UNLV ruled ineligible for postseason play this year

LAS VEGAS — The UNLV Rebels will not be eligible for the Mountain West championship game or a bowl berth in 2014 after failing to reach the minimum Academic Progress Rate score.

The university said Thursday that its final appeal to the NCAA subcommittee was denied and sanctions will be enforced. The sanctions include no postseason competition, replacing four hours of practice time with four hours of academics weekly and having five days of football-related activities a week instead of six.

An average APR score of 930 — out of 1,000 — is required over the last four years and the football team’s average was 925.

UNLV President Donald Snyder said the university will use this “as an opportunity to improve.”

“I am confident in the plan that our athletics director and head coach have enacted to address the issue,” Snyder added.

Part of UNLV’s plan for improving its APR includes adding an academic support counselor along with a learning specialist, appointing an APR Committee, purchasing academic software and 18 laptop computers, remodeling the space used for study hall near the football offices and working with a company specializing in APR improvement.

“Everyone associated with UNLV Football recognizes what the expectations are in terms of academic performance and everyone involved has shown a genuine commitment to getting these numbers where they need to be,” said athletic director Tina Kunzer-Murphy. “We are taking a number of significant steps to improve the level of academic support.”

The Rebels finished 7-6 in 2013 after losing in the Heart of Dallas Bowl to North Texas.

“Improving our academic scores is something we always have and will continue to emphasize,” coach Bobby Hauck said.

“We are going to continue to work at it and we will continue to work hard to graduate our players.”