UNLV Football fans hoping for a turnaround in 2019 all but saw their bowl game hopes take a kill shot this past weekend after the Rebels fell on the road to Fresno State, 56-27. The loss marked the fifth time in the team's six games the defense allowed 30 or more points, dropping UNLV to a 2-5 record with five games remaining in the season.
Winless the Mountain West Conference at 0-3, the Rebels would need to win four of the final five just to finish .500 in a season that was bowl or bust for the coaching staff. Needless to say, UNLV fans are taking the loss hard, especially considering Fresno State was just 2-3.
Much like the Northwestern game a few weeks ago, the Rebels led 10-7 early in the second quarter before turnovers sank UNLV. Freshman quarterback Kenyon Oblad, who looked sharp early, struggled down the stretch — turning the football over three times — while both Rebel running backs fumbled once apiece.
Head coach Tony Sanchez, whose future most likely is tied to the Rebels' bowl hopes, wasn't happy.
When you turn the ball over five times, you’re not going to win the football game,” Sanchez said. “There’s not many 29-point losses that I’ve ever been a part of where when you watch the film, you’re going to be sick to your stomach because it’s a game you could have won. It’s unbelievable. It’s unacceptable to have that many turnovers.”
With a new $2 billion home stadium next year, the pressure to win this season for the coaching staff was intense. Athletic director Denise Reed-Francois,
while still giving Sanchez her vote of confidence a few weeks ago, has been clear she expected a bowl game this season.
“We are looking forward to a successful 2019 football season, including bowl eligibility," she said in a statement when elaborating on Sanchez's job status prior to the season.
Most read into the statement as an ultimatum. Some fans weren't silent about their displeasure on social media.
https://twitter.com/fireunlvsanchez/status/1185964758207320064
https://twitter.com/BiloRatedSports/status/1185632748850970624
https://twitter.com/UNLVSUPERFAN1/status/1186079413122715648
https://twitter.com/Loralei99/status/1185641219046592512
While Reed-Francois has shown patience to allow a coach to complete their season, she isn't afraid to wield the ax when necessary. She already did it once this year, canning former UNLV basketball coach Marvin Menzies after just three seasons.
This is Sanchez's fifth season, and he's yet to eclipse the 5-win mark. Stay tuned as this plays out but the sun may very well be officially setting on the Sanchez Era at UNLV.
