What is the likelihood

[unlove]

That UNLV is viewed more as a football school rather than a basketball school 3-5 years from now? I’ve noticed the excitement in the community around the football program and it hasn’t really accomplished anything yet, especially compared to MBB. Social media, mainstream media, talk among the community, it’s all at such a different level now and very different tone (as would be expected). But we’re approaching the tip-off to basketball season and there’s not much buzz at all even with CKK’s best team on paper. I always thought Vegas was a football town and just needed a winning team to get behind. Perhaps it is finally coming to pass?

 

[rebswin2]

Playing In the MWC it doesn’t matter.

 

[LocoRebel]

I dont think it's much as a surprise that people want to support football at the school. But for the average person or fringe fan, they haven't had much reason to cheer.

I think "football school" will come almost exclusively on the heels of the hire following Odom. Obviously what they do on the field matters, but if Odom is poached after year 3 and 2023 is his worst year, we'd be right there. If they spend something like $2.5 mil a year on a legit known head coach, kinda showing real teeth behind the bark, it starts.

If they spend $1.1 mil on an unproven coordinator as a replacement, I think regression may be there. But I love that this conversation is even possible!!

 

[Meister_Rebel]

With CKK there hasn't in the past been much to be excited about. I was seeing a solid recruitment with a good group of players this year. However, with DUI's and DT with an injury what is there now to get excited about. I really don't know what kind of team we are going to put on the floor. I'm anxious to know what bowl game we get and I'm really excited to see our Lady Rebel basketball team hit the floor. Lady Rebel basketball has been more exciting than the men's team so I'm running with that.

 

[LVRebel2000]

With CKK there hasn't in the past been much to be excited about. I was seeing a solid recruitment with a good group of players this year. However, with DUI's and DT with an injury what is there now to get excited about. I really don't know what kind of team we are going to put on the floor. I'm anxious to know what bowl game we get and I'm really excited to see our Lady Rebel basketball team hit the floor. Lady Rebel basketball has been more exciting than the men's team so I'm running with that.

From what I've seen on twitter, I believe DJ Thomas is back at practice, but didn't participate in that last scrimmage. I'm not sure what percent he is, but it's encouraging that he's practicing with the team. I'm quite optimistic about our basketball team this year, and IMO, it's actually nice that the football season has kept our interest so much longer than in typical years. That doesn't mean people don't care about basketball, but just that their interests are staying with football since it's still in season, while basketball hasn't started games yet.

 

[dcut03]

Interesting Topic.

I can see football being more relevant in 3 -5 years. I do think this season in basketball will tell us a lot. I think we have the horses to be a tournament team, whether or not we get there, or how close we get should tell us a good trajectory of the program.

In terms of general interest around town? I think there are a few factors playing in to this. First it is a generally welcome surprise. It's not a huge surprise to me, since I thought we had the players for it and I expected an upgrade in coaching. But it has been a great year historically which will get attention. Which is great. But that is a factor for sure.

Also college football is just a more relevant sport. The further removed we get from anything notable in basketball, the less buzz there will be. The attendance speaks volumes. So many Rebel basketball fans have left and many won't come back. How things were handled and how far we fell lost us fans. Many of of those fans are Vegas sports fans more than UNLV fans. Many had no direct connection to the school from being alumni or having kids that went there. So cutting ties isn't a bid deal for them. .

But college football will have more potential for interest, even in Las Vegas, just because it is generally a more popular sport.

Basketball has a bigger chance to be more nationally relevant at the G5 level, so that helps there. If we get ranked and beat our better teams and I can a big bump in interest in basketball pretty quick, but It would likely take a notable tourney run to really spark interest (start getting 12K plus back to the Mack).

More than anything, both teams need to win, and need to have some head turning wins to really get some home field/court advantages. To recapture some of those old fans or to create new ones, there needs to be more than moderate success. Hopefully football finishes strong and increases season ticket sales. The school needs to revenue, especially if we are to increase pay for coaches to keep them here.

 

[reagan21]

With the former Rebels basketball players I know well and speak with, let me say this…they really felt the pressure of having to win for the university once football season was essentially over by October 10th.

In the last 2 months, 3 of them have independently told me, (with regards to UNLV football) “why couldn’t this have happened when we were at UNLV?”

The admin leaned on the MBB and were very vocal about their importance and necessity to win. The admin has done little to show the team their importance, but that’s a story for another day.

