UNLV to pursue loan for Fertitta Football Complex
Regents must OK school’s request
UNLV will ask the Nevada Board of Regents to approve a plan to pursue a bank loan of up to almost $16 million for construction of the Fertitta Football Complex.
The regents meet Thursday and Friday in Elko.
According to a document provided to the regents, UNLV will pursue up to a $15.95 million loan that would be repaid over five years by donations from supporters, with the university responsible for the balance. The loan would bridge the gap between money raised — $6.4 million as of July 31 — and the $22.25 million need for groundbreaking.
The entire project, according to the document, is expected to cost $28.5 million. UNLV has received $18.25 million in pledges for the two-story, 73,000-square-foot facility.
Rebels athletic director Desiree Reed-francois will comment after the request is made, a university spokesman said. Regents chairman Kevin Page did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
To-do list
When UNLV coach Tony Sanchez looked at his team’s self-inflicted wounds in Saturday’s 43-40 loss to Howard, he found 25 cases.
Everything from false starts to fumbles. UNLV lost three fumbles — the same number as all of last season.
“They were all mental mistakes we made that really, really hurt us,” Sanchez said. “When all those things add up and you look at all the missed opportunities, it’s one of those things where you have to really self-reflect and say, ‘What was it that got in our way?’ So unfocused at times in the game.”
Now it’s a matter of cleaning up those errors in time for Saturday’s 4 p.m. game at Idaho. ESPN3 will stream the game.
“Those are all things that can be fixed,” Sanchez said.
On the run
Idaho coach Paul Petrino said he was particularly concerned about the Rebels’ running game after
UNLV gained 344 yards against Howard.
Lexington Thomas, who rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns, will start in place of Charles Williams, who is doubtful with an ankle injury. Quarterback Armani Rogers provides the Rebels with a dual threat, as he rushed for 82 yards.
“They’ve got a lot of talent on offense,” Petrino said. “They’ve got a lot of weapons, big-play guys. I think as you watched the game, probably what jumped out at you the most was how well they ran the football.”
But the Rebels had trouble stopping Howard quarterback Caylin Newton, who rushed for 190 yards and two touchdowns.
“(UNLV was) lined up right,” Petrino said. “They were pretty basic on what they did defensively. I think they got caught by a really hot young quarterback who could make plays. They were there a lot. There were a couple of times one or two guys were there ready to make the play on him, so I don’t think it was anything schematically.
“Newton made a bunch of plays. He really played well and broke tackles and made people miss. When you’ve got somebody who’s that good of a player, it makes the guys around him better.”
Odds and ends
Wide receiver Devonte Boyd is one 100-yard game from breaking UNLV’S career record. He is tied with 12 with Ryan Wolfe, who played from 2006 to 2009. … Idaho offensive coordinator Kris Cinkovich, who is in his fifth season, coached UNLV’S wide receivers from 2004 to 2009. Before that, he was Las Vegas High’s coach for nine seasons. … Vandals quarterback Matt Linehan is the son of Scott Linehan, the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive coordinator. Scott Linehan also is the former St. Louis Rams’ coach and in 1991 was UNLV’S quarterbacks coach.
Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com. Follow @markanderson65 on
Twitter.