2008 Nevada Wolf Pack football team

2008 Western Athletic Conference football standings
	$ – Conference champion; Rankings from AP Poll

Nevada Wolf Pack football
2008 Nevada Wolf Pack football
Humanitarian Bowl, L 42–35 vs. Maryland
Conference	Western Athletic Conference
2008 record	7–6 (5–3 WAC)
Head coach	Chris Ault (24th season);
Offensive coordinator	Chris Klenakis (15th season)
Offensive scheme	Pistol
Defensive coordinator	Nigel Burton (1st season)
Home stadium	Mackay Stadium; (Capacity: 29,993)

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]

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

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	6:00 p.m.	Grambling State (Div. I FCS)*	Mackay Stadium Reno, NV		W 49–13	22,772[7]
September 6	6:00 p.m.	No. 12 Texas Tech*	Mackay Stadium Reno, NV		L 19–35	24,453[7]
September 13	9:30 a.m.	at No. 6 Missouri*	Faurot Field Columbia, MO	CSNBA/FSN	L 17–69	54,202[7]
September 27	7:00 p.m.	at UNLV*	Sam Boyd Stadium Whitney, NV (Battle for the Fremont Cannon)	MWSN	W 49–27	33,078[7]
October 4	2:00 p.m.	at Idaho	Kibbie Dome Moscow, ID	KAME-TV/CSNCA	W 49–14	15,013[7]
October 11	1:00 p.m.	New Mexico State	Mackay Stadium Reno, NV	ESPNGP	L 45–48	12,475[7]
October 18	1:00 p.m.	Utah State	Mackay Stadium Reno, NV		W 44–17	13,159[7]
October 25	9:00 p.m.	at Hawaii	Aloha Stadium Halawa, HI	KAME-TV/CSNCA/Oceanic PPV	L 31–38	40,225[7]
November 7	6:00 p.m.	at Fresno State	Bulldog Stadium Fresno, CA	ESPN2	W 41–28	33,207[7]
November 15	1:00 p.m.	San Jose State	Mackay Stadium Reno, NV		W 41–17	14,343[7]
November 22	1:00 p.m.	No. 9 Boise State	Mackay Stadium Reno, NV (rivalry)	ESPN2	L 34–41	27,057[7]
November 29	11:30 a.m.	at Louisiana Tech	Joe Aillet Stadium Ruston, LA	ESPNGP	W 35–31	17,254[7]
December 30	1:30 p.m.	vs. Maryland*	Bronco Stadium Boise, ID (Humanitarian Bowl)	ESPN	L 35–42	26,781[7]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Pacific time

Game summaries

Grambling State

Texas Tech

Texas Tech at Nevada

	1	2	3	4	Total
• No. 12 Red Raiders	7	7	7	14	35
Wolf Pack	3	6	3	7	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

at Missouri

Nevada at Missouri

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wolf Pack	7	10	0	0	17
• No. 6 Tigers	17	21	21	10	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

at UNLV

Nevada at UNLV
(Battle for the Fremont Cannon)

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Wolf Pack	7	21	7	14	49
Rebels	17	3	7	0	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)

at Idaho

Nevada at Idaho

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Wolf Pack	7	14	7	21	49
Vandals	0	0	7	7	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

New Mexico State

New Mexico State at Nevada

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Aggies	7	14	17	10	48
Wolf Pack	10	14	14	7	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

Utah State

Utah State at Nevada

	1	2	3	4	Total
Aggies	0	7	3	7	17
• Wolf Pack	6	14	10	14	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

at Hawaii

Nevada at Hawaii

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wolf Pack	7	3	7	14	31
• Warriors	7	7	10	14	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

at Fresno State

Nevada at Fresno State

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Wolf Pack	7	10	14	10	41
Bulldogs	7	0	14	7	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

San Jose State

San Jose State at Nevada

	1	2	3	4	Total
Spartans	0	3	14	0	17
• Wolf Pack	3	14	14	10	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

Boise State

Boise State at Nevada
(rivalry)

	1	2	3	4	Total
• No. 9 Broncos	14	10	7	10	41
Wolf Pack	0	3	21	10	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)

at Louisiana Tech

Nevada at Louisiana Tech

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Wolf Pack	0	7	14	14	35
Bulldogs	7	10	14	0	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

vs. Maryland

Nevada vs. Maryland
(Humanitarian Bowl)

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Terrapins	13	15	0	14	42
Wolf Pack	14	0	7	14	35

Date: December 30, 2008
Location: Bronco Stadium
Boise, ID
Game start: 2:30 p.m. MST
Elapsed time: 3 hours and 46 minutes
Game attendance: 26,781
Game weather: Temperature: 38 °F (3 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: SE 8 MPH
Referee: Clair Gausman
TV announcers (ESPN): Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard and Heather Cox (sideline)

References

"Nevada Football 2018 Media Guide" (PDF). University of Nevada, Reno. 2018. p. 138. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
"Nevada Yearly Results". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
Maryland Terrapins vs. Nevada Wolf Pack Preview Archived 2011-09-29 at the Wayback Machine, ESPN, 2008, Retrieved January 3, 2009.
Nevada Team Notes, USA Today, December 15, 2008, Retrieved February 8, 2009.
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.
"Humanitarian Bowl Media Guide" (PDF). University of Nevada. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 28, 2009. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
"Combined Team Statistics". University of Nevada, Reno. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2011-10-21.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[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.

[preview-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.

[statistics-7] "Combined Team Statistics". University of Nevada, Reno. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2011-10-21.

Nevada Wolf Pack football
Venues	Evans Field (1896–1905) Mackay Field and Stadium (I) (1915–1965) Mackay Stadium (1966–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Boise State UNLV (Fremont Cannon)
Culture & lore	Alphie and Wolfie Jr. Hail to our Sturdy Team Pride of the Sierra KUUB
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906–1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020