Nevada was at the maximum number of allotted scholarships (13) last month when Muss completed the 2017 recruiting class that featured four additional transfers.
So, heads were scratched when CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein tweeted last Wednesday that St. John’s grad transfer Darien Williams intends to visit Reno on Friday.
St. John’s grad transfer Darien Williams tells me he will visit Nevada on June 9th. Immediately eligible. #SJUBB
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 31, 2017
Was he willing to take a walk-on spot, like Bryant’s Marcel Pettway? Or was a scholarship spot about to open? Option two.
Senior Leland King tweeted Friday morning that he is transferring for the second time in his collegiate career.
“I had a lot of fun these last two years at Nevada,” King tweeted. “I will cherish all the memories! But it’s time to move on. Gonna miss my people.”
King played in 30 games last year, starting two. He averaged 3.7 points and 2.6 rebounds a night while playing the seventh most minutes on the team.
It is presumed the available scholarship will go to Williams, if all goes well Friday. If not, Pettway could be a suitor. The remaining options are scarce.
Williams would fill a position of need for the Wolf Pack, which is currently projected to start Elijah Foster at center with almost no depth behind him. Williams stands 6-8 and tips the scales at 245 pounds. He has a limited offensive skillset (averaged 3.8 points per game), but provides a defensive presence and can matchup with teams that boast a bonafide big man.
Nevada home football schedule features three “day games” so far
We now know the kickoff time for five of Nevada’s six games at Mackay Stadium this fall.
ESPN announced last week it is picking up Nevada’s home opener against Toledo on Sept. 9 (game will be aired on ESPN3) and slotted it for a 4 p.m. kick.
The following week Nevada will host Idaho State (also at 4 p.m.) then plays Hawaii on Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m., Air Force on Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m., and ends the year Nov. 25 against UNLV at 1 p.m.
A start time for the San Jose State game on Nov. 11 remains to be determined.
If you want to include the 4 p.m. starts, the schedule totes a trio a day games. The 4 p.m. kickoffs are more favorable for fans in early September than they would be in late October or November, so while they’re not exactly 12:30 p.m. starts, it could be worse for the faithful that was presented an unattractive home schedule.
The earlier the kick, the earlier the tailgaters can get their morning buzz on, the longer fans get to absorb the waning rays of sun/warmth as the Northern Nevada winter looms, the earlier everyone can get home and catch the national primetime game(s).
Football was meant to be played during the day (see: NFL Sundays). And for Nevada fans, they get three such games – kind of, so far.
Reno 1868 FC back at Greater Nevada Field for two big ones
After playing five matches in 15 days, Reno 1868 FC got a desired day off on Saturday.
The rest followed a 2-0 U.S. Open Cup shutout loss at Sacramento Republic FC and a 3-3 draw at Colorado Springs last Saturday, when Reno led 2-0 at the half as well as 3-2 with two minutes left in regulation.
Heading into already the fourth calendar month of the season, Reno is one of four teams in the USL without a defeat in its last five league matches. The 3-3-3 record is good for a ninth-place tie with Phoenix.
It’s far too early to start scoreboard watching or point counting, but a meaningful week awaits the expansion franchise. Reno will play Rio Grande Valley FC on Wednesday night and will once again see Sacramento on Saturday. Both matches will be at Greater Nevada Field and start at 7:30 p.m.
Rio Grande (4-3-2) is just two points clear of Reno in seventh place and Sacramento (4-5-3) is three points ahead of Reno, although it’s played three more matches.
With midweek daytime highs forecasted to flirt with 90, Wednesday presents as promising an opportunity there’s been this year to venture to Greater Nevada Field to witness Reno’s newest professional sports franchise.
Reno is 2-1-2 at home this year with the lone loss coming in the franchise’s inaugural match, on March 25, to Orange County.
Nathan can be reached via email at nshoup@sparkstrib.com or nathan@lotusradio.com. His weekly column, ‘Shoup Shots,’ was named the best column in the state of Nevada (community division) by the Nevada Press Association. It runs in the hard copy of the Sparks Tribune every Tuesday morning. Nathan’s weekly radio show airs Fridays at noon on ESPN Radio 94.5 FM.
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