August 30, 2016

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SERVING THE UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, RENO SINCE 1893

TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2016

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VOLUME 122, ISSUE 1

The Wolf Pack returns in greater numbers than ever

Survivors of the 5.5 magnitude earthquake that demolished three medieval-aged towns near Amatrice, Italy, on Aug. 23 are angry with the Italian government because of plans to hold a state funeral for the victims. The state planned to hold the mass funeral at an airport hanger in a town far from Amatrice, where the deceased are currently being held, while the families watch on televisions from emergency tents in their hometown. The Italian Premier, Matteo Renzi, reversed the decision in response to the outraged families’ calls for the government to “give their dead back.” The funeral will now be held on Tuesday, Aug. 30, in Amatrice at a Catholic retreat home for the elderly. Renzi and other Italian officials will be in attendance. The death toll in the aftermath of the earthquake is estimated to be 297. Only 231 bodies have been recovered.

NATIONAL LOUISIANA BUS DRIVER CRASHES, KILLS TWO A Louisiana bus driver crashed and killed two people and injured several more in a multiple-vehicle collision on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. He was driving volunteers to BatonRouge, where severe flooding caused by heavy rain has devastated the state over the last month. The driver has been identified as Denis Yasmir Amaya Rodriguez. He is an undocumented immigrant and does not have a driver’s license. One of the individuals who was killed was a fire chief, headed to the scene of another automobile accident. A motorist involved in the crash with the charter bus died from injuries sustained. Five people were airlifted from the scene and 41 others were treated for injuries. Rodriguez is detained and is waiting to be indicted for multiple charges, including negligent homicide. Other criminal charges are pending.

LOCAL

LAST TOWN HALL OVER WASHOE COUNTY SCHOOL OVERCROWDING On Monday, Aug. 29, Wooster High School hosted the last town hall meeting discussing the overcrowding of Washoe County schools, known as ballot question WC-1. Voters who are pushing the ballot questions are hoping to raise sales tax from 7.725 percent to 8.265 percent in order to obtain the money schools need to make the adjustments for overcrowding. The school district says it needs around $20 million annually in order to accommodate the amount of students they have. Many elementary schools are considering the year-round system in order to maintain a manageable number of students in the classroom at one time. A portion of students and teachers would be on break at different times during the school year. Four middle schools and high schools may also need to offer double sessions in order to ease overcrowding. If WC-1 tax is favored in November’s election, Washoe County will have the highest sales tax rate out of any Nevada county. Madeline Purdue can be reached at jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @TheSagebrush.

A TASTE OF RENO

Quinsey Sablan/Nevada Sagebrush

University of Nevada, Reno’s dining hall serves more and more students as enrollment increases.

By Rachel Spacek It may seem as though the dorm rooms, hallways and classrooms at the University of Nevada, Reno, have gotten smaller over the summer, but it is not the size of the campus that has changed. This semester 22,000 students will be attending the university, an increase from last year’s enrollment of 20,898 students. Last week, 2,000 students moved into UNR’s seven residence halls. According to university officials, these residence halls are at 121 percent capacity. UNR’s newest residence hall, Peavine Hall, and Argenta Hall were originally built to accommodate two students per room; this semester both residence halls will house three students in each room. “The room is a really, really tight fit,” said incoming freshman and Argenta Hall resident Rebecca Knight. “I don’t know how all three of us are going to fit all of our stuff into a room originally built for two.” While the on-campus

residence halls are far above capacity, UNR will have a smaller freshman class this year than previous years, with just 3,600 freshmen enrolled for the fall — about 250 less than last fall. Early reports of the increase have returning UNR students anxious for the increased amount of students the new fall semester has brought. “I can already predict how this semester will go,” said returning senior Mable Villanueva. “Huge class sizes will leave students stressed out because of less one-on-one time with their professor, Quinsey Sablan/Nevada Sagebrush parking and lines will be a University of Nevada, Reno freshmen move into the residence halls Thursday, Aug. 25. UNR freshmen nightmare, dorms are always must figure out how to squeeze three residents into a dorm room built for two. an issue. There is so much construction, so navigating was 81 percent, a 1 percent by 4.5 percent and out-of- student body, or the details classes will already be tough, increase from fall 2014. state by 8.2 percent. UNR of in-state and out-of-state and adding so many new “Right now there are slightly officials reported that the enrollment until after Sept. 9, freshmen and returning stu- more than 3,600 students diversity of the university’s the last day to add and drop dents will make it so hard to enrolled for fall. The growth student body also increased classes. get to classes on time without in total enrollment will come from fall 2014 to fall 2015. In Across the country, colleges killing each other.” from continuing students,” 2014, underrepresented stu- and universities have seen a With a decrease in freshman said Shannon Ellis, UNR’s vice dents made up 33 percent of drop in enrollment totals over enrollment since last fall, the president for student services. the total enrollment; last fall it increase in student enrollLast fall’s high retention rate was 35 percent. ment this semester is contrib- also increased both in-state Ellis said the university uting to a high retention rate. and out-of-state enrollment. will not know the final retenLast fall the retention rate In-state enrollment increased tion rate, the diversity of the See FRESHMAN page A2

Campus construction continues this fall By Brandon Cruz The University of Nevada, Reno continues to grow and expand, with the construction and renovation of six separate buildings on campus over the course of the last year. Here is a quick overview of the buildings being constructed at this time.

CENTRAL CHILLED WATER PLANT With this construction, south campus is going to be a lot cooler. South campus is already pretty swell, but in this instance we’re referring to water. This water plant will provide chilled

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water to 29 buildings in south campus. Be prepared for detours around the Thompson and Jot Travis buildings, as there will be some trenching taking place.

E.L. WIEGAND FITNESS CENTER Many students will experience nostalgia when thinking of the Lombardi Recreation Center, but there comes a time when the campus must let go of the old and embrace the new. The E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center will be a place where every student has something to look forward

See CONSTRUCTION page A3

SIT WITH KAP

Returning students cope with rising rent prices By Rachel Spacek With University of Nevada, Reno residence halls 121 percent over capacity, many returning UNR students are being forced to find off-campus housing. Meanwhile, the Biggest Little City continues to see apartment rent prices skyrocket. A report by the apartment search company Abodo ranked Reno as one of the three U.S. cities that saw the largest apartment rent increase from January to February. Reno

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ranked third in the study, just after Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Orlando, Florida. This fall, UNR’s enrollment increase is buoyed by an unusually large amount of returning students. However, the university is only allowing 7 percent of these returning students to live in the on-campus residence halls. With few other options, UNR students must keep up with the rising costs of rental homes and apartments close to campus. “I like how attending college is so encouraged to the

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point where they’re saying ‘go to college or you won’t end up happy,’ but then when it comes to paying rent, they talk down to students for creating a greater demand and raising the prices instead of the greedy landlords who will do whatever they can to get more money out of students,” said Daniel Molina, a sophomore at UNR.

See RENT page A3

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@TheSagebrush | nevadasagebrush.com

A2 | NEWS

NEVADA SAGEBRUSH

THE

Student voice of the University of Nevada, Reno, since 1893.

