UNLV football gathered for the last time this spring on a memorable Saturday at Rebel Park.
The 15th and final practice of the program's first spring practice under second-year head coach
Marcus Arroyo began with a uniquely timed ceremony, then featured a full team scrimmage (that included a dunk tank) and ended with lots of smiles as families returned to campus for the first time since the pandemic started shutting down things nearly 14 months ago.
Before practice commenced on this day, the Rebels honored a group of six seniors not coming back for another year. Those on-hand with their families to receive their framed jerseys were last season's starting quarterback
Max Gilliam, longtime starting offensive lineman
Jaron Caldwell, defensive lineman
Nate Neal, wide receiver
Brandon Presley, wide receiver
Jacob Gasser and offensive lineman
Jackson McCullough.
"It was really good to have the seniors back out," said Arroyo. "I mean these guys made a commitment to go through what was a historically challenging period. We didn't want to minimize that and make sure they didn't have certain opportunities taken away from them. We talked about it before the end of last season – the first opportunity, we're going to do something and get creative. I remember being in that spot. I know what it's like to go through (senior day) and to have something like that potentially slip through their fingers was not going to happen. So to have them back, invite their families out, get their jerseys, bring the team out – it was the least I could do."
More than 200 onlookers were on-hand for the finale, including a host of former players ranging from 1990s phenom quarterback Jon Denton to current Las Vegas Raider linebacker
Javin White.
"The opportunity to come out in this last practice and have a lot of the families to come out after not seeing each other in over a year and have that type of connection has been part of the important part of this spring. That bond -- it's an undervalued part of it."
A spirited scrimmage, that included Arroyo finding his way to the bottom of the aforementioned dunk tank, sent the program into the next phase of preparation for the 2021 season.
"I wanted to finish the right way. I wanted to finish together – competing hard. That's what I'm excited about. Now, we'll transition into a spring assessment – offense, defense, special teams -- do some exit things with our guys, and recruiting really kicks in. That goes big in June with the camps and finally getting some in-person evaluation. It will be really nice to see players in person again."
UNLV holds camp in August before kicking off the season by hosting Eastern Washington on a special Thursday opener on September 2.
Season tickets for the 2021 season are now on sale. With lower bowl season tickets starting at just $125, follow this link to
UNLVTickets.com or call (702) 739-FANS. For information on VVIP premium club seats or suites at Allegiant Stadium, contact the Rebel Athletic Fund's Premium Sales Division at
premiumseating@unlv.edu.
