RENO - The University of Nevada will kick off the 2014 campaign and year two of the Brian Polian era Saturday, hosting Football Championship Series foe Southern Utah, beginning at noon.
The Wolf Pack's only previous meeting with Southern Utah came in 2003, a thrilling 24-23 victory in the first night game in Mackay Stadium history.
Nevada was predicted to finish third in the West Division of the Mountain West by the media, while Brock Hekking was tabbed as a preseason first team selection.
The Wolf Pack returns two players who earned all-conference honors in 2013, Hekking (first team) and Charles Garrett (honorable mention). In the first season under Polian, Nevada posted a 4-8 overall record while finishing 3-5 in the Mountain West Conference. The Wolf Pack will return 17 starters (7 offense, 9 defense, 1 special teams) from last season and 39 letterwinners (16/22/1).
Quarterback Cody Fajardo - en route to becoming a fourth-year starter - returns for his senior season ranking third in school history in total offense (9,597).
Fajardo is the only returning FBS player with 7,00 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards in a career.
Polian added two new coaches to his staff for the 2014 season; Scott Boone (defensive coordinator/linebackers) and Cheston Blackshear (tight ends).
Southern Utah was 8-5 a season ago and 3-2 in the Big Sky Conference. The Thunderbirds were picked sixth in both the coach and media preseason Big Sky Conference polls this season.
The selection puts the Thunderbirds in the top half of the 13-team league, coming off the program's first appearance in the FCS playoffs in 2013.
Southern Utah lost 51-20 to Sam Houston State in the opening round of the 2013 FCS Playoffs a season ago.[[In-content Ad]]