Volume 123 • Issue 01 Editor-in-Chief • Jacob Solis jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu

Managing Editor • Jordan Russell

TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2016

Reno residents feel after effects of California fires By Emily Fisher

jrussell@sagebrush.unr.edu

News Editor • Rachel Spacek jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu

Asst. News Editor • Madeline Purdue jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu

Sports Editor • Neil Patrick Healy neil@sagebrush.unr.edu

Asst. Sports Editor • Jack Rieger jrieger@sagebrush.unr.edu

Opinion Editor • Ali Schultz alexandraschultz@sagebrush.unr.edu

A&E Editor • Blake Nelson tbynum@sagebrush.unr.edu

Design Editor • Rebecca Day jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu

Photo Editor • Quinsey Sablan jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu

Copy Editor • Dominique Kent jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu

Copy Editor • Daniel Putney dputney@sagebrush.unr.edu

Multimedia Editor • Bailey MeCey jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu

Illustrator • Zak Brady tbynum@asun.unr.edu

Office Manager • Victoria Ramos tbynum@sagebrush.unr.edu

Social Media Editor • Alana Ridge jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu

Staff Writer • Emily Fisher jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu

Staff Writer • Brandon Cruz jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu

Distribution • Michele Cardnuto jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu

Distribution • Natalie Delbecq jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu

Student Advisor • Blythe Steelman adnevadasales@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTING STAFFERS Joey Thyne, Annie Guddat

CONTACT US The Nevada Sagebrush is a newspaper operated by and for the students of the University of Nevada, Reno. The contents of this newspaper do not necessarily reflect those opinions of the university or its students. It is printed by the Sierra Nevada Media Group.

ADVERTISING For information about display advertising and rates, please call the Advertising Department at 775-784-7773 or email adnevadasales@gmail.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters can be submitted via email at jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu

CORRECTIONS The Nevada Sagebrush fixes mistakes. If you find an error, email jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu

SOCIAL MEDIA The Nevada Sagebrush @TheSagebrush @SagebrushSports Nevada Sagebrush nvsagebrush nevadasagebrush.com

Blazing wildfires in and around the northern Nevada region cause air quality concerns among University of Nevada, Reno students and Reno residents. The summer months in Reno bring hot temperatures and a dry climate. This makes the perfect environment for wildfires and consequently, bad air quality. This summer, Reno-ites saw their fair share of smoky, overcast days due to large wildfires in California and other areas along the west coast. The wet winter, brought by El Niño, provided the moisture needed for a plentiful amount of native grasses and plants too: the perfect fuel for potential fires. The northern Nevada and California areas saw over 2,000 fires since the beginning of this year, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center Incident Management’s situation report from Monday, Aug. 29. Smoke pouring in from these fires and filling our skies can put a serious damper on fun summer activities, as well as training for fall sports and other events on campus. Air quality in the United States is assessed according to the Air Quality Index. The AQI, produced by the Environmental Protection Agency, is an index which aims to help individuals understand what local air quality means to their health. In the EPA’s AQI, each color correlates to number ranges from zero to 500, and different health ranges: green is good, yellow is moderate, orange is unhealthy for sensitive groups, red is unhealthy, purple is very unhealthy and maroon is hazardous. The AQI uses five different major air pollutants to classify the quality of air in a given place. These air pollutants are ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. Since the beginning of May, Reno’s average AQI has rested in the moderate yellow range on the AQI’s scale. This level is considered acceptable according to the EPA, though the concentration of pollutants is above standard. This range warns that current conditions may cause moderate health concerns for highly sensitive people. Matthew J. Strickland, an associate professor of environmental health at UNR

Freshman Continued from page A1

the last four years. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, a research center that works to provide higher-education institutions with educational reports, college enrollment totals have decreased by 6 percent since 2012. This year, the total number of students who have enrolled in highereducation institutions is 1.7

UNR updates pedestrian, bike and vehicle regulation By Emily Fisher As the University of Nevada’s campus continues to grow at alarming rates, so does the traffic congestion in the surrounding neighborhoods. This increases the importance of pedestrian safety around the university. Since June, UNR has put policies in place concerning the operation of motorized vehicles, bicycles, skateboards and other means of transportation in order to combat growing threats to pedestrians.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: MOTORIZED VEHICLES

Flicker courtesy of Karol Franks

An airplane flies over fires in California on Aug. 28, 2009. Smoke from the fire has polluted the air in California and Nevada.

notes that the two most common pollutants are ozone and particulate matter or PM2.5. “Normally, ozone is the pollutant driving the AQI,” says Strickland, “But interestingly, in the month of July, you see both ozone and PM2.5 driving it.” Wildfires, both in Washoe County and in California, are the reason PM2.5 pollution becomes more common in the summer. Smoke from wildfires is particularly dangerous compared to other pollutants. So far this summer, Washoe County has seen seven days where the air quality did not meet EPA standards. “Our worst air pollution episode we’ve seen locally [this summer] was when the smoke from lightning-caused fires in Northern California blew into northern Nevada. The AQI reached the unhealthy range”, says Daniel K. Inouye, the percent lower than last year. National high school graduation rates have increased since 2013, but the percentage of high school graduates who enrolled in college immediately after graduating high school fell 3 percent since 2008, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. In southern Nevada, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, reported that 29,000 students are enrolled to attend their fall semester — this

branch chief of the Air Quality Management Division in Washoe County. The WCSD Twitter account notes that the particles found in smoke are 20 times smaller than a strand of human hair, and can easily get lodged in the lungs. “In all honesty, the air quality I think affected my ability to run,” said Lauryn Massic, a freshman on the University of Nevada’s cross-country team, about training this summer. “It wasn’t major but I would end up having to break for minor coughing fits.” So what is the best thing to do when our air quality seems to be stuck in the yellow zone? “Pay attention to it, but don’t overreact to it,” Strickland says. “Most healthy adults and kids can go about their daily lives without problems.” However, with fire season continuing into the fall and is around the same number administrators released last fall. UNLV also reported an incoming freshman class of 4,000 students, a number that has also remained the same since last fall. UNR has reported enrollment increases since 2013, when the school welcomed 19,934 students in the fall. Since 2013, the diversity of student body and retention rates have increased. “I think increased enrollment is a really great thing,”

over 11 wildfires currently burning in the Great Basin area, it’s important to pay attention to AQI levels. “As the days get shorter and cooler, we expect ozone levels to decrease. We can still see wildfire smoke into early fall. In winter, we’ll expect to see higher fine particulate levels from woodstove and pellet stoves, especially when we have cold days/nights and calm winds,” says Inouye. Information on current air quality levels can be easily accessed online at airnow.gov or OurCleanAir.com. Information is also right at your fingertips on both Twitter and Facebook @WashoeCountyAQ. Emily Fisher can be reached at jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @TheSagebrush.

Motorized vehicles on campus may be operated only on designated roadways and parking areas. The speed limit on campus roadways is 15 mph. This does not apply to registered university vehicles or motorized wheelchairs. Motorized vehicles must park away from pedestrian walkways, ADA-access walkways and areas reserved for emergency vehicle access. Parking is also never permitted in the following areas: red-curbed or signed fire zones, disabled parking zones, loading docks or within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, fire alarm boxes, building entrances or removable bollards . Personal vehicles must be registered with Parking Services, and all drivers must follow state and local laws. If an accident occurs and an injury is reported, the accident must be reported to University Police.

BICYCLES If you would like to save money on gas and a parking pass, using a bicycle is a great way to navigate campus; however, it is required to register your bike with the university annually. A university bicycle parking permit must be displayed on the bike during all times the bike is being used on campus. Bicycles must also abide by the 15-mph speed limit and maintain a 3-foot distance from pedestrians. Bikes are not allowed inside university buildings and may only be parked in designated areas.

SKATEBOARDS, SCOOTERS AND SKATES said incoming freshman Hannah Ruth. “It means that more students are finding out what a great school we have hidden over here in Reno. I think it also makes graduates of this university look better if diversity is going up and if people are choosing to finish school here instead of California or UNLV.” Rachel Spacek can be reached at jsolis@sagebrush. unr.edu and on Twitter @TheSagebrush.

