A Short History of Masimino's Days at UNLV

[WeMissYouShark]

I did not say you lack knowledge in general. I was speaking about the workings of a university. Although I may be wrong, I assumed that my experience on university campuses gives me a knowledge advantage in that arena. You undoubtedly are more knowledgable in arenas where you have more experience.

My position is that it gives you a myopic knowledge of education. Just as my experience in hospitality gives me a myopic knowledge of resorts.

Do you deny that there was a rabid anti-Tark faction among UNLV educators? Maybe they thought he was an embarrassment to their noble occupation. My angle on that is that the handful of infractions he actually committed paled in comparison to what coaches were doing in other universities that had far more academic prestige than UNLV had then or has now, and it would would be difficult to convince me that there wasn't ego and jealousy over Tark being the face of UNLV instead of professors who saw their contribution to society as more worthy.

 

[TarkisGod]

While it’s admittedly small comfort, compared to the damage that’s been done, at least it’s reassuring to find that the scars inflicted on the school and the city during those dark days, are not suffered alone.

This thread proves that, ripping off that band-aid exposes how deeply-felt the disappointment and anger, these 25 years later, is still felt.

I will never forget, and, if nothing else, it’s nice to know that I’m not alone…

 

[j. spilotro]

While it’s admittedly small comfort, compared to the damage that’s been done, at least it’s reassuring to find that the scars inflicted on the school and the city during those dark days, are not suffered alone.

This thread proves that, ripping off that band-aid exposes how deeply-felt the disappointment and anger, these 25 years later, is still felt.

I will never forget, and, if nothing else, it’s nice to know that I’m not alone…

I don't consistently dwell on it because it's not constructive but I'll always be angry about it and I'll never forget it. I don't like seeing some of the same elements that promote disharmony existing today.

 

[lvhiker]

What aggravates me is I'm very pro-education. Always have been. And I don't see why athletics and academics cannot peacefully coexist and be mutually beneficial. It's not a big deal if one carries the weight for awhile or even forever. They can still coexist and be mutually beneficial. Well, I do see why it didn't happen here, but it's garbage.

Ego - it's not always a good thing and in this case, it killed.

I agree 100% that athletics and education can coexist. And more importantly, they can reinforce one another. But there are some academics who are anti-athletics and some college sports fans that don't care whether or not student-athletes get an education. Finding and then navigating the middle ground is very difficult as the pressure on student-athletes is almost 100% on the athletic side unless their coaches have bought into the importance of academics. Not easy for coaches in revenue sports whose jobs are predicated on winning.

 

[1Tripoda]

I agree 100% that athletics and education can coexist. And more importantly, they can reinforce one another. But there are some academics who are anti-athletics and some college sports fans that don't care whether or not student-athletes get an education. Finding and then navigating the middle ground is very difficult as the pressure on student-athletes is almost 100% on the athletic side unless their coaches have bought into the importance of academics. Not easy for coaches in revenue sports whose jobs are predicated on winning.

Is that your new thinking or position now, professor?

 

[lvhiker]

I was a student-athlete at a div II college. So my belief in the value of both goes back to my teenage years as a college freshman. But that was so long ago, I am not we actually viewed ourselves as student-athletes! So for all intents and purpose, that has always been my view.

 

[manic water]

While it’s admittedly small comfort, compared to the damage that’s been done, at least it’s reassuring to find that the scars inflicted on the school and the city during those dark days, are not suffered alone.

This thread proves that, ripping off that band-aid exposes how deeply-felt the disappointment and anger, these 25 years later, is still felt.

I will never forget, and, if nothing else, it’s nice to know that I’m not alone…

Misery loves company but at some point we must forgive. UNLV returning to a Final Four will heal a lot of wounds for Rebel fans, there will be no dry eye in the house!

 

[TarkisGod]

Misery loves company but at some point we must forgive. UNLV returning to a Final Four will heal a lot of wounds for Rebel fans, there will be no dry eye in the house!

Perhaps I’ve given the wrong impression…

Of course I want nothing more than UNLV’s return to national prominence. And I’m extremely excited over this current hiring. Although I hesitate to add that I was just as excited four years ago, but that's another story.

