That sequence of plays took place at UNLV’s practice Friday morning at Rebel Park, where crowd noise blared from speakers and the energy was palpable as the team geared up for its annual spring game, scheduled for noon Saturday at Johann Memorial Field.
Technically, Kurt Palandech is UNLV’s incumbent starting quarterback. But unless the junior can improve his passing technique, he’ll probably be passed over for the starting job before the Rebels’ Sept. 1 season opener.
UNLV will host Jackson State on Thursday, Sept. 1 in its 2016 football season opener at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Former UNLV great Randall Cunningham, who played 16 seasons in the NFL, called being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame the crowning achievement of his career.
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.
The day could’ve been all back slaps and smiles, but it also was one of opportunity. And first-year UNLV football coach Tony Sanchez wasn’t about to pass up an opportunity on Monday, especially when everyone was in a good mood after watching the Fremont Cannon get painted red at the Student Union.
UCLA freshman quarterback Josh Rosen has garnered the headlines, and rightfully so. He was the Walter Camp national offensive player of the week and the Pac-12 Conference’s top offensive player after passing for 351 yards and three touchdowns in the Bruins’ 34-16 season-opening victory over Virginia on Saturday.
The last time UNLV’s football team received as much offseason coverage as it has since December was, well, never. The Rebels were splashed across the pages of newspapers and magazines that in recent years hadn’t offered the slightest glance towards the program. All of it was terrific for the brand. And, as of Friday morning, none of it meant a thing.
Keith Belton has followed a “whisper” from an internship at Wake Forest through stops at Baylor, Washington and Southern California to UNLV. His success working with players in the training room will go a long way to determining the success of the Rebels program.
Changing the UNLV football program will take time, and new head coach Tony Sanchez is quite aware of what he faces. So are his new coordinators — Barney Cotton on offense and Kent Baer on defense.
Tony Sanchez took Bishop Gorman to the top of the high school rankings, and now he will start near the bottom of the college football world at UNLV.
The Rebels lost again Saturday, and just how much the program has descended was on display in an embarrassing 48-21 loss to Air Force.
Air Force got off to a strong start and didn’t let up as UNLV lost to the Falcons 48-21.
As it waits for a potential bowl invitation, UNLV has taken on the attitude of former Fresno State coach Pat Hill of wanting to play anybody, anywhere, anytime. The question is whether the Rebels will get to play at all.
About a year ago, Bobby Hauck sat at his desk as reporters asked him about his tenuous future as UNLV’s football coach. He was upfront, telling them he probably needed to get the Rebels bowl eligible to keep his job.
