Creating his own buzz

Ron Kantowski finds an answer in Lon Kruger’s contract for why the coach is taking on team PR

Thu, Jul 31, 2008 (2 a.m.)

Steve Marcus

UNLV men’s basketball coach Lon Kruger has agreed to add marketing to his job description. His contract, up for approval next week, includes a plan for sharing ticket revenue that may offset his out-of-pocket promotional expenses.

UNLV hoops ranked 8th in 24-year ESPN poll (7-25-2008)
Kruger adds 'pitchman’ to his unofficial titles (7-18-2008)
Latest Kruger event scheduled for Wednesday at UNLV (7-14-2008)
On top of their salaries, some eye-popping paychecks (4-25-2008)

A few weeks ago Lon Kruger, the Swiss Army Knife of the UNLV athletic department, added another blade to the screwdriver, wire stripper and corkscrew. He took over the marketing duties of his own program.

Why would the coach have to market a team that went to the Sweet 16 two years ago and matched national champion Kansas basket for basket in the first half of a second-round game this year? Because the people at UNLV hired to do that job were as clueless as Alicia Silverstone.

Not coincidentally, once Kruger hired his own PR guy and launched the beta version of CoachKruger.com on the Internet, interest in the basketball program seemed to grow like a lead at Colorado State. Dozens of spectators began showing up to watch practice — in June — before the Rebels embarked on their tour of Australia.

How palpable was the buzz about UNLV hoops? Well, there were unconfirmed reports that Cheech Marin inquired about season tickets.

OK, maybe there would have been a buzz anyway, even if the UNLV marketing department was slow to recognize that the slumbering giant, or at least giant-killer (ask second-seeded Wisconsin in 2006), had awakened under Kruger’s watch. Rebels fans were watching on TV and nobody had to tell them what to do. They jumped on the basketball bandwagon with both feet.

But any way you look at it, Kruger is responsible. With an assist from Wink Adams and his teammates.

That’s why I thought he was nuts when he started paying out of his own pocket to market the program.

When I saw his amended contract, which will go before the Board of Regents for approval next week, I thought he was a little less nuts.

For starters, he’ll get a one-year rollover on his contract with bumps in base salary (from $265,000 in 2011 to $280,000 in 2012), media appearances (from $440,000 to $453,000), public appearances (from $370,000 to $382,500) plus his standard $50,000 shoe and apparel contract that locks him up for five more years here.

That may seem like a lot of money, and it is, especially for a university that doesn’t have two nickels to rub together. But when you consider that basketball and motorcycle races and rock concerts at Sam Boyd Stadium are what prop up the rest of the UNLV athletic program, it’s money well spent.

More interesting is Section 2.02 g of Kruger’s amended 35-page contract — a ticket revenue sharing plan that could enable him to recoup some of the money he’s shelling out for CoachKruger.com and that other promotional stuff.

Here’s how the official Board of Regents briefing paper reads:

“Lon Kruger is one of the most marketable head men’s basketball coaches in the country and the retention of Lon Kruger is of utmost importance. Through contractual negotiations, Lon, and Director of Athletics, Mike Hamrick, agreed on an incentive revenue ticket sharing program that would allow Lon to market and promote the men’s basketball program and share in ticket revenues. Given the financial climate, it was a mutually agreed (upon) incentive package that gives Lon the flexibility to generate additional compensation without significantly impacting the athletic department budget.”

So here’s how it works: After setting a base revenue projection based on total ticket sales, revenue generated above and beyond that dollar figure will go back to Kruger. He’ll get 100 percent of the revenue up to $400,000 above the base revenue projection, 50 percent from $401,000 up to $800,000, and 75 percent of ticket revenue over $800,000 above the agreed-on number.

What it means in average basketball fan terms: For Kruger to receive $200,000, the Rebels will have to sell 610 more tickets per game than last year. For him to receive $400,000, the Rebels will have to increase attendance by 1,220 tickets per game, and so forth.

