UAB proves it can be done

[WarthogRebel]

University of Alabama Birmingham cancelled football for two years at the end of the 2014 football season. The reason was primarily lack of interest and poor attendance.

After a public and student outcry their board brought back football for the 2017 season. They play in an ancient field in a shady area of Birmingham and they generally have fair to poor facilities ( they are getting a new stadium - https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/7/17/17583662/uab-new-stadium-birmingham.

After having no football for two years they are now sitting at 5-1 in Conference USA in their SECOND year back. True, they aren't Georgia or LSU but they have an ESPN power rating of 75 and we stand at 110. They also have a better strength of schedule than us.

UAB proves a good coach can come in to a dead program located in a city with poor facilities and field a winning team. And people still say CTS needs another year. Come on people.

The right coach can turn this around and we can have 30000 folks at games we regularly win - and compete in our losses. Give CTS another year and all we get in another year of sucking.

 

[j. spilotro]

University of Alabama Birmingham cancelled football for two years at the end of the 2014 football season. The reason was primarily lack of interest and poor attendance.

After a public and student outcry their board brought back football for the 2017 season. They play in an ancient field in a shady area of Birmingham and they generally have fair to poor facilities ( they are getting a new stadium - https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2018/7/17/17583662/uab-new-stadium-birmingham.

After having no football for two years they are now sitting at 5-1 in Conference USA in their SECOND year back. True, they aren't Georgia or LSU but they have an ESPN power rating of 75 and we stand at 110. They also have a better strength of schedule than us.

UAB proves a good coach can come in to a dead program located in a city with poor facilities and field a winning team. And people still say CTS needs another year. Come on people.

The right coach can turn this around and we can have 30000 folks at games we regularly win - and compete in our losses. Give CTS another year and all we get in another year of sucking.

I don’t disagree with the premise.

But when have we had the right coach? Robinson going 7-5 and winning the Vegas bowls with average crowds that were far less than 30K? Granted, Vegas is more heavily populated now than in 2000, but still....

I’m just saying, firing doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get it right next time. That can always be the last hope, that we hire the right guy.... but I’m not so sure it’s all that easy to get the right guy....

 

[WarthogRebel]

I don’t disagree with the premise.

But when have we had the right coach? Robinson going 7-5 and winning the Vegas bowls with average crowds that were far less than 30K? Granted, Vegas is more heavily populated now than in 2000, but still....

I’m just saying, firing doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get it right next time. That can always be the last hope, that we hire the right guy.... but I’m not so sure it’s all that easy to get the right guy....

Of course it doesn't "Necessarily" mean you'll get the right guy. There are no guarantees in anything. But do you really believe CTS is the right guy? If you do, fine. If not, then waiting another year is a waste. And having a mind -set that it can't be done is just plain false. UAB brought in a successful FCS coach and he did it.

As far as 30000 goes - you're saying a consistent winning team can't get to 30000? If we admit that as a program, we better think about lowering our sights as far as what we want in the future.

 

[j. spilotro]

Of course it doesn't "Necessarily" mean you'll get the right guy. There are no guarantees in anything. But do you really believe CTS is the right guy? If you do, fine. If not, then waiting another year is a waste. And having a mind -set that it can't be done is just plain false. UAB brought in a successful FCS coach and he did it.

As far as 30000 goes - you're saying a consistent winning team can't get to 30000? If we admit that as a program, we better think about lowering our sights as far as what we want in the future.

First we'd have to define "consistent winning". 7-5, third place finishes in the MWC? I don't think that'd draw 30K. Compete for the top spot in the MWC and you have big games vs the top of conference at home? Probably close.

As for Sanchez - my confidence was rattled last year with too many no show games. I want the guys to get through the system because in football, upperclassmen make a huge difference, it's not like basketball where one recruiting class can flip everything. You can get underclassmen at skill positions that thrive, but those lines gotta be beefier and that takes time. So I was holding out for that. But while some things have become better, some of the same things that have plagued years one, two and three are popping up in season four - things that just make me think things aren't tight enough. Some undisciplined stuff and the rolling over like we saw against UNM. It's ugly to see, it's uglier that it exists in year four. That rattles my confidence more than anything.

Some are saying let him finish out the contract, if it doesn't get done, the new guy gets the new stadium. First year in a new stadium, I'd think you'd want to head into it ready to make at least a little bit of noise, not on a fizzle. Which would mean let a new guy get his feet wet next season, get some of his own guys in here next year... so that he has a better chance in the new stadium. Plus, perception is always big; a new coach breathes new life and curiosity, coupled with a new stadium, you could get decent crowds. Better crowds than if it's a base with no enthusiasm because they figure they are watching a team with a lame duck coach.

You also have to consider that this wasn't DRF's hire and AD's make their mark by hires and fires and fundraising. If she's looking for bigger, better things than UNLV which is my understanding, she's gotta make moves at some point and they have to be fruitful, which is where fundraising comes in.

Football has more rope because they've been historically bad and interest has always been pretty low. If basketball were on this trajectory, I'm sure there'd be an adios at the end of the season. Unless TMK was here, then it would be mid-season firing or a 7 year extension, something unconventionally goofy.

There's alot to consider. But that's why AD's are paid well.

 

[unlv91]

I don’t disagree with the premise.

But when have we had the right coach? Robinson going 7-5 and winning the Vegas bowls with average crowds that were far less than 30K? Granted, Vegas is more heavily populated now than in 2000, but still....

I’m just saying, firing doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get it right next time. That can always be the last hope, that we hire the right guy.... but I’m not so sure it’s all that easy to get the right guy....

True, Rumors Has it that in Provo that BYU head coach will be canned if the team doesn’t win the rest of their games.

 

[lvhiker]

As dismal as it looks at the moment, I think CTS needs to finish the season. The AD, as has been mentioned, is paid big dollars to make hard decision. She needs to figure out if she can land a coach she is confident can turn things around before firing CTS. Firing Sanchez and then stumbling around in typical unlv fashion to land some no name replacement won't hack it.

So the question is does Desire have the contacts and the resources to attract a coach with big time experience willing to come to Las Vegas because he sees a great opportunity with the new stadium on the horizon. If not, it probably makes sense to ride CTS until the end of his contract.

More generally, it is quite astounding how bad unlv football has been under different presidents, ADs, and coaches. It like we are cursed and hiring an exorcist before hiring a new coach may be the way to go!

 

[j. spilotro]

As dismal as it looks at the moment, I think CTS needs to finish the season. The AD, as has been mentioned, is paid big dollars to make hard decision. She needs to figure out if she can land a coach she is confident can turn things around before firing CTS. Firing Sanchez and then stumbling around in typical unlv fashion to land some no name replacement won't hack it.

So the question is does Desire have the contacts and the resources to attract a coach with big time experience willing to come to Las Vegas because he sees a great opportunity with the new stadium on the horizon. If not, it probably makes sense to ride CTS until the end of his contract.

More generally, it is quite astounding how bad unlv football has been under different presidents, ADs, and coaches. It like we are cursed and hiring an exorcist before hiring a new coach may be the way to go!

It’s what can happen with a very young school with a small base of alumni, alumni who are transient in nature; there’s little tradition here, little give back.

It’s also what can happen to a school that decides athletics is garnering too much attention and we need to be known for academics instead. Part of the way to bridge the very large gap is to neglect sports while elevating academics.

What’s worse than neglect? Sabotage.

The worms won’t even touch Maxson when he dies.

Guess what? You won.

Guess what? We were right.

 

[lvhiker]

Tony, that explanation is an excuse to give a free passes to all the post Maxson presidents, ADs, and coaches. Do you actually believe post Maxson that people were hired with the explicit task of having football be pathetic? I think it is more likely that we are cursed!

