NFL
By: Brock Vierra
When Marcus Arroyo was fired from UNLV, several people took to social media in an uproar over what some called an “unjust” act by AD Erick Harper. I personally thought to myself “it’s about time.” Maybe my viewpoint is clouded by the bias of being an alumnus of this great institution or the fact I was privy to information about Arroyo’s actions and decisions during his tenure but here’s the facts…he didn’t win and there was zero indication that would change in 2023. Now UNLV goes against the grain in college football of hiring young, offensive-minded head coaches by hiring Barry Odom, the former defensive coordinator from Arkansas. Now Odom, the former head coach of Missouri, brings with him two winning seasons in his resume along with a plethora of SEC experience.
Now in time, we’ll talk about Odom but the question shifts to what he and his team need to do to have a successful season. Now UNLV has failed to have continued success since John Robinson was the head coach in the early 2000’s so a bowl birth is crucial to building the foundation that some thought Arroyo was destined to do. They’ll need at least six wins and by looking at their schedule, they have five “should be” wins. Bryant, Hawaii. at Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
The key is avoiding unnecessary mistakes and with a QB like Doug Brumfield, Odom’s defense will be the difference as the offense should be solid. The second expectation is retaining The Freemont Cannon. The biggest prize in college football, it goes to the winner of the annual UNLV-Nevada football game. Arroyo may have won the last game against Reno but Nevada had his number during his first two games. Arroyo’s predecessor, Tony Sanchez didn’t have a bunch of great results during his time in charge but he went 3-2 against Nevada and that’s what counts the most. The 2023 Nevada squad is inferior to UNLV and their coach Ken Wilson has been criticized by fellow coaches behind closed doors. A loss cannot and should not happen.
High School recruiting suffered under Arroyo so much that by Odom just visiting the local Vegas HS programs was a step up from the past regime. Keep in mind that Vegas is a hotbed of young talent with national powerhouse Bishop Gorman while southern Nevada has produced players like DeMarco Murray, Rhamondre Stevenson and Will Hernandez. Utilizing his scholarships and preferred walk-on spots in conjunction with the HS coaches in Vegas is a big portion that will dictate UNLV’s success.
The last thing is retaining his staff. Now losing Bobby Petrino to Texas A&M isn’t a good start but that is the reality of college football. Money rules everything. Now watching his staff get promoted is one thing but a major issue under Arroyo is that he had tremendous staff turnover during his three years in Vegas. Now if those coaches were leaving for better jobs/ opportunities, that’s one thing but those coaches under Arroyo left for lateral moves if not demotions. That can not happen. That is indicative of a failing program and a lack of decision-making skills by Odom.
Now it’s obvious that UNLV is probably a steppingstone for Odom to get another top job with a P5 team but the foundation he lays could deliver UNLV to it’s promise land which is national relevance and a move to the Pac-12. That’s all in time but the way I see it, there’s no reason he shouldn’t get at least six wins and ensures that cannon remains in it’s proper color. Scarlett and Grey for life.
