Wow, for having just had a scrimmage, open to the public, two weeks from the opener, I'm stunned that there is not a thread up about it. Did anybody go?
Scrimmage
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I read that Sanchez doesn't prefer the chatter. It was definitely nice to have a pre-season showcase.
Apathy my guy. Apathy.
Outside of the diehards here, other forums and social media, there is very little chatter surrounding the program that I have seen or heard.
Maybe others are hearing it, but nobody is talking about this team any different than they have the past decade.
'We'll see'
'Heard this before'
Are the common tropes.
The spike in season ticket sales were a direct result of being able to lock in better pricing for seats at the new stadium. (Smart on their part).
I went to the first scrimmage. Missed second. Know a few people that went.
By all accounts Armani looked very sharp. A complete turnaround from 1st scrimmage.
On the flipside the defense that looked so stout the 1st week, not so much this week.
One thing that is a little concerning, the defense has given up a number of big runs. They've been aggressive, swarmed to the ball..But both practices they've given up multiple long runs.
I think a lot of those in the 'know' who follow the team are excited. They see the uptick in recruiting. The benefits of the facility etc.
But just as many have become pretty jaded.
Personally I don't think it's the media's job to hype up UNLV though. That's UNLV's job.
It sucks. I wish the coverage of UNLV was more positive. But for the coverage to be more positive the results have to be more positive.
Hard to make bold predictions when it comes to UNLV.
The inability to generate excitement has far more to do with years of middling results vs anything being put out in the RJ or the Sun.
Most in the media have reported the uptick in recruiting or the positive impact of the facility etc.
There have been a couple pieces defending Coach Sanchez. Notably one from known UNLV 'hater' Ed Graney (according to many fans).
Last season a number of members in the media predicted UNLV would challenge for a bowl.
UNLV simply didn't get it done. Its unfortunate because there had been steady growth the first three seasons under Coach Sanchez and they had a favorable schedule.
I want UNLV to win as much as anybody here, but they've done little to warrant any type of confidence.
Media/beat writers should cover local sports teams, UNLV, VGK and soon to be Raiders objectively. No spin. No cheerleading.
You're obviously going to get opinion pieces and editorials. That's what actually drive clicks.
If a local beat writer is asked what's his prediction on the up coming season:
If he thinks its 5-7, he should say 5-7.
Not his responsibility to promote UNLV beyond the results on the field.
Handling their business against SJSU/UNM/UH last season would have prompted way more excitement than anything anybody in the media could say.
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The university is consumed by apathy. Oh, I know some people will say “hater”, “bullshit, I’m still crazy about them”.... that’s deflection. Just look at things... there are not a lot of people that care too much about the athletics at UNLV. They still cared enough 15 years ago when we were mediocre to sucky. Time has passed, no progress. But it’s more than that. Another huge population spurt and ... boom .... pro sports... the “right” decisions, the money... those needed to be in place by some deadline, with the sooner being better... whatever that deadline date, I fear it’s passed. And now it’s the steepest uphill battle UNLV has ever faced and I don’t think anybody has confidence they’ll climb that hill. And we will get swallowed whole by pro sports... and become the back page news, five lines.
Dufresne said “get busy living or get busy dying”....
I hate when media becomes a mouthpiece for the university. It is not their job and if they do it, it’s unethical IMO. There should always be objectivity.
But we still see A TON of mouth-piecing by the local media. It’s sickening. Fan sites like this and others, yeah, I can see them all rah rah if that’s the route they want to go ... but traditional media should be objective.
Promotion should be by UNLV. And it is. I don’t blame them for the unbelievable spin, that’s their job. It “works”, in general, for the fans that don’t have a firm grasp of realities. For those that do have a grasp, major spin that is polar opposite from the truth is borderline comical.
You're preaching to the choir my guy.
You know how often and how much I shilled for the football program in the past.
I argued for years they are reaping what they sowed. They ignored football for years.
The facility is great, the move to the new stadium is great. Both should help going forward.
But is it to late? I don't know. If UNLV can put a good product on the court and the field and make it an affordable option to Raiders and VGK? Sure they could thrive again.
We'll see.
A lot will hinge on whether Sanchez is successful this year.
If he is, it's a big positive heading into a new stadium.
If he isn't, the next hire has to be big. Somebody with name recognition that puts butts in seats.
If it's a ho-hum hire...UNLV will continue to tread water in Lake Mediocrity.
I can't stand it.
Fan sites..Sure. but even fan sites should want some form of objectivity. Not every recruit can be a 'program changer'. The staff didn't 'grow cold' on every recruit that flips. Sometimes you just lose out.
'This guy is a UNLV hater all he does is bash UNLV in his RJ pieces!'
Well they did lose 56-14.
'He shouldn't focus on the negative all the time! It hurts the university!'
The 42 point beatdown is the problem. Not the piece covering said beatdown.