But there is hope. Both the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox overcame curses to win world series titles. So maybe Desiree is the person to defeat the curse!!!!

 

[j. spilotro]

Tony, that explanation is an excuse to give a free passes to all the post Maxson presidents, ADs, and coaches. Do you actually believe post Maxson that people were hired with the explicit task of having football be pathetic? I think it is more likely that we are cursed!

But there is hope. Both the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox overcame curses to win world series titles. So maybe Desiree is the person to defeat the curse!!!!

Nope, not excusing those after Maxson.

But UNLV was rolling in basketball and in dollars (that not nearly enough was allocated to football is another argument) and in popularity. The train wasn’t stopping.

And the course of UNLV history, for better or worse (face it, it’s a long shot that it would have been worse than it is today), was altered forever because of the people on the side that you chose to stand with.

Tark is the single most important person in UNLV history. He was more vital than any professor, AD or president. With him here, we thrived, without him, we sunk. And the cause and effect is there.

You got your way. You won, prof. We suck at sports and academics has risen to the very top. Well, half of that is right.

 

[Mojo702]

You don't think the AD has met with coach to discuss what he needs to make football better? Do you think the AD (past and present) WANT football to be the shithole it is?

 

[j. spilotro]

You don't think the AD has met with coach to discuss what he needs to make football better? Do you think the AD (past and present) WANT football to be the shithole it is?

Of course they want football to be better. At least AD’s do, their livelihood is at stake. Presidents? Usually don’t care one way or the other, most of ours haven’t cared, it’s basically just stay out of trouble.

Our resources have sucked (money). But when you look at our AD’s.... DRF, the jury is out. TMK was a disaster on every level with her crowning achievement being an embarrassing logo.... Livengood was hand tied and forced out.... Hamrick... Cavagnaro, Weaver, etc.... it hasn’t been good. The reason for UNLV’s failures aren’t single pronged. But there are some very common threads.

 

[Sam-I-am]

... they generally have fair to poor facilities
...UAB proves a good coach can come in to a dead program located in a city with poor facilities and field a winning team.. .

Having just visited Coach Clark and their facilities, if those are "fair to poor" then ours are "very poor to rancid".
Yes, UAB proves that it can be done and the two reasons how it can be done.
1] It can be done with lots of money and a commitment to coaches.
Bill Clark makes $450K more than TS and has 4 years remaining on his contract.
With bonuses, the UAB coordinators can make the same amount as TS and they have 3 year contracts.
With bonuses, 4 of UAB's assistant coaches can make as much as our OC and they have 2 year contracts.
All of their GAs are fully funded academically and in room and board
Their recruiting budget is 3X that of UNLV's.
2] They have an excellent local recruiting pool within a 250 mile radius of the campus.

 

[drmontehorne_a_yahoo.com]

The elephant in the room is budget and leadership. I don't see hope on the horizon.

 

[j. spilotro]

The elephant in the room is budget and leadership. I don't see hope on the horizon.

Pssst… this didn’t just pop up. Existed when you were at the school. And we wonder why we are where we are…

 

[WarthogRebel]

Having just visited Coach Clark and their facilities, if those are "fair to poor" then ours are "very poor to rancid".
Yes, UAB proves that it can be done and the two reasons how it can be done.
1] It can be done with lots of money and a commitment to coaches.
Bill Clark makes $450K more than TS and has 4 years remaining on his contract.
With bonuses, the UAB coordinators can make the same amount as TS and they have 3 year contracts.
With bonuses, 4 of UAB's assistant coaches can make as much as our OC and they have 2 year contracts.
All of their GAs are fully funded academically and in room and board
Their recruiting budget is 3X that of UNLV's.
2] They have an excellent local recruiting pool within a 250 mile radius of the campus.

Yep. More proof it can be done.

 

[Mojo702]

Money can be attributed in part to the lack of "college" feel to the town. Our huge gaming community is not invested in making our sports as a whole better. It is an investment in that if they would contribute in a way that could help turn this around, we could be in a better league, bigger and better schools would come on a consistent basis bringing more people, making the casinos and town more money.