UNR’s skating policies are especially strict. Skateboards, scooters and skates are not permitted on streets designated for motorized vehicles, in parking lots, in garages or on parking ramps. The only exception is when crossing the street in a designated crosswalk. These policies require that skaters must abide by the campus speed limit, the notexting-and-skating rule, and the pedestrian-right-of-way rule. The news desk can be reached at jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @TheSagebrush.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2016

NEWS | A3

@TheSagebrush | nevadasagebrush.com

Construction at Sterling Summit delays students’ move By Madeline Purdue On Aug. 15, residents of the third building of the Sterling Summit student living apartments were scheduled to move into their rooms, but were not able to move in. Instead, they moved in four days later, on Aug. 19. Residents received an email from Sterling Summit on Thursday, Aug. 11, informing them that they could not move into their apartments until the next Tuesday. On Sunday, another email informed the residents they would not be able to move into the third building until Friday, Aug. 19. “From the time they sent the first email out on Thursday until we could move in over a week later, Sterling disconnected the phones. The only way we could reach them was to go to the leasing office in person,” said one resident of building three who wished to remain anonymous. Construction was halted because materials that were needed to finish the building were delivered late, causing a five-day move in delay. Legally, no one was allowed to occupy the building because it was an open construction zone and had not been authorized by the inspector. “We sincerely apologize to

all the residents affected by the delayed move-in dates,” said Merideth Savoie, the director of national marketing for Sterling Summit an email to residents. Many students were displaced without their parents to help them. Sterling offered to reimburse residents for their extended stays at hotels, and their rent has been abated due to the delay. Residents were offered help moving into their apartments and a storage closet in other buildings for their things if they had no place else to store them. When residents were allowed to move in, many were disappointed with the conditions of their apartments. They found the paint jobs were rushed, the wiring sticking out from holes in the walls, moldy food left behind by construction workers and in one case, human feces in the toilet. Construction workers helped residents move their things into their apartments. In one case, a resident was called a “princess” repeatedly after asking for help multiple times. The move-in process for the residents of building three operated differently than the process for the other buildings. Residents of the rest of the complex were given an allotted time in which they were allowed to move into their apartment in order to

decrease traffic. In the case of building three, every single resident was allowed to move in on Friday at 10 a.m., creating up to three-hour waiting periods for them to receive their keys and start moving in. Construction continues on site, as Sterling is building a few townhouses, as well as finishing other parts of the complex. Residents are settling into their new homes, but some are not allowed access to their balconies and wake up to construction workers outside their rooms every day. The pool is still being built, so they do not have access to the gym that is attached to it. In one apartment, a resident documented a sink falling out of the counter on Twitter. “I don’t want to be too hard on them because they’ve been trying to compensate. [Sterling] was helpful while we were moving in and they know that everybody is upset,” said Karli Lubin-Bresee, a resident of building three. “It’s not the Summit’s fault; it’s the construction company’s fault. Other than the five-day pushback, it hasn’t been too bad.” Madeline Purdue can be reached at jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @ Quinsey Sablan /Nevada Sagebrush A construction employee works on building three of the Sterling Summit student living apartments TheSagebrush. on Sunday, Aug. 28. The apartment complex is under construction despite residents living there.

Construction

MACKAY STADIUM CLUB AND SEATING

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to. There will also be no semester fee for use, as the fee is already factored into every student’s tuition.

GREAT BASIN HALL Another residence hall on campus? Although some may see this as excessive, Great Basin Hall is actually a necessity. On-campus demand for housing currently exceeds 122 percent. Incoming freshmen may have to get a little more comfortable with their roommates than usual while they wait for Great Basin to be finished.

LINCOLN HALL BUILDING RENOVATION Originally an all-boy’s dorm, Lincoln Hall, built in 1896, is one of the oldest buildings on campus. Lincoln will never be a residence hall again, as it is now being converted into an office building.

Football season is right around the corner and Nevada is upgrading stadium seating. As many know, bleachers are not the most comfortable seats in the world, so there will now be backs added to a portion of bleachers. Along with the upgraded seating, construction is underway for a new 6,000 square foot stadium club. East and west-side suites have been renovated and upgraded. The east-side suites also have a new set of outdoor patio spaces.

THOMPSON BUILDING The Thompson Building will not be demolished, just reinvented. The outside will stay intact, but the inner parts of the building will be renovated to meet specific safety standards. There will also be some structural upgrades, such as the incorporation of a firesuppression system. The university will also construct new electrical and ventilation systems. Brandon Cruz can be reached at jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @TheSagebrush.

Quinsey Sablan/Nevada Sagebrush

Construction blocks students from parts of campus on Sunday, Aug. 28. The university continues to expand as more students enroll. Annie Guddat/Nevada Sagebrush

A rent sign stands in yards of houses close to the university on Sunday, Aug. 28. Rent has continued to rise for students over the years.

Rent

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The average cost of a onebedroom apartment in Reno rose to $749 in February, a 12.3 percent increase from January. Costs of off-campus student apartments have increased significantly since just last fall as well. Today it costs from $714 to $749 to rent a two-bedroom apartment at The Republic, a student apartment complex only a mile away from the center of campus. Students who have lived there since last year say that their rent was raised almost $200 in some cases. “The sad thing is that students don’t have a choice but to pay these high rents because we have to live close to campus and usually have to have furnished places,” said Kenzie Reed, a sophomore at UNR. “These places know they can get a lot of money from students who are pretty much forced to pay for it.” The most recently constructed student apartment complex, Sterling Summit, charges students $740 for a two-bedroom apart-

ment and $620 for a five-bedroom apartment. According to Abodo, Reno’s increasing rent costs are keeping up with the national trend, as many cities are seeing a move towardsmore expensive rent. Contrary to the nationwide trend, Las Vegas saw the second largest decline in apartment rent costs from January to February. The average rent in Las Vegas ended in February at about $1,000. Although the Biggest Little City did see the third largest increase in rent prices in the January to February period, it still has some of the lowest rent nationwide. The average rent price over the same time period was $851 in Milwaukee and $1,024 in Orlando. Researchers attribute Reno’s rising rent costs to low apartment availability and a high demand for apartments and homes in Reno. “I hate paying the rent for these new expensive places, but I think the rent is increasing because Reno is changing from a grimy gambling town into a really hip college town,” said longtime Reno resident and senior at UNR, Kelsey Reyes. According to the Bureau of

Labor Statistics, the northern Nevada median income has decreased over the last two years, just as the region has begun to see rent prices increase. Economists have said that raising the minimum wage would help wages keep up with higher housing costs, but would not solve the problem of a lack of affordable housing. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York Consumer Credit Panel reported in February that the majority of millennial debt is in car and student loan payments. This debt prevents them from renting more expensive homes and apartments. Last December, CoreLogic, a financial services firm, released a report that showed housing prices in Nevada are expected to increase another 6 percent over the next five years. If this uphill trend continues, UNR students may need to prepare to pay a premium for close-to-campus housing. Rachel Spacek can be reached at jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @TheSagebrush.

