Columnist Dean Juipe: Robinson needs time, patience
Tuesday, Oct. 5, 1999 | 11:56 a.m.
Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or 259-4084.
Vultures have their eye on the UNLV football team's exposed carcass.
It's there for the picking. The Rebels have lost three straight, the schedule isn't getting any easier and it's clear coach John Robinson's preseason goal of six 1999 victories was a wildly optimistic dream.
None of this, however, is totally unexpected.
Three wins, or maybe four, figured to be a more realistic appraisal for the disheveled program Robinson inherited. Now, at 2-3 and coming off a poor performance at Nevada-Reno, the Rebels can feel the presence of circling predators.
Their fair-weather fans have already bolted and UNLV is a 25-point underdog for Saturday's game at Wyoming.
Last week it didn't seem right to be an 11-point underdog at Reno, and, in fact, a man who makes his living crunching football stats called it "a bad number." He liked UNLV by 7.
Silly boy.
"I'm a little shaken that we've lost three in a row," Robinson admitted before a Monday luncheon crowd at Sam's Town. "It's disturbing. I'm a little mystified."
Yet, in truth, he's not really surprised. Or overly concerned.
He knew -- and said privately -- that this season was apt to have more downs than ups. Those two victories to open the season -- over weaklings North Texas and Baylor -- merely disguised how long the road to complete recovery figures to be.
An associate of the coach says Robinson really only has 35 quality players on his roster, but that he's hoping to add 20 a year for the next couple of years. Then, and only then, will the Rebels truly be competitive.
As for the here and now, UNLV looked awful at Reno and it's difficult to envision a victory over any team left on the schedule aside from Oct. 30 at New Mexico.
That reality has Robinson talking about "long-term focus" and trying to glean something positive from the six games that remain to be played this season.
"If we could make a trade with the Dallas Cowboys, we'd bring a couple guys in," he said in a humorous attempt to underscore that he is doing the best with what he has before him. What he has is a team with several weaknesses -- UNLV is 2-22 on pass attempts covering 20 or more yards -- and one that might be inclined to pack it in, if the coaches did the same.
"The Reno game almost had a nightmarish quality to it," Robinson said. "It was similar to the previous two games. All of those games were almost out of reach by halftime and that's three weeks in a row and it's something that has to stop."
He can't will it to stop, however.
And while it's apparent he has some players stashed -- everyone agrees scout team quarterback Jason Thomas will be terrific when he becomes eligible next season -- the short-term prognosis for the Rebels isn't very good. The trick for both players and fans is to see past the current struggles and buy into the notion Robinson will eventually turn the program around.
"There's a realization that this is going to take some time," Robinson said of his team staggering toward some distant oasis. "But despite a temporary lack of success ... we will ultimately have success."
Until then, expect a few more losses under the premise that patience will someday be rewarded.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Trial delayed for man accused of shooting 3 officers
- Kruger hoping his team will play with grit
- Ten minutes with Chelsea Handler is better than no minutes with Chelsea Handler
- Pricing out wagers on the Pacquiao-Cotto fight
- RTC bus driver fired, arrested after allegedly attacking woman
- Two second-graders involved in shooting at bus stop
- CityCenter Realtors hit with cut in commissions
- Privé owner files for bankruptcy protection in Florida
- Shanghai’s maglev: Flying with both feet on the ground
- Trainers scuffle at Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto weigh-in
Blogs
The Greene Room
Predicting this weekend's Mountain West football slate
Top Chef: Las Vegas
Top Chef Episode 11: Child's play
Miech Again
UNLV prez Smatresk is ready for some basketball (5 Comments)
Politics: The Early Line
Harry Reid's fourth TV ad begins running today
The Greene Room
Chad Ochocinco vs. Anderson Silva? That would be a sight ... (4 Comments)
Top Chef: Las Vegas
The Jet Stream: The three stages of chefdom
Miech Again
Rebels rookie Lopez says redshirting is his best move (12 Comments)
Calendar »
- 14 Sat
- 15 Sun
- 16 Mon
- 17 Tue
- 18 Wed
-
Pacquiao vs. Cotto at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
MGM Grand Garden Arena | 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
Friends of India Diwali Celebration at Cashman Field with Dan Nainan
Cashman Field | 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
-
Norm MacDonald at the House of Blues
House of Blues
-
Boulder City Art Guild Winter Fest Fine Art Show
Boulder City Parks & Recreation
-
John Fogerty at the Star of the Desert Arena
Star of the Desert Arena | 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s 5th annual Carnivale du Vin
The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino | 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati








