In a surprising turn of events, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) has made headlines for turning down a generous offer from a prominent gambling executive to pay a spurned former quarterback $100,000.
The offer came from Tom Breitling, the co-founder of the iconic Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino and former owner of the Las Vegas Wranglers hockey team. Breitling made the offer in an effort to mend fences with former UNLV quarterback Max Gilliam, who recently revealed in an emotional interview that he felt abandoned by the university after being removed from the team.
Gilliam, who was transferred to UNLV in 2018 from the University of California, was a promising talent who had high hopes for his collegiate football career. However, after a series of disappointing performances on the field, he was ultimately benched and later removed from the team.
In the interview, Gilliam expressed his frustration with the university for not providing him with the support he needed during his difficult time, and claimed that he was left feeling “unappreciated and discarded” by the coaching staff.
Breitling, who has a long history of supporting sports teams in Las Vegas, saw an opportunity to help Gilliam and make amends for his mistreatment. He reached out to UNLV with the offer to pay the former quarterback $100,000 as a gesture of goodwill and to help him get back on his feet.
However, UNLV officials quickly rejected Breitling’s offer, citing concerns about the potential conflict of interest that could arise from accepting money from a gambling executive. In a statement released to the press, the university reaffirmed its commitment to upholding ethical standards and maintaining the integrity of its athletic programs.
While some have praised UNLV for standing by its principles, others have criticized the university for passing up an opportunity to help a struggling student athlete in need. Many have called for UNLV to reconsider its decision and find a way to support Gilliam in a more appropriate manner.
As the story continues to unfold, the debate over UNLV’s decision and the treatment of student athletes in collegiate sports shows no signs of slowing down. With emotions running high and tensions mounting, it remains to be seen how this controversy will ultimately be resolved.
For now, Gilliam remains without the support he was seeking, while Breitling’s offer stands as a symbol of what could have been. As the dust settles, the fate of the former quarterback and the future of UNLV’s athletic program hang in the balance.