Bowl representative interested in Pack, Broncos

By STEVE RANSON

Nevada Appeal News Service

While Nevada and Boise State battled on the gridiron, a representative of Roady's Humanitarian Bowl took notes on both teams.

The Roady's Humanitarian Bowl is one of three automatic bowls awaiting a Western Athletic Conference team next month, and according to Danielle Brazil, either Boise or Nevada would be a good fit for the postseason game on Dec. 30.

"Right now 7-5 teams are going to be shoe-ins for WAC-contracted bowls," Brazil said during halftime.

She said one of this year's goals is to match teams to a bowl game based on geography.

"We're trying to be fiscally responsible," said Brazil, citing the expenses associated with funding teams to a bowl game.

She said Nevada would be a good fit for the Boise bowl. The Pack played Miami in 2006 at Bronco Stadium.

"Nevada was great, and Boise had a lot of fun with them," Brazil said.

Brazil figures at least four WAC teams will be eligible for bowl games, providing Louisiana Tech is invited to the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, just a 60-mile trip from Ruston. If Hawaii becomes bowl-eligible with six wins, she said the Warriors would probably stay home in Honolulu for the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 24.

Brazil said she has no idea whom the ACC would send to the Humanitarian Bowl.

"They're petty competitive and beating up each other," she said. "It could be any team from first through eighth."

Selection Sunday for picking teams to the various bowl games is Dec. 7.

"We'll find out who's in our bowl then," Brazil said.

Brazil also saw the San Jose-Fresno State game Friday in the Bay Area. She said Fresno State impressed her with the way the Bulldogs came back in the second half to win the game.

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Saturday marked the final home game for 14 seniors including a pair of Nevada players " Andy McIntosh of Douglas High School and Josh Mauga of Churchill County High School. Mauga capped a four-year career with a 46-yard interception for a touchdown in the third quarter. His touchdown and the ensuing point after try sliced the Boise lead to 31-24 at the time.

Nevada coach Chris Ault said all the seniors have been special, but he said Mauga and McIntosh are two "terrific young people who represented Nevada well."

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During halftime, the University of Nevada honored Hall of Fame standout Marion Motley.

Motley, who played for the Wolf Pack in the early 1940s, left the university and joined the Navy during World War II. During his stint in the Navy, he also played football in the service for the legendary coach, Paul Brown.

After the war, he reunited with Brown and played for Cleveland in the old All-American Football Conference, a rival league to the NFL. When the league folded in 1950, he was the league's career rushing leader with 3,024 yards.

Motley also played for Cleveland when the Browns joined the NFL and also competed for Pittsburgh in his final year.

Motley, a 6-foot-1, 232-pound running back, received many honors including induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968. He also made The Sporting News' list of the 100 greatest football players at No. 32.

Motley died in 1999 at the age of 79.

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Nevada place kicker Brett Jaekle stayed perfect with his extra-point attempts, making 4-of-4 against Boise and has converted all 53 extra-point kicks this season. He also had two field goals on Saturday, giving him a total of 50, the same number Damon Fine kicked in his Nevada career.

Jaekle was also pressed into action as the team's punter . Jaekle said he learned of his new assignment during the first series. According to Jaekle, punter Brad Langley twisted his leg and was unable to perform his duty. Jaekle, though, wasn't nervous.

"I felt comfortable punting," Jaekle said. "Kicking field goals is a little more nerve-wracking."