Rebels’ success depends on current roster, not recruits

Mike Sanford on Wednesday opposed my viewpoint that UNLV’s immediate chance of having a respectable football team depends solely on those players already in the program.

OK, let’s be more specific — it depends on 98.5 percent of them.

National signing day is like Christmas in February for Division I-A teams, when Southern California, Florida International and all in between proclaim to have received lavish gifts of speed and strength and skill, that they dramatically improved their futures overnight. It’s a day to dream and declare success before reality returns for all but those annual powers.

Sanford spoke about his fourth recruiting class, which includes one junior college transfer and 12 offensive players. He insists there are high school gems within the list of 22 good enough to compete for playing time next season and his program will be better simply for the depth formed by an influx of numbers.

He’s correct, if those signed can play. He showed a highlight clip of eight new Rebels, and a few linebackers appeared quite talented, although that might have had something to do with nobody blocking them.

But nothing develops a program quicker than a more profound level of competition for playing time, and Sanford is assured he has created it with this class.

Still, if the Rebels are going to win more than two games in a season for the first time since he arrived, they will do so primarily because current players have become bigger and faster and better, and not so enamored with being flagged for stupid penalties.

If they’re going to be any good at all, offensive players such as Omar Clayton, Ryan Wolfe, Casey Flair and Frank Summers — and those blocking for them — must execute at a higher rate, and all key returning defensive players (few as they are) must discover a way to stop anyone.

Those signed Wednesday might include a few who can contribute, but woe is any college football program that relies heavily on several true freshmen making a noticeable difference.

"Honestly, I don’t agree with that," said Sanford. "I totally disagree with that. This freshmen class is going to have a lot to do with how good a team we can be. … The guys who are here have a sense of urgency about them and realize they must get better and that no one’s job is safe.

"Everyone looks at starters, but it is (second- and third-string) players that make a program. These new guys will come in and make it harder on the starters and force them to become better players. Everyone talks about USC. What makes USC so good is competition.

"None of these guys are going to come right in and start, but they could. We haven’t promised it to anybody. Basically, what they have is an opportunity."

It makes you wonder how many signed with the confidence Sanford will be the one affording them such a chance over their time at UNLV.

Sanford said 5 percent to 10 percent of this class inquired about his future as head coach, which causes me to doubt his short-term memory or question the intelligence of those signed. He is 6-29 in three seasons. It might not be the first question a parent or recruit would ask, but how can’t it be on the short list after seasons of 2-9, 2-10 and 2-10?

Those welcomed into the UNLV family Wednesday might love everything about Sanford and his assistants and believe they are the finest group of coaches in the country, and that’s fine. But you’re telling me fewer than five players even broached the subject of this staff’s future?

Sanford said he believed having athletic director Mike Hamrick annually address recruits and their families about his commitment to the program and coaching staff was again a positive, but realize this: What else would an AD be but overly positive in such a situation? And if Hamrick did indeed cover questions about any coach’s status, at least we know he talks about it to someone.

"People are looking at where they are most comfortable and where they feel good about the other players and coaches," said Sanford. "My (job status) was a very small part of the process for a very few, very few.

"To me, it’s about this season and our football team. It’s not about me. I feel great about this class. I feel we’ve recruited well. I feel we’re moving in a very positive direction. We’re on a journey and in the process of turning this football program around, and we feel like this is one more step in the process."

Ed Graney’s column is published Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. He can be reached at 383-4618 or egraney@reviewjournal.com.