Public Notice University Accreditation Visit Oct. 17-19, 2016 The University of Nevada, Reno is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). In 2013-14, NWCCU continued the University’s accreditation, and on October 17-19, 2016 NWCCU will visit campus to conduct an on-site Year Seven Evaluation for the purpose of continuing this accreditation. This is a public notification of the opportunity to provide written input to the evaluation team concerning the University’s qualifications for accreditation. Comments must be written and signed to be accepted by NWCCU. Comments must be received by September 17, 2016. Please send written and signed comments to: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities 8060 165th Ave. NE Suite 100 Redmond, WA 98052

Arts&Entertainment @TheSagebrush | nevadasagebrush.com

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PACK N THE EVENTS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2016

A little

THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR THIS WEEK By Blake Nelson

WOLF IT DOWN PANCAKE FEED DATE: Wednesday TIME: 11 p.m. LOCATION: The Quad INFO: Do you have late-

night anxiety that may or may not be related to the stress associated with the first week of school? Does that anxiety cause you to eat late and sleep later? Well, why not head on over to the Quad to do the eating part for free while also being able to network with ASUN officials? Head over to the Quad and eat a late breakfast because we all know nobody has eaten the most important meal of the day since school started.

when itcomes to By Blake Nelson So you just rolled into the high desert that constitutes Reno, Nevada. Welcome to Nevada's premier city. This little dust patch looks promising enough, but it might not seem worth it to really dig into the area to see what it truly has to offer in the way of culture. Whether you are an out-of-state freshman on a budget or a returning senior who can spare a few dollars, this will be a guide to some things that college students should be keyed into if they wish to really enjoy Nevada’s fastest-growing college town.

MUSIC

THE SHOWBIZ CABARET OPENING NIGHT DATE: Thursday TIME: 8 p.m. LOCATION: The

Potentialist Workshop INFO: This week presents the opening of The Showbiz Cabaret, a locally written and produced play based around dancing and sporadic vignettes. An energetic play might help you unwind from the first week of school. It is also located at one of Reno's up-and-coming art spaces. So make your way down before the doors open.

JOE'S FALL MOVIE SERIES: 'THE SHALLOWS' DATE: Thursday TIME: 6 p.m. LOCATION: Joe Crowley

Student Union Theater INFO: End your summer by enjoying a thriller with your friends at the Joe. See "The Shallows" starring Blake Lively and a vicious shark. This is the first title in the Movie Series at the Joe, so if you miss this one, you will still be able to catch one every week.

PASTEL FELT CONCERT DATE: Friday TIME: 8:30 p.m. LOCATION: The Holland

Project INFO: Located all the way down at Reno's best all-ages venue is Pastel Felt in concert. Pastel Felt is one of Los Angeles' lo-fi heavyweights, singing some sweet dream-pop tunes on a shoegaze tip. Joining them are Reno sweethearts Just Guys Being Dudes! and Get Well Soon Band. Slide on down to end the week with some sweet tunes and great hangs.

Blake Nelson can be reached at jsolis@nevadasagebrush.unr. edu or on Twitter @b_e_nelson.

Reno’s music scene has been steadily increasing in status and allure for some time now. Each year brings bigger acts, such as this year’s "Of Monsters and Men" concert, held at the Grand Sierra Resort, or the upcoming "Beach Fossils" concert being held at the Holland Project. Both are great places to attend concerts; the GSR has ample seating in a large theatric auditorium. With an average ticket price of about $50, the GSR is perfect for seeing very popular acts. The Holland Project offers an intimate setting with smaller capacity and a lower price of around $10, better suited for seeing your favorite underground band perform. Cargo Concert Hall is another venue that continually hosts a mix of popular musicians and bands just about to make it big. Be sure to check in on them all regularly to keep up on most things music in Reno.

DINING One of the best ways to experience the culture of a community is through the food that is found within it. Sadly, almost none of Reno is represented at the Downunder café, but don’t worry, good food is woven throughout Reno. Just a few blocks east from campus is Mi Ranchito, a Mexican restaurant that specializes in the classics: carnitas, burritos, enchiladas, etc. If you desire Asian cuisine, be sure to get down to Midtown for, arguably, Reno’s best Thai food, Thai Chili. Local pizzerias are also plentiful in Reno. Noble Pie, one of the most popular, is located right downtown, selling by the pie or by the slice. All offer a fairly affordable price per entree, great for eating out occasionally or more often.

Quinsey Sablan/Nevada Sagebrush

Cargo Concert Hall sits next to the Reno Arch on Monday, August 29, 2016. Cargo Concert Hall is home to many of Reno's acclaimed concerts featuring touring and local artists.

ART Beyond music and events, Reno is home to a large community of artists and craftsmen who are constantly creating and holding art showings at various locations around Reno. A great place to see exhibitions by local artists is the Sierra Arts Foundation, located right on the Truckee River. Usually featuring local artists’ exhibitions, Sierra Arts is committed to fostering art and culture in and around Reno. For those who want to buy local artists' work, many pieces for sale can be found at places like Never Ender and Bad Apple Vintage, both located in Midtown. The Nevada Museum of Art, the only accredited art museum in Nevada, is constantly updating its exhibits. For students, the cost of admission is only $8, a fair price considering the size and prestige of the museum. The museum also offers a variety of events, as well as classes for those who wish to learn about art culture.

EVENT CENTERS The Reno Event Centers hosts a number of events each year. For incoming students, be sure to attend events like "Life in Color," a rave-type event that hosts different DJs each year. Or you could go to the Livestock Event Center to attend the Reno Rodeo, held every June. The event centers of Reno are for people who enjoy large crowds and festival-style events. Each event center caters to a different style of person. The Reno Events Center hosts mostly music-themed events, while the Livestock Event Center usually hosts rodeo-style events. Each offers something for nearly every type of person. Prices vary as well, but events are posted months in advance, so planning ahead is quite easy. Make sure to check the events calendars of each center for something that interests you.

Quinsey Sablan/Nevada Sagebrush

The sun shines on the Reno Events Center on Monday, August 29, 2016. Reno Events Center features events such as last year's Waka Flocka Welcome Week concert.

CAMPUS If your transportation is limited, or you just don’t feel like traveling too far, then there are a number of ways to get a taste of Reno on campus. Almost everything listed above is also available on campus. Classical music events can be attended at Nightingale Concert Hall as part of the "Argenta Concert Series," while concerts are hosted around campus by both the Associated Students of the University of Nevada and Wolf Pack Radio. Art can be found around campus as well at any of the five different galleries. This includes anything from curated exhibitions at the Sheppard Gallery to student art in the student galleries located in Jot Travis. But if larger events are more your style, then the university has those, too. One example is the upcoming Biggest Little Festival, which promises to present different events to suit any fancy. Don’t forget about all the food located across campus as well. With local restaurants like Blind Onion Pizza and Great Full Gardens located in the Joe Crowley Student Union, you can really get everything you need right on campus. That shouldn’t stop you from trying everything just beyond Ninth Street, though. With this advice, you can confidently approach this small town, a town that250,000 artists, musicians and regular people like yourself call home. Once you’ve gotten your fill of Reno there’s always more, including the acclaimed Lake Tahoe and the mountains surrounding it. The Great Basin awaits you just beyond Reno, and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t get out there and experience it. So enjoy everything from the restaurant a few blocks away to the beach that’s a few minutes away. Blake Nelson can be reached at jsolis@nevadasagebrush.unr.edu or on Twitter @b_e_nelson.

Quinsey Sablan/Nevada Sagebrush

The Nevada Museum of Art sits just South of Downtown on Monday, August 29, 2016. The Museum features multiple exhibits and is currently featuring "Tilting the Basin" a compilation of contemporary Nevada art.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2016

Back to School Parking Tips The beginning of the Fall Semester is always a busy time on campus. Check out these tips for ﬁnding the best parking spots and ways to get around campus!

