1973 UNLV Rebels football team

The 1973 UNLV Rebels football team was an American football team that represented the University of Nevada, Las Vegas as an independent during the 1973 NCAA Division II football season. In their first year under head coach Ron Meyer, the team compiled an 8–3 record,^[1] a significant improvement over the previous season (one victory).

1973 UNLV Rebels football
Conference	Independent
Record	8–3
Head coach	Ron Meyer (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Larry Kennan (1st season)
Home stadium	Las Vegas Stadium
Seasons ← 1972 1974 →

1973 NCAA Division II independents football records

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 Tennessee State			–					10	–	0	–	0
No. 9 Hawaii			–					9	–	2	–	0
Nebraska–Omaha			–					7	–	2	–	1
Trinity (TX)			–					8	–	3	–	0
UNLV			–					8	–	3	–	0
No. 13 Delaware ^			–					8	–	4	–	0
Western Carolina			–					6	–	3	–	1
Central Michigan			–					7	–	4	–	0
Nevada			–					7	–	4	–	0
Western Illinois			–					7	–	4	–	0
Milwaukee			–					6	–	4	–	1
Eastern Michigan			–					6	–	4	–	0
American International			–					5	–	4	–	0
Akron			–					6	–	5	–	0
Central State (OH)			–					6	–	5	–	0
Wayne State (MI)			–					5	–	5	–	0
Drexel			–					4	–	4	–	0
Bucknell			–					3	–	4	–	2
Northeast Louisiana			–					3	–	5	–	2
Santa Clara			–					4	–	6	–	0
Youngstown State			–					4	–	6	–	0
Arkansas–Pine Bluff			–					3	–	5	–	1
Chattanooga			–					4	–	7	–	0
Indiana State			–					4	–	7	–	0
Northeastern			–					3	–	6	–	0
Kentucky State			–					3	–	8	–	0
Northern Michigan			–					2	–	7	–	1
Eastern Illinois			–					2	–	9	–	0
Portland State			–					1	–	10	–	0
^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AP small college poll

The Rebels played eight games at Las Vegas Stadium; general admission tickets were $2.50, reserved seats were $4.50, and season tickets were thirty dollars.^[2]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 9	State College of Arkansas		Las Vegas Stadium Whitney, NV	W 38–6	7,854
September 15	Cal State Los Angeles		Las Vegas Stadium Whitney, NV	W 42–7	7,023	[3]
September 21	Marshall		Las Vegas Stadium Whitney, NV	W 31–9	9,186
September 29	Utah State		Las Vegas Stadium Whitney, NV	L 3–7	12,486
October 6	Northeast Louisiana		Las Vegas Stadium Whitney, NV	W 26–0	8,623	[4]
October 13	No. 5 Boise State		Las Vegas Stadium Whitney, NV	W 24–19	12,642	[2][5]
October 20	Milwaukee	No. 13	Las Vegas Stadium Whitney, NV	W 35–24	11,738	[6]
October 27	at No. 3 Hawaii	No. 12	Honolulu Stadium Honolulu, HI	L 29–31	23,011
November 3	at Santa Clara	No. 12	Buck Shaw Stadium Santa Clara, CA	W 31–15	6,310
November 10	Northern Arizona	No. 9	Las Vegas Stadium Whitney, NV	W 42–14	12,124	[7]
November 17	at Nevada	No. 9	Mackay Stadium Reno, NV (rivalry)	L 3–19	7,014	[8]
Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[9]

References

1. "UNLV 2020 Football Guide" (PDF). University of Nevada, Las Vegas. 2020. p. 129. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
2. "Game program: UNLV Rebels vs. Boise State Broncos". University of Nevada, Las Vegas. University Libraries. October 13, 1973. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
3. "Nevada (Las Vegas) 42, Cal St. LA 7". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. September 16, 1973. p. III-14. Retrieved February 13, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Rebel's Meyer doesn't beat around bush". Reno Gazette-Journal. October 7, 1973. p. 15. Retrieved January 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Las Vegas upsets Boise 24-19". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 14, 1973. p. 16.
6. "Game program: Homecoming - UNLV Rebels vs. University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee". University of Nevada, Las Vegas. University Libraries. October 20, 1973. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
7. "Nevada trims Northern Arizona 42–14". The Arizona Daily Sun. November 12, 1973. Retrieved December 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Final 1973 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Nevada)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
9. "Final 1973 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (UNLV)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 22, 2022.