The UNLV-UNR football rivalry has been marked by its share of tense moments, and Saturday’s postgame brawl was among the ugliest.
UNLV
Kenyon Oblad threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Steve Jenkins in overtime to give UNLV a 33-30 win at UNR on Saturday in the final game for Rebels coach Tony Sanchez.
UNLV and UNR have different ideas how to make their football season more significant. The teams meet at noon Saturday in Reno.
UNLV was expected to move into Allegiant Stadium full time next season, but its games against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 5 and Arizona State on Sept. 12 might be played at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Stadium company chief operating officer Don Webb remains confident Allegiant Stadium will be completed by July 31, even though the building won’t be enclosed until April.
UNLV athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois announced Monday that she had fired football coach Tony Sanchez after five seasons.
Former UNLV All-America safety Jamaal Brimmer was one of more than 200 ex-players who took part in festivities before the Rebels’ victory over San Jose State on Saturday.
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.
The $2 billion Allegiant Stadium continues to be on time and on budget, even though completion of the cable net to support the translucent polymer roof won’t be completed until mid-December.
If UNLV decides to fire Tony Sanchez, athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois figures to conduct the same kind of search that landed basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger.
The focus now shifts to the future of UNLV coach Tony Sanchez. Athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois issued a statement after last season saying she expected the Rebels to become bowl eligible.