The coronavirus pandemic has affected budgets at college athletic departments throughout the country, including UNLV, and could have long-term ramifications.
Football
The Mountain West said athletes would be allowed to take part in on-campus workouts. The conference also announced it was taking several cost-cutting steps.
UNLV athletes registered a 3.22 semester GPA, besting the mark of 3.09 set in the fall of 2018. Their cumulative GPA was 3.13, beating the 3.09 set in spring of 2019.
Boise State’s athletic department and San Diego State’s men’s basketball program provide example of stability leading to success.
UNLV set school Academic Progress Report records with a single-year 990 and a four-year average of 979. A perfect score is 1,000.
UNLV’s budget cuts, made in response to the financial fallout from the COVID-19 crisis that has shut down athletic events throughout the country, were mostly in travel expenses.
UNLV athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois appears to be a leading candidate at UCLA, according to a person close to the situation.
The consensus was that the biggest impact would be on a team’s home-field advantage, which has historically been worth approximately three points to a line on an NFL game.
Will fans feel safe enough to brave the masses and attend a sporting event fresh off a global pandemic?
UNLV football season tickets will be emailed in mid-August and those for men’s basketball in mid-October.
If no college football is played next season, Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson said Monday he thinks the other college sports seasons would be canceled, too.
No major decisions have been announced regarding what kinds of financial reductions to make in UNLV’s athletic department, but contingency plans are being formed.
Commissioners from the Group of Five, including Craig Thompson of the Mountain West, sent NCAA president Mark Emmert a letter asking for relief of membership requirements.
The coronavirus pandemic prompted the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame to delay its ceremony by a year. The class includes six members.
Those interested in season tickets for football or men’s basketball will have more flexibility this year.