UNLV defensive back a Rebel at heart

ROBERT TURBEVILLE
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

LAS VEGAS -- Meet Mr. Las Vegas.
He isn't a made man, isn't an Elvis impersonator and doesn't work in a casino. He doesn't ride in a limo, perform magic or sing and dance professionally.
Mr. Las Vegas plays football for UNLV.
He's a former ball boy who has a Rebels tattoo over his heart and carries a red-and-white cell phone with his heavily scarred hands, hands that house three metal plates and 21 screws from football injuries.
He's a team captain who has made the most tackles in school history. He's a radio correspondent who reports on his team. He's a father and recent graduate.
Mr. Las Vegas is Randy Black, UNLV's starting strong safety who on Thursday will live his dream by finishing his college career in the Las Vegas Bowl in front of his family and friends.
"I guess you can call me Mr. Vegas. ... I'll be a Rebel till I die," Black said Tuesday.
What Black has gone through the past five years almost killed his Rebels pride.
A graduate of Las Vegas Clark High School, Black opted to stay in his hometown for college, unlike many Las Vegas high school stars. After all, he had grown up a Rebel while two of his uncles played football at UNLV, and he wanted to keep his infant daughter, now 6, near family.
But his first three seasons there, the Rebels won three games, including going 0-11 in 1998. Black thought about transferring and even visited Texas Tech.
Enter John Robinson, who has won a national championship and coached in two NFC championship games.
Black liked what he saw and heard and decided to stay. UNLV broke a 16-game losing streak and went 3-8 in 1999, then 7-5 this season.
"Awesome," Black said, describing the transformation of the Rebels' program. "A lot of the guys here don't understand what we've been through. There's maybe five of us who have seen it all. Seen the 0-11. Seen the 1-10. The 3-8. Now to be able to reap the benefits of the sweat, blood and tears is awesome.
"The possibility of winning this bowl game, that's what you dream about when you first get here. And now it's happening."
Black, 6-0, 200 pounds, became UNLV's all-time leading tackler by recording his 294th stop and is tied for second on the school's all-time pass breakup list with 27.
"He's a smart, intelligent guy," defensive coordinator Mike Bradeson said. "He does a lot of film study, comes in extra and pushes himself and does everything he can to make himself as good as he can be. And it's paid off for him."
Black finished this season third on the team with 61 tackles, broke up 7 passes and made 2 interceptions despite playing hurt.
He broke his hand in the preseason and had to play with a cast against North Texas. He then missed the Ole Miss game after breaking his right hand against Wyoming and having surgery. He returned a week after Ole Miss, wearing a thick pad over pins in his hand, and made 10 tackles at Utah.
"When he went out, the defense didn't have any fire," tailback Jeremi Rudolph said. "When he's out there the defense is clicking and everyone is going in the right direction.
"He's a leader. He's a spokesman for the team. He's just trying to make sure we don't throw this thing away that we've all worked so hard for."
Black has not only worked hard on the field, but he's worked hard reporting about his team on a Las Vegas AM radio show. He graduated with a degree in criminal justice but said he'd like to pursue journalism and will soon start master's work in journalism.
So that brings up the logical question. What would Randy Black report about Mr. Las Vegas?
"He's persevering," Black said. "He has a big heart but a temper like a pit bull. One of those guys you'd love to have on your side and hate to be fighting against."
One of those guys who'll be a Rebel till he dies.

This article was published on Wednesday, December 20, 2000

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