UNLV football coach calls Air Force 'dangerous'

UNLV football coach Mike Sanford fired a salvo at Air Force during a radio appearance after the Rebels’ 45-17 loss at Falcon Stadium on Saturday, according to the Las Vegas Sun.

Sanford, the paper reported, said the Falcons do “a lot of things that are dangerous and unsafe” and that are “not within the rules of football.”

Sanford wouldn’t elaborate, according to The Sun, but he likely was referring to Air Force’s use of cut blocks — a legal but controversial technique in which players block below the waist. Cut blocks become illegal “chop blocks” when they are performed on players who already are engaged with another player.

Asked Monday if he had any reaction to Sanford’s comments, Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said: “No. Just show me the play. Show me specifically what one play.” When asked if people misidentify legal cut blocks as chop blocks, Calhoun said, “That’s pretty evident.”

Sanford’s comments appear to have been among the last desperate acts of a desperate man. On Sunday, the day after the Rebels dropped to 4-7 and out of bowl contention, he was told he will be let go after UNLV’s season finale Nov. 28. In his fifth season, Sanford has a record of 15-43 with the Rebels.

Clark earns honor
Sophomore tailback Asher Clark was named the Mountain West Conference’s co-offensive player of the week on Monday for his performance in the victory over UNLV.

On 18 carries, Clark rushed for a career-high 160 yards and scored a career-high three touchdowns. It was his first game with more than 100 yards rushing this season.

Clark shared the honor with Wyoming freshman quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels.