Pack collapses as its coach combusts in loss to Arizona

(Photo: Jason Bean/RGJ)The only thing steamier than the Mackay Stadium turf on Saturday afternoon was Nevada coach Brian Polian.

With the Wolf Pack playing in record heat, with temperatures nearing 100, Polian was even hotter than that, in part because of the officiating in his team’s 44-20 loss to No. 20/22 Arizona and in part because of his team’s play.

Polian was tagged with two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties – which he later apologized for, both to his team and to his counterpart Rich Rodriguez – while watching his team melt under the challenge of facing off against a nationally ranked team. And while Polian, the team’s fiery third-year head coach, wasn’t pleased with officiating, he…