Long story short, i think winning on the football field will breed some enthusiasm into the mbb program. So does Lindy’s success. I agree with Joe. We have the horses to be 1-3 in the MWC which would mean tournament. But talent alone has done very little for us for the past 30 years.

 

[rebelwithacause]

Considered BBall or Fball school to whom ?

We are not relevant in either sport so people don't think of UNLV at all ? Honestly, 3-5 years from now I don't see that changing - Odom will probably not be our coach- Turning around the dumpster fire of UNLV is impressive. it will get him another Job for Sure- but will a couple years here change a culture and catapult the program into the next level? Not likely. Here's why.

Las Vegas likes a winner. UNLV used to be a winner
- So were the San Fransico Dons at one time. Now they are Not and neither are we

When we were winners there was a push all the way from the top (The governor) and the Regent System were behind pushing Athletics - in Case you didn't notice that is NOT a priority from the State system anymore.

It really all boils down to politics and money and Nevadas cash cow (gaming industry) The $$$ and alliance with Pro Sports teams now and the Alumni and Boosters are all dried up and gone away - they don't invest in the UNLV program anymore. The $$$ and Support is a mere fraction of what it once was. So with no Money and No real push from the powers that be IDK how Rebels fans ever think and wish upon a star - how is this ever going to materialize and get us back in the limelight of athletics ??? its probably Not

 

[j. spilotro]

We are still a “basketball” school, imo … but right now, not because basketball is good, but because we’ve done something in the past (many things) that mean something nationally … and football never has.

Being in the midst of our worst basketball stretch since Tarkanian’s first year …. If football does pop up for a couple of years … I do think that will happen under Odom …. And let’s say, for basketball, we have a poor year this year and go with another marginal hire … I can see us being viewed as a football school. Which would be really weird after all this time.

I’m a basketball guy so to me … it’s always basketball … but most fans … most college fans … are heavily pointed towards football. It drives everything in the NCAAT … if you’re Gonzaga, GTown, St Mary’s … it’ll always be basketball because there is no football. And us, UNM, and a few others, are just a notch above that because of history.

 

[Rebel1986]

The money is available in this town for both basketball and football if the athletic department does a good job of pushing football and basketball. When is the last time we had an AD who was competent, and a college President who supported athletics? UNLV was able to build a new football facility (much of that due to Sanchez) as well as to have an upgrade in almost every team with the football program head coach and staff now being paid far more than in past coach and staff has ever received (that money came from somewhere)! You would need to go back to when the T&M was built to see this type of funding for the athletic department.

UNLV is also in the early stages of a $150 million athletic department funding campaign. When is the last time UNLV has done any fundraising campaign on a school wide basis? (UNLV football facility was due to Sanchez and only involved the football program.

UNLV has also had a huge increase in the endowment fund for the university. It went from $234.1 million to $301.9 million from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022. Considering Las Vegas is mostly carried on the backs of the casino industry, I expect a large portion of that came from the casino's. It should be noted that the endowment was listed at around $367 million for the end of 2022.

Endowment Report - 2022 Endowment Report

unlv.foleon.com

If UNLV shows that they can improve football and basketball to be competitive on a national level, and be able to attract the recruits to move UNLV to a higher level, then the money will come into the program that same way that the endowment fund has grown! It is hard to get people to donate to a football team that wins 2-5 games a year in comparison to a team that wins 8 or more games a year!

 

[1Tripoda]

UNLV businesses involvements are mainly the casinos IMHO the casinos businesses would love nothing more than to see UNLV to be successful in sports and everything. If UNLV sports become national relevance, more people will come to Vegas. It is very simple. The cock blocks have always been the UNLV administration and its leaders. With the Current Prez and AD, it feels a little different...hopefully I am right.

 

[unlove]

I agree it’s all about the $$. UNLV took the right step forward in the Odom hire. It wouldn’t make sense to not continue moving up when the time comes to hire his replacement. Money talks and UNLV could make an economic case for supporting football. Of all the sports it is the one that can put heads in beds and that’s what ultimately matters in this town. Basketball can’t come close in that regard even as a top 10 program, but it also doesn’t cost as much to operate so if it can get back to being a perennial top 25 program it can easily support itself as well as other sports programs. Get football into the top 25 and I think we’ll see $$ come in to support it bc it will also benefit the hotels and make Allegiant Stadium more profitable. Just gotta keep winning and advancing the program. If Odom can bring in another highly rated group of recruits (for MWC standards) we could have an even better season next year and maybe crack the top 25. UNLV can then begin making an economic argument to for private and public investment in the program.

 

[1Tripoda]

I agree it’s all about the $$. UNLV took the right step forward in the Odom hire. It wouldn’t make sense to not continue moving up when the time comes to hire his replacement. Money talks and UNLV could make an economic case for supporting football. Of all the sports it is the one that can put heads in beds and that’s what ultimately matters in this town. Basketball can’t come close in that regard even as a top 10 program, but it also doesn’t cost as much to operate so if it can get back to being a perennial top 25 program it can easily support itself as well as other sports programs. Get football into the top 25 and I think we’ll see $$ come in to support it bc it will also benefit the hotels and make Allegiant Stadium more profitable. Just gotta keep winning and advancing the program. If Odom can bring in another highly rated group of recruits (for MWC standards) we could have an even better season next year and maybe crack the top 25. UNLV can then begin making an economic argument to for private and public investment in the program.

The leaders at UNLV have to set that up especially the NIL for players. And the existing players. Coach O need to step in once he is given the green light for the NIL. Right now, the most important thing is to keep our staff together until Coach O thinks otherwise.

 

[Bullmastiff 1]

We are still a “basketball” school, imo … but right now, not because basketball is good, but because we’ve done something in the past (many things) that mean something nationally … and football never has.

Being in the midst of our worst basketball stretch since Tarkanian’s first year …. If football does pop up for a couple of years … I do think that will happen under Odom …. And let’s say, for basketball, we have a poor year this year and go with another marginal hire … I can see us being viewed as a football school. Which would be really weird after all this time.

I’m a basketball guy so to me … it’s always basketball … but most fans … most college fans … are heavily pointed towards football. It drives everything in the NCAAT … if you’re Gonzaga, GTown, St Mary’s … it’ll always be basketball because there is no football. And us, UNM, and a few others, are just a notch above that because of history.

Hate saying it this way, but every year fewer people are around that remember the glory days in basketball.

I would still say UNLV is considered a basketball school (if its considered at all)..

Depending on the next 3-5 years that could change.

But if we are being realistic..

Football's ceiling (Unless it gets a P5 invite and even then) is probably Boise State in its prime. Maybe...

Basketball? I don't know, with such small rosters and talent being distributed all over the country would it be all that shocking if UNLV landed some 5 star local kid and a transfer or two and made big noise in the dance? I mean Dave was pulling good enough talent those teams should have been better (sorry to open that can of worms). It just doesn't take nearly as much to flip basketball roster.

 

[WarthogRebel]

I can't think of any Football schools that became Basketball schools (or Vice Versa) and stayed that way. Some schools can appear to switch for a few years but, over the long haul not. For us to be considered a Football school it would take years of high level success combined with years of continued suboptimal basketball performance. For the simple reason that we won't be able to keep a highly successful football coach I just don't see it.

 

[Couev]

I can't think of any Football schools that became Basketball schools (or Vice Versa) and stayed that way. Some schools can appear to switch for a few years but, over the long haul not. For us to be considered a Football school it would take years of high level success combined with years of continued suboptimal basketball performance. For the simple reason that we won't be able to keep a highly successful football coach I just don't see it.

Apart from us old heads there are very few people that remember that UNLV was part of the cultural zeitgeist of college sports in the 80s and early 90s. It's now been more years since Tark got run out than he coached here. It's been 10 years since we've been to basketball post season, 12 years since we've won a post season game, 16 years since we've won the tournament in our home arena, and 23 years since we've won the conference outright. I think we're a lot closer to the national perception of UTEP as far as athletics are concerned--and I don't think most people consider them a basketball school any longer.

I guess we're a basketball school, but it's based on resting on laurels that have long since faded and crumbled, we're as close to tabula rasa as we've been in a long, long time. But I do think it would take at least a decade of relatively national prominence for us to be considered a football school, and I think you legitimately are going to need a couple of New Years Day bowl appearance before that really gets set with any sort of national perception.

 

[unlove]

How about just among the local community? How long would it take to change the local perception from basketball to football?

 

[1Tripoda]

I really hope we become a football school!!! Waiting for basketball to come around is like watching grass grows for the last 30 years + a lot of )(*&)*&(*&)*****)*)you)*)*0adminstration)*)*)*)****!

 

[Rebel1986]

How about just among the local community? How long would it take to change the local perception from basketball to football?

Most people under 35 never have seen UNLV basketball as a top program!

 

[j. spilotro]

Most people under 35 never have seen UNLV basketball as a top program!

