LETTERS: Hauck’s lack of success not surprising

To the editor:

Shortly after Bobby Hauck was hired as UNLV football coach, I happened to be in Missoula, Mont., on vacation. It was homecoming Friday night for the University of Montana, and the bars were full. When I indicated to some locals that I was a UNLV fan, the folks from Montana got excited and wanted to know what I thought about Coach Hauck’s chances, gauging from his great success at Montana.

I paused and then told them that, unfortunately, I believed Coach Hauck would fail at UNLV and would resurface in six or seven years as a successful assistant at a college or pro program. This wasn’t prophecy, it was just fact. UNLV is a graveyard for young, ambitious, energetic coaches; they are doomed from the start. I’m still a devoted Rebels fan, as I have been since the 1960s. But I have watched the teams and the coaches flounder year after year, with few exceptions.

UNLV football is unique in that each attempt to perform creates records for career or game offensive yardage – for the other team. I remember one game against UNR when Colin Kaepernick was there; he and two other running backs each gained 200 yards rushing. Failure seems to breed failure.

You can’t recruit with the records and ratings UNLV has. We rank as one of the bottom 10 teams in the country in most categories. I don’t know Coach Hauck. He looks good on the sidelines, and he seems like a nice guy. I just wish he’d had enough sense to stay in Montana. If not for a missed 27-yard field goal by lowly Northern Colorado, UNLV would still be looking for a win this season

Good luck, Coach Hauck. Things will get better when you leave here.

JIM HUNTER

LAS VEGAS

Barron’s blunder

To the editor:

It is troubling to me that North Las Vegas City Councilman Isaac Barron was represented on a civil matter by a city-funded spokesperson (“Spokesman handles fallout,” Thursday Review-Journal). While campaigning, Mr. Barron spoke on and on about himself, often interrupting audience members addressing him or sidestepping questions of importance. Once in office, he did not acknowledge emails, at least not mine.

Now, he doesn’t speak for himself in the matter of a rental property he owns, with the renters hoarding nearly 100 dogs. The house caught fire, and 41 dogs died. This is not county business, but a private, civil matter. When Mr. Barron says, “I got my money’s worth” by having the city’s communications director, Mitch Fox, speak for him on the matter, what money does he mean? If it is because Mr. Barron pays taxes, does that then mean Mr. Fox will be a spokesperson for all taxpayers?

The residents in my homeowners association and the property management company cannot get the city’s code enforcement to tag unlicensed, unmoved vehicles in our community. Will Mr. Fox represent us in this matter?

I have lived in North Las Vegas for eight years. I have seen a positive turnaround in the city’s future under Mayor John Lee, and I hope to see it continue. Glitches like that of Mr. Barron’s words and actions are not needed in a city trying to enhance its image.

ADA MCARTHUR

NORTH LAS VEGAS

Billionaires and med school

To the editor:

Reading about the proposed UNLV medical school, we see that money will be the primary barrier (“UNLV starts process for accrediting medical school,” Sept. 30 Review-Journal). In the same edition of the newspaper, in the Business section, we see the stratospheric status of our town’s billionaires (“In the money”). Wouldn’t it be nice to see those billionaires take the lead in raising the necessary funds for a medical school, instead of trying to buy elections?

KEVIN WILCOXON

LAS VEGAS

Local billionaires

To the editor:

I anticipated that Howard Stutz’s story on local billionaires would offer a history on how these individuals became so wealthy (“In the money,” Sept. 30 Review-Journal). I was disappointed. Many fantastically wealthy individuals came from less affluent environments. For those who believe money grows on trees, it would be educational for them to know the difficulties and obstacles overcome by some of these billionaires.

FRANK B. ARMENTA SR.

LAS VEGAS