Bobby Hauck: Changing a Culture of Losing

Maybe it is the fact that they have had only three total bowl wins or that this is a basketball town, but UNLV football has meant very little to me in life. I was born and raised in Las Vegas but have rarely attended Rebel football games despite my love for UNLV basketball and college football in general. Have I always hoped that they would be good so that they could give me something to root for? Yes, but it has never happened. I would follow the team from afar only to be disappointed.

Something has changed, and I have optimism. Bobby Hauck has already achieved something that his two predecessors could not: made me care about college football in Las Vegas. Here are a few reasons that I think Coach Hauck can bring this program out of obscurity:

Head Coaching Experience: Mike Sanford lacked head coaching experience, and it often showed. His clock management was bad, and his teams lacked discipline. Sanford's teams would win games that they shouldn't, only to lose ones that they should have won. Hauck has been a head coach at a winning program (albeit at a lower level). 

Motivation to succeed: Unlike John Robinson, Hauck is a younger man with hope to build his legacy. This job may just be a stepping stone to another position for him, but if he can bring any sort of legitimacy to the program, it will be considered a win-win. 

Charisma: Bobby Hauck has an energy about his that is infectious. In the few interviews I have heard, he is confident and truthful. He is not overly optimistic about the program, but you can tell that he believes that he is going to succeed. Whereas Sanford came in promising wins, Hauck has come in assuring hard work. He understand that if you build a smart, disciplined, and hard working team, the wins will follow. 

Recruiting: In a short recruiting season, Coach Hauck has already accomplished something that Sanford could not. He has got local talent to UNLV. He got eight commits from the Las Vegas area, including two from high school powerhouse Bishop Gorman. There were only 20 total Las Vegas kids on the roster and only two players from Gorman on the roster that was left to him. Getting local talent helps build a fanbase, and you want a pipeline in the city. Also, having guys from Bishop Gorman on the team sets you up to get their more talented friends to transfer back should things not work out at bigger schools. 

The new coach has already been more successful in recruiting size than the previous regime. His first recruiting class contained five players who are 6'5" or taller, compared to the six total who are on the current roster. Two of those recruits are tight ends, signaling a change to a more balanced offensive attack. 

Bobby Hauck has all of the tools to succeed in Las Vegas, and we will see if he can get the job done. All I can say for now is that there is more excitement in the community and the media about UNLV football that I have seen in years. Maybe this team will disappoint as in years past, but I don't think so. Coach Hauck has a great opportunity to earn a place in the hearts of natives of Las Vegas and alumni of UNLV.