Erick Harper now sits in the seat at UNLV most responsible for understanding the national landscape and how best the Rebels fit. He’s also auditioning to be the full-time athletic director.
UNLV Football
Beginnings can be memorable or brutal. There isn’t much in between when talking wins and losses. Except this one. It was just nuts.
Marcus Arroyo’s second season at UNLV begins with Thursday night’s game against Eastern Washington at Allegiant Stadium. He’s looking for his first win after last year’s 0-6 finish.
Keith Whitfield as university president is now taxed with replacing Desiree Reed-Francois, who departed for Missouri of the Southeastern Conference.
There’s a reason UNLV athletic director Desiree-Reed Francois was listed among candidates for essentially all Power Five openings the past year or so: Climbers want to climb.
UNLV Rebels guard Jordan McCabe and his 450,000 social media followers is an example of how some will profit off name, image and likeness legislation.
However culture will ultimately be defined under the second-year head coach Marcus Arroyo, fixing a major apathy problem among UNLV football fans is paramount.
Coaches have been free to leave for another job without penalty forever. Now players have the same right. So coaches need to quit complaining and embrace the new reality.
It’s much easier — not to mention cheaper — for UNLV to ditch a mascot than the nickname the university has been known by since the mid-1950s.