RENO - Junior quarterback David Neill may be back in his familiar No. 11 jersey Saturday night in Honolulu when the Wolf Pack takes on Hawaii in Aloha Stadium at 8 p.m. in a battle to get out of the Western Athletic Conference cellar.
The game, to be televised live locally by KOLO-TV Channel 8, will be the first between the two schools as members of the WAC and the first since a Hawaii victory 32 years ago in Honolulu.
Neill, who missed last week's game vs. UTEP and the second half at SMU the week before due to a shoulder and wrist injury, has healed and, though won't be 100 percent, should get the nod as the starter unless he has a setback between now and game time, head coach Chris Tormey said following Tuesday's practice.
"The wrist is fine, the hip is fine, the shoulder is a little sore but it feels pretty good. It's as far as I can go and as much as I can take the pain," Neill said. Sophomore Brett Staninger has played the last game-and-a-half and been productive as Neill's backup, throwing for 166 yards on 11 for 20 with two interceptions and a touchdown in the second half at SMU two weeks ago and 21-47 for 258 yards, three interceptions and two touchdowns vs. UTEP last week.
"I can move it all around; there are points where it hurts but it's getting better and stronger," Neill said.
Nevada, 1-8, 0-5 with three games left, returns home next week to host Rice (2-7, 1-4) and then closes the season at Tulsa (3-6, 2-3) Nov. 25.
"They (Hawaii) don't move 'til I'm almost under center so they do a good job of disguising what they're going to do and what kind of looks they're going to have so for me it's going to be different because I'm going to have to go right under the center so they'll move and give us the read we need,"
Nevada will work out here today and then head to Hawaii via Los Angeles early Thursday morning. With a four-hour layover in Los Angeles, the team will work out at Los Angeles Harbor Junior College, a JC near LAX, for Thursday's workout. The Pack, after arriving in Honolulu about 6 p.m. Thursday evening, has a 10 a.m. workout scheduled for Aloha Stadium Friday morning in preparation for Saturday night's game.
The Pack had defensive tackle/end Horacio Leyva (right ankle) back at practice Tuesday as well as wide receiver Mo Jones (hip pointer) and defensive tackle Isaiah Ross (neck) back in pads this week ready for duty after missing last week's game. Leyva and Ross have been starters and Jones a reserve though Jones could get the nod at the inside receiver position with Mike Crawford nursing an ankle and hamstring on his left side.
Notes: The Truckee Meadows Harvest Celebration, formerly known as the Truckee Meadows Wine Makers' Dinner, is set for next Thursday, Nov. 16, at the Eldorado Hotel and Casino from 6-9 p.m. A $200 donation per person or $375 per couple includes a gourmet dinner, wine and live entertainment. All proceeds go to the Athletic Association of the University of Nevada (AAUN), the fund-raising arm of the athletics department...The University of Nevada Alumni Association and the AAUN are planning a pre-game tailgate party at Aloha Stadium prior to the game with the free gift being a Wolf Pack beach towel for those buying tailgate party tickets...The team has planned a tour of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial immediately following Friday morning's practice. Aloha Stadium is next door to Pearl Harbor, located northwest of downtown Honolulu and Waikiki Beach.