By: Tarrian Rodgers
A little bit of rest and relaxation may be all the Nevada Wolf Pack need to get back on track after an inconsistent start. After the team’s bye week, they have four games left to determine what this season will behold.
“Everybody is emotionally and physically tired right now, me being one of them,” said Coach Brian Polian. “I’m happy our guys get to go into the bye with a win and we get a chance to collectively catch our breath and hopefully get some guys back physically healthy so we can focus on going to Fresno State and trying to get to 5-4.”
The immediate goal for the team as it stands right now is getting healthy. From defense to offense to special teams, the whole Nevada team as it stands is really banged up.
This week for Nevada will consist of very light practices which should allow some of those injuries to heal. For Nevada it has been nothing but football from start to finish. And it’s nice to just have a break from things.
Going back to the football aspect, Nevada enters its bye week with an overall record of 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the Mountain West, they are currently third in the West Division behind San Diego State (4-0 in league) and San Jose State (3-2).
Nevada controls its own destiny from here on out. They still play those two teams, so that means they are still very much alive in the divisional title race. The Wolf Pack also needs two more wins over its final four games to become bowl eligible for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons.
The key for Nevada after the bye is win games that they should win. Any inconsistency should be left at the door from here on out. After the bye week Nevada faces Fresno State, which has won four straight over the Wolf Pack. However, this Fresno State (2-6, 1-4) team has struggled.
For Nevada it’s the definition of a winnable game, but to be fair so were Wyoming and UNLV and Nevada lost to those teams. So it’s important for Nevada to not let the failures of the first half of the season play any role in how they will finish off the end of it.
“We definitely need this,” said defensive end Ian Seau “We need to let our minds relax away from football and not prepare for a game. We need to decompress from everything and focus on other things in life before we go on.”
The consensus among the Wolf Pack players is that they dearly need to win out to give themselves a legit shot to make this season a magical one. Nevada’s goal is very attainable they just have to buckle down and find consistency. The key word for Nevada from here on out is consistency.
Be consistent in everything they do, whether it’s watching film or practicing, recouping from injury, whatever. From here on out, Nevada needs to set a strict goal and stick to it. The message should be they still have something to fight for.
Their goal is out in front of them. It’s what they do from here that truly matters.
