Football schedule is dose of reality for Rebels

They read it all. The praise for thinking outside the box and interest in how such a strategy might unfold. The intrigue about hiring a high school coach. The curiosity about how a culture might change.

The part about music at practice, to which my 14-year old daughter has a recommendation for Tony Sanchez: Throw in some One Direction.

Maybe something from The Vamps, too.

The last time UNLV's football team received as much offseason coverage as it has since December was, well, never. The Rebels were splashed across the pages of newspapers and magazines that in recent years hadn't offered the slightest glance towards the program. National radio and television shows came calling that never before would have picked up the telephone.

All of it was terrific for the brand. And, as of Friday morning, none of it meant a thing.

"There has been a lot of hype," senior quarterback Blake Decker said. "It is all anyone wanted to talk about all summer. That's great. We love that people are interested. But it will all be for naught unless we win. That's all anybody wants to see. Football isn't a game of potential. It's a game of performance. It's a game of getting things done on the field. That's our goal."

The Rebels opened their first fall practice under Sanchez in shorts and helmets, and scarce on expectations from anyone outside Rebel Park. Stop us if you have heard this one, but the feeling of many is that UNLV might have a tougher schedule this season than General Lee did when facing a series of opponents before arriving at Gettysburg.

Let's hope the Rebels don't suffer as many casualties against UCLA and Michigan as Lee's army.

The schedule is definitely tough, brutal in spots, a slate of games even the most experienced and skilled Mountain West side would struggle to maneuver without getting wounded. I don't know a thing yet about Idaho State, but it's not a stretch to suggest UNLV's fourth game might be its best chance at singing the fight song in the postgame locker room.

The Rebels really, really need to beat the Bengals.

"The last time I checked, predictions never determined a football game," Decker said. "I understand (predicting records) is what goes on in college football and it's a way to get everyone excited about the season, but ultimately, as players, you have to be mature enough to understand there are 11 guys on our side of the ball and 11 on the other."

Here's something to like: No matter what others have forecast for UNLV over the next several months, its seniors have publicly and privately bought into the vision Sanchez has sold, despite the fact there is every reason to believe their final season will end with the program's 10th losing record in 11 years.

They, as much as anyone, have been energized by the new coach's design to a build a winner, with some taking to Twitter to champion the cause.

Sonny Sanitoa is one, a senior defensive lineman who has used social media to encourage UNLV fans and students and players not to accept negativity, but instead embrace and support change.

"We want to make the most of this season," Sanitoa said. "The coverage and interest and exposure has been tremendous. That part is different, for sure. It's something else. Coach Sanchez really has changed everything around here. He has changed the culture. This is a new era."

I never tire of Sanchez saying things like his team is facing a similar challenge as Smokey and the Bandit — long way to go, short time to get there. Now, if he can produce Sally Field from 1977 to motivate the lads, we might have something.

He doesn't talk much about winning because he has evaluated this season's hand and just might be holding a 2-7 offsuit. So he mentions things like showing improvement and offering an exciting brand of football.

He understands the flop probably isn't going to help him much.

"We have a lot of work to do." Sanchez said. "It's all good. We are building from where we left off in spring. It's about attention to detail and raising our level of comfort out here and making sure we are executing at a high level.

"At the end of the day, it has been a long time since Rebel football has been talked about year-round. So that was good. It raised some awareness and people are paying attention. That makes it fun for everybody. It's fun to talk football in February and March and April and May. We want to continue it. We need every day between now and kickoff to prepare, but when that time comes, we will be ready."

That day is Sept. 5 in DeKalb, Ill., which is about 700 miles from Gettysburg. The Huskies of Northern Illinois are quite formidable, but have nothing on those Union soldiers.

The time for hype is over. Reality has arrived for Sanchez and his team.

"How do you continue it?" the coach asked. "Go compete at a high level."

Tell you what, he's not a guy who at any point will surrender.

He at least has that over Robert E. Lee.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be a heard on, "Seat and Ed," on Fox Sports 1340 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Follow him: @edgraney