The schedule for UNLV’s basketball team to begin this season allowed the Rebels a cushion for success if they didn’t fall into the trap of playing down to opponents, if they didn’t suffer the sort of lapse in focus that has already caught several heavily favored teams across the country.
It is conceivable, perhaps more than not, that the fourth and final spot in the College Football Playoff this season will point directly to a team that is 4-6 today, has been outscored 299-249 and has little to no chance of qualifying for a bowl.
He signs autographs, poses for pictures, is considered about as unassuming a young major league baseball star as one might hope for but never really believes exists. Kris Bryant is also this today: National League Rookie of the Year.
Ronda Rousey has the same sort of domination and preposterous level of intimidation that Mike Tyson enjoyed for years as he rose to a feared undisputed champion, and you can make the argument the world’s most recognizable mixed martial arts fighter is more of a sure bet today.
By now, you have heard about the day in October when protesters blocked the car of Tim Wolfe during a homecoming parade. You have come to know that 10 days later, a group named Concerned Student 1950 — named for the year African-American students were first admitted to the University of Missouri — issued a list of demands to Wolfe.
For the first time since the College Football Playoff rankings became a weekly occurrence to be debated and dissected, a concept that dates decades has shown its face among the top four teams: The power of Notre Dame, and how strong it could ultimately prove.
It’s skewed in a way. The total through nine games includes a 517-yard effort against awful Idaho State, which I am fairly certain the lunatic wearing a red hat and acting as lead cheerleader on UNLV’s football sideline each week could run for over 100 against.
UNLV has concluded both preseason contests and the reviews are more positive than not, a team with definite depth and skill and an ability to put on the floor the sort of combinations that will make preparing for the Rebels a challenge.
Peni Vea wasn’t alone in his desire to get off the rock, one of many born and raised in Hawaii who covet a chance to experience another place, another sense of culture and tradition. No, really.
They should put a monk on the College Football Playoff committee. Or a monkey.
