A first-place selection for UNLV in the Mountain West football poll led to much mockery and derision, but the voter revealed a rational explanation for the pick.
Sports Columns
UNLV football is 4-4 after losing to Notre Dame on Saturday, and the Rebels now face their most critical stretch of games this season as they seek bowl eligibility.
Third-year head coach Marcus Arroyo wants his players to take more ownership of their program, work ethic and responsibilities.
Todd Floyd played football on three levels at Sam Boyd Stadium. The stadium on the edge of Las Vegas will be closing soon, but the memories will last a lifetime.
The public address announcer is as synonymous with UNLV as anything scarlet and gray, a significant part of the historic fabric that defines Rebels athletics.
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.
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.
Most of the attention has turned to the possibility of the Oakland Raiders moving to Las Vegas. There isn’t as much interest anymore about who will drive the Zamboni at Las Vegas NHL games.
Tony Sanchez delivers a lot of messages. He’s a courier with a whistle, a columnist’s dream for notebook material, a guy who talks about eating elephants one bite at a time and walking into an alley to rumble.
On Thursday night, the Rebels relied on a senior running back who has given every ounce of himself to the program as one who would lead them into such foreign territory as a possible postseason game.
The Rebels never were going to beat Fresno State. But that’s not to say UNLV shouldn’t contend to win each of its final five games and in the process qualify for the program’s first bowl since 2000.
In the world of UNLV football, all things are relative, comparable only to those Rebels teams that have struggled for so long.
If there were a judge and jury of 12 impartial souls not aware UNLV football exists — I could find 12 on my block — the verdict could be read following opening arguments.