The BIG GAME came and went, and it turned out to be another wasted opportunity for the Cyclones. So what.

I’m not trying to undermine the importance of the Iowa game. I just get sick of all the psychoanalysis and second-guessing that follows playing the Hawks.

The point is we lost, time to get prepared for this week’s game.

Which brings us to the Runnin’ Rebels of UNLV.

Everyone on campus seems to have the attitude that the football team can just pencil in a “W” right next to UNLV on the schedule. I hope the football team doesn’t pick up this attitude; because that would be dangerous.

Teams that didn’t win a game the previous season should not take any team for granted. If the members of the football squad want to start penciling in “W’s” next to the schedule, they might as well pencil in a 1-10 record.

Not that I think the Cyclones will finish 1-10 this season; I just think that the last thing they need right now is to look past the Rebels.

UNLV is an easy team to look past this season. They have already lost to also-ran’s Eastern Michigan and Rice by a combined score of 79-6.

The Runnin’ Rebels’ only victory this season was against Arkansas State. Arkansas State is not exactly Alabama. But on the same note, beating Ohio University is not the same as beating Ohio State.

If fans are expecting the same UNLV team that lost to Eastern Michigan to show up at Jack Trice Field, they might be in for a long afternoon.

This is true for two reasons.

First, UNLV is a squad with a lot of pride. Winning a bowl game the previous season does that to a team.

True, the bowl game they won last year was the California Bowl. That’s not the point; the point is, this is a team that knows how to win and expects to.

Secondly, UNLV will be playing with a lot of emotion. One of the members of last year’s squad was murdered earlier this week. He was a popular player on the team and one of the Rebel players has already dedicated the season to his slain ex-teammate.

Adversity tends to either bring a team together and inspire their play or have the adverse effect and cause a distraction. Expect an inspired team to face the Cyclone squad on Saturday afternoon.

I hate to hammer away at an old point, but the key to this game is the same as the key to the Iowa game. Whoever commits fewer turnovers will win the game.

Most fans concentrate on the offense when they discuss turnovers. What they forget to realize is that it takes a defensive effort to force a turnover.

I offer this challenge to the defense. Do whatever it takes to force a turnover by UNLV in the first quarter.

The Runnin’ Rebels turned the ball over five times last week. If the Cyclone defense can get the UNLV offense to make a major mistake in the first quarter, they will start doubting themselves. Every time they have the ball they will think of turning it over. At that point it will be easy for the Cyclone D to finally dominate a game.

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Bill Kopatich is a sophomore in journalism from Des Moines.