NV
W 41–1714,343[7]
November 221:00 p.m.No. 9 Boise State
ESPN2L 34–4127,057[7]
November 2911:30 a.m.at Louisiana Tech
ESPNGPW 35–3117,254[7]
December 301:30 p.m.vs. Maryland*
ESPNL 35–4226,781[7]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Pacific time

Game summaries

Grambling State
Grambling State at Nevada
1 234Total
Tigers (Div. I FCS) 0 076 13
• Wolf Pack 14 71414 49
  • Date: August 30, 2008
  • Location: Mackay Stadium
    Reno, NV
  • Game start: 6:05 p.m. PDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 18 minutes
  • Game attendance: 22,772
  • Game weather: Temperature: 86 °F (30 °C) • Weather: Clear and Windy • Wind: 20 MPH
  • Referee: Pete Gautreau
  • TV announcers (None): None
See also: Grambling State Tigers football
Overall record Last meeting Result
0–1 1972 GSU, 37–3

Texas Tech
Texas Tech at Nevada
1 234Total
• No. 12 Red Raiders 7 7714 35
Wolf Pack 3 637 19
  • Date: September 6, 2008
  • Location: Mackay Stadium
    Reno, NV
  • Game start: 6:05 p.m. PDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 22 minutes
  • Game attendance: 24,453
  • Game weather: Temperature: 91 °F (33 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: NW 6 MPH
  • Referee: Jon Bible
  • TV announcers (None): None
See also: 2008 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
First meeting

at Missouri
Nevada at Missouri
1 234Total
Wolf Pack 7 1000 17
• No. 6 Tigers 17 212110 69
  • Date: September 13, 2008
  • Location: Faurot Field
    Columbia, MO
  • Game start: 11:40 a.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 26 minutes
  • Game attendance: 54,202
  • Game weather: Temperature: 75 °F (24 °C) • Weather: Cloudy, Rainy and Gusty • Wind: S 12 MPH
  • Referee: Daniel Romeo
  • TV announcers (CSNBA/FSN): N/A
See also: 2008 Missouri Tigers football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
First meeting

at UNLV
Nevada at UNLV
(Battle for the Fremont Cannon)
1 234Total
• Wolf Pack 7 21714 49
Rebels 17 370 27
  • Date: September 27, 2008
  • Location: Sam Boyd Stadium
    Whitney, NV
  • Game start: 7:06 p.m. PDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 20 minutes
  • Game attendance: 33,078
  • Game weather: Temperature: 95 °F (35 °C) • Weather: Partly Cloudy • Wind: NW 5 MPH
  • Referee: Clair Gausman
  • TV announcers (MWSN): James Bates, Todd Christensen and Molly Sullivan (sideline)
See also: 2008 UNLV Rebels football team and Fremont Cannon
Overall record Last meeting Result
19–14[n 1] 2007 NEV, 27–20

at Idaho
Nevada at Idaho
1 234Total
• Wolf Pack 7 14721 49
Vandals 0 077 14
  • Date: October 4, 2008
  • Location: Kibbie Dome
    Moscow, ID
  • Game start: 2:07 p.m. PDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 20 minutes
  • Game attendance: 15,013
  • Game weather: Indoors
  • Referee: Terry Leyden
  • TV announcers (KAME-TV/CSNCA): Bob Akamian and Scott Gordon
See also: 2008 Idaho Vandals football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
16–9 2007 NEV, 37–21

New Mexico State
New Mexico State at Nevada
1 234Total
• Aggies 7 141710 48
Wolf Pack 10 14147 45
  • Date: October 11, 2008
  • Location: Mackay Stadium
    Reno, NV
  • Game start: 1:05 p.m. PDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 31 minutes
  • Game attendance: 12,475
  • Game weather: Temperature: 44 °F (7 °C) • Weather: Mostly Sunny • Wind: NW 19 MPH
  • Referee: Rich Kollen
  • TV announcers (ESPNGP): N/A
See also: 2008 New Mexico State Aggies football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
10–1 2007 NEV, 40–38