Last year, the Rebels sold 152,979 tickets for 19 home games. They have sold 101,934 tickets for next season.

The briefing paper lists five bullet points for why the contract extension and the ticket revenue sharing plan should receive the ol’ rubber stamp: The 2006-07 Sweet 16 appearance, the 2007-08 NCAA second-round appearance, Kruger’s 2007-08 Mountain West Conference coach of the year award, his 2007-08 U.S. Basketball Writers Association District VIII coach of the year award, and his team’s performance in the classroom. This past spring seven Rebels posted grade-point averages of 3.0 or higher.

It should have added a sixth bullet: Kruger has built a program worth marketing, even if nobody else around UNLV seems to know how to do it.

So here’s my prediction: One day Kruger’s gonna find himself a big man and the Rebels are gonna play in the Final Four and the Thomas & Mack Center’s going to sell out for every game. And then most of that additional ticket money that could offset the money the football program loses — money that could help the athletic department wean itself from Carson City handouts — is gonna wind up in the pocket of the basketball coach.

All because UNLV couldn’t promote a winning program, forcing the basketball coach to do it himself.

Oh yeah. And then Mark Cuban or Google is gonna buy CoachKruger.com for a bazillion dollars.

Discussion: 25 comments so far…

By Sufferin_Succotash

7/31/08 at 6:21 a.m.

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Here are Lon Kruger's (UNLV's) results against Top 50 RPI teams as we enter his 5th season:

vs. Saint Mary's (#29) - Loss 64-54 (in Las Vegas)
at. Nevada (#32) - Loss 84-78 (at Reno)
vs. Oklahoma State (#5) - Loss 79-67 (in Las Vegas)
at. Texas (#41) - Loss 89-82 (at Austin)
at. Utah (#24) - Loss 70-54 (at Salt Lake)
vs. Utah (#24) - Loss 57-53 (in Las Vegas)
vs. Utah (#24) - Loss 73-67 (Neutral in Denver)
vs. Nevada (#19) - Loss 68-61 (in Las Vegas)
vs. Air Force (#50) - Loss 52-50 (in Las Vegas)
at. Air Force (#50) - Loss 68-55 (at Colorado Springs)
at. Arizona (#14) - Loss 89-75 (at Tucson)
at. Nevada (#23) - Win! 58-49 (at Reno)
vs. Air Force (#30) - Loss 56-50 (at Colorado Springs)
vs. BYU (#18) - Win! 83-75 (in Las Vegas)
at. BYU (#18) - Loss 90-63 (in Provo)
vs. Air Force (#30) - Win! 60-50 (in Las Vegas)
vs. BYU (#18) - Win!78-70 (in Las Vegas)
vs. Wisconsin (#4) - Win! 74-68 (Neutral - NCAA)
vs. Oregon (#21) - Loss 76-72 (Neutral - NCAA)
vs. Louisville (#13) - Loss 68-48 (in Las Vegas)
vs. Arizona (#38) - Loss 52-49 (in Las Vegas)
vs. BYU (#25) - Win! 70-41 (in Las Vegas)
at. BYU (#25) - Loss 74-48 (at Provo)
vs. BYU (#25) - Win! 76-61 (in Las Vegas)
vs. Kent State (#22) - Win! 71-58 (Neutral - NCAA)
vs. Kansas (#5) - Loss 75-56 (Neutral - NCAA)

Total Record vs. Top 50 = 8-18

That is a 30% win percentage vs. the Top 50 teams.

The record speaks for itself.

Why are the Regents approving contract extensions and pay raises for someone who has not earned them? A 30% win percentage vs. the Top 50 teams in the country? Unacceptable. Or is it?
By Sufferin_Succotash

7/31/08 at 6:40 a.m.