For parking maps, permit information and PACKTransit shuttle routes visit: unr.edu/parking

Ø

Purchase a UNR Parking Permit Online

Avoid the long lines and purchase your permits online. For permit pricing and availability, visit https://unr.t2hosted.com Parking permits must be displayed Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. § New Parking Zone – There is a new Tan parking lot on Enterprise Road north of the CMM. This new Tan area is close to the Medical School and the

Ø

By Joey Thyne Frank Ocean has re-emerged into the limelight after four years of obscurity. In the time since his last album, “Channel Orange,” hype transformed the enigmatic “next Frank Ocean project” from simply an album into something else entirely. Such a buildup can be deadly to an artist. Over a year later than initially promised, music has finally been released. He compensated by releasing an original magazine and the video “Endless,” accompanied by a haunting soundtrack, finally culminating in his sophomore album, “Blonde.” The music from “Endless” felt like a lonely car ride through the night, whereas “Blonde” is the sunrise peeking over the horizon. There seems to be a conscious effort to sound different than “Channel Orange.” While “Channel Orange” was epic in storytelling with soaring choruses, “Blonde” is more intimate, full of love notes and whispers under covers. “Channel Orange” was mostly gloomy, but with “Blonde” Frank feels free to create positive-sounding music. Dramatic synths have been replaced by bright rhythm guitar. The result is a refreshing, dreamy atmosphere. Opening track “Nikes” is Frank sheepishly grinning at the listener, and it’s difficult not to grin back. The following two songs are phenomenal. The crisp drums and ringing piano of “Pink + White” are reminiscent of picking fresh fruit from a garden.

“Ivy” and “Self Control” prove Frank has the chops to produce songs with only a few stripped-down chords to rely on. This is achieved through masterful songwriting and great singing; his signature voice is smoother than ever. “Solo” and “Nights” blur genre boundaries, questioning what should be considered pop, rhythm and blues, and hiphop. All of these are massive stand-alone tracks. Frank is at his best when he is at his strangest. “Skyline To” is dripping with vocal experimentation and dizzying keyboards. These hypnotic idiosyncrasies define Frank as an artist. Lyrics throughout “Blonde” contain poignant poetry. Recurring themes include the ambiguity between affection and sex: “We’re not in love, but I’ll make love to you / I’m not him, but I’ll mean something to you,” he sings in “Nikes”; loss of innocence: “Summer’s not as long as it used to be,” he sings in “Skyline To”; disillusionment with reality: “This is not my life / It’s just a fond farewell to a friend,” he sings in “Siegfried.” Andre 3000, who was featured on “Pink Matter” — one of the best songs on “Channel Orange” — raps alone in the brilliant “Solo (Reprise),” commenting on the current state of music through furious flows. The third act of the album thereafter seems less notable, but not entirely forgettable. “Siegfried” and “Godspeed” are sublime in their ethereal wandering. “Blonde” closes with “Futura Free,” a Kanye-esque AutoTuned rant-of-consciousness

discussing the pressure Frank feels as an artist. Music fans were upset with Frank Ocean for taking so long to release this album. People are so accustomed to an oversaturation of entertainment that they forget sometimes that art takes time. He needed to take his time to generate quality, nuanced work. Now it seems as if people are so happy to have new Frank Ocean music that they are driven to mass hysteria. At the end of the day, it is just an album and it will be a while before the dust clears and people can properly appreciate it. It is a fantastic album that will continue to reveal itself as time passes. Joey Thyne can be reached at jsolis@sagebrush.unr.edu or on Twitter @b_e_nelson.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Album Review ‘BLONDE’

Frank Ocean Release Date: Aug. 20 Genre: R&B

Get Involved with Your Student Government

Avoid Driving to Campus Alone

With the high cost of parking permits, ﬁnding a carpool partner helps you share the cost and the driving responsibilities.

Ø

Frank Ocean combats the hype on ‘Blonde’

Arrive to Campus Early

Arriving well before your scheduled class time will give you plenty of time to park your vehicle and ﬁnd your way around campus.

Ø

A&E | A5

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Ride your Bicycle to Campus

If you’re planning on riding your bicycle to campus, register your bike with us and receive a FREE bicycle parking permit. Visit unr.edu/parking for additional details.

Senator Positions:

Division of Health Sciences Interdisciplinary Programs

Ø Use PACKTransit

Campus shuttles are quick, convenient and feature expanded routes this year. Shuttle stops are serviced in 10 minutes or less. Please be courteous to other riders and do not ride for extended periods of time. For a copy of the route or Shuttle Passenger Policy, visit unr.edu/parking.

To apply, visit UNRSearch.com Job posting will remain open until filled

Ø Take the City Bus to Campus

Never search for parking on campus again! With the RTC RIDE pass, students enjoy unlimited rides to campus and Reno/Sparks for $230 for 12 months! Visit our unr.edu/parking for additional information.

Ø

Motorist Assistance Program

The Motorist Assistance Program is our chance to help you. If you are faculty, staﬀ or a student, and you lock your keys in your car, have a dead battery or have a ﬂat tire while on campus, we are ready to lend a hand – FREE OF CHARGE. For assistance, simply contact us at (775) 784-4654. Motorist Assistance is available from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays.

Job Requirements: Applicants must be enrolled in 7 credits Must have a minimum cumulative of a 2.75 GPA All positions will remain open until ﬁlled

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2016

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A10

vs. Cal Poly at Notre Dame vs. Buffalo

at Purdue

at Hawaii

vs. Fresno

12:30 p.m. 9/10

TBA 9/24

9 p.m. 10/01

TBA 10/08

6:30 p.m. 9/2

Friday, Sept. 02, at 6:30 p.m.

MEET THE TEAM

6 p.m. 9/17

at San Jose vs. Wyoming 7:30 p.m. 10/15

TBA 10/22

TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2016

at New Mexico TBA 11/05

vs. San Diego 7:30 p.m. 11/12

Nevada’s five key guys

at Utah State TBA 11/19

at UNLV TBA 11/26

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Wolf Pack players integral in 2016

Screenshot of a tweet by Marqueze Coleman.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT MEN’S TENNIS

By Neil Patrick Healy Quinsey Sablan/Nevada Sagebrush

Nevada running back James Butler (20) poses for the camera after practice at Mackay Stadium on Aug. 25. Butler was the team’s leading rusher with 1,345 yards and 10 touchdowns.

WEEKLY TOP 5

Sports Video Games

1

FIFA

The most popular sports video game in the world, FIFA has become a cultural phenomenon and friendship ender. The games are quick, the gameplay is smooth and the music is exquisite. FIFA 16 generated $180 million in retail in the first week, proving that soccer is the world’s sport.

2

NBA 2K

NBA 2K has the most impressive physics and graphics of any sports video game. They’ve even perfected Marreese Speight’s head mole and Lebron James’ increasingly receding hairline. The ability to play with classic teams is also a nice feature.

3

NHL

While hockey isn’t regarded as a major sport in America, the NHL video game represents hockey well with its smooth physics engine (nerd alert) and clean graphics. You also have the option to initiate fights with opponents.

4

MLB THE SHOW

5

TONY HAWK UNDERGROUND

The best baseball game on the market does not get enough credit. Baseball is insanely boring to watch unless you have a horse in the race, and the video game isn’t exactly designed for casual fans.

The greatest storyline in the history of sports video games left so many questions unanswered for children everywhere. Why was Eric so jealous of Chad? Was Russia’s government in turmoil when the characters were in Moscow? What happened to Sublime?

On Aug. 6, the Nevada men’s tennis team was recognized by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association as an All-Academic team, and six individual players were identified as ITA Scholar Athletes. The six athletes were senior Robert Allan, freshman Aaron Breust, senior Billy Bumgardner, junior Mile Cilic, freshman Sandro Lena and sophomore Peter O’Donovan. Head coach Sylvain Malroux was pleased with his team’s academic achievements. “Our team has been working really hard on and off the court,” head coach Sylvain Malroux said. “Getting this special award shows how much dedication they put into their academics. We are so proud to show that not only tennis is a focus for them, but that getting their degree with outstanding achievement is equally important.”