.Perhaps I’m just naïve, but I believe in this guy’s enthusiasm, and despite his short tenure at his previous stops, it’s hard to argue with the fact that his teams all showed marked improvement under his tutelage.

So you’re correct. A deep run in March will indeed bring tears to my eyes, because I have always taken pride in my allegiance to the Rebels. But not because I’ve either forgiven or forgotten what a group of small-minded individuals did to our special program twenty-five years ago…

And now, for the sake of those who were either too young, or just dis-interested in the rantings of an old Rebel fan, I’m going to shut up about this subject. I’ve had my say…

 

[Corp03]

Look at all of the crap that happens every day with Division I athletics. I get emails every day that this player or that player was arrested or violated rules. Do they say that the athletic program needs to take a step back so academics can flourish? No. Do they demand that a coach gets fired? No.

In other words, if Ohio State has some type of scandal, do you think the professors will be trying to run Urban Meyer out of town? Is there an impression that Ohio State is a bad school then? Hardly.

The bottom line is that Tark was King of UNLV and King of Las Vegas. People couldn't handle that. So under the promoting of academics (because for some reason 12 players can affect the entire academic standing of a school), it had to be squashed.

Maxson or no Maxson, UNLV would have thrived. When I first started at UNLV, I would ask why did you come here? "It's Las Vegas" was the reply most of the time. This university will grow as long as no one screws it up.

I would argue that the school could probably be further along right now. I won't get into details but I've had faculty rebuff ideas from a professional society that I belong to. It would have been great for the school. But some faculty like to use the same notes and lectures year after year and resist change. One prof I had used a lecture from notes that were years old from what I remember. I could understand if it was a history class but it was an INFORMATION SYSTEMS class.

I'm not picking sides (maybe I am) but to say that the faculty tanked athletics for the kids and academics is crap.

 

[j. spilotro]

Look at all of the crap that happens every day with Division I athletics. I get emails every day that this player or that player was arrested or violated rules. Do they say that the athletic program needs to take a step back so academics can flourish? No. Do they demand that a coach gets fired? No.

In other words, if Ohio State has some type of scandal, do you think the professors will be trying to run Urban Meyer out of town? Is there an impression that Ohio State is a bad school then? Hardly.

The bottom line is that Tark was King of UNLV and King of Las Vegas. People couldn't handle that. So under the promoting of academics (because for some reason 12 players can affect the entire academic standing of a school), it had to be squashed.

Maxson or no Maxson, UNLV would have thrived. When I first started at UNLV, I would ask why did you come here? "It's Las Vegas" was the reply most of the time. This university will grow as long as no one screws it up.

I would argue that the school could probably be further along right now. I won't get into details but I've had faculty rebuff ideas from a professional society that I belong to. It would have been great for the school. But some faculty like to use the same notes and lectures year after year and resist change. One prof I had used a lecture from notes that were years old from what I remember. I could understand if it was a history class but it was an INFORMATION SYSTEMS class.

I'm not picking sides (maybe I am) but to say that the faculty tanked athletics for the kids and academics is crap.

Good post.

 

[1994Rebel]

Here is a short summary of the events. Maxson and Finfrock brought Jerry into a meeting alone. They showed him the hot tub photo. Offered to bury it if he resigned effective at the end of season. Tark wanting to protect those kids took the deal. I was with Danny T when he got the call from his dad. Danny told him to hold on, wait for him don't do anything. Jerry sent the resignation anyway. Maxson and Finfrock leaked the photo despite the deal and that's when Tark decided to fight for his job.

Rollie lied directly to Tark. He was first contacted as a consultant to help in the search for a new coach. Most guys didn't want to touch UNLV due to Tark's desire to stay and the task of replacing a legend. Tark had spoken to Rollie and was told not to worry, "No one wants to take your place." Instead Rollie tells UNLV he'll take the job since no one else will.

Maxson was at Houston and his leadership helped dismantled that athletic program. (Phi Slamma Jamma) was reduced to an afterthought. Never has recovered.
UNLV basketball and football also afterthoughts.

Maxson goes to Long Beach State- Seth goes running for the hills. LBS drops football entirely and is in basketball purgatory.