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Lon Kruger's record vs. the RPI Top 100 on the road:

Dec. 04, 2004 - at #32 Nevada (Loss)
Dec. 18, 2004 - at #41 Texas (Loss)
Jan. 10, 2005 - at #24 Utah (Loss)
Jan. 29, 2005 - at #67 New Mexico (Loss)
Nov. 30, 2005 - at #89 Oklahoma State (Loss)
Dec. 06, 2005 - at #100 Hawaii (Loss)
Dec. 10, 2005 - at #83 Minnesota (Loss)
Jan. 14, 2006 - at #55 San Diego State (Loss)
Feb. 11, 2006 - at #67 Brigham Young (Loss)
Feb. 25, 2006 - at #50 Air Force (Loss)
Nov. 28, 2006 - at #14 Arizona (Loss)
Dec. 05, 2006 - at #98 Hawaii (Win!)
Dec. 09, 2006 - at #23 Nevada (Win!)
Dec. 28, 2006 - at #53 Texas Tech (Win!)
Dec. 30, 2006 - at #83 Houston (Win!)
Jan. 06, 2007 - at #30 Air Force (Loss)
Feb. 03, 2007 - at #18 Brigham Young (Loss)
Feb. 13, 2007 - at #66 San Diego State (Loss)
Nov. 17, 2007 - at #94 San Diego (Win!)
Nov. 27, 2007 - at #89 UC Santa Barbara (Loss)
Jan. 26, 2008 - at #81 San Diego State (Win!)
Feb. 06, 2008 - at #96 Utah (Loss)
Feb. 16, 2008 - at #25 Brigham Young (Loss)
Mar. 04, 2008 - at #59 New Mexico (Loss)

Kruger's Road Record vs. Top 100 = 6-18

SIX AND EIGHTEEN! That is a 25% win percentage on the road vs. the Top 100.

Does that look like someone who should be getting a contract extension and a raise?

I guess it is easy to fool the Regents. Beating up on weakling teams and padding your record makes you millions that you HAVE NOT EARNED.

Sufferin' Succotash
By BringtheRain

7/31/08 at 7:56 a.m.

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The troll has emerged...
By true_rebel_fan

7/31/08 at 8:24 a.m.

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obviously, sufferin succotash is not a fan. you can voice your opinion by not coming to the games. that way, a true fan will have the opportunity.

it sounds like sufferin succotash went to byu, kent state, or some other school we beat. apparently, you're still sufferin. it's going to be OK, it's just a game. the next season is right around the corner.

coach kruger is great for our university and our community, we need to keep him here. he should be compensated appropriately.
By UNLVisBACK

7/31/08 at 8:36 a.m.

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Sufferin' Succotash,

For Krugers first two years I thought that we had made a huge mistake with this guy...I was so frustrated and I was hoping that we could get Thuggins to replace Kruger. I, much like many vegas natives, had unreasonable expectations that were created by Tarks great work. However, we just didn't have the people to execute Kruger's system and it wasn't until I watched his son run the offense that I realized....Lon can coach. And according to this article, the players are actually college students. If you follow recruiting at all you probably have noticed that he is recruiting way better players then previous coachs...excluding Tark. So why don't you give Kruger a break and see what he can do with talented guys? Money doesn't matter....look at what Rollie was getting. Besides, the program is stabilized again and that in itself is reason to be excited.
By FastCamron

7/31/08 at 9:25 a.m.

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You're such a moron Sufferin'! Getting to the tournament and winning games is what endears fans to a program and Kruger has done that here and everywhere else he's gone. Not to mention he has brought back some of the feeling of the glory days by bringing back a lot of the alumni that helped build UNLV's name. UNLV was left for dead when Kruger got here. It takes time to get back to prominence.

Did you really think that he was going to win a National Title his first 3 or 4 years with players he didn't recruit, a crappy marketing dept., 35% support from fans, little financial contribution from boosters and last but not least, Idiotic doubters like you pushing him down at every opportunity whether it be good or bad.

Despite the state and the UNLV athletic dept.'s ineptitude, not to mention clueless critics like you, he will get us to the final four sooner or later but most likely sooner. Don't you study fool? Look at the recruiting web sites! He's recruiting and getting interest from some of the best kids in the nation. They're not all Brandon Jennings but like I said, it takes time to rise from the dead.
By BringtheRain

7/31/08 at 9:38 a.m.