That’s the thing. If you’re 35, what have you witnessed that you remember? A 3-7 NCAAT record. Not exactly something that floors you. You’d have to read historic pieces to find greatness. A during that time, terrible football but a 2-1 bowl record.

Say 5 more years, no NCAA wins. 2 bowl wins. Guys like me are in retirement now, holding on to distant memories, guys older than me are worm food … the 40‘s and Younger, never really sunk in with teeth for hoops, for the most part … have a light with football.

Never thought it could change … but it can … the screaming for too many garbage hires wasn’t for fear of losing immediate games, it was for losing the program. Since 2001, we’ve had 3 (perhaps 4) coaches over 10 plus years that have produced nothing but trash and have bled the fan base dry. You cannot hire o-fers.

I blame admin more than anything.

 

[LocoRebel]

Most people under 35 never have seen UNLV basketball as a top program!

I'm under 35. I recognize it's past but also have really never felt UNLV is particularly relevant on the national stage. Dave Rice's first year was it and that last about a month, maybe two. I dont really remember much about Lon's teams or the S16 run. In my adult life, I don't know if UNLV has finished top 4 in conference. Not putting up any stats to back it up, just going from recall

 

[utestream]

Where UNLV is now is better than where you were. A UNLV with a competitive 9-3 football team, solid woman's basketball, and mediocre men's basketball is a better option for expansion than UConn with a terrible 3-9 football team and a national championship basketball team. Hopefully, Kevin gets it done for you this year.

 

[1Tripoda]

Where UNLV is now is better than where you were. A UNLV with a competitive 9-3 football team, solid woman's basketball, and mediocre men's basketball is a better option for expansion than UConn with a terrible 3-9 football team and a national championship basketball team. Hopefully, Kevin gets it done for you this year.

Vegas in its true form is full of blue collars people. Everyone works their a$$ off everyday. Some of them even used their a$$es for work. Anyway, it is a blue collar town. Kevin is from a basketball royalty family from us fans perspectives. I hope can relates and get to work like most of his fans.

 

[1Tripoda]

Nobody disagree with me?

 

[WarthogRebel]

Nobody disagree with me?

I don't think many fans care where he's from, who his parents were or how he coaches. They just want wins.

 

[j. spilotro]

I'm under 35. I recognize it's past but also have really never felt UNLV is particularly relevant on the national stage. Dave Rice's first year was it and that last about a month, maybe two. I dont really remember much about Lon's teams or the S16 run. In my adult life, I don't know if UNLV has finished top 4 in conference. Not putting up any stats to back it up, just going from recall

As such …. If UNLV football makes a couple bowls over the next two years, compete in conference …

Do you feel more pride/interest in football, have higher long term hopes?

Asking because I’m honestly curious.

 

[1Tripoda]

I don't think many fans care where he's from, who his parents were or how he coaches. They just want wins.

Beard understand how Vegas fans think. He invoked the Tark hitch-hiking stories...he lied through his teeth but the story sound good. That is who Vegas is. Big but still a small, blue collar town.

 

[WarthogRebel]

As such …. If UNLV football makes a couple bowls over the next two years, compete in conference …

Do you feel more pride/interest in football, have higher long term hopes?

Asking because I’m honestly curious.

There are very few G5 programs that find top success and keep it for decades. The longest I can think of is Boise and they are slipping. The reason is if a program finds success the coaches get poached. There is no way to stop this so I don't have long term hopes. Just enjoying it as it comes.

 

[InZoneU]

No doubt in my mind football has the easier road to being the UNLV flagship program. Well because that's how it is basically everywhere else. Football rules.

 

[LocoRebel]

As such …. If UNLV football makes a couple bowls over the next two years, compete in conference …

Do you feel more pride/interest in football, have higher long term hopes?

Asking because I’m honestly curious.

In my adult life, I have always been more connected to football. Under Hauck and Sanchez in was in the building full time, so the scenario is a little different.

I grew up going to both Rebel fb and mbb games and recall both fondly, but I dont have specific memories of being in the Mack as a kid, even though I know I was in the building during the Dickel, Clark era. Maybe I was too young to have those nuggets really set. But I do specifically have memories from the 2000 LV Bowl, which I think of as an anchor of my Fandom and interest.

I'd say even prior to my employment there, I was always more in tune with FB and it always felt like the thing that, if it turned the corner, the university would be set up for success. For hoops, I have looked at it largely as transcending conference, except that has trailed off and now we just sort of are mountain west. But that isn't as much of a detraction in hoops as it is in football.