UNLV minority enrollment by percentage drops during Maxson's time at UNLV, despite the general population of Las Vegas increasing in percentage.

I can only assume he was was an academic and social elitist, who truly believed athletics are less than needed at Universities.

I spit in my hand the day I was handed my diplomat and shook his hand on stage.

 

[j. spilotro]

Here is a short summary of the events. Maxson and Finfrock brought Jerry into a meeting alone. They showed him the hot tub photo. Offered to bury it if he resigned effective at the end of season. Tark wanting to protect those kids took the deal. I was with Danny T when he got the call from his dad. Danny told him to hold on, wait for him don't do anything. Jerry sent the resignation anyway. Maxson and Finfrock leaked the photo despite the deal and that's when Tark decided to fight for his job.

Rollie lied directly to Tark. He was first contacted as a consultant to help in the search for a new coach. Most guys didn't want to touch UNLV due to Tark's desire to stay and the task of replacing a legend. Tark had spoken to Rollie and was told not to worry, "No one wants to take your place." Instead Rollie tells UNLV he'll take the job since no one else will.

Maxson was at Houston and his leadership helped dismantled that athletic program. (Phi Slamma Jamma) was reduced to an afterthought. Never has recovered.
UNLV basketball and football also afterthoughts.

Maxson goes to Long Beach State- Seth goes running for the hills. LBS drops football entirely and is in basketball purgatory.

UNLV minority enrollment by percentage drops during Maxson's time at UNLV, despite the general population of Las Vegas increasing in percentage.

I can only assume he was was an academic and social elitist, who truly believed athletics are less than needed at Universities.

I spit in my hand the day I was handed my diplomat and shook his hand on stage.

Thanks for that info.

 

[lvhiker]

Thanks. All the information is new to me and fascinating. I always wondered what went on between the two Titans. Thanks again.

 

[Ernie Baer]

Here is a short summary of the events. Maxson and Finfrock brought Jerry into a meeting alone. They showed him the hot tub photo. Offered to bury it if he resigned effective at the end of season. Tark wanting to protect those kids took the deal. I was with Danny T when he got the call from his dad. Danny told him to hold on, wait for him don't do anything. Jerry sent the resignation anyway. Maxson and Finfrock leaked the photo despite the deal and that's when Tark decided to fight for his job.

Certainly some things that need to be cleaned up. Jerry wasn’t even in Las Vegas when the Review-Journal ran the story/photo. He was at the family condo in La Jolla at the time and caught off guard.

He returned to Las Vegas shortly after learning about it. Even Finfrock publicly said the story/photo alone, while very disturbing, was not going to cost him his job. There was a clause in Jerry’s contract for which the only instance he could be automatically terminated is if there was a link between him and a found major NCAA violation.

At that point in time UNLV had practically no legal leverage to stand on to force him to do anything. All they could do was try and take the matter up with the Board of Regents. They knew this, which is why over the next week they did everything they could to pour gasoline on the fire and create an extremely inhospitable atmosphere for Jerry.

For example, about four of five days later the Review-Journal tried to strengthen the case of Richard Perry’s connection to the program by running photos of Perry in attendance at the Florida State game during the 90-91 season.

After a good week of intense media scrutiny (by this point the national media was involved) in late May, early June, over the story Jerry decided to resign. Between the lengthy ongoing battle with the NCAA, now all of the internal squabbles with UNLV’s administration and the day-to-day pressure of the job he had enough. He grew very tired of it all and wasn’t happy with the toll it was taking on his family.

As he so often has, Sig Rogich was called in to save the day and broker and agreement between Maxson and Jerry. Upon learning Jerry’s decision, Maxson wanted Jerry to resign effective immediately while Jerry wanted to honor his contract which ran through the 92-93 season which Maxson wanted no part of.

Sig was able to convince each side to allow Jerry to coach one more season. It would allow Jerry an appropriate send off, in particular it would also give his assistants for which he was concerned about ample time to find work. Conversely, he sold Maxson on the idea that it would be extremely difficult to get someone of quality in early June, and that having almost a year to find a new coach would be beneficial.