Tony Sanchez concluded his third season as coach Saturday, when the Rebels lost to a historically bad UNR side 23-16 and with it a chance to become bowl eligible and reclaim ownership of the Fremont Cannon.
Ed Graney
Ed Graney is a sports columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, covering a variety of topics and the Las Vegas sports scene.
egraney@reviewjournal.com … @edgraney on Twitter. 702-383-4618
The third year under coach Tony Sanchez is now in the books as a 5-7 record with no bowl game, no return of the Fremont Cannon and enough legitimate questions about his staff that demand to be answered.
Hughes might have one college football game remaining, or he might get two, but as much as he wants the latter to be his final act, he already pulled off a leading role.
BYU is now 9-0 against UNLV in Las Vegas after its 31-21 victory, which might explain why so much late money was bet on the Cougars on Friday.
There’s every chance Rogers will continue to see time at quarterback Friday against Brigham Young and beyond as this season winds to a close, but it’s never a bad thing for someone so young and talented to be reminded of football’s cruel realities.
It’s either coaching or players or both for the Rebels, and yet perhaps all of the defensive nonsense has over time created a sort of systematic culture that breeds an expectation of failure.
It’s a slow and steady and incredibly frustrating climb when it comes to the Rebels trying to match and compete with the Aztecs, a two-time defending Mountain West champion that is ranked 19th in the nation.
In a college football universe built on free enterprise, losing 54-21 to Ohio State is another reminder of the massive sense of exclusivity that defines the sport.
With an inspired win at Idaho, the Rebels ensured it would arrive to this home of helmets plastered with leaves knowing a reality many expected before the season commenced.
Inexcusable setback to FCS opponent has made second game of the season for Rebels more about the big picture than any immediate goals.
If faith really means seeing light with your heart when all your eyes see is darkness, it also means seeing success in Columbus, Ohio, when everyone else sees a trip to the woodshed.
The team’s attention is split this week between the devastation in Houston and preparing for a season-opening game against Howard on Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Wide receiver Darren Palmer is a 26-year-old junior walk-on who made the Rebels after impressing coaches at an open tryout and then during spring ball.
It was approved this month, a window from Dec. 20 to 22 during which high school seniors can sign national letters of intent instead of waiting until the traditional period that begins the first Wednesday of each February.
Armani Rogers sure looks the part. If anything is going to suggest more wins are close enough to see, it’s the portrait of a 6-foot-5-inch, strong, ultra-athletic quarterback.