After Randy Spetman broke the news that Nevada wants out of its 2013 game in Tallahassee, we spoke to Dan Hinxman who writes sports for the Reno Gazette-Journal. He told us that basically Nevada's coach, Chris Ault, isn't crazy about a cross-country trip and believes the game would do nothing for the Wolfpack program. Instead, the school has apparently lined up a game with a closer opponent that potentially pays more than playing FSU. It doesn't help that the 'Pack is changing conferences this year from the WAC to the Mountain West.
So why did Nevada agree to it in the first place? Hinxman says that a young assistant A.D. who "wasn't in tune with Ault" booked the game back in 2005. Since then the program has become a consistent winner and gained a national reputation with an increasing number of TV games (seven this season). Bottom line: Nevada isn't just looking for a big payday any more -- especially without a home-and-home agreement like the Wolfpack has with USF. The Bulls travel to Reno this year -- three weeks before their game with FSU -- and Nevada plays in Tampa in 2015.
Look for Nevada to try and negotiate a lower buyout than the $600,000 while FSU sticks to its guns as leverage. But odds are Nevada never makes it to Tallahassee. At least Spetman has more time to look for a replacement opponent than he had with the West Virginia cancellation. He'll need it to find a team that won't make Nole fans roll their eyes and grunt, "Whatever..."
Comments