JERICHO RICHARDSON — WIDE RECEIVER — SENIOR Nevada’s offense has playmakers on the outside to make senior quarterback Tyler Stewart’s job much easier. With the new and more wide-open offense, the skill positions should be able to flourish. The reason I decided to go with Jericho Richardson rather than fellow senior receiver Hasaan Henderson is because Henderson has a well-documented injury history. Even if he is suited up on Saturday, you have to wonder if Henderson will be hampered and slowed due to another nagging injury. Richardson will be looked to as the more consistent threat at receiver, and don’t be surprised if he has a 75-catch, 1,000-yard season.

JARRED GIPSON — TIGHT END — SENIOR One of the more frustrating moments for those who followed the Wolf Pack last season was when tight end Jarred Gipson would have a quiet day and the offense suffered as a result. In the final three games of the season, Gipson didn’t record a catch, and the offense was completely unreliable. If the offense is going to take the next step, first-year offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey must stress getting the ball in Gipson’s hands. Of the 19 catches he had last season, five went for touchdowns. Is it realistic to think that Gipson will score about one every four times he touches the ball? Probably not, but it shows his potential.

RIFLE The Nevada rifle team opens the season ranked as the 13th best team in the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association preseason poll. Head coach Fred Harvey has been coaching at Nevada since 1995. “We are looking forward to shooting with our Patriot Conference members as well as the University of Akron at home this season,” Harvey said. “We have a strong team and new technology and hope to post record scores for this season. We are a stronger team than last year. It will be interesting to see whether those ahead of us are also stronger.” Nevada will open the season on Sept. 24-25 when it hosts No. 5 Ohio State. The Wolf Pack will then host UTEP on Oct. 1.

KOREY RUSH — DEFENSIVE END — SOPHOMORE Nevada trots out almost an entirely new front seven this year, and if that unit is going to be able to replicate last season’s production, Korey Rush will be the main reason why. One of Brian Polian’s highest-rated recruits in his tenure at Nevada, Rush finally has the floor to show what he can do in a starting role. He showed potential last season coming off the bench and playing in 12 games with two starts as a redshirt freshman. With former All-MWC linemen Ian Seau and Lenny Jones off to the NFL, Rush will have to live up to the billing if Nevada wants to be successful on defense.

ASAUNI RUFUS — FREE SAFETY — SOPHOMORE The obvious bright spot of Nevada’s defense last season was the emergence of freshman star safety Dameon Baber. It true, Baber’s breakout freshman season was both exciting and encouraging for the future. That being said, Baber’s spotlight may have begun to cast a shadow on another emerging playmaker at the safety position. Sophomore safety Asauni Rufus made a big splash in his freshman season with 105 tackles, which was third in the nation among freshmen, ninth in the Mountain West and second in the conference among defensive backs. The fact that Baber overshadows Rufus’ breakout performance shows just how good this secondary could be.

.WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL The Nevada volleyball team competed in the North Texas Challenge on Friday, Aug. 26, and Saturday, Aug. 27. The Wolf Pack went 1-2 in its three matches, losing the first two matches to North Texas and Texas A&M, and winning the last match against Texas State. Against North Texas, the Wolf Pack dropped the first two sets but came storming back to force a deciding fifth set, which Nevada lost (7-15). Nevada’s second opponent, Texas A&M, is the 16th ranked team in the country, and favored to with the SEC conference. The Aggies played like the better team in the match, and beat Nevada in straight sets.

AKEEL LYNCH — RUNNING BACK — SENIOR For better or worse, Nevada always seems to run the ball well. The main reason for the consistent success out of the backfield is because the offense never relies on one single back to carry the load. Nevada’s best offensive teams always had at least two players (running back or quarterback) eclipse 1,000 yards. Don’t get me wrong, junior running back James Butler is the No. 1 option at running back, but he’s not going to carry the ball 30 to 35 times a game. Penn State graduate transfer Akeel Lynch will fill the role of No. 2 back that Butler filled last year and has the potential to finally have that breakout season everyone at Penn State was waiting for. Neil Patrick Healy can be reached at neil@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @NP_Healy.

Quinsey Sablan/Nevada Sagebrush

Nevada safety Asauni Rufus (2) defends a pass during practice at Mackay Stadium on Aug. 25. Rufus was third in the nation among freshmen in tackles with 105.

Brandon Cruz can be reached at neil@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @SagebrushSports.

GAME PREDICTION: NEVADA VS. CAL POLY

Neil Patrick Healy

I feel bad that our first installation of our three-way game predictions is wasted on such a body-bag game. Let me put it this way: if Nevada loses to Cal Poly at home for the season opener, then the team should just pack it up and call it a season. I don’t like blanket statements, but there is always an exception. Nevada isn’t a powerhouse program by any means, but it’s FBS vs. FCS. The talent level is just too out of whack. I’ve been wrong (a lot) before, but I this is a

Jack Rieger

It’s really refreshing to see Nevada select a highly competitive opponent to open the season (sarcasm). Cal Poly went 4-7 last year in the Big Sky Conference, which includes the likes of Weber State, Northern Colorado, North Dakota, Montana State and Idaho State. Nevada’s offense should put up over 35 points against a defense that gave up 33 points per game against inferior opponents. The Wolf Pack will blow out Cal Poly by over three touchdowns and cruise to 1-0.

Brandon Cruz

In light of their last meeting in 1998, Nevada’s upcoming game against Cal Poly should look a lot like Super Bowl 48 back in 2014. In this instance Nevada will be the Seahawks and Cal Poly will represent the Broncos. Seattle destroyed the Broncos in every facet of the game, ultimately leading to one of the largest blowouts in Super Bowl history. But if the game looks anything like Super Bowl 49, this season may end before it even begins.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2016

@TheSagebrush | nevadasagebrush.com

SPORTS | A11

Former Nevada athletes in the Olympics LISÉ MACKIE

By Brandon Cruz The NCAA is an Olympic athlete factory, churning out the world’s best competitors in their respective sports. But not all Olympic athletes come from the SEC or Pac-12. The University of Nevada has had its fair share of athletes in the Olympic games as well.

LIMIN LIU Liu won the silver medal for China at the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta Georgia, when she participated in the 100 butterfly. Liu’s arrival at UNR is mainly attributed to five-time diving coach Jian Li You’s amazing ability to recruit top tier athletes. You found a gem in Liu, because following her stellar performance in the 1996 summer Olympic games, she became one of the Nevada’s Women’s Swim and Dive team’s most important athletes. During her time at Nevada she became a three-time All-American and was named the Mountain West Swimmer of the year in the year 2000. Liu was also a three-time NCAA champion in the 200 butterfly in 1999, and the 100m and 200m butterfly in 2000. Following Liu’s impressive years at Nevada, she was later inducted into the university’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.