 

[drmontehorne_a_yahoo.com]

Pssst… this didn’t just pop up. Existed when you were at the school. And we wonder why we are where we are…

No kidding.

 

[Deleted member 308]

Money can be attributed in part to the lack of "college" feel to the town. Our huge gaming community is not invested in making our sports as a whole better. It is an investment in that if they would contribute in a way that could help turn this around, we could be in a better league, bigger and better schools would come on a consistent basis bringing more people, making the casinos and town more money.

In part.

But has never been a desire by the administration to invest in athletics. In fact, administrations have been far more likely to siphon resources out of athletics than to direct or divert resources to it.

If athletics were a priority, the administration would direct the community and community fund raising efforts to help athletics. You would see some of that attitude by valley businesses and the greater gaming industry change.

Instead, ADs are left to scour the same landscape for donations and community participation that the greater university has already used up. Or athletics is used to open doors and then abandoned.

The administration wants athletics to be just successful enough that they are they when it is needed, but not successful enough that it ever even comes close to being a threat to wag the dog again.

 

[dcut03]

UAB is an interesting case. They dropped it because it was losing money, had little interest. It has been brought back to life with a bunch of money invested in coaching and the program in general.

Very odd. Where did this money come from? UAB doesn't have a rich tradition. Its in a huge football state, but it is a "bigger" city where everyone is an Alabama or Auburn fan. The is a reason why they dismantled the program in the first place.

Good for them and their fans. Maybe DRF should call their AD.

 

[rebswin2]

Good for them and their fans. Maybe DRF should call their AD.

Ive said this for several years about Utah, Louisville and TCU, our President and or AD should attach themselves to the hip of those responsible from elevating those programs out of mid-major conferences to Power 5, and hire people that were part of that process.

 

[dcut03]

Ive said this for several years about Utah, Louisville and TCU, our President and or AD should attach themselves to the hip of those responsible from elevating those programs out of mid-major conferences to Power 5, and hire people that were part of that process.

Well the how isn't that hard to figure out. Get good in football. Those schools had a decent football tradition for several years with Utah and TCU really making noise on the big stage. Didn't hurt that Utah and L'Ville were both really strong in basketball too.

I think we need to learn from schools where they build up football programs from nothing. UAB looks to be a very decent comp in that regard. Our stadium and practice facility (if they can ever finish it) are very good starts. I think Sanchez really needs to take a step next season to save his job. I think he is safe for now because we are another year away from all the new toys, but next season this job will look a lot better for a new HC.

As for getting people in the stands, that is the toughest, especially in Las Vegas. Winning is a must, but even then, it probably needs some good marketing. The new stadium will help for those first few games. Really need to capitalize and give those fans a good taste in their mouths when that happens.

 

[WarthogRebel]

"The new stadium will help for those first few games."

Does anyone know what it is going to cost? Right now tickets are cheap, parking is free and concessions are reasonable.

I've been attending most home games since 86. I also go to several Auburn games a year. Even though I'm a UNLV homer, I won't pay Auburn prices for UNLV football.

 

[dcut03]

Good question. I don't know if anyone knows just yet. Those first few games may be well attended due to the novelty of the new stadium. An opportunity to make some new fans.

I'm sure that parking won't be too bad. I would imagine that donor season ticket holders will get some good parking.

 

[Sam-I-am]

...
Very odd. Where did this money come from? UAB doesn't have a rich tradition. Its in a huge football state, but it is a "bigger" city where everyone is an Alabama or Auburn fan. The is a reason why they dismantled the program in the first place...

.
Here's a good article on it but it appears that UAB had the money all along.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/oracle...y-bosnian-bank-to-profitability/#6a79fd0c4fa4

 

[Sam-I-am]

Yep. More proof it can be done.

Yup. And more proof that we don't have what UAB did in order to get it done.