Rebels in Ruins - LVRJ series

[RebelSoldat]

Has anyone else read this yet? I just got around to reading all the entries so far. It's really good. Some unique insight being provided. I had no clue we had Ben Howland locked up until someone decided to piss all over it.

It's a really humbling read. We've fallen so far.

 

[Soul Cane]

UNLV athletics is a 40 year history of administrative apathy, incompetence, and outright hostility towards UNLV sports programs.

One of the pivotal moments in UNLV history was when Goodall destroyed the UNLV booster program in the early 80s. The boosters were the ones that hired Tark, Ron Meyer, Fred Dallimore. The boosters were eager to have winning teams. They were willing to spend money. Every major college athletic program (e.g. the SEC conference) was and is still chuckling at UNLV's elitist attitude that the UNLV boosters had too much power over the athletic program.

Even at big time athletic schools, there's only three sports programs (with a few exceptions) that make money for athletic departments: mens' basketball, men's football, and men's baseball. That's it.

And despite knee-capping the booster program and despite Maxon trying to destroy Tarkanian, UNLV's basketball program continued to excel due to the inertia of a Hall of Fame coach. In an alternative reality, if UNLV had stood behind Tark in his battles with the NCAA, there's no question that UNLV would have continued being a powerhouse for at least another decade - even if NCAA hammered the Rebels with penalties in '91. Tark had the best staff in basektball, and with Grgurich running the team, I think Tark would've coached through the early 00s. I think there was a very strong possibility that UNLV basketball could've continue to be a premier program - which would ultimately helped tremendously in transcending the athletic program, as a whole, to another level.

At one point, UNLV football had a seemingly bright future. They were a very successful DIv II program in the '70s. UNLV football initially transitioned very well to Div I as well. They beat #8 BYU in Provo in '81. They recruited Randal Cunningham and they were building a talented squad. But then UNLV destroys the booster program, slash the funds to the football team, maintain one of the worst facilities in Div I, and the administration wonders why the football team struggles so much. And again in an alternative reality, if UNLV's administration had actually supported and invested in the program, UNLV would've built a successful and profitable football program that in my opinion would've ultimately either upgraded the Silver Bowl's facilities or built another stadium that would have fulfilled any facility requirement of a Power 5 conference.

And with the ideal weather & HS talent in the area, I always thought UNLV baseball had the potential to grow into a powerful program with the proper support.

The bottom line UNLV has been led by some extremely myopic and elitist administrators in the past 40 years. If UNLV had actually supported and invested in their athletic department, I truly believe UNLV would've eventually been invited to either the Pac XII or the Big XII. Which would've improved the schools's finances immensely, it would've bolstered UNLV's admissions, and it would've strengthened UNLV's academics (which is quite ironic considering Maxon and co. tried to keep the athletic program down due to "academic integrity)."

 

[Ernie Baer]

That’s correct. People like Sig Rogich, Bill “Wildcat” Morris, Irwin Molasky, Dave Pearl, Tom Wiesner, Art Thomas, Brad Welch they were the ones who had great intentions, hired the best coaches (Jerry, Ron Meyer, Tony Knapp, Fred Dallimore, Dan Ayala, convinced Rothermel to hire Harvey) in the history of UNLV athletics.

UNLV athletics potential basically died in January 83 when the Regents took Pat Goodall and his henchman Al Negratti’s recommendations and disbarred The Runnin’ Rebels Club, telling them they could no longer raise money in the University’s name anymore. It was also slowly the beginning of the end for Jerry as the University took complete control of his contract as the boosters had been supplementing his salary quite significantly.

You can’t slap in the face the people who were working so hard to make you successful and think it will be okay. Only fools bite the hand that is literally feeding you.

 

[BleedRebelRed90]

UNLV athletics potential basically died in January 83 when the Regents took Pat Goodall and his henchman Al Negratti’s recommendations and disbarred The Runnin’ Rebels Club, telling them they could no longer raise money in the University’s name anymore. It was also slowly the beginning of the end for Jerry as the University took complete control of his contract as the boosters had been supplementing his salary quite significantly.

I would much rather see you write a full history of UNLV sports than have to sift through the spin of series put out by the "LVRJ in Ruins".

There were a lot more players and a lot more mistakes that Graney conveniently omits.

 

[Ernie Baer]

I would much rather see you write a full history of UNLV sports than have to sift through the spin of series put out by the "LVRJ in Ruins".

There were a lot more players and a lot more mistakes that Graney conveniently omits.

The RJ articles completely whiffed on the two main problems that have plagued UNLV. The ongoing battle between those who want to focus, spend an exorbitant amount of money on academics, with the goal of UNLV becoming “The Harvard of the West”, and those who want to create a highly successful athletics program which in turn will pay dividends for academics. This goes back to the late 60’s/early 70’s and the Zorn vs. Rogich/Wiesner/McDermott war and have continued on and off for decades now.

The other thing they failed to cover is that with the exception of a good portion of the 70’s there has been very little synergy between the President’s office, the athletic department and the key boosters. So many stories they could have covered from Goodall and Al Negretti telling the boosters that made the athletic department they were persona non grata, to the Rothermel/“Wildcat” Morris battles in the early to mid 80’s, to Maxon and his henchman forcing out Rothermel and Jerry, to people like Mark Alden undermining Pitino in 2001. Too many people with too many different agendas.

 

[BleedRebelRed90]

The RJ articles completely whiffed on the two main problems that have plagued UNLV. The ongoing battle between those who want to focus, spend an exorbitant amount of money on academics...
.
.
.
...people like Mark Alden undermining Pitino in 2001. Too many people with too many different agendas.

Oh, yes, the article did forget our highly dysfunctional Board of Regent, the minor leagues for startup local wannabe politicians to try to get their name out there, even if they have no connection or interest in the university.