Vai Taua News

RENO, Nev. - Junior running back Vai Taua, the team's leading rusher, has been ruled academically ineligible for the Sheraton Hawai`i Bowl, school officials announced today.

If the Hawaii Bowl ends up being a close game, SMU's Margus Hunt could play a big role in its outcome.

Wolf Pack running back Vai Taua has been named an Honorable Mention All-American by SI.com. Taua has rushed for 1345 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.

Nevada junior running back Vai Taua was named to Sports Illustrated's 2009 All-America team as an honorable mention.

The University of Nevada football team had a pretty good idea who it was practicing for yesterday afternoon when it hit the field even before it was officially offered - and accepted - a bid to play Southern Methodist in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl.

It didn't take long for Nevada running back Vai Taua to notice one particular statistic about SMU: rush defense.

Nevada defensive end Dontay Moch has been named the Western Athletic Conference defensive player of the year and Wolf Pack wide receiver Brandon Wimberly the freshman of the year.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running backs Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott have all rushed for over 1,000 yards this season, an NCAA first.

Though Nevada threatened, there's still no team in the WAC that can conquer Boise State.

WOLF PACK FOOTBALL Nevada at Boise State Friday Final BOISE STATE 44, NEVADA 33 Nevada 0 16 10 7 -- 33 Boise St.

Nevada thought this was going to be the year. After losing to Boise State for nine consecutive years, Nevada players thought this year's team was the one to take down the WAC champions.

In this Oct. 24. photo, Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore throws a pass during the second quarter against Hawaii in Honolulu.

In January 2005, coach Chris Ault told his assistants he was going to install a concoction he dubbed the "pistol." He wanted to dramatically alter Nevada's pass-happy, shotgun offense that had just produced a losing season.

Seniors Alonzo Durham , Mike Bethea and Jonathon Amaya were all named Striker Award honorees this week, giving the Nevada football team nine Strikers, the most since the team joined the FBS in 1992.

The University of Nevada has done something no other team has ever done. They ran the ball.

In retrospect, the most bizarre score of the entire college football season might be Notre Dame 35, Nevada 0 back on Sept.

In a game between the Western Athletic Conference's elite and one of the nation's poorest teams, it was the Nevada Wolf Pack who romped the New Mexico State Aggies, beating NMSU 63-20 on Saturday night at Aggie Memorial Stadium.

Last year Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick had 248 total yards and four touchdowns against the Aggies.

The scene was something akin to "Jeopardy!," except that instead of signaling devices, Nevada offensive linemen Alonzo Durham and Kenny Ackerman each had their helmets in their hands, having just finished Tuesday's practice.

NMSU will host the Wolf Pack Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. in the home finale for the Aggies.