UNLV video gets strong response
ond-year coach Tony Sanchez, who brought Belton on board when he was hired.
“The weight room wasn’t like that before coach Belton and coach Sanchez. They definitely brought that energy to the weight room,” said Boyd, a junior who was the only Rebels player named to the preseason all-conference team. “You can’t even step in the weight room if you’re not like that. If you’re not bringing energy, he’ll send us back out until everyone’s bringing energy.”
BOYD’S NEW ’DO — Boyd is easy to spot in the video. He’s the one with his hair pulled back tightly and tied behind the crown of his head into a tight ponytail, or “warrior tail,” as he calls it.
“You go on Netflix and watch those karate movies. It’ll be like a bald head, and the hair will be long (in the back),” he said. “I used to think that was so tight when I was small. My mama never let me do it, so now I’ve got the chance to do it.”
Sanchez didn’t notice Boyd’s warrior tail at first during a recent meeting with him.
“He walked in my office and I saw his hair. I said, ‘Oh, my God! You look great, high and tight.’ Then he turned around, and he’s got this little rat tail,” said Sanchez, laughing. “If he plays better with it, I’m all for it, man. I’ll grow one out myself.”
SANCHEZ IN EXCLUSIVE CLUB — Sanchez, who is of Puerto Rican descent, said he was asked about his heritage the other day, and it brought to mind a recent conversation with Arizona football coach Rich Rodriguez.
“It was funny. I saw him, and he said, ‘You know what, I’ve been president of the minority coaches association. You’re my first member,” Sanchez said. “We joke around about it, but I get letters people send me and they feel a little bit empowered. It’s cool.
“I’ve never worried about it, and it’s never really been my soapbox. At the same time, you’re two things: You’re a high school coach that made the jump, and you’re a minority coach that did it. It’s kind of cool.”
According to a recent Review-Journal analysis, Sanchez is actually the only Latino head football coach at the Football Bowl Subdivision level. Rodriguez and Virginia Tech’s Justin Feunte are of Spanish heritage and don’t identify as Latinos. Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal. com or 702-383-0354. Follow him on Twitter: @tdewey33