The Crumbl Cookies on the plane weren’t just dessert — they were proof that winning tastes sweet. Dan Mullen, leaning back into his press conference, admitted he’s a “chocolate chip guy,” though the mountain of frosting on the s’mores cookie caught his eye.
“That’s what happens when you win,” Mullen said. “Good things happen when you win.”
But the coach quickly shifted from cookies to cold truth: UNLV’s season, in his eyes, hasn’t even started yet.
“Our season starts next Monday,” he said. “Now you’re into eight straight conference games in nine weeks. Hopefully, a tenth if we get to a championship. Everything we want is in front of us, and it starts with Wyoming.”
Cleaning Up After Chaos
The Rebels head into the bye at 4‑0, fresh off a chaotic road win at Miami (OH), where they erased three different 14‑point deficits. The tape showed resilience but also sloppiness.
“We had every opportunity to implode last weekend,” Mullen said. “New team, 9:30 a.m. kickoff, three time zones away, down 14 multiple times. But guys didn’t pout, they didn’t point fingers. They focused on doing their job. That’s not easy to fix if you don’t have it. We have it.
“But the reality is simple: when we execute, we’re good. When we don’t, we’re really bad. What matters now is details — alignments, protections, fits. That’s the stuff that wins conference games.”
The Laramie Standard
And the first conference game is where it always gets uncomfortable: Laramie, Wyoming.
UNLV hasn’t won in War Memorial Stadium since 2003. Six straight trips, six straight losses. And Mullen himself carries his own memory.
“Last time I was there? 2004, top‑five Utah team, ABC game of the week, and the lights went out,” he recalled. “I think they put on Heidi instead. We went for a team walk, 30 below zero, guys sprinted back inside. I’m just glad it’s not late November this time.”
Funny anecdote, sure, but it underscores how daunting Laramie can be.
“They’re one of the top attendance teams in the league,” he said. “They don’t give up points. They shut down Utah for three quarters. Big, physical offensive line. Quarterback protects the ball. They make you earn everything.”
Focus, Not Frosting
Even amid the smiles and cookies, Mullen made clear the program can’t afford slips in detail.
“The procedural penalties drive me crazy,” he said. “Aggressive mistakes, you can live with. Jumping offside, wrong alignments, that’s coaching. That’s what we have to fix this week. Because if you don’t, you don’t walk out of Laramie with a win.”
And walking out of Laramie with a win might determine if this 4‑0 start turns into something larger.
The Bottom Line
Yes, UNLV football is loose and having fun. Players earn victory meals and cookies. Coaches don’t have to police effort or energy.
But beneath the fun sits the message: the Mountain West isn’t soft or shallow. Teams like Wyoming, well‑coached, disciplined, suffocating, are what separate a nice September record from a championship chase in November.
As Mullen put it: “I love this team, I’m having fun. But Laramie’s not going to give you anything. You’ve got to take it.”