There may be no better town that embodies the fun and energy closely associated to the ideal college adventure than Las Vegas. The problem is the university and college football have nothing to with that experience. UNLV ranks 86 on our Top 100 College Football Towns in America countdown.
To celebrate 100 days until the start of the college football season, HERO Sports is counting down the Top 100 FBS College Football Towns in America. Each day, starting May 17 and ending Aug. 24, a new city will be revealed. We will analyze the city, the program, the good and bad of the city as well as the bottom line. If you got a problem, @me on Twitter.
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86. Las Vegas, Nevada – UNLV
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UNLV Alumni Association[/credit]
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The Program
UNLV leaped into the record books in 2017 but not for any association one would choose. The Runnin' Rebels were on the wrong side of the biggest point-spread upset in college football history. In week one of the college football season, UNLV paid Howard $600,000 to catch some Ls.
That particular event is a microcosm of a program that has been generally bad for its 40-year FBS existence. UNLV's record since joining the highest tier of football is 236-284-4. The Rebels have won two one conference title (one was vacated) and been to three bowl games.
UNLV hopes to alter its future by hiring from the high school ranks. Tony Sanchez enters his fourth year in college after compiling an 85-5 record in six years at Bishop Gorman high school in Las Vegas. Sanchez has improved the Rebels record every year, but has yet to post a winning season.
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The City
What can one say about Las Vegas that hasn't been professed already? It is basically Disneyland for adults or a Circus Circus for both kids and adults. The City That Never Sleeps has literally everything imaginable for every walk of life, except maybe hospitable weather in the summer.
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The Good
As long as you are not a person with addictive vices, Las Vegas is a playground where the lights never shut off to signal its time to go home. If the wild debauchery that makes Vegas infamous turns you off, you can head to numerous places off The Strip to relax and unwind with five-star resorts littering the city's sprawling landscape. Great food, entertainment and history await you and are yours at, literally, a touch of a button.
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The Bad
If you play in Vegas, do people still go to the games? Some look at low attendance in various parts of the world and attribute it to other activities that may steal prospective viewers. In Vegas, how do you compete with that? Two winning seasons this century is definitely not the way.
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Bottom Line
The famous saying is "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Unfortunately, historically Vegas college football "stay" losing. Having said that, there is optimism Sanchez can attribute UNLV football to another famous saying, "Vegas always wins."
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NEXT: Top 100 College Football Towns: No. 87 – San Antonio, Texas
