LAS VEGAS � UNLV fans here are still reeling from the 63-28 setback to WAC cellar-dweller and in-state foe Nevada a week ago in Reno.

It was one of those sledge-hammer-on-the-noggin experiences.

Why does UNLV lose? BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae once toiled in the UNLV football offices in the late-90's as the offensive line and running game coach, and he knows the challenges the Rebels have faced over the years.

It's been quite a run of futile seasons for these Rebels, and now the latest head coach to feel the heat is former Ute offensive coordinator Mike Sanford, a decent guy.

"I have a great amount of respect for the program and the university," said Anae. "You feel that way when you give blood for a place, and that was the case for me and my family."

"They still have great people and I have a lot of fond memories, tough times as well. It was an opportunity for professional growth. I still see players today from those teams who were hard-working, great people."

Since UNLV hired Sanford in 2005, the year BYU made Bronco Mendenhall the Cougars' head coach and Utah elevated Kyle Whittingham to the head coaching job, Sanford is 11-26 (.234) with seasons of 2-9, 2-10, 2-10 and 5-7. He almost made it to a bowl game last year before his squad melted down at San Diego State, another struggling program.

UNLV has been a boneyard for coaches. Even the great and legendary John Robinson (1999-2004) went 28-42 (.400) with only a few bright spots. Jeff Horton, whom Robinson replaced, was 13-44 (.228) before leaving the bright lights for Wisconsin of the Big Ten and is now with the Detroit Lions.

The most successful UNLV coach was Ron Meyer, who started his career in Las Vegas taking the Rebels to a 27-8 mark (.771) back in 1973-75. He later coached SMU in that famed 1980 Holiday Bowl loss to Jim McMahon's Cougars before coaching in the NFL with the Patriots and Colts.

Thing is, Meyer's UNLV schedule included the likes of St. College of Arkansas, Cal State Los Angeles, Northeast Louisiana, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Santa Clara, Northern Arizona, Weber State, Prairie View A&M, New Mexico Highlands, Alcorn State and South Dakota State.

There have been different faces come and go here, but they've all tended to smack right into the same walls here in Vegas. Now Sanford is feeling the heat.

Even his president said his job will be reviewed week to week, and he's still got to face BYU, Utah and TCU.

I asked Anae why UNLV can't make the MWC's Big Three and go to bowl games every year.

"Having gone through the experience, I think you have to have the right formula and very few guys have had the right formula," he said.