ED GRANEY: Sanford's ouster comes as no shock - Sports

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Nov. 16, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

ED GRANEY: Sanford's ouster comes as no shock

ED GRANEY
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UNLV Football

UNLV football coach Mike Sanford, shown prior to a 59-21 loss to Brigham Young on Oct. 10, will not return next season. Sanford was fired Sunday, effective Dec. 5, having led the Rebels to a five-year record of 15-43, including no winning seasons and no bowl bids.
Photo by The Associated Press

UNLV football coach Mike Sanford stands on the sideline during the fourth quarter of the Rebels' 35-15 home loss to Utah on Oct. 17.
Photo by John Locher

Mike Sanford was not a college football head coach.

There is nothing wrong with that. I'm not expecting a call from Hanes any time soon to stand as its next underwear model.

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We all have our strengths and weaknesses.

Sanford was an accomplished offensive coordinator at Utah and had favorable reviews as a position coach in the NFL. These are levels at which he can attain the most success in his profession. But for five seasons at UNLV, being the guy in charge didn't prove a beneficial formula for anyone.

It's official now. Five seasons. Five losing records. Zero bowl games.

Change has occurred.

Sanford will coach his final game for the Rebels on Nov. 28, following the school's announcement Sunday night that his contract will be terminated Dec. 5.

They had to say something now. Otherwise, every question directed at Sanford and the team these next two weeks would have pertained to the coach's lame-duck status. Time would have limped along like sitting through 13 consecutive showings of "War and Peace."

I wasn't here when Sanford was named head coach in late 2004, but from afar (or as far as San Diego can be considered), the move made more sense than not.

UNLV football is a tough job, tough to recruit to, tough to assemble a quality staff given the financial limitations on salaries, tough to win in a climate that just doesn't pay coaches on a Bowl Championship Series level.

(More on that in the coming days, because if UNLV can't somehow raise enough funds to hire a competent coach and staff this time around, I might as well table this column and run it again in five years with only the names changed. You either give yourself a chance to be good and find the money, or continue to stink and pay for below-average coaches. Choose one.)

In hiring Sanford, former athletic director Mike Hamrick plucked from an unbeaten team and original BCS buster the coordinator who directed an offense that ranked third nationally while averaging 43.3 points.

I never thought much of Hamrick as AD. The man had the people skills of a monk. But anyone who now says hiring Sanford was incorrect at the time doesn't understand the landscape of UNLV football or doesn't want to admit they, like most everyone, were wrong.

The hire was the correct one in 2004.

It just turned out terribly wrong, is all. It happens.

It has been a popular stance that UNLV's difficulty under Sanford proves then-Utah coach Urban Meyer had more to do with the Utes' offensive success than anyone. Perhaps. Only those who lived inside the walls of Utah's program know for sure.

None of that matters now, and neither do the bold and somewhat misguided proclamations Sanford made at his introductory news conference, the ones about immediately contending for league championships and bowl games and Top 25 rankings.

Too much was made of that, anyway. What was he supposed to say to a local college football fan base that can annually be described as lukewarm -- that he wasn't sure the Rebels could win, and that it might be four or five years before they could challenge for a bowl? Yeah, that would have sold season tickets by the bunches.

Sanford's biggest problems came on the field. He went through three defensive coordinators, and not because he hired such skilled and capable people that other programs stole them away. Hardly.

It is amazing how poor defensively UNLV remained under Sanford, no matter who was in charge of that side. His offense was productive for stretches and yet far too inconsistent over five years, especially this season, when you would have thought it would be at its best.

They never ran the ball well enough, never had a 1,000-yard rusher (and not because there was a stable of great backs sharing carries), and Sanford's switching of quarterbacks during games the last few seasons seemed more bizarre than sensible.

His offensive lines were nothing to brag about. The Rebels somehow lost track of the most productive wide receiver (Ryan Wolfe) is school history too much this year, and a sophomore wideout (Phillip Payne) who was dynamic as a freshman disappeared most weeks.

They never came close to tackling well under Sanford. They weren't physical enough. They were just so confused defensively most of the time, you sort of felt sorry for them being so out of position when trying to stop others. They didn't have a clue far too many nights.

Look. It comes to this: You can't successfully explain away an overall record of 15-43 and a Mountain West Conference mark of 7-32, with only one league road win in five years. It's impossible.

Sanford didn't recruit well enough, certainly didn't coach well enough and never had a good enough staff to overcome both truths.

I'll say it again. Mike Sanford is a really nice guy. A really good man. I wouldn't be surprised to see him as an assistant in college or the NFL next season.

But he is not a college football head coach. Never was.

I am also not expecting a call from Hanes.

It's life. It's nobody's fault.

We all have our weaknesses.

Nearly five years and five losing seasons later, change has occurred at the top of UNLV football.

