Homage of the Week

Next Man Up!

Another way of conveying an honorable mention is an homage.  In this weekly article we will be paying homage to the weirdest or funniest moment in college sports from the weekend, aside from the obviously stupid things sports fans do.  Those moments speak for themselves.  These are the moments that really stand out as head scratchers. 

The head scratcher this week is UNLV football.  Let me be the first person to say I think Barry Odom is an excellent coach.  He’s always been one of the best defensive coordinators in the country, but people are now seeing he’s a really good head coach as well.  That’s why this entire NIL and quarterback controversy unfolding the way it did is really bizarre. 

If the rumors are true, former starting quarterback Matt Sluka alleges UNLV did not uphold their end of NIL promises.  First, always get it in writing, Matt.  Second, this doesn’t sound like a Barry Odom organization so I’m going to give UNLV the benefit of the doubt on this one.  Sluka was a highly sought after transfer from Holy Cross.  He led UNLV to a 3-0 record with impressive wins over Kansas and Houston.  Along the way he led the Rebs in passing and rushing.  Then he decided to make a business decision.  He quit on his team to preserve his redshirt citing unfulfilled NIL promises.

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned this would become an issue around the country in regard to Florida’s coaching situation with Billy Napier.  Since that day several high-profile players in top 25 programs have made similar decisions to Sluka.  This is the new reality of college football free agency.  However, as UNLV fans commiserated the possibility that their dream season was over one man knew differently.  Enter Hajj-Malik Williams.

Barry Odom never appeared concerned publicly when Sluka opted out.  Media wondered if it was just coach speak or if Odom knew something they didn’t.  It turns out Odom’s confidence came from Hajj-Malik Williams.  All Williams did was go out against a very good 3-1 Fresno State team and lead the Rebs to a 59-14 win that was never in doubt.  Williams was 13-16 passing for 182 yards and 3 touchdowns.  He rushed 12 times for 119 yards and another touchdown.  This Senior from Atlanta, Georgia accounted for over 300 yards of total offense and 4 touchdowns.  Next man up is an understatement.  The only thing he didn’t do was refill all the water coolers while the defense was on the field.

This is the backup?  Hajj-Malik Williams is a special story.  He spent his first five years at Campbell University setting school records in yards passing and passing touchdowns.  He decided to use his extra covid season at UNLV only to lose the quarterback job in the preseason to Sluka.  Williams is no stranger to success, so the program wasn’t concerned when he took over the offense.  Many people around the program applaud the person he is in the locker room as well as the influence he has in the community service he performs. 

This is the underdog story everyone should know about and be cheering for.  He bided his time, and now that Sluka is gone, Williams should keep the attention of the entire country.  UNLV is now appearing on expert predictions for the 12 seed in the college football playoff.  America needs Hajj-Malik Williams to lead UNLV to that level.  He’s a player worth cheering for in a new realm of college football that isn’t always pretty.