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Succotash isn't a hater, he's just lost in the early 90s. He thinks Tark is coming back through that door — and if he isn't, Bob Huggins ought to be.
By rebel22

7/31/08 at 10 a.m.

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I agree that we need to retain Kruger at almost any cost. But we shouldn't be paying him money that could be going to the whole athletic department. Especially since our pathetic football team is still around. I don't really think one website constitutes as a marketing campaign. Kruger's a great coach, but they could be doing so much more on the marketing front.
By Sufferin_Succotash

7/31/08 at 10:12 a.m.

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I want UNLV to win as much as any of you, more probably. But I am not going to be tricked by some shyster who has yet to prove a damn thing.

One of you suggested that I shouldn't come to games. I suggest that UNLV and their fans should be working harder to get more people to come to the games instead of asking them to stay away. Attendance has been miserable under Lon Kruger because the community has not bought into what this con-artist is selling.

I know that many of you are true fans and you want to believe the program is back. You are so thick headed that you refuse to look at the facts and instead allow yourselves to be manipulated by a man who cares NOTHING about UNLV Basketball. Kruger is out for KRUGER! Always has been and always will be. He will steal whatever he can from this community and when he can't get anymore, he will be gone!

Image is everything. Kruger learned to play the game a long time ago. He is a professional who understands how to easily manipulate your small minds. He isn't going to buy me off with any pizza and I damn sure won't even try to choke it down. You claim that Kruger is great for our community and our university? It is called being a professional, that is all that he is doing. Nothing extraordinary. He is doing what he is paid to do. He makes a million dollars and you guys get all excited because he shows up for a few charity auctions and claims to buy pizza for the students? It is called self promotion and you won't find many people who are better at it than LON KRUGER. This guy isn't going in his own pocket, if you honestly believe that you are bigger fools than I already think you are.

Where is the talent I ask you? It is coming right? Sure it is.

This is Kruger's 5th year on the job and he hasn't had even ONE PLAYER drafted in the NBA draft. These are facts I am giving you, sorry if they hurt your feelings. No players have been drafted under Lon Kruger.

Bill Bayno coached UNLV for Five years and had THREE LOTTERY PICKS! We are talking about a worthless bum in Bill Bayno and he was still able to out recruit your so called savior Lon Kruger! Kruger can't recruit. I know, I know it takes time right? I should be patient right? The good players are right around the corner right? Sure they are. Just like Bill Bayno is going to magically learn to coach in a few years when some old fart named Max Good teaches him. I am still waiting.
By Sufferin_Succotash

7/31/08 at 10:12 a.m.

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Lon Kruger's players are actually college students? Go take a look at Basketball coaching skills and advanced Basketball coaching skills classes offered at UNLV and see how many of these kids are sleeping their way through being "actual college students". Let me know how many of these "actual college students" are enrolled in University Studies which thankfully will finally be REMOVED FROM UNLV in the near future. They may show to class but they are far from "actual college students". Recreation is not a real degree at any reputable University. Half the team can't be enrolled in Communications when we all know that half of them have trouble COMMUNICATING along with the pimp assistant coach and his fancy clothes.

I follow recruiting. Show me, don't tell me.

Kruger has won in the NCAA Tournament. I will give him that. Nothing makes me happier than getting wins in the big dance. But those three wins have some of you jaded. You have allowed Lon Kruger to play you for fools.

Who has he beaten? What is his road record? What is his record vs. the Top 50 RPI teams? What legit National program has he beaten?

Sure, he loads up on patsies to pad his record but don't let yourself be deceived. The product on the court is NOT Runnin' Rebel Basketball. 40 something points in the Thomas & Mack vs. a lousy Arizona squad is NOT Runnin' Rebel Basketball my rebel friends. Those three NCAA wins have you all giddy. I hope the NCAA wins keep coming and the true Lon Kruger doesn't appear.