Defense

Continued from page A12

Tampa as we’ve played in the past but it’s still a four down defense, where we have a good package to stop the run first and then play the pass as we need to,” Boone said. “Our focus has been to try to get as many people around the football as we can through defensive formations and getting the safeties down when we need to or the corners down when we need to, whatever we need to do to get the extra hitter in the box. Our defense hasn’t changed philosophically or scheme wise, we’re still going to have the same defense. It may not be as expansive as it was with a bunch of veterans, but we’ll build to it as we go through camp.” Boone’s decision to prioritize stopping the run makes plenty of sense, considering Mountain West teams rushed the ball 61.2 percent of the time in 2015, which is the highest in the country by a large margin. The MWC is loaded with running backs, including San Diego State’s Donnel Pumphrey, Wyoming’s Brian Hill, and even Nevada’s James Butler. The Nevada defense’s greatest strength this season is its secondary, which returns sophomore Dameon Baber, who led the team with six interceptions and 65 tackles at the strong safety position. Baber was also the only member of the team named to first team MW. Free safety sophomore Asauni Rufus led the 2015 team in tackles and senior corner Elijah Mitchell is an ultra-athletic cover corner. Baber had a historically good freshman year for Nevada and

There is only one difference between someone who is successful in their field of work, and someone who isn’t. The underlying difference is hard work, because “hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.” Australian native and Nevada alum Lisé Mackie is a prime example of an athlete with a tremendous work ethic. At 16, she had an unsuccessful debut in 1992 at the Barcelona Games, finishing ninth in the 4x100 freestyle relay. She would ultimately miss the final, and have to wait another four years to get a shot at redemption. It was then that her Olympian work ethic came into play. Mackie kicked it into high gear and trained tirelessly for the 1996 Summer Olympic games in Atlanta, Georgia, where she would end up winning a bronze medal in the 4x200 for Australia. Mackie represents what the University of Nevada wants out of all of its students: ambition, drive and progression. Mackie, too, would be inducted into the university’s Athletic Hall of Fame just one year earlier than Liu. Brandon Cruz can be reached at neil@ sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @SagebrushSports

is looking to make the jump to a defensive leader in 2016. “From the beginning in my freshman year, I wasn’t really getting that many reps in fall camp,” Baber said. “But now this fall camp I’m trying to step into that leadership role and help younger guys, help the veterans, and play my role on this team.” Coach Boone credits Baber’s smarts and physical gifts for his early success. “What he does is he’s smart, he studies film and has an idea of what he’s seeing,” Boone said. “Plus he’s tough, he’s a physically tough kid. We’ve got a safety that plays like a linebacker and covers like a safety. That’s why he’s as good as he is.” When asked what the greatest strength of his defense was, Boone was quick to point to his standout safeties, Baber and Rufus. “I think the fact that we have two safeties who have played a lot of football,” Boone said. “Those guys can get us lined up right and can make the adjustments that need to be made. Our secondary is experienced. If you have an experienced secondary, you can make up for some mistakes.” If the Wolf Pack defense is going to continue to trend in the right direction, as it has for the past two seasons, the inexperienced linebacker group will need young players like Gabe Sewell to emerge as playmakers. Nevada will also depend on its playmakers in the secondary to create turnover opportunities and prevent the talented Mountain West running backs from creating explosive plays. Jack Rieger can be reached at neil@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @JackRieger.

Offense

Continued from page 12

key in on just the run game like they did more so last year, so we’re a more balanced offense this year.” With all the new moving pieces and new plays, the toughest part of instilling the new offense was some of the new ways to refer to a familiar play. “It was a matter of changing terminology,” Cramsey said. “Schemes are very similar in a lot of ways. Last year something they were doing was called this, but now it’s called this. Then adding new schemes and new ideas on top of that. It’s moreso terminology than anything else for guys who have played football for a long time.” Even with the weapons to utilize the passing game, the offense will still be oriented around the running game, led by Butler and Penn State graduate transfer Akeel Lynch. With a multitude of options on offense, the play calling won’t fall into the trap of being one-dimensional. “I feel like we can be wide open when we want and be conservative when we want,” Stewart said. “I feel like that’s a good dynamic to have just to keep defenses on their toes.”

OFFENSIVE LINE The guys up front were a question mark throughout last season. After suffering through a lack of depth and two rotational players having to retire due to injuries, the offensive line looks to build off the success of paving the way for two 1,000-yard rushers. The entire main starting unit returns from a year ago, and each member is in his fourth year of eligibility. That experience can’t be understated. “I think it’s good they have a whole season under their belt, so we’re all excited,” Butler said. “I’m excited to get all those guys back

Photo courtesy of Nevada Athletics Lisé Mackie swims the butterfly during a meet at the University of Nevada. She qualified and competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, winning a gold medal in the 4x200 freestyle.

Offense

Continued from page A12

With all five primary starters returning, and in at least their fourth year of eligibility, “The Union,” as it’s called, may be a little more difficult to criticize this season.

WHO WILL STEP UP IN THE FRONT SEVEN? One of the strengths of last season’s team was a talented, experienced group along the defensive line and linebacker core. Now the only returning starter is senior nose tackle Salesa Faraimo, who will be looked to as the leader of a young front. The defensive line will be able to break-in sophomores Korey Rush and Malik Reed, who are young, but highly-anticipated talents. The linebacker core is completely remixed this year, with senior Alex Bertrando leading the way with six career starts over his first three years at Nevada.

OUTLOOK: OFFENSE Expect Nevada to be a tad more explosive and creative with regard to offense. Stewart isn’t going to impress anyone with the passing game, but the playbook will be opened up more for him thanks to Cramsey’s game plan. The Wolf Pack will still look to run first with Butler and Penn State graduate transfer Akeel Lynch in the backfield, but wide receivers Jericho Richardson and Hasaan Henderson will look to break out as seniors, while senior tight end Jarred Gipson will continue to be the consistent security blanket for the offense.

DEFENSE Expect the defense to take a step back out of the gate, but then show glimpses of improvement as the season progresses. Replacing that much experience and talent in the front seven is never an easy task for a program, but there is talent along the defensive line that can make the transition just a little more seamless. The secondary, particularly sophomore safeties Asani Rufus and Dameon Baber, will be the strength of the defense. The new starters at linebacker, who have all seen limited action in their careers at Nevada, may be the weak link to this rebuilding defense.

PREDICTION The offense should improve and be more balanced, but the defense will cost the Wolf Pack some games this season. If everything breaks perfectly, Nevada could be sitting at 8-4 and Polian will be signing a new and juicy contract extension. If things go wrong, Nevada could be sitting at 6-6 or even 5-7. I expect something in the middle and will bet Nevada finishes at 7-5 with a few close games in the fourth quarter. If that happens, the athletic department will have a tough decision to make about the future of its head football coach. Neil can be reached at neil@sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @NP_Healy.

Quinsey Sablan/Nevada Sagebrush

The Nevada offensive line practices at Mackay Stadium on Aug. 25, 2016. The offensive line returns all five starters from a season ago.

and having the same five guys back. That should be fun.”

OUTLOOK The fate of the offense rests on Stewart’s shoulders. Is it fair to expect him to carry the offense? No, but he still has to be able to put the ball in play and get it to his playmakers. If the offense falls into the predictability of being one-dimensional, as it did last season, then nothing will change, but all the pieces are in place to have an effective offense. The receivers and tight ends possessing big-play ability, the run game expecting to be as good as last year’s and having a veteran offensive line all mean the offense could be sneaky good this season.

PREDICTION Expect a boost in the passing game. Is Stewart going to go bonkers and be the best quarterback in the conference? No, but there should be an improvement overall. The coaching staff knows what kind of player Stewart is. He knows the offense and can manage a game for you, but he isn’t going to be a gun-slinging quarterback and win you games with his arm. The coaches won’t put him in a position where he makes too many mistakes. Stewart should throw for about 2,800 yards, 19 touchdowns and around eight interceptions. Phenomenal numbers? No, but compared to last season, those stats will be the best Nevada fans can ask for. Meanwhile, Butler and Lynch should both run all over defenses. Butler should rush for about 1400 yards and 13 touchdowns, Lynch should rush for about 850 yards and eight touchdowns. Butler will lead the team in carries, but the offense will still look for balance in the backfield. Quinsey Sablan/Nevada Sagebrush

Neil Patrick Healy can be reached at neil@ sagebrush.unr.edu and on Twitter @NP_Healy.

Nevada quarterback Tyler Stewart (15) rolls out to throw a pass in practice at Mackay Stadium on Aug. 25, 2016. Stewart is in line to start his senior year.

