Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Columnist Ron Kantowski: UNLV, UNR players behave themselves

Ron Kantowski's insider notes column appears Tuesday and his Page One column appears Thursday. He can be reached at [email protected] or (702) 259-4088.

While I'm not sure what the Minnesota Twins' favorite contraction is, I think I know which one it isn't.

Can't.

Like many underdog fans, I've got my Homer Hanky out -- and it's not to wipe away the tears for the Yankees or for that matter, Bud Selig.

A look at the Good, the Bad and The Ugly of the week in sports:

The Good ...

Given all the supposed bad blood between the schools, I half-expected -- make that three-quarters expected -- the UNLV-UNR game to degenerate into Manchester United vs. Liverpool, or some other English soccer match. But the players of both teams were pretty much on their best behavior. Too bad the fans didn't take their cues from the players. Although no fights were reported and only one beer bottle was thrown on the field after a questionable call (down two from last month's UNLV-Kansas game) there were reports of fans pelting each other with empty plastic beer bottles. ...

Former UNLV defensive back Sam Brandon almost got as much air time on ESPN as Dan Patrick (if that's possible) after blocking a punt out of the end zone for a safety during the Broncos' 26-9 victory over previously unbeaten San Diego Sunday. ...

The Bad ...

Wouldn't it be nice if UNLV used the spiffy scoreboard replay screen at Sam Boyd Stadium for something really novel ... such as replays. While I appreciate the female form as much as the next guy in the stands, it would have been nice to review that crucial roughing the kicker penalty against UNR that turned the game around instead of the umpteenth shot of those four coeds with U-N-L-V spelled out on their bare midriffs. ...

UNLV ranks only 98th on Sports Illustrated's list of America's Best Sports Colleges that appears in this week's issue. In that SI graded 200 schools, I suppose 98th could be considered more mediocre than bad. But New Hampshire is ranked 79th, Northern Arizona 80th and Liberty -- the school Jerry Falwell founded -- is one slot ahead of the Rebels at 97th. "Women's hoops went to the NCAAs, men to NIT; top 25 golf team; strength coach Mark Philippi holds America's Strongest Man title," wrote SI about UNLV. Too bad NCAA Tournament appearances and graduation rates count more than the clean-and-jerk. ...

Saturday's UNLV-UNR football game took four hours to complete. And here I was about to blame half the crowd for leaving a 14-6 game in the third quarter. ...

The auto racing media had a field day when Michael Schumacher pulled over to let Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello win the U.S. Grand Prix two weeks ago. But predictably, it hasn't had much to say about Tony Stewart's refusal to make even a cursory attempt to pass Dale Earnhardt Jr. during the closing laps of Sunday's NASCAR race at Talladega. Stewart's stated reason for playing it safe: He and Little E are buddies. Isn't that special? The real reason for Stewart suddenly becoming Mr. Nice Guy might have more to do with the driver or his crew not wanting to jeopardize their position in the points standings. But then that's not exactly racing all-out for the win now, is it?

The Ugly.

That Woody Hayes impression Chaparral High football coach Ricky Watts is alleged to have tried out upside one of his players' heads during practice last week is ironic, given a quote attributed to the former Oklahoma Sooner and Chicago Bear in the aftermath of his UNLV assistant coaching career.

Watts was a Rebel aide under Jim Strong, the former Notre Dame offensive coordinator who was fired after compiling a 17-27 record in four seasons as UNLV head coach.

According to Watts, Strong wasn't a bad guy, just misunderstood. "He learned his football when the game was played on grass," Watts once said of his former boss.

But if Strong was a Neanderthal when it came to X's and O's, what does that make Watts?

Like Watts, I'm not much for "do-rags" or any other items of self-expression favored by today's kids, but that doesn't give Watts the right to physically remove one from the head of one of his players during a discussion, heated or otherwise. And while it would be nice to hear his side of the story before forming an opinion, Watts (or anybody else at Chaparral, beside the kid's parents) isn't talking.

For the record, Watts, like Strong, isn't the most despicable guy in the world. After his UNLV stint, he did a lot of volunteer work within the community, including the Las Vegas Inner-City Games.

But if what they're saying is true, that won't be enough to save his job.

.. replays?

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