Nevada RB won't start vs. SMU

[Scoops]

Notebook: Kretschmer won’t start due to ankle injury

Chad Hartley RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL

Nevada coach Chris Ault said senior running back Chance Kretschmer will not start Saturday’s game at Southern Methodist because of a left ankle injury.

Ault said Kretschmer is day-to-day this week because of the injury, which he suffered in the second half of the Wolf Pack’s 42-24 win over San Jose State on Saturday.

“It’s not severe,” Ault said of the injury, which occurred when quarterback Jeff Rowe was sacked and fell onto the Kretschmer’s leg. “But it’s going to be a day-to-day thing for him this week.

“B.J. (Mitchell) will be the starter this week in practice. If Chance is ready to go, we will certainly utilize him.”

The Pack has plenty of options if Kretschmer can’t play. Mitchell, a junior, and redshirt freshman Drew Robinson have both been effective this year. Mitchell is averaging 48.3 yards per game and 4.7 yards per carry and has scored seven touchdowns.

Robinson, who hadn’t seen much action in the last month, emerged Saturday to rush for 71 yards and two TDs against the Spartans. He is averaging 6 yards per carry this season.

Kretschmer needs just 225 yards for the third 1,000-yard season of his career at Nevada. In his career, he has 3,744 yards and 35 touchdowns.

“Drew is a lot like Chance,” Ault said. “Chance is not a great back at any one thing. He is a good back at everything. Drew is similar but he has a little bit more explosiveness.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Monday marked Ault’s 58th birthday, and he got more than one reminder of that during his weekly media/booster luncheon at the Peppermill.

Rory Hickock, Nevada’s assistant athletic director for development, opened the luncheon by announcing Ault’s birthday. Later in the luncheon, when Ault was moderating the highlight film of the San Jose State game, Reno Mayor Bob Cashell arrived and loudly interrupted Ault and led the 100 or so in attendance in a chorus of “Happy Birthday.”

“Now I remember why I didn’t vote for you,” Ault joked to his longtime friend. “Gosh, I sure hope you aren’t planning to run (for reelection).”

EXTRA POINTS: Kicker Damon Fine, who was on the preseason watch list for the Lou Groza Award, did not make the semifinal cut, released on Monday. Fine is 9-of-14 on field goal attempts and 37-of-38 on extra points this year. … Ault said defensive end Craig Bailey, who missed most of Saturday’s game with back spasms, should be ready to play against SMU. … Wideout Nichiren Flowers is now seventh in the nation in receptions per game (7.3) and 11th in receiving yards per game (96.33 yards).

[PonySnob]

Hopefully Bennett gets the team ready for the back-up player this time!

[Otto]

Kretschmer hasn't started every game this year, anyway. The other RBs are supposed to be pretty good.