Final Four? I would be doing cartwheels up and down Maryland Parkway just like I was the last time we got there. But I am not holding my breath waiting. Not with Lon Kruger as the coach. Three lucky wins and you don't fool this Rebel Fan! Show me, don't tell me.

The results on the road and vs. the Top 50 tell the true story. I hope Kruger proves me wrong but I know that he won't. I am right about him and in the end you will all see that.
By vegasmind

7/31/08 at 10:21 a.m.

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wow, I love the naysayers. Be positive already. There isn't a whole lot to cheer about in Rebels Men's sports.
By newyorkrebel

7/31/08 at 11:03 a.m.

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Let's correct the record a bit ...

Over the last two seasons against RPI top 50 using Rebel Robert's numbers ...

16 games overall 8-8 .500
4 games neutral site 2-2 .500
5 games on the road 1-4 .250
7 games at home 5-2 .720

So, in his last and best two seasons at UNLV, Lon Kruger has produced a .500 record against the top 50 RPI, doing better at home and neutral sites than he does on the road.

Obviously, the deal described by Kantowkski is based on the future potential of the program, not the past four season, or even the last two seasons.

Given the upward direction of the program under Lon the last two years, the team he has coming in this season, and the players he's recruited for 2009, Rebel fans have good reason to expect a bright future.
By johnvegas

7/31/08 at 11:09 a.m.

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Sufferin_Succotash has been a online Rebel hater for years. Robert you can change your online name, but your brand of propaganda is easily spotted. Why can't you be happy with the success we have seen recently? Doesn't it suck always throwing all your hate around?
By Sufferin_Succotash

7/31/08 at 11:21 a.m.

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Ok New York. You just want to look at the last two years?

Well, in the last two years UNLV has played six games against what most people would consider National Programs and here are the results:

LOSS - at. Arizona (89-75)
WIN - vs. Wisconsin (74-68) (Neutral-NCAA)
LOSS - vs. Oregon (76-72) (Neutral-NCAA)
LOSS - vs. Louisville (68-48) (T&M)
LOSS - vs. Arizona (52-49) (T&M)
LOSS - vs. Kansas (75-56) (Neutral-NCAA)

So in the last two years Kruger is 1-5 vs. National programs. I prefer to look at the mans entire history of work at UNLV instead of pick and choose sections of games but we can do it however you would like.

In the last two years Kruger has played ONE Road game vs. what most would consider a National opponent. The schedule is full of creampuff city and if you look at those Top 50 RPI wins that Kruger has gotten in the last two years you will see that he has beaten up on mostly weak MWC teams at home.

If this somehow leads you to believe that UNLV Is on our way back to National prominance, more power to you! I disagree.

Kruger has shown no signs of getting UNLV Basketball back on the National map. UNLV has been humiliated when we have played National opponents especially against Louisville in our own building when they stomped us by 20+ LAST YEAR.

I would like to believe that the program is in an upward direction but nothing leads us to believe this is true.

When Kruger beats someone legit, let me know. When he does it on the road, REALLY LET ME KNOW.

I don't expect to hear from you anytime soon.
By newyorkrebel

7/31/08 at 11:28 a.m.

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By any measure, this is a good deal for Lon Kruger, and power to him, if he delivers the seasons we expect him to the next four or five years, he deserves it.

But it's difficult to evaluate whether it's really a good deal for UNLV without knowing the number for the base revenue projection for ticket sales (i.e., the amount season tickets sales must exceed before Lon's revenue sharing incentive kicks in)??

Also, the numbers Kantowski kicks around don't necessarily make sense? Lon's incentives are based on an increase in revenue generated from season ticket sales, but Ron seems to be using numbers based on ticket sales for individual games, not season ticket sales?

So, how many tickets exactly does Lon need to help UNLV sell before his incentives kick in?

Does he need to help sell 610 SEASON tickets to season ticket holders, or 11,590 additional individual game tickets for the year (610 * 19 home games) to get his incentive payment?

