UNLV Football

Franchione emerges as potential early candidate for UNLV football post

Successful history at MWC programs could carry weight for Dennis Franchione

Thursday, November 19, 2009

By Ryan Greene

With the job listing still fresh on the market, UNLV interim athletic director Jerry Koloskie has been inundated with calls and e-mails from those interested in his football coaching vacancy. A source close to the situation confirmed to The Sun that one prominent figure to throw his hat into the ring early is Dennis Franchione, who most recently coached at Texas A&M.

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Two paths to improvement for UNLV's football team

RON KANTOWSKI : One way, but maybe not the only way, is to spend millions more

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

By Ron Kantowski

The hills are alive with the sound of ... well, that isn’t exactly music now, is it? It’s the cacophony of UNLV football fans suggesting cures for what has ailed the program since the advent of the face mask and two platoons.

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Players graduating, returning discuss coaching turnover

UNLV FOOTBALL: QB Omar Clayton says it's a waiting game for most returners as coaching search ensues

Monday, November 16, 2009

By Ryan Greene

Whenever a college football program undergoes a coaching change, naturally, fallout ensues. Usually, it's in the form of players transferring out of the program. UNLV's decision to fire fifth-year coach Mike Sanford came as the 4-7 team heads into the bye week, and then plays its season finale on Nov. 28 at home against San Diego State. For the time being, until both the season is finished and a new coach is named, the UNLV players who are set to return next season are in a holding pattern of sorts.

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Sanford places blame elsewhere for UNLV's shortcomings

UNLV FOOTBALL: Fired head coach says more commitment is needed from administration, community

Monday, November 16, 2009

By Ryan Greene

A day after his firing as the head football coach at UNLV, Mike Sanford sat in front of more microphones and recorders than he had seen at almost any point in his five-year tenure. He used that rare forum to proclaim that, in his mind, the program's failure to get off the ground had nothing to do with who the head coach was.

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Sanford firing sets interim AD apart in UNLV search

analysis: Koloskie's bold move puts him in the lead for permanent spot

Monday, November 16, 2009

By Rob Miech

Early Friday morning, Dr. Neal Smatresk sat in a black leather chair in his seventh-floor office and knotted a scarlet tie around the collar of a light blue-striped dress shirt. UNLV’s new president spoke wistfully about a football victory the following day at Air Force, the Rebels beating San Diego State, and Ryan Wolfe and Omar Clayton playing in a well-deserved bowl game. “ … we could finish 7-6,” Smatresk said.

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Sanford won't return as UNLV coach in 2010

Following fifth consecutive losing season, Rebels football program to head in a new direction

Sunday, November 15, 2009

By Ryan Greene

The Mike Sanford era at UNLV will officially be over once the Rebels complete another disappointing season with their finale at Sam Boyd Stadium on Nov. 28 against San Diego State. Sources close to the situation confirmed the news to The Sun on Sunday night in the wake of the Rebels' 45-17 loss on Saturday evening to Air Force. The defeat dropped UNLV to 4-7.

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UNLV's 45-17 loss to Air Force marked by mistakes, blown opportunities

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Saturday, November 14, 2009

By Case Keefer

UNLV’s 45-17 defeat by Air Force on Saturday will be a game coach Mike Sanford and his players think about for a long time. The loss dropped the Rebels’ record to 4-7 and took them out of bowl contention. It was a game full of missed opportunities and untimely mistakes.

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UNLV dominated by Air Force in 45-17 loss

LIVE GAME BLOG:

Saturday, November 14, 2009

By Case Keefer

UNLV arrived in Colorado Springs to play Air Force with hopes of salvaging its season with a win and making a late chase at bowl eligibility. The Rebels left disappointed after enduring a lopsided 45-17 defeat to Air Force. Not much went UNLV’s way all day. Air Force jumped out to an early 14-0 lead and UNLV never got within two touchdowns from there.

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Take Five: Getting to know Air Force

UNLV FOOTBALL: Falcons are bowl eligible and tough yet again under Troy Calhoun

Saturday, November 14, 2009

By Ryan Greene

The Air Force football program is quickly turning into one of college football's best-kept secrets west of the Mississippi. With a 35-7 victory at home over Army last weekend, the Falcons improved to 6-4, now making them bowl eligible for the third time in three seasons under Troy Calhoun. Some thought the program had slipped a bit before then, as Fisher DeBerry's 23-year tenure concluded with a trio of losing seasons and four straight years without a trip to a bowl game. With Calhoun at the helm, the program is back on solid ground, as the Falcons simply win games.

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History shows Falcons can hurt Rebels both on ground and through air

UNLV FOOTBALL: While Air Force ran the ball well last year at UNLV, the pass game decided the outcome

Thursday, November 12, 2009

By Ryan Greene

Wherever Air Force's offense goes, it's reputation as a run-heavy machine follows. That was certainly the case last season, when the Falcons came into Sam Boyd Stadium and squeaked out a 29-28 victory over UNLV. But a look inside the numbers shows that it wasn't the run which really killed the Rebels in the long run.

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A name for those who want to see Sanford gone

UNLV could do a lot worse than a 10-time national champion

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

By Ron Kantowski

Should Mike Sanford be fired as UNLV’s football coach, one name already has surfaced in conjunction with the potential opening.

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Mondays with Mike: UNLV's bowl hopes face toughest remaining challenge at Air Force

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

By Ryan Greene

The first time this season in which the UNLV football team went up against a true 3-4 defense, the outcome was unexpected. That was when the Rebels, then 2-1, fell on the road as favorites to Wyoming, 30-27, back on Sept. 26. UNLV never looked settled on offense, and it showed in the final numbers, as Mike Sanford's club turned the ball over four times.

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Rebels’ win raises a few what-ifs

Ron Kantowski: Imagine what would happen if UNLV were to win its last two scheduled games

Monday, November 9, 2009

By Ron Kantowski

As I sat in the Bono seats — the rickety bleachers at the summit of the stadium, which, with rare exception, get occupied only when U2 is in town and never, ever get occupied when the UNLV football team is in town — I had a thought that might be frightening to whatever devoted Rebel football fans remain.

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Rebels produce under pressure, thump Rams, 35-16

UNLV FOOTBALL: UNLV's slim bowl hopes stay alive for another week thanks to steady offense, big-play defense

Sunday, November 8, 2009

By Ryan Greene

Whether it was by noticing the smiles on their faces that displayed a sense of momentary relief or just by them flat-out saying it, Saturday night's win just felt a bit different than the previous three this season for the members of the UNLV football team. In soundly dispatching of Colorado State on Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium by a count of 35-16, the Rebels ended the Rams' hopes of bowl eligibility, and in turn kept theirs alive by improving to 4-6 with two games still to go.

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