Just wanted to pass along congrats to the UNLV football team that came within 2 minutes of defeating the #5 ranked Wisconsin Badgers last night. (Story here.) They ended up losing on a 29 yard touchdown scramble by Badgers quarterback Tyler Donovan. Now, it may seem odd to congratulate the losers but the sports books gave UNLV four touchdowns, which is a massive spread. UNLV did more than cover. They established themselves as a team to pay attention to. The squad looked excellent with an impressive defense and a spread offense that moved the ball well. UNLV's football program has been terrible over the last several years but, if this game is any measure, the squad looks like it will shake up the Mountain West this year.
Beyond being happy for the kids on the football team, I have a vested interest in the team doing well. The publicity generated by a successful sports team (specifically football or basketball) is virtually unmatched. Many schools have experienced increases in applications and enrollment in years following a successful football or basketball season. (This is referred to as the "Flutie Factor" after Doug Flutie who led Boston College to a miracle victory over the University of Miami.) The Flutie Factor may not justify the millions spent on having sports programs that can compete at the national level but, as Stephen Elkin once told me, so long as the sports teams are improving at the same rate as the academic standards and reputation of the institution, it's all good. UNLV, despite its occasional struggles, is heading upward academically and athletically and it's all good.
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