Hopefully, this is crystal clear in Lon's contract, and Kantowski screwed up the math in his story, and not the other way around!!
By newyorkrebel

7/31/08 at 11:39 a.m.

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Dude, your arguments here don't make any more sense than they did back in your Rebelnet days.

If your point is that UNLV is NOT yet back at the level it was in 1991 when it could go into #2 Arkansas's home court and dominate them, then yes, you have correctly stated the obvious, and most of us already knew that.

The question isn't is UNLV at that level TODAY? The question is whether UNLV is headed in that direction?

You say it's not because of 5 losses to very good teams. Fine. That's your opinion.

The rest of us see 57 wins in two seasons with less than NBA level talent, back to back wins over Reno, back to back 2nd place finishes in the MWC regular season, back to back MWC tourney wins, 3 NCAA wins in two years, a talented roster coming back for the fall, and a pretty good recruiting class so for for 2009 and say you are wrong.

Kruger's teams the last two years remind me very much of Tark's teams in the early 1980's (83-86). Guess what? Those teams lost on the road to good teams, they lost to national programs like UNC and Georgetown. But Tark built on that success and eventually led the Rebels to the top of college basketball.

Some of us are HOPEFUL that Lon Kruger can do the same. Get it? :)
By Sufferin_Succotash

7/31/08 at 11:56 a.m.

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The 1983 team was ranked #1 in the country. What about these Lon Kruger teams reminds you of them if you don't mind me asking? Sidney Green was a Lottery pick, who on the Rebel roster reminded you of them?

The 1984 team started the season with a 23-1 record. What Lon Kruger team reminds you of them?

The 1985 team entered the NCAA Tournament with a 28-3 record. I would be interested in knowing which of Lon Kruger's teams has done that and reminded you of the old Tark teams?

The 1986 team started the season 24-2 and had wins over National programs like Maryland (twice), Villanova, Arizona, Stanford, UAB and Memphis. I have yet to see a Kruger program that came anywhere close to this type of success.

Tarks teams were FIXTURES in the Top 25 during this time. Let me know when Kruger makes it into the Top 25 for two weeks in a row during the REGULAR SEASON. UNLV was a National program from 1983-86 and was known and respected by everyone.

It is disrespectful to those Rebel teams to compare LOUSY LON KRUGER coached teams with them. These Lon Kruger teams would be blown off the floor by those programs from 1983-1986.

Kruger has built UNLV into a nice little MWC team. Nothing more. Maybe that is enough for you. It is not for me.
By Gordon

7/31/08 at 12:01 p.m.

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Here are UNLV's RPI ranking by year. Source: http://kenpom.com/rpi.php?y=2008

2004 - 80th
2005 - 93rd
2006 - 92nd
2007 - 10th
2008 - 24th

As I see it, 2007 was the first year of a team made entirely by Kruger (not recruits he inherited)and the RPI ranking shows 10th. I believe Kruger is on the right track, and with added community support the future looks great.
By Sufferin_Succotash

7/31/08 at 12:12 p.m.

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Yes Gordon, Kruger has figured out a scheduling philosophy that allows him to rate high in the RPI numbers. Kruger loads up on Mid-Level (100-200) RPI rated programs at home and competes well in the MWC vs. mid-level at best programs.

The proof is in the pudding. Do we want UNLV to be a National program or not? We pay Kruger like we want a National program but he has not produced those type of results.

Padding your record with wins over nobody's does not sell tickets. The attendance figures under Kruger are proof of this. You must beat REAL National programs in an exciting manner to sell tickets in Las Vegas. Fans don't care about you beating up on Texas Pan American or Northern Arizona. The Community will not support a group of lousy players who try hard but have ZERO TALENT.

In Las Vegas you must recruit STUDS. NBA guys. Not ones who may develop, ones who are already ready. Keon Clarks, Marions, Odoms, Marcus Banks! You need talent to excite people.

