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It may be late June, but - as you may have heard - there are some amazing things happening with UNLV Athletics:
UNLV'S BINGSON TO REPRESENT U.S. IN LONDON OLYMPICS
Amanda Bingson, a member of the UNLV women's track & field team, finished second overall in the hammer throw at this week's U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying her for this year's Summer Olympics in London. This feat is something all Rebel fans and all Nevadans should be proud of as Bingson is also a graduate of Silverado High in Las Vegas... We can't wait to root for her later this summer as she represents our nation. What a proud moment it is for all of us connected to UNLV!
REBELS WINNING IN THE CLASSROOM
Earlier this week, we found out UNLV had a total of 48 student-athletes earn the 2011-12 Mountain West Scholar-Athlete Award, which is one of the highest academic honors bestowed by the Conference. To be eligible for selection, student-athletes must have completed at least two academic terms at the member institution, while maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better, and have participated in varsity competition in an NCAA-sponsored sport. We also found out we had 83 student-athletes earn Spring 2012 Academic All-Mountain West Team honors... Our goal with Rebel Athletics is to have our student-athletes leave with championships in one hand and degrees in the other.
REBEL FOOTBALL PLAYERS RECEIVING PRESEASON HONORS
Seven UNLV football players were named preseason All-Mountain West by Lindy's Sports - the second most of any of the league's 10 schools, trailing only Wyoming...  Sophomore offensive tackle Brett Boyko (6-7, 310) was named first team as well as honored for being the conference's "Best Pass Blocker." Boyko heads up an impressive, young offensive line that featured three freshmen last season.
Junior running back Tim Cornett highlighted the second team as he looks to become the first Rebel to lead the program in rushing yards three consecutive seasons since Michael Morton in 1979-81. Others honored were: senior linebacker John Lotulelei, junior cornerback Sidney Hodge, sophomore all-purpose return man Marcus Sullivan, senior punter Chase Lansford and junior place-kicker Nolan Kohorst.
DEBUT OF 60 SECOND UNLV FOOTBALL VIDEO
Click here to view UNLV Football's newest video. We have a lot of work to do with this program - we know that and we do not shy away from that. But the culture has been changing the past two years under Bobby Hauck. I know it's easy to think a statement like this is a simple cliché and doesn't have much meaning, but a foundation is being built and good things are going to happen with this program in the next couple seasons. And we can't wait until all of Las Vegas gets excited about its Rebel Football team. I know I'm ready for August 30th right now!
"REBEL FOOTBALL FRONT FOUR" KICKS OFF AUG. 30
Rebel Football starts off the 2012 season with four straight home games at Sam Boyd Stadium - our "Rebel Football Front Four" - beginning Thursday, Aug. 30 when Minnesota from the Big Ten comes to town. Our annual Family & Friends Night will be Saturday, Sept. 8 vs. Northern Arizona followed by Friday Night Football on Sept. 14 vs. Washington State. We will then have our Conference Kickoff on Saturday, Sept. 22 vs. Air Force... Season tickets start as low as $90 in our Value Zone and we are offering a limited number of "4-for-3" deals in the Value Zone for new season ticket purchasers allowing a fan to purchase four Value Zone Season Tickets for the price of three ($270)... Call (702) 739-FANS (3267) or visit UNLVtickets.com.
UNLV EARNS HIGH MARKS IN LATEST NCAA APR REPORT
The NCAA released the 2010-11 Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR) data and penalty reports for all NCAA Division I institutions earlier this week and UNLV Athletics continues to shine. All 17 of UNLV's sports programs posses a multi-year APR score that exceeds the NCAA minimum cut score of 925, and even more impressive, all but one of UNLV's teams have a multi-year APR score in excess of an impressive 950, including women's golf which posted a perfect one-year score of 1000 in 2010-11. For the fourth consecutive year, no UNLV team is subject to any APR penalties (not subject to postseason bans or scholarship reductions)... We're proud of the commitment our student-athletes and coaches have put into academics as they have made it a source of pride. We're also fortunate to have David Jackson and his team of academic advisors leading the way. Our young Rebels are student-athletes - with the student coming first!
BASKETBALL SEASON TICKET RENEWALS DUE NEXT FRIDAY, JUNE 29
Runnin' Rebel fans who have yet to renew season tickets for next season have until Friday, June 29 to make an initial payment. There is high demand for new season tickets and we are strongly urging those who want to renew their tickets not to delay. Call (702) 739-FANS (3267) for more information.
LIMITED NUMBER OF LOWER LEVEL SEATS REMAIN IN T&M
With the excitement in the air surrounding Dave Rice's Runnin' Rebel program, we are letting fans know there are approximately 800 tickets remaining available downstairs at the Thomas & Mack Center to be purchased as season tickets. Those interested in securing the best seats remaining are urged to call the Rebel Athletic Fund at (702) 895-1533... And remember, season ticket packages start as low as $125 for Runnin' Rebel basketball, making it one of the best values in town. Call (702) 739-FANS (3267) for more information on balcony season ticket packages.
LET'S RUN WITH THE RUNNIN' REBELS - TO CANADA
Many fans have asked us about travel packages to join the Runnin' Rebels on their Canadian tour August 17-22. Our friends with the UNLV Alumni Association have teamed with A Destination Travel to offer an exclusive package.
"HOW CAN I BECOME MORE INVOLVED WITH UNLV BASKETBALL?"
We have more and more fans asking how they can get involved with Runnin' Rebel basketball. In addition to being a season ticket holder, two simple ways are through the Mendenhall Center Legacy Tile project as well as the exclusive Extra Pass Club. For more information, call the Rebel Athletic Fund at (702) 895-1533.
DODD NAMED NEW REBEL SOFTBALL COACH
We're thrilled to have Lisa Dodd join the Rebel family as our new head softball coach. Dodd was previously serving as an assistant coach at Oregon where she helped lead the Ducks to the Women's College World Series this past season. She was a former standout student-athlete at UCLA before becoming an assistant coach and ultimately helping to build Oregon into a perennial power over the past three seasons.
GOLFERS EARN ALL-AMERICA HONORS
UNLV men's golfers Derek Ernst, a senior, and Kevin Penner, a junior, both earned honorable mention All-America honors as the 2012 PING Division I All-America Teams were announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America earlier this week.
2012-13 SEASON STARTS AUG. 12
We're just seven weeks out from the 2012-13 season starting for your UNLV Rebels. Women's soccer opens at home with an exhibition vs. Cal State Fullerton on Aug. 12. Meanwhile, our men's soccer team will open on the road at UC Davis on Aug. 24... Our women's volleyball team opens play at home in the UNLV Invitational starting Aug. 24... Kids 12-and-under are always free to these events.
After reading this update - which is just a glimpse of some of the special things happening with YOUR athletic department - I hope you will agree with me... It is a GREAT time to be a Rebel!
Enjoy your summer and THANK YOU for supporting the Scarlet & Gray.
For the Rebels,
Jim Livengood
Director of Athletics
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