Columnist Tim Graham: Rumor mill cranks over UNLV job

Tim Graham

Thursday, Nov. 19, 1998 | 10:51 a.m.

Tim Graham's column appears Thursday. His media notebook appears Wednesday. Reach him at tim@lasvegassun.com or 259-4078.

It doesn't take long for the rumor mill to start churning.

Much of the grist will end up dust in the wind.

Even before UNLV athletic director Charlie Cavagnaro officially announced Jeff Horton won't be welcomed back next year as head football coach, names of potential replacements were being thrown around like Chad Reed trying to complete a 5-yard out.

And like a typical offering from the UNLV quarterback, most of the names weren't even close to hitting target.

Even here at the Sun, phones rang off the hook as university employees and readers offered their opinions. And if you thought Horton was delusional in claiming he was "just a couple pieces away from making it happen," you should have heard some of these dandy suggestions.

Fans are understandably hopeful UNLV finally will hire a prominent football coach. Former assistants or lower-division ladder climbers need not apply. No more Harvey Hydes, Wayne Nunnelys or Jim Strongs.

At the Rebel Football Foundation's monthly meeting on Tuesday, some of the names proposed to Cavagnaro proved the fans' optimism.

Former Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz was nominated, even though he turned down the Southern California opening just last year.

It's somehow difficult to foresee Lou saying "I'm sorry. I don't find one of the country's most legendary teams appealing. But UNLV? What the hell!"

The man Holtz could have replaced at USC, John Robinson, was brought up. So was former Auburn coach Terry Bowden. The name of former Rebel and NFL coach Ron Meyer also surfaced.

But not everyone demanded an impact coach. Assistants O'Neill Gilbert of Illinois and Brian White of Wisconsin, both of whom used to work at UNLV, actually were mentioned.

You might as well just submit the name of another former Rebel assistant looking for a head coaching job: Jeff Horton.

If UNLV is going to go after an assistant coach, higher-profile choices would be UCLA offensive coordinator Alan Borges, Nebraska quarterbacks coach Turner Gill, Florida defensive coordinator Bob Stoops and his little brother, Kansas State defensive coordinator Mike Stoops.

Of course, Charlie Stubbs is a natural candidate. The man who left UNLV to coach quarterbacks at Alabama this year is widely regarded for his offensive prowess. He also has ties to Cavagnaro through their days at Memphis.

Other head coaches are being mentioned, but probably not for long.

Disgruntled Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick has been discussed because his first coaching job was at Beatty High. So has Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan, who was fired by Texas Christian partly because UNLV beat him last year.

While we're at it, let's throw out some more possibilities, regardless of feasibility: former UCLA head Terry Donahue, Brigham Young offensive coordinator Norm Chow and unemployed NFLers George Seifert, Bill Walsh, Wayne Fontes and Kevin Gilbride.

All these names. All these suggestions. All these ideas.

There will be even more in the coming weeks.

Brace yourself. This mill hasn't even gotten cranked up yet.