Utah State
Utah State at Nevada
1 234Total
Aggies 0 737 17
• Wolf Pack 6 141014 44
  • Date: October 18, 2008
  • Location: Mackay Stadium
    Reno, NV
  • Game start: 1:05 p.m. PDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 28 minutes
  • Game attendance: 13,159
  • Game weather: Temperature: 69 °F (21 °C) • Weather: Cloudy with Possible Rain • Wind: NW 10 MPH
  • Referee: Frank White
  • TV announcers (None): None
See also: 2008 Utah State Aggies football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
14–4 2007 NEV, 31–28

at Hawaii
Nevada at Hawaii
1 234Total
Wolf Pack 7 3714 31
• Warriors 7 71014 38
  • Date: October 25, 2008
  • Location: Aloha Stadium
    Halawa, HI
  • Game start: 6:07 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 23 minutes
  • Game attendance: 40,225
  • Game weather: Temperature: 77 °F (25 °C) • Weather: Rain and 87% Humidity • Wind: SW 8 MPH
  • Referee: Gerald Wright
  • TV announcers (KAME-TV/CSNCA/Oceanic PPV): Bob Akamian and Scott Gordon of KAME-TV/CSNCA and Jim Leahey and Russell Yamanoha of Oceanic PPV
See also: 2008 Hawaii Warriors football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
6–6 2007 HAW, 28–26

at Fresno State
Nevada at Fresno State
1 234Total
• Wolf Pack 7 101410 41
Bulldogs 7 0147 28
  • Date: November 7, 2008
  • Location: Bulldog Stadium
    Fresno, CA
  • Game start: 6:06 p.m. PST
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 36 minutes
  • Game attendance: 33,207
  • Game weather: Temperature: 63 °F (17 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: WNW 5 MPH
  • Referee: Greg Burks
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Joe Tessitore and Rod Gilmore
See also: 2008 Fresno State Bulldogs football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
14–24–1 2007 FRES, 49–41

San Jose State
San Jose State at Nevada
1 234Total
Spartans 0 3140 17
• Wolf Pack 3 141410 41
  • Date: November 15, 2008
  • Location: Mackay Stadium
    Reno, NV
  • Game start: 1:05 p.m. PST
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 17 minutes
  • Game attendance: 14,343
  • Game weather: Temperature: 56 °F (13 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: SE 3 MPH
  • Referee: Land Clark
  • TV announcers (None): None
See also: 2008 San Jose State Spartans football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
12–8–2 2007 SJSU, 27–24

Boise State
Boise State at Nevada
(rivalry)
1 234Total
• No. 9 Broncos 14 10710 41
Wolf Pack 0 32110 34
  • Date: November 22, 2008
  • Location: Mackay Stadium
    Reno, NV
  • Game start: 1:07 p.m. PST
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 43 minutes
  • Game attendance: 27,057
  • Game weather: Temperature: 49 °F (9 °C) • Weather: Broken Clouds • Wind: S 3 MPH
  • Referee: Pete Gautreau
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Mark Johnson, Tom Scott and David Augusto (sideline)
See also: 2008 Boise State Broncos football team and Boise State–Nevada football rivalry
Overall record Last meeting Result
12–22 2007 BSU, 69–674OT

at Louisiana Tech
Nevada at Louisiana Tech
1 234Total
• Wolf Pack 0 71414 35
Bulldogs 7 10140 31
  • Date: November 29, 2008
  • Location: Joe Aillet Stadium
    Ruston, LA
  • Game start: 1:36 p.m. CST
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 24 minutes
  • Game attendance: 17,254
  • Game weather: Temperature: 55 °F (13 °C) • Weather: Overcast • Wind: 5–10 MPH
  • Referee: Bill McCabe
  • TV announcers (ESPNGP): N/A
See also: 2008 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team
Overall record Last meeting Result
4–4 2007 NEV, 49–10

vs. Maryland
Nevada vs. Maryland
(Humanitarian Bowl)
1 234Total
• Terrapins 13 15014 42
Wolf Pack 14 0714 35
See also: 2008 Maryland Terrapins football team and 2008 Humanitarian Bowl
Overall record Last meeting Result
First meeting

Notes
  1. In 1985, UNLV was forced to forfeit all 7 wins from the 1983 season and all 11 wins from the 1984 season, including their victory in the California Bowl.[8] Nevada was given a win on the Fremont Cannon as a result. See Wikipedia:WikiProject College football/Vacated victories for an explanation of how vacated victories are recorded.

References
  1. "Nevada Football 2018 Media Guide" (PDF). University of Nevada, Reno. 2018. p. 138. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  2. "Nevada Yearly Results". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  3. Maryland Terrapins vs. Nevada Wolf Pack Preview Archived 2011-09-29 at the Wayback Machine, ESPN, 2008, Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  4. Nevada Team Notes, USA Today, December 15, 2008, Retrieved February 8, 2009.
  5. Marcus, Emerson (October 28, 2008). "Nevada Struggles to Stop Unraveling". The Nevada Sagebrush. Archived from the original on May 28, 2009. Retrieved February 8, 2009.
  6. "Humanitarian Bowl Media Guide" (PDF). University of Nevada. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 28, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
  7. "Combined Team Statistics". University of Nevada, Reno. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
  8. McCurdie, Jim (March 13, 1985). "UNLV Punished for Using Ineligible Football Players". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.