 

[LocoRebel]

There are very few G5 programs that find top success and keep it for decades. The longest I can think of is Boise and they are slipping. The reason is if a program finds success the coaches get poached. There is no way to stop this so I don't have long term hopes. Just enjoying it as it comes.

Part of the Boise success is that they have always hired very well. Even prior to Coach Pete:

Dirk Koetter
Dan Hawkins
Chris Petersen
Brian Harsin

Those 4 accounted for 23 years and average over .750 winning percentage. Only Houston nutt (who was prior to koetter) finished below .500 in his bsu career. 5-6 in his one year in Boise (big west), and somehow parlayed that into the gig at Arkansas.

Anyway, having good hires once or twice helps perpetuate success foe other good candidates

Avalos is a bit of an outlier. Since their D1A era (koetter transitioned them) hires, avalos is the first to be a first time head coach coming in from outside the program. Hawkins was head coach at Willamete for several years. Pete was an OC in the program and was elevated. Harsin had been head coach at Arkansas State.

Avalos was with BSU for many years as an assistant, left for Oregon as DC for 2 years. Then was hired from outside as BSU HC. I think, like UNLV MBB, BSU fb is a tough first time job. High standards nearly impossible to meet and learn the job.

 

[rebel5280]

Football is where the money is and if we could ever be a part of a P5 conference we would get a better sense of the money involved with football first and UNLV would never look back! But for now it’s just a dream.

 

[WarthogRebel]

Football is where the money is and if we could ever be a part of a P5 conference we would get a better sense of the money involved with football first and UNLV would never look back! But for now it’s just a dream.

I'm not seeing anyone talking convincingly about how a current G5 program can get into a P4/P3 program in the future. When it all shakes out, it doesn't look to me like there will be enough spots for current P5 teams much less G5 teams. Right now, with any surety, nobody can predict future TV contracts. Nobody can predict how many teams the B10, Big 12 and SEC will settle on. Nobody can predict how the NCAA will be involved. Nobody can predict what NIL will look like in the next three to five years.

I just don't see us being in a future big conference and we need to plan for that.

 

[InZoneU]

Football is where the money is and if we could ever be a part of a P5 conference we would get a better sense of the money involved with football first and UNLV would never look back! But for now it’s just a dream.

Yep MP. That's how it's been forever though. Unfortunately UNLV had too many retards around the university who barfed out 'We're a Basketball School' and could give a flying fck about football for far too long. Those short-sighted numbnuts hurt the FB program and the athletic dept. as a whole.

 

[1Tripoda]

Joe or anyone in the know. Did John Scherer interviewed at UNLV? Yes, he was a player at Duke and was an assistant to K at the time. K send him here and who did UNLV chose? If UNLV was a true basketball school, WTF were they doing?

 

[rebel5280]

Yep MP. That's how it's been forever though. Unfortunately UNLV had too many retards around the university who barfed out 'We're a Basketball School' and could give a flying fck about football for far too long. Those short-sighted numbnuts hurt the FB program and the athletic dept. as a whole.

This has been the case since we were on campus and it hasn’t changed. I believe we use to wonder about this even back then, football gets you paid and if we only could have capitalized on Coach Hyde!

 

[j. spilotro]

Yep MP. That's how it's been forever though. Unfortunately UNLV had too many retards around the university who barfed out 'We're a Basketball School' and could give a flying fck about football for far too long. Those short-sighted numbnuts hurt the FB program and the athletic dept. as a whole.

Well, you don’t have to sacrifice one to enhance the other … either way.

 

[rebel5280]

Well, you don’t have to sacrifice one to enhance the other … either way.

True but we could have been better at both if it wasn’t for the small minds at UNLV!

 

[j. spilotro]

True but we could have been better at both if it wasn’t for the small minds at UNLV!

They were a problem, believe it or not, even when Tark was.

I’ve always said UNLV is completely dysfunctional, but Tark was so damn good that it was camouflaged under his success. He overcame opponents and UNLV for a long stretch.

Back then, there was plenty of money. Tark wasn’t hoarding it all. None went to football though.

 

[Knight Rebel702]

Beard understand how Vegas fans think. He invoked the Tark hitch-hiking stories...he lied through his teeth but the story sound good. That is who Vegas is. Big but still a small, blue collar town.

That 🤡 didn't understand Vegas, he is just a straight up Conman like 45! I heard him on multiple interviews, tailor his lies... errr story to whoever his audience was at the time.