It was time. It had to be done.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He also can be heard weeknights from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on "The Sports Scribes" on KDWN-AM (720) and www.kdwn.com.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. Green Dragon Regular wrote on November 17, 2009 09:54 AM: @The Donald- You had me right up until you said "...MWC." The MWC sends plenty of players on to Sunday and Monday programs. It also has proven, time and again, it competes with the SEC, ACC, Big East, Big Twelve, Big Ten, and PAC Ten. As for the rest, you, "Recruiter", and (cover your ears Rebel fans of blind faith) Mike Sanford have nailed what I've been saying for years. UNLV can't even compete with the other programs in the conference for players. It is dead last in perception among serious college athletes looking to an MWC school for a real campus and academic atmosphere, a community that supports the teams, good facilities, and a program that is respected around the NCAA. Simply not the case at UNLV. The MWC commissioner has even hinted at a possible trade to the WAC for Boise State. Which school could he possibly have in mind? Hmm... Mr.Spock wrote on November 16, 2009 11:10 PM: Ed, I know your passion is sports, understandably. But there is such a thing as the real world. It's obscene to grant a new UNLV coach and staff fat pay raises when other state workers and UNLV staff endure pay cuts. Football is fun to watch -- OK, not UNLV football, but other, real football. Still,at the end of the day, it's only a game. keith s wrote on November 16, 2009 05:50 PM: unlv . please call tommy bowdon . he would be a perfect fit here . $$ 4 Nothing wrote on November 16, 2009 05:49 PM: he says we need to pay more and get better facilities - For What? I say ax the program and build a college DRDU wrote on November 16, 2009 05:23 PM: Like you said, It was expected. Too much talk from the big guys put enough pressure on the Regents to act accordingly. So there you have it, Sanford is finally DONE! It took them five years to see the light but it could have been sooner if it wasn't for you know who...... But UNLV football has that unrespectable reputation of a patsy team that can't win against their own shadow. What college bound football player would want to play for a program that has a consistent losing program? Remember how Duke was the worst football team in the ACC and had the best respectable basketball program ? UNLV football ranks lower than ever after what Sanford did in the last five years. He made it worse ! UNLV will have to discover a gold mine in the desert to be successful. Discover another Mike Thomas or Randall Cunningham is what it's going to take and build around that player. Sanford only discovered false gold and look what the dividends are now. Worthless. Whoever the next coach is, I only hope he discovers the Lost City of Gold and makes UNLV rich !! lol Sanfords exit statement on 11/16 wrote on November 16, 2009 03:42 PM: Mike Sanford is so full of SH*T it is pathetic. Here is a quote from his "ACCEPTANCE" speech when he was hired. "The UNLV job was one I looked upon with great respect over the years," Sanford said. "Because of the way this university and city are emerging, this football program is a gold mine. This is a great community and campus that offer so many opportunities and advantages. John Robinson laid the foundation here and I am ready to build on that. This football program is ready to explode." Now he is stating it's "not a coaching problem" but everything else. Steve wrote on November 16, 2009 02:45 PM: Ed, UNLV needs to pick up the phone today and hire Rocky Long (San Diego). This guy is a winner. He knows how to run a successful program and bring in players who can contribute from the get go. Pay him well and you might have a chance. Real Vegas native has seen and heard it all wrote on November 16, 2009 02:24 PM: Harvey Hyde-(won but was dirty) Wayne Nunnely-(PC hired coach) Jim Strong-(savior from Notre Dame) Jeff Horton-(savior from UNR) John Robinson-(serious has been) Mike Sanford-(just another loser) Since the early 1980's UNLV football has been bad at best. Winning one or two LV Bowls is a true testament to the sad state this program is in when those "bowl" wins are the only bright spots. Yes, they won the Californian Bowl in 1984 but it too was tarnished by the use of players that had bad grades and was struck from record books. Anyway, UNLV football sucks and anyone who has lived in Vegas for any amount of time knows this. Positive change will not happen unless some real $$$ is put into a real established coach who has a proven winning record with name recognition. kirkland1 wrote on November 16, 2009 01:42 PM: 1. Hire Bill Moos and get rid of the past hanger ons in the Athletic Department. 2. Proven Head Coach has to be hired. Dirk Koetter, Dennis Franchione, Tommy Tuberville, Phil Fulmer. 3. Few rising Coaches to be considered - Turner Gill, Robb Akey, Butch Jones and Al Golden. If Temple can win - so can UNLV! 4. SMU goes 1-11 and now goes to a bowl game. Temple has not been to a bowl game since 1979 and now they are going to one. David Cutcliffe has turned around Duke and is one win from going bowling. Idaho is going to a bowl game. Enough with the excuses - it can get done we need someone proven to show us the way. 5. Local recruits need to understand that this program is headed somewhere. Sanford got to local kids late EVERY YEAR. For every Demarco Murray, there is a Michael Ball who does not even get an offer from UNLV until Nevada gives him a ride! There is talent here, like a Devonte Christopher who does not get recruited as a QB and since Utah gives him the chance he goes to SLC. 6. Hire experienced Coordinators! Al Borgess and Rocky Long at SDSU. How can they go to SDSU and UNLV settles on Coordinators from ARMY! 6. UNLV goes to Hawaii and does not schedule an extra game! Bring in Southern Utah and get a W! But not to even schedule a game shows a lack of understanding that the program does not get how to make this Hawaii road game schedule favorable! You dont want to make $$ for an extra home game and give players more experience? 7. Can we get a Coach who the community wants to get to know? We need a face man UNLV! Hire Moos now! It's a new day! wrote on November 16, 2009 01:39 PM: I think a big name coach is needed. I believe we should hire Bill Callahan, he had some early success at Nebraska, i believe that in the MWC he would see great success. Read All Comments