Humanitarian Bowl teams dodge weather, snowballs

Winter Sports Day came to the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl a day early this year.

Maryland and Nevada arrived at Bronco Stadium on Saturday to find the famous blue turf covered with snow.

The Terrapins practiced in the Caven-Williams Sports Complex, Boise State's indoor facility, and staged a snowball fight on the way back to the locker room.

The Wolf Pack moved into the stadium for the final 15 minutes of their practice. Snowballs flew when they were done, too.

Both teams are headed to Bogus Basin on Sunday for snow tubing - the bowl game's annual Winter Sports Day.

"We had some kids who wanted to practice out in the snow," Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. "I would have done it - normally, I would have done it - but I heard the field was slippery and I didn't want to pull any groins. Once we got inside, I don't think we would have gotten the quality of work if we had gone outside. After a couple of days off, it was important for our guys to be successful throwing the ball and doing the things we need to do without dealing with the weather."

Nevada coach Chris Ault, whose team was able to practice Friday because of its shorter travel day, wanted his players to get a taste of the elements. The blue turf was cleared before the Wolf Pack practiced, but was covered again by the time they went outside for some work on the pass game.

"You don't ever get used to it, but we know the field will be sloppy," Ault said. "I thought we'd go out there for 10-12 minutes and try to get a feel."

Friedgen had one rule for his team's snowball fight: Don't hit the coach.

"The guy who hits me is going to be doing a lot of rolls in this stuff - for about 24 hours," Friedgen said. "Until he turns into a snowman."

Senior wide receiver Danny Oquendo said he wasn't worried.

"He's gotta catch me first," Oquendo said.

HUMANITARIAN AWARDS

Nevada running back Luke Lippincott and Maryland quarterback Jordan Steffy, both of whom have missed most of their senior years with injuries, were named the Humanitarian Award winners Saturday.

Both seniors were starters when the season began.

Steffy was one of 22 players named to the AFCA Good Works Team based on community involvement. He has raised more than $50,000 this year through his Children Deserve a Chance Foundation.

Lippincott, who is expected to get a sixth year of eligibility and return next year, has been active in schools in the Reno area. Principals often write letters to Ault telling him how well Lippincott did on reading days and other school activities.

"Luke is a very unselfish person," Ault said. "He always has been. He's always giving back to the community. He always has time for the little kids."

WAC PRIDE ON THE LINE

The WAC is 0-3 in bowl games this season with Louisiana Tech and Nevada left. Louisiana Tech plays Northern Illinois on Sunday in the Independence Bowl.

It's possible Nevada will be the league's last hope for a bowl win. The Wolf Pack have lost their last two bowls.

"We have to be the ones to step it up," Nevada sophomore defensive end Kevin Basped said.

Already, Fresno State (Colorado State), Boise State (TCU) and Hawaii (Notre Dame) have lost.