When Hawaii won the coin toss Saturday and elected to receive, it marked the first time this season UNLV didn't open the game with the ball.
That's because Rebels coach Tony Sanchez always wants the ball first, which goes against coaching conventional wisdom. Because most coaches defer to the second half when they win the toss, Sanchez can almost always count on going on offense first.
"The whole point of football is what? To get the football," Sanchez said. "If I have an opportunity to get the ball, I'm getting the ball. I don't care when the hell it is.