NFL
By: Brock Vierra
When UNLV head coach Barry Odom entered the press room after his team’s 44-41 overtime loss, there sat a man who was reflective, reserved, and downright dejected to the point of being pissed off. UNLV was called for nine penalties, resulting in 108 penalty yards for Syracuse. There were several controversial calls as the Rebels kept getting flagged for personal fouls including a seemingly fantom facemask call after UNLV came up with a massive sack late but it was the roughing the passer call on third down in overtime that took Syracuse from attempting a game-tying field goal to having first and 10 in the red zone.
Speaking with other journalists and media members in the room, opinion was divided on if that was the right call but what can not be argued is that a biased officiating crew was the one that made it.
In 1969, humanity landed the first man on the moon. A feat so impressive, so significant, that it ushered the fantasies of man and the realities of research into a new era. America found a way to land a man on the moon over fifty years ago yet in 2024, when Americans are able to freely interact with the world it once mystified in 1969 through the touch of a cell phone, college football is unable to figure out how to hire a neutral officiating crew.
Now I understand crews may be booked up due to the conference matchups on Saturday but are you telling me that the NCAA, Mountain West, UNLV, or just somebody couldn’t find a free non-biased crew for this game? An all-ACC crew was on deck for this matchup and well it showed as the Orange, faithful servants of the ACC were bailed out time and time again.
Blaming the loss on the refs wouldn’t be fair though because at the end of the day, you play the game, you don’t ref it. The refs didn’t put UNLV in a 14-0 deficient to start the game, the refs didn’t drop the game-winning interception with less than a minute to go, the refs didn’t force UNLV to settle for three in OT, it was the Rebels and that was a point echoed by Coach Odom, Jalen Catalon and Jalen St. John at the post-game press conference.
UNLV learned a lot about itself tonight and while the goal of the college football playoffs took a hit, the train has yet to derail. We learned a lot of lessons tonight as well. Hajj-Malik Williams is built for the big-time moments. Williams was phenomenal, going 21-25 passing with 227 passing yards and four total touchdowns. Williams also has 12 rushes for 57 yards. He led UNLV down the field to take the lead late, hitting Ricky White on a slant in the endzone.
White himself was huge for the Rebels. His involvement and dedication to the game should garner him first-round NFL praise. 10 catches off of 12 targets, 135 yards, and 1 touchdown may read his stat line but what he did on special teams on Friday night should be remembered by Rebel fans forever. To catch everyone up, in UNLV’s home opener, White blocked a punt. In UNLV’s second home game, White recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown.
What he did on Friday night is so legendary, words do not give it justice for how incredible he was. Keep in mind that White is a star receiver that transferred from a P5 program. That has selfish and entitized written all over it if stereotypes were accurate. Ricky White is the evidence of why they aren’t. Since his transfer from Michigan State, White has been a team-first player, a leader, and a warrior. A man not afraid to put his body on the line every snap, White plays on the punt block team as their secret weapon.
Like Ed Reed, White is a fearless assassin. With the game tied at 14-14, UNLV forced a punt. Upon Syracuse’s snap, White exploded so fast toward the punter that by the time the punter caught the snap, White was at his feet. The punter was forced to hold the ball and was subsequently tackled inside the Syracuse 10-yard line. UNLV would score a touchdown on the following possession.
Not done yet, while down 31-24, White proceeded to block another punt that bounced 37 yards into the UNLV endzone where it was subsequently recovered for a game-tying touchdown. As I said, legendary.
The last Rebel I would like to talk about is Jackson Woodard. Woodard’s end to his night does not tell the story of what was a phenomenal game by him. Unfortunately for him, he probably doesn’t see it that way. Woodard failed to bring down game-winner LeQuint Allen as Allen was able to shake Woodard off for the walk-off touchdown. Woodard also dropped a game-winning interception with less than 90 seconds remaining in the game.
Woodard was also one of the only reasons UNLV had an opportunity to win. Woodard had 14 total tackles, limiting the Orange’s rushing attack, and forcing QB Kyle McCord to throw 63 passes. Woodard had also intercepted McCord on the previous drive. The defense as a unit is taking this loss hard but the truth is UNLV as a whole looked sloppy from the start and it was a continued sloppiness that became the detail that sunk the Rebels.
They allowed Syracuse to go up by 14 points early, despite entering halftime up 21-17, UNLV allowed Syracuse to score 14 points unanswered and they couldn’t prevent the goal line fade. It is what it is and tomorrow breeds an opportunity to start a new journey, a journey of learning, and a journey of newfound appreciation for success. The Rebels take on Utah State in Logan.
Personal Note: While the end of this article may read redemption, Barry Odom said something tonight that has stuck with me. He said that Friday night “felt like a real program.” Barry Odom is a Missouri graduate. He played there, he coached there. He also coached at Arkansas. He’s seen the SEC and the Big 12 and he knows how much fan and student support means to a football team. As a UNLV alumnus, those words encapsulated how I’ve felt about UNLV football for so long. While I may have not been able to enjoy a crazy college football atmosphere as a student, as a journalist, it warms me to see others be able to.
Support UNLV. – Brock
