Rebels down ‘about 49 guys’ after CSU cancellation

LARAMIE -- When Air Force was left with no choice but to cancel its Nov. 14 trip to Laramie because of COVID-19 concerns at the academy, Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl said he used the unexpected bye week to teach fundamentals and see what some of his young roster could do.

Marcus Arroyo followed suit last week.

After the Rebels were forced to axe their game in Fort Collins last Saturday, UNLV's first-year head coach -- instead of focusing on the Cowboys -- went back to the drawing board.

UNLV (0-4) couldn't field a team against Colorado State. Four players tested positive for the virus. The resulting contact tracing left the Rebels without "about 49 guys," Arroyo told the media Monday.

"We’ve got to get creative. We’ve got to find opportunities to get better with some individual periods," he said. "We had some great meetings and a chance to slow it down at certain points of practice, but we’ve got to get creative.

"They’re not canceling the game yet, so we’re practicing.”

One of the players who tested positive is back on the field. Others are, too, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Wyoming's last two games against Air Force and Utah State, both of which were home games for the Cowboys (1-2), were canceled because of spikes in coronavirus cases.

The Pokes and Rebels are scheduled to meet inside Allegiant Stadium Friday at 2 p.m. MST.