The Backyard Batting Cage

While much of America might view Wisconsin’s trip to Las Vegas as a season-opening vacation, the 12th-ranked Badgers and their myriad of fans know differently. Nothing comes easy in this series. Wisconsin is fortunate to be 6-2 against UNLV.

The Rebels’ pair of victories have left lasting impressions. UNLV rocked the Badgers 17-7 at the Silver Bowl in 1986 and 23-5 in Madison in 2003. The 1986 game remains one of the Rebels most significant victories in school history.

“It was our first Big Ten win and the second biggest win at the school at the time behind the BYU victory in 1981,” said South Point casino executive and former UNLV quarterback Steve Stallworth. “I think we have shown that we can play with some of the big boys and beat them.”

That message was delivered loud and clear in front of a record 32,207 fans at what is now called Sam Boyd Stadium.

“All I remember is there were a lot of people. More red than I had ever seen in my life,” said Palms casino owner and former UNLV safety George Maloof. “It was a special moment.”
The Badgers rolled into Las Vegas with its strong reputation, enormous fan following and popular band.

“It was exciting,” said Daren Libonati, the former executive director of the Thomas & Mack Center and Sam Boyd Stadium and a placekicker on that UNLV squad. “We almost upset them the year before and we knew when they came to our stadium we were capable of beating them.”

The Badgers had rallied in the fourth quarter in 1985 to defeat UNLV, 26-23, in front of 68,123 fans in Madison. The Rebels returned home educated about what big time football was like and what it would take to compete at that level. The team knew it wasn’t far off and that their day would eventually arrive.

Twelve months later it did.

“We knew we were better,” said Stallworth. “We were faster and we had better athletes. We just had a ton of confidence going into that game.”

The Badgers scored first, but Stallworth’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Tony Gladney tied the game 7-7 at halftime.

“It was a close game,” Maloof said. “I remember it being halftime and knowing that we were not only in the game, but we could win it.”

The Rebel defense, feeding off a spirited effort by future rap mogul Suge Knight, shined under the bright stadium lights and put its offense in position to take charge of the game.
Libonati was called on to kick a 30-yard field goal with 9:17 to play in the third quarter.

“When I was warming up my coach was telling me ‘This is why you play the position. This is your moment. Go out there and do your best,’” Libonati said. “We believed this would be the decider because our defense was holding them.”

Libonati booted his kick through the goal posts and gave UNLV a lead it would never lose. Ickey Woods added a 14-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to seal a 17-7 win for the Rebels.

During the exuberant post-game celebration, the team hoisted interim coach Wayne Nunnely on its shoulders and carried him off the field. Nunnely, who had replaced Harvey Hyde at the end of spring drills, was awarded the head coaching job and a contract extension.

UNLV has been the underdog in all eight games against Wisconsin but rarely have they conceded a game without putting up a fight.

The Rebels went back to rainy Madison in 2003 and stunned the Badgers again 23-5. They reunited in Madison the following year and despite Wisconsin touting the game as their “payback” opportunity, the Badgers had to fight with everything they had to win 18-3.

The 2007 showing was equally as tough. Wisconsin, ranked No. 5, needed a late fourth quarter touchdown to pull off a come-from-behind 20-13 victory.

“It’s like David and Goliath,” Libonati said. “Once you knock down Goliath one time, you know you can do it again. If the guys before us have done it, then we can do it. So much of winning and losing comes down to what you believe.”

The 1986 and 2003 upset victories are proof that it possible for the 2010 Rebels to do it again — even if Sam Boyd Stadium looks and sounds more like Camp Randall West at times.

“They bring so many people to town,” Maloof said of the Badgers’ enormous following. “We are playing at home, but we get the sensation that we are on the road. From a pride perspective, that jacks you up a little bit. You want to protect your turf.”

The Rebels and first year coach Bobby Hauck will get their chance to do just that on Saturday night.

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