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Constant, consistent extremes mean you are full of shit since most truth lies in the gray. I’ve seen fan sites, I’ve seen fans... wow, we got Player X, congrats, what a great get!... when the player is complete suckass. If your take is they’re always great gets or they are always crappy, your opinion is garbage, imo. You have an MO. You sold your voice.
I consider myself a casual UNLV football fan. A season ticket holder, I'll be at the opener and as many games I can make.
But I'm not going to go to a scrimmage when its over a hundred degrees. I probably wouldn't go to a scrimmage if it were 78 degrees and they were handing out $20 bills. Well, maybe I'd go for the money - or at least free hot dogs and soda.
But I'm not going to go to a scrimmage when its over a hundred degrees. I probably wouldn't go to a scrimmage if it were 78 degrees and they were handing out $20 bills. Well, maybe I'd go for the money - or at least free hot dogs and soda.
After 40+ years, my feelings toward UNLV football ( and BB for that matter) have waned. Im no longer excited about the coming season. I can't seem to get up for it. Year after year the excitement was there saying "this year" and every year the disappointment. I truly feel "empty" inside for the first time. Stadium, facilities, the influx of good local players... nothing is exciting me anymore. Too many disappointments.
That's too bad. I've done it for 30 years, and still I get excited for every season opener. And even when seasons take a downhill turn (see UNM last year) I still have to watch every snap and read every story about the team. Someday, there is going to be a payoff for all these years of getting hopes up only to get let down. Hopefully it's this year.
This is why the SDSU game from the Hauck bowl team is one of my best UNLV memories in recent history. We were 6-5 going into that game, then put a beatdown on the Aztecs to get to a 7-5 season. I just sat in the stands til long after the game was over soaking in that game and season.
Pretty sad that a 7-5 season with a bowl loss is the brightest highlight of the past decade, but it is what it is. We're 0-0 right now, getting off to a 1-0, then 2-0 start is certainly a possibility, so it's nothing but optimism for me.
I get what @Mojo702 is saying.
You get beat down with the losing.
It would be one thing if there were some more 5-7 seasons in there. Or one or two more bowl seasons sprinkled in over the last two decades.
But by and large the team hasn't even been remotely competitive.
I still care. I'll still attend every home game. Roadtrip with my buddies for an away game. Watch all the others on TV.
But even with all the positives heading into this year, I'm not as excited about it as I was in the past.
Maybe that changes when I light up the grill at the first tailgate.
Plus the Knights/NHL are just around the corner. That's probably contributed to some my interest waning.
This is the third consecutive year that I've thought we could turn the corner, but I feel that way again. 4 is the over/under on our win total, and that is fair.
Two years ago, if we could have held Howard to 39 points we would have been in a bowl. This team is said to be bigger, faster, and stronger than that team.
Last year the schedule was perfect for making a bowl, but we went 0-3 against the worst MWC teams we played (based on computer ranking, we were well above UNM, SJSU, and AF). This team is said to be bigger, faster, and stronger than that team.
This year the schedule has that brutal 6-game stretch in the middle of the season, where our only two home games are Boise St and SDSU. We'll need to steal a couple of those games. Otherwise it will be the start of a "new era".
Two years ago, if we could have held Howard to 39 points we would have been in a bowl. This team is said to be bigger, faster, and stronger than that team.
Last year the schedule was perfect for making a bowl, but we went 0-3 against the worst MWC teams we played (based on computer ranking, we were well above UNM, SJSU, and AF). This team is said to be bigger, faster, and stronger than that team.
This year the schedule has that brutal 6-game stretch in the middle of the season, where our only two home games are Boise St and SDSU. We'll need to steal a couple of those games. Otherwise it will be the start of a "new era".
Exactly.
All of this.
I always point to the 4 game stretch of Boise/SDSU/Fresno/Vandy as the brutal part of the schedule.
You're right, In reality it starts earlier. Not just 6 games but actually 7.
Not sure why people (myself included) are a bit dismissive of the three games prior which include road to Wyoming and Northwestern plus home to Arkansas State.
Northwestern is possibly a top 25 school at the end of year. Ark State has made bowls the last 6 or 7 years and averaged nearly 8 wins per. Wyoming even when down is a tough road trip.
If Coach Sanchez gets to bowl eligibility this year, vs that schedule, he will deserve a ton of credit.
Last Rebel win in Laramie was 2003. UNLV is 3-8 against Wyoming since then.
Those are exactly the type games UNLV needs to start winning to become a contender in the MWC.
Every off season at this time of year, I’m full of optimism, thinking, “this year we FINALLY turn the corner.” By the end of game 4, I’m always all like, “Shit... NEXT year we will turn the corner.”
...and then one single tear streams down my cheek.
Happens every year. Start out with optimism, only have my hopes dashed before the midway point of the season
In case I wasn’t clear, I get what he’s saying, too, and it’s just too bad that the hope/optimism/fun has been sucked out for him. I don’t blame him. I’m just glad that i haven’t been worn down that badly yet.
THIS IS OUR YEAR!!!!!!
