Off-Key Opener in the Desert

A little more than a month after the death of Rashidi Wheeler, Northwestern opens its season tonight in an off-beat, off-the-strip Friday evening game against Nevada Las Vegas.

This 5 p.m. game, to be television by ESPN, is much anticipated, but for different reasons now. Not only is it a matchup of talented teams, in a desert setting, on a night traditionally reserved for high school football, but now the specter of Wheeler’s Aug. 3 death and the controversy surrounding it shadows Northwestern into the season.

“There will be distractions,” quarterback Zac Kustok told the Chicago Tribune this week. “I know it’ll still linger on.”

Northwestern will wear arm patches bearing Wheeler’s initials, RAW, on their game jerseys, and Wheeler’s uniform No. 30 has been retired.

No one can say for sure what impact Wheeler’s death will have on the Wildcats, picked by many to win the Big Ten Conference title this year. UNLV Coach John Robinson, whose USC Trojans defeated Northwestern in the 1996 Rose Bowl, says this year’s team has a chance to be just as special.

“Northwestern has a chance to do what Oklahoma did last year,” Robinson said. “They’re set up for it. I think the schedule is favorable. They have an opportunity to win all their games.”

Northwestern has all key components back in an offense that averaged 38.5 points and 475.6 yards a game last season. The Wildcats also miss Michigan and Wisconsin on this year’s Big Ten schedule and play hapless Duke and Navy in their other nonconference games.

UNLV’s chances for an unbeaten season are over in the wake of a bitter 14-10 season-opening defeat at Arkansas, a game the Rebels dominated but squandered in the end.

“We kind of blew the game,” Robinson said.

Junior quarterback Jason Thomas, touted as a Heisman Trophy candidate, started his campaign with a thud, completing only four 4 of 16 passes for 40 yards.

“He never threw a spiral,” Robinson said.

Tonight’s game is also drawing some fire because it is being played on Friday night, long the night for high school football.

Robinson, though, says up-and-coming programs such as his need the exposure.

“It’s aroused a lot of fuss from a lot of people who don’t need to play on Friday night,” Robinson said of the issue. “We need to play on Friday. We have the opportunity for national exposure. Our program needs it.”