Sports

@SagebrushSports | nevadasagebrush.com

A12

TUESDAY, AUGUST 30 2016

Football Season Preview

Photo courtesy of Nevada Athletics

Nevada quarterback Tyler Stewart (15) stands with his offensive line during a game against UC Davis at Mackay Stadium on Sept. 3, 2015. Stewart, who started the entire 2015 season as a junior, will look to improve his game in his senior year.

By Neil Patrick Healy Nevada football enters the 2016 season with several questions, and if this season is to be a success, then those questions must be answered. After two straight 7-6 campaigns and an overall record of 18-20 over the past three seasons, it’s put up or shut up time for head coach Brian Polian. Polian, who is entering the fourth year of his five-year contract, will have to make a big splash this season in order to secure a contract extension.

STORYLINES TO WATCH: IS TYLER STEWART GOOD ENOUGH? It’s no secret that having a good quarterback is essential to the success of a football team. That being said, the Mountain West Conference isn’t stocked with blue-chip signal callers. Only Boise State sophomore Brett Rypien threw for over 3,000 yards a season ago, so the recipe for success in the MWC is to run the ball effectively and have a quarterback that can make just enough plays to

not screw it up. Enter Nevada senior quarterback Tyler Stewart, who is tasked with taking the offense to the next level in the passing game after a mediocre junior season. Stewart has the weapons around him to make the offense dynamic, with four skill position players named on award watch lists, the entire offensive line returning and 10 of 11 returning starters from last year. Not to mention the return of junior running back James Butler, who was the No. 2 option out of the backfield, and rushed for 1,345 yards and 10 touchdowns. Stewart will also benefit from the installation of a new offensive playbook, thanks to first-year offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey. After being groomed by former University of Oregon and current 49ers head coach Chip Kelly at the University of New Hampshire, Cramsey made a name for himself as the offensive coordinator at Montana State. His offense ranked third in the FCS in both points per game (41.9) and yards per game (519.8), while his former quarterback, Dakota Prukop, is now the

starting signal caller at the University of Oregon. If Nevada wants to take the next step as a team, the offense has to excel. Stewart’s stat line of 2139 yards, 15 touchdowns, seven interceptions and 57 percent completion rate will have to improve. His 6.6 yards per attempt average was the lowest in the conference among eligible quarterbacks. That just won’t cut it.

CAN THE OFFENSIVE LINE HOLD UP? The offensive line was the subject of enormous criticism during stretches of last season. Despite clearing the way for two 1,000-yard rushers, the line was ravaged by injuries and lack of depth after two veteran linemen went down with career-ending injuries. Pile on the fact that three members of the starting unit were once walk-ons and the scrutiny was abound. Now, despite some depth concerns, that same unit looks to be one of the strengths of the team.

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Nevada’s young defense will depend heavily on its playmaking secondary By Jack Rieger If you spend any significant amount of time at a Nevada football practice this fall camp, you’ll probably hear the defense’s new catchphrase: run and hit. The new slogan is echoed regularly to represent the Wolf Pack’s new aggressive, confrontational attitude. Defensive coordinator Scott Boone is debatably the most frequent user of the new motto and is proud of what it represents. “It’s about block destruction, shedding blocks, running to the ball and tackling,” Boone said. “So we just go run and hit, that’s our concept. We try to tell our guys constantly to play defense but not defensive. It doesn’t matter what defense is called.” Boone is entering his third year as Nevada’s defensive coordinator. His impact on the unit has led to a stingier defense, as the Wolf Pack went from allowing 34.4 points per game in 2013 to 27.2 in 2014 and 26.8 last season. Boone will be facing his biggest challenge this season, as Nevada lost six of its front seven starters from last season. That group includes Los Angeles Ram Ian Seau and Oakland Raider Lenny Jones, both of whom were pass rushing linebackers with NFL skill sets. Nevada’s “Tampa two” defense utilizes four defensive linemen and three linebackers. All four of Nevada’s starting defensive linemen have at least one

year of game experience, and defensive end Malik Reed is expected to become a significant contributor this season as a pass rusher. The Wolf Pack linebackers are the defense’s most inexperienced unit going into the season. Starting middle linebacker Gabe Sewell is a redshirt freshman with zero game experience. Weak side linebacker L.J. Jackson and strong side linebacker Alex Bertrando are both seniors, but lack significant game experience. Bertrando’s six starts lead all linebackers, but his 2015 season was cut short due to a knee injury. Bertrando doesn’t believe that the Wolf Pack linebackers lack of experience will hold them back. “I don’t think we’re more limited,” Bertrando said. “This year we have a more unselfish style of play. Last year, some guys maybe tried to do too much. Everyone on this defense is here to have a winning defense and not for themselves. Everybody plays very unselfish. Everyone just does their job and doesn’t care who makes the play.” Coach Boone acknowledges that his linebacker core is young and that his “run and hit” strategy is in place to simplify things for that unit. “Linebacking, that’s the issue where we have all new guys. Nobody has really played anything and those guys are good players, and we’re trying to keep it simple for them and let them just run around and hit.”

Boone’s defense has been modified over the last few seasons to accommodate the experience of his players. The defensive unit will continue to prioritize stopping the run. “We’re kind’ve away from as much

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Henry MacDiarmid/Nevada Sagebrush

Nevada running back James Butler (20) gets lifted in the air by offensive linemen Austin Corbett (73) during a game at Mackay Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2016.

Cramsey looks for consistency and balance in Nevada’s new offense By Neil Patrick Healy Nevada football is known for having reliable running backs, electric quarterback play and scoring points in bunches, but since Hall of Fame coach Chris Ault left the school in 2012, the offense has been stagnant. In Ault’s last year, Nevada ranked 14th in points per game. In the three years since his departure, the offense sunk to 77th, 51st and 78th, respectively. But with a new offensive coordinator, a slew of returning talent and a shot of adrenaline, this offense could be what brings the Wolf Pack out of its scoring slump. A combination of factors has led to the conclusion that there are no excuses for the Nevada offense not to be drastically improved.

RETURNING STARTERS: 10 KEY RETURNERS: QB Tyler Stewart, RB James Butler, the entire starting offensive line, TE Jarred Gipson, WR Jericho Richardson and WR Hasaan Henderson

KEY DEPARTURES: RB Don Jackson, OL Adam Khouri and OL Joey Anglemire

KEY ADDITIONS: RB Akeel Lynch Quinsey Sablan/Nevada Sagebrush

Nevada sophomore safety Dameon Baber (5) lines up in practice at Mackay Stadium on Aug. 25, 2016. After a breakout freshman season, Baber will look to build on his success.

2015 STATISTICS Points per game: 25.8 (78th) Total offense: 76th Yards per game: 375 Passing: 110th

Rushing: 25th

THE NEW OFFENSE Enter first-year offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey. Once groomed by the offensive guru Chip Kelly of the San Francisco 49ers, Cramsey hit the college football radar last season leading the Montana State offense to one of the best in school history. The Bobcats ranked third in the FCS in both points per game (41.9) and yards per game (519.8) thanks to Cramsey’s ingenuity as a play caller. His most recent quarterback, Dakota Prukop, was the field general for the Bobcat offense and is now in line to be the starting quarterback at the University of Oregon. Cramsey has had the better part of six months to instill his new offense, and he is pleased to see how well the players have grasped it. “They’ve done a great job picking it up through the spring and through fall camp,” Cramsey said. “We have the entire package in. Everything that we have is in their heads.” Unlike former Nevada offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich, who is in his first season as head coach of the University of Hawaii, Cramsey is more fluent with the passing game. He also has a more motion-heavy offense that has players moving around in different formations. “Coach Cramsey has a lot of moving pieces in his offense and a lot more moving around in the pass game,” Butler said. “I like it a lot. Teams can’t

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