Weird thing about this season, vs previous seasons is that I could make a strong argument why the Rebels could go 8-4. I could also make a strong case for 4-8. Neither result would shock me.
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Foe some reason my optimism meter is at an all time low this season. Last season ruined me.
I fully expect us to be better on paper/theoretically in every way this season and truly believe it. I think how we totally botched and extremely favorable schedule last year coupled with probably the toughest schedule in the CTS is too hard to overcome in terms of excitement.
But I will watch every game. Still plan on flying home for at least one home game.
I fully expect us to be better on paper/theoretically in every way this season and truly believe it. I think how we totally botched and extremely favorable schedule last year coupled with probably the toughest schedule in the CTS is too hard to overcome in terms of excitement.
But I will watch every game. Still plan on flying home for at least one home game.
I do understand where a lot of people are very pessimistic after last season. At the beginning of last season most people expected UNLV to be flirting with a bowl invite record, and I expected to see at least 7 wins, which was quickly shattered by mid season. After the season was totally lost, UNLV came back to play by far their best football for the final 3 games of the season in what could be considered the hardest 3 games stretch of the season.
UNLV found enough to beat a SDSU team that has dominated UNLV on their own home field for well over a decade. This game showed that UNLV could easily win 8 or more games this year if this same team showed up the entire season.
UNLV then went to Hawaii and totally dominated them for 80%+ of the game at which point the team totally collapsed and the coaching staff went into a complete panic mode and found a way to lose a game that should have never been lost. The team that played the last 5-10 minutes of this game would be lucky to win more than 2 games this next season.
The final game against unr had the same program that played the last 5-10 minutes against Hawaii show up for most of the first half, and it looked like UNLV had already quit before the game even started. Suddenly at was like the light had been turned on and the entire team as one said "What the **** are we doing?", at that point the team played their best football of the entire season and totally dominated unr for the rest of the game. If the team that showed up for the second half against unr plays this next season, there isn't a single team UNLV plays they couldn't beat.
Where a lot of the fans, casual or die hard, find themselves in totally confused in regards to what product coach Sanchez will put on the field this next season? It appears that most of the book keepers and the casual football fans don't think the team that showed up against SDSU, Hawaii first half, and unr second half will be able to put this type of effort out for an entire season?
Based on the past 2-3 decades of UNLV football, it is really hard to be optimistic that UNLV will finally turn on the light switch and play like what we all want, but as a long time fan, I will start the season with the belief that they will make a bowl game, and hope that my dreams are not dashed again!
UNLV found enough to beat a SDSU team that has dominated UNLV on their own home field for well over a decade. This game showed that UNLV could easily win 8 or more games this year if this same team showed up the entire season.
UNLV then went to Hawaii and totally dominated them for 80%+ of the game at which point the team totally collapsed and the coaching staff went into a complete panic mode and found a way to lose a game that should have never been lost. The team that played the last 5-10 minutes of this game would be lucky to win more than 2 games this next season.
The final game against unr had the same program that played the last 5-10 minutes against Hawaii show up for most of the first half, and it looked like UNLV had already quit before the game even started. Suddenly at was like the light had been turned on and the entire team as one said "What the **** are we doing?", at that point the team played their best football of the entire season and totally dominated unr for the rest of the game. If the team that showed up for the second half against unr plays this next season, there isn't a single team UNLV plays they couldn't beat.
Where a lot of the fans, casual or die hard, find themselves in totally confused in regards to what product coach Sanchez will put on the field this next season? It appears that most of the book keepers and the casual football fans don't think the team that showed up against SDSU, Hawaii first half, and unr second half will be able to put this type of effort out for an entire season?
Based on the past 2-3 decades of UNLV football, it is really hard to be optimistic that UNLV will finally turn on the light switch and play like what we all want, but as a long time fan, I will start the season with the belief that they will make a bowl game, and hope that my dreams are not dashed again!
Hate to be the guy that quotes himself, but here we are.
But I got to say. It's game week and I can't helped to get a little pumped for the first game. Gets me every year, no matter how apathetic I think I am.
It probably helps that we should win easily.
I've been catching myself saying this a lot, but there is no way any of us (or the team) should be assuming anything at this point. Get tripped up in the first game and the season is over before it really begins. There is just no room for any slip ups on the schedule this year.
If they want torpedo the entire season right out of the gate, that’s on them. As far as I’m concerned, that happens, it’s a definite lame duck situation, you have ample time to find somebody for the following season in a new stadium. Unless there’s a fluke recovery after yet another “worst loss in UNLV history”. Boy we’ve had our share of those lately, haven’t we?
I mean, who else would it be on?
Agree with your point though. I don’t believe we will lose on Saturday, but if we do, it’s pretty much a wrap.
That Howard game a couple years ago, wow. I mean, nobody was yet turned off... some were optimistic... then that thing? That one game, I feel, shattered confidence long term for a lot of folks.
Sure it is.
I don’t think there’s any way in hell it happens again. SUU is no NAU.
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