"In the past, we've been disrespected. They've run up the score on us ..."

— UNLV linebacker Jason Beauchamp, talking about UH on his "Now or Never" blog in the Las Vegas Sun.

LAS VEGAS — With 18 previous meetings, the football series with Hawai'i is one of the longest and most enduring that the University of Nevada-Las Vegas has.

But to call it a rivalry in the knock-down, drag-out, tempers-rising sense of the word would be a stretch of Las Vegas Strip-length proportions.

Until now, perhaps.

After being just another non-conference series, maybe, just maybe, we're seeing the sparks of a genuine rivalry fly as the Warriors and Rebels prepare for Saturday's game at Sam Boyd Stadium. That is the hope, anyway, for a series that has held considerable potential but has yet to stir imaginations, much less stoke passions.

After all, when was the last time you heard people counting down to a UH-UNLV game for something beyond the trip to Vegas? Even when UNLV had Randall Cunningham, this pairing touched off few sparks.

Now, after years of playing each other but having few real points of contention, there might actually be some competitive fuel. In his "Now or Never" blog, UNLV linebacker Jason Beauchamp contends "In the past, we've been disrespected. They've run up the score on us, we've got a lot of guys from the Hawaiian Islands, and it means a lot to them. This game is about pride, being physical, and who wants it more."

The "run up the score on us" reference apparently comes from UH's 49-14 victory in 2007, the Warriors' last visit here. That game, which UH led 42-7 heading into the final quarter, was punctuated by an 81-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Tyler Graunke to Malcolm Lane with 2 minutes, 38 seconds remaining, apparently resulting in an absence of post-game pleasantries by the coaches.

Two years later the Rebels have long memories and lingering wounds from the game.

To be sure the competitive spirit is enhanced by the number (five) of Hawai'i players now represented on the UNLV roster and their ties with former teammates who are now at UH. UNLV has had players from Hawai'i in the past, too, but the games have never really carried the intensity of what we like to think of rivalry series such as games against Brigham Young, Fresno State, Boise State or, heck, even Louisiana Tech.

But that is hopefully changing as the two schools enter a period of more frequent meetings. Beginning with this game, they will play eight times in 10 years.

Time enough to build up to the r-word.