You have to play and beat teams that UNLV fans have heard of. National programs.

Kruger is great at manipulating the RPI numbers and tricking people with his scheduling. He is a professional at that. He is not a professional at RECRUITING. We need talent. He hasn't delivered that yet. Still waiting.
By true_rebel_fan

7/31/08 at 12:29 p.m.

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goodness gracious. this is sure entertaining....

it is unfair to compare today's rebels with yesterday's rebels. yes, a rebel is always a rebel. since tark left, a lot has changed in regards to the game, players, and every other aspect.

let's be thankful that coach kruger has the program moving in the right direction. we've all suffered through the bad years, and, now, we all have a reason to be excited again about rebel basketball.
By unlvrebelx

7/31/08 at 3:04 p.m.

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sufferin'succotash has the audacity to talk about the player's education??? This coming from a FOOL that dropped out of the military AND out of SDSU (yes UNLV fans, the guy didn't even go to UNLV), and was fired from his volunteer job with the athletic department at UNLV because they found out he was the psychotic internet troll, RebelRobert.

This guy is a piece of work. Ignore him to the nth degree. Obviously Kruger has passed the litmus test for all REALY UNLV fans!
By FastCamron

7/31/08 at 8:35 p.m.

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What's the matter Sufferin'? Cat got your tongue? You don't want to respond to the allegations made against you. That leads me to believe, and I have for a long time, that what RebelX just said is true and that you really are the loser that everyone has been describing for months now.

You have disuaded no one from the positivity of the program FOOL!
By Sufferin_Succotash

7/31/08 at 9:58 p.m.

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Not that I need to respond to unlvrebelx account of my life but I have nothing to hide, never have. If he feels it is ok to spread lies and half truths about me that is fine and it won't be the first time that other UNLV fans have felt the need to falsify information about my past.

I am in my 30's now. Have a good job that I enjoy with Clark County.

When I got out of High School I joined the Marine Corps and had a ton of fun in there until I was injured and received 30% disability and retired with an honorable discharge. I was living in Oceanside while in the Marines and I did attend classes at San Diego State University and at Cal State San Marcos. Not unlike many other Marines in San Diego.

I absolutely did attend UNLV despite what x likes to claim. I was taking classes working towards my Masters Degree in Sports Administration at UNLV when I was asked if I would be interested in doing some part time work for the UNLV Athletic Department. They asked me, I didn't ask them. I think they paid me some small amount of money but I didn't care about the cash because I just loved being around UNLV Athletics and would have done it for free anyways. I also worked for the Las Vegas 51's baseball team and for the Las Vegas Wranglers Hockey team. I enjoy being around athletics and I am good at it. Like I said, UNLV asked me to help them... not the other way around.

I did a great job while working for UNLV. I am a professional and while in the Athletic Department I was nothing but professional. I gave UNLV 100% every time I was there and I know that is more than most of those people in the Athletic Department can say.

It was fun and I had a great time doing it. I don't regret one minute of it. It was a dream come true for me to just be around UNLV. Like I said, I would do it for free because I enjoyed it so much. One of the best experiences of my life.

rebelx can say whatever he wants. I know the truth and I am not ashamed of that experience at all. I love UNLV whether the rest of you believe it or not. I can't stand the the mediocrity, laziness or the people that just don't care. Sometimes I go overboard in what I say on the internet. Oh well, that is my personality and I am not going to change. I am passionate and I hope I always stay that way.
By Lenny_V

8/1/08 at 4:04 a.m.

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I'm not knocking Coach, I think he's doing a great job. Certainly better than the rebel coaches between Tark and now. But the incentives do seem excessive when he is already well paid. Is it just for the upcoming year or does it continue into successive seasons?
By Lenny_V

8/1/08 at 4:10 a.m.

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By the way, Sufferin_Succotash is factually correct about our poor performance against top programs.

However, the rebel program is definitely on the up-swing, recruiting quality included, the big wins against big programs will surely follow. Have some patience S_S, raising the dead takes time.