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Published Friday, Nov. 13, 2009 | 10:31 a.m.
Updated Friday, Nov. 13, 2009 | 10:33 a.m.
Dr. Neal Smatresk, UNLV’s new president, is ready for basketball season to begin and he’s hoping many in the valley are as enthusiastic come opening night.
The Rebels open the 2009-10 season Saturday night against Pittsburg State at the Thomas & Mack Center and Smatresk, an avid sports fan, plans to sit among the fans.
He has the use of a certain President’s Box at the arena, and he plans to use it when there are officials to meet and greet, when it makes good business sense.
Most often, though, he and his wife Debbie will be part of the crowd about 10 rows from the floor opposite the visitors’ bench. Smatresk even shot a video, poking fun at himself a bit, for opening night.
“The camera’s up here,” he said, pointing to a spot above him, in his office early Friday morning. “I’m hunched over writing, with a serious look, and I glance up. I say, ‘Oh, didn’t see you there. I’m the president of UNLV and there are three things that really matter to us here.
“ ‘One, our world-class educational programs. Two, our nationally ranked research. Third,’ and I wheel around in my chair, pop open my coat and I have a UNLV basketball shirt on, ‘is Runnin’ Rebels basketball! Fans, are you ready for opening night?’ ”
Approachable, engaging, funny, interesting and warm, Smatresk (rhymes with SPA-tresk) is as common as the fan sitting next to him. That’s what he wanted the video to show.
“It kind of pokes fun at myself as a fan, that kind of stuff,” he said, “where you don’t take yourself too seriously.”
He wondered if the video will work.
“I don’t know if fans will get it if they don’t hear the ‘president’ part,” Smatresk said. “I’m not sure it’ll matter, but it’s fun. I was thinking I needed to bite a towel.”
He was told that shtick had been used.
“I heard,” Smatresk said, and then laughter cascaded down his seventh-floor office corridor. It wasn’t even 9 a.m., and he couldn’t have started his day in a better way.
By the way, if you see him Saturday night, call him Neal.
Follow Rob Miech on Twitter at twitter.com/RobMiech.
Awesome!
Wow! What a refreshing change from past Presidents and their attitude toward basketball!! His enthusiasm for sports bodes well for the future of the department!
nyrebel and sufferin ... you cats are on track. some big news coming down the track ... of course, we'll have it for you Monday. :-)
I hope the news is earthshattering :)
I don't think it'll be basketball related from the context clues I am getting out of these last 3 comments..but still good news :)
Smatresk is the best thing to happen to UNLV since Kruger. Future is bright.
is it the 1990 team has 1 year of eligibility left.....
fan11, the tease has nothing to do with those last 3 comments you're referring to ... it just might be ... hoops ... you will like it. Stay tuned
hmm will u be posting a blog before then?
finally an on campus practice site for the basketball team???
omaha,
uh..isnt the practice site for the team the cox pavilion? thats pretty on campus. excuse me if im wrong but im pretty sure thats their practice faciity and im pretty sure its on campus.
where can we find that video?
email Rob Miech and he would be able to tell you.
maybe check unlvrebels.com