Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Let’s not push Robinson out the door

Ron Kantowski is a Las Vegas Sun sports writer. Reach him at [email protected] or (702) 259-4088.

Any inquiries into the "future of the program," which is the politically correct way to address whether a college football coach will be pressured into resigning, are a minimum of three weeks away at UNLV.

But in that I watched the Andy Griffith Show reunion Tuesday night on TV, let me take this opportunity to pay homage to Barney Fife and attempt to nip all this speculation in the bud.

If John Robinson's status as UNLV football coach has changed or hinges on how the 5-5 Rebels play against Colorado State and Wyoming in their last two games, it would be a mistake.

He should be allowed to serve the remaining two years on his contract and then ride off into the sunset, or at least into Sunset Station, where he could hold court and sign autographs during Monday Night Football parties.

Of course, it's not my decision to make. It could be Mike Hamrick's decision to make, provided UNLV president Dr. Carol Harter will grant her new athletic director the authority to do his job.

My guess is that Hamrick doesn't have carte blanche in his own department just yet. But I do know he would not discuss Robinson's future with me, even if he did.

I know it for a fact because he told me so Wednesday.

"It's something I would never discuss publicly," Hamrick said, when asked point blank if Robinson would be back next year.

As for reading anything into Hamrick's comments, I'd only be guessing again.

"We've got two more games left," Hamrick said. "If we win them, we can go to a bowl game ... at 7-5. From a competitive standpoint, I don't think there's been one game, other than the third quarter against Kansas, where we weren't competitive."

If you can read anything into that, I'd suggest joining the world poker tour. At this point, Hamrick's cards are tucked so close to his vest that it's hard to tell the hand he's playing.

But if I were him, the only stipulation I would put on Robinson is that he hire an offensive coordinator who knows what he's doing. A couple of weeks from now, when Illinois fires Ron Turner, Robinson should get him on the phone and ask him to return the favor for carrying his nephew, Scott, on the Rebels' roster as a backup quarterback.

Maybe that way, we might actually see an end around or a shovel pass at Sam Boyd Stadium before any more of the original Honeymooners pass away.

Robinson's Cro-Magnon approach to offense aside, who are the Rebels going get to replace him? You think any of those sharp guys from the MAC is going look at UNLV as a step up? So it's either Mike Price, or some unproven coordinator from a BCS conference. In which case we're looking at five more years to rebuild the program. Geez, I can hardly wait.

In that the Rebel Girls would never feel totally comfortable with Price walking the sidelines, he's probably out. As for the up-and-coming assistant, UNLV has been down that road. Rebels fans are still trying to figure out how Notre Dame won the national championship with Jim Strong as its offensive coordinator. Upon further review, maybe Lou Holtz is a coaching genius.

While I know it would be difficult for anybody who endured the San Diego State game to concede it, the football program has made huge strides since Robinson took over for Jeff Horton almost five years ago. Horton's last team was 0-11 and was outscored 389-156. Forget about beating Wisconsin. In those days, the Rebels would have been lucky to find it on the map.

Under Robinson's watch, the facilities have improved, the crowds have improved and interest in the program is at an all-time high. The Rebels have been on TV more often than a personal injury attorney. If you don't think Robinson can still recruit, or that his name and reputation don't do it for him, check the roster of your favorite NFL team. Chances are you'll find an ex-Rebel on it.

I don't care if you're using Florida election officials to do the math. Any way you add it up, the UNLV football program is in much better shape today than it was before John Robinson began overseeing it from his trusty golf cart.

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