​UNLV safety Tre Fulton tackles Hawaii’s DeVon Rice in the Rebels’ 21-6 win over the Rainbow Warriors in Honolulu, HI.LAS VEGAS — There isn’t a football coach in America, college or pro, that doesn’t preach the values of family.It’s printed on T-shirts. It’s painted on the walls of locker rooms, weight rooms and meeting rooms. And to be honest, the importance of family isn’t the exclusive domain of football coaches. Coaches in every sport emphasize it.In Dan Mullen’s case, family extends to four legs, not just two-legged souls.The UNLV head football coach brought the family dog Wells to Monday’s weekly news conference at the Fertitta Football Complex as the Rebels straightened a lot of issues out Saturday with their 21-6 road win over Hawaii.And while Wells was making friends with the assembled media, traversing up and down the row, Mullen was praising the team effort that got the Rebels to 1-1 in the young 2026 season and off to a successful start in Mountain West play.And while all football coaches say “We want to get better each week” Mullen’s staff and players responded to the challenge after it had dropped their Week 0 opener at Allegiant Stadium to Memphis.  In doing so, UNLV perhaps saved its season even though it’s Labor Day weekend.Mullen said his team had to fix some things in a hurry and they did. He said the Rebels needed to get into the end zone. They did. He said they needed to find ways to get running back Jet Thomas more involved in the offense. They did. He said the defense needed to tighten things up and yes, they did.You can imagine how nice the flight back to Las Vegas was. The school sent out a social media post of Mullen next to the big Golden Pineapple Trophy, a giant chocolate chip cookie at his seat as he smiled.I’m not sure if Wells was along for the ride. Although a romp over Waikiki Beach might’s made the pooch’s day.There’s another lengthy flight on the horizon for UNLV as it travels to North Texas this Saturday to face a team that opened its season with a new coach against the defending national champions in Indiana and got waylaid 52-16. Monday, Mullen warned against complacency as the 1-1 Rebels look to build on their success against the Rainbow Warriors.It’s going to be the Mean Green’s home opener. They figure to be fired up as they look to get to 1-1 themselves. A coach’s message resonates better with a team that’s 1-1 rather than 0-2.For UNLV, Saturday is also important. You’re building an entire resume which you hope rewards you come December. You’re trying to grow as a program. You’re looking to develop two-way trust between Mullen and the staff and the players. And yes, momentum matters. Keep winning and the community will come out and support you.  I want to give our coaches credit,” Mullen said, even though Paul Guenther, the team’s defensive coordinator probably deserved to be singled out given the defense allowed just six points, the fewest allowed again