Nov. 28, 2000

LAS VEGAS - Four UNLV players were named to the first team of the inaugural Las Vegas Review-Journal All-Mountain West Conference Media Football Team, the newspaper announced Tuesday.

The awards are recognized league-wide as the official media version of the all-conference team to go along with the traditional coaches' selections, which will be released Wednesday. The media all-league awards were voted on by a panel made up of both print and broadcast journalists from all eight Mountain West Conference cities.

Offensively for UNLV, senior tailback Jeremi Rudolph (Apopka, Fla.), who leads the league in rushing with 76.9 yards per game and needs 154 more yards to reach 1,000, was one of two running backs named to the squad. Senior offensive tackle John Greer (Apple Valley, Calif.), a four-year starter who is one of three Rebel team captains, was one of five linemen tabbed.

On defense, junior cornerback Kevin Thomas (Sacramento, Calif.), who leads the MWC in pass breakups with 14, was one of four defensive backs on the team. UNLV's lone special teams representative on the first team was sophomore punt returner Troy Mason (Bastrop, La.), who ranks seventh nationally with an average of 16.4 yards per attempt.

Two Rebels made the All-MWC second team: senior wide receiver Nate Turner (Compton, Calif.), who is second in the league in receiving yards with 80 per game, and senior strong safety Randy Black (Las Vegas), who last week became his school's career tackle leader with 292.

Seven other Rebels earned honorable mention: sophomore quarterback Jason Thomas, who also was tabbed MWC Offensive Newcomer of the Year, senior tailback Kevin Brown, sophomore offensive guard Tony Terrell, junior center Peter Tramontanas, junior defensive end Anton Palepoi, junior linebacker Shanga Wilson and senior punter Ray Cheetany.

The MWC Play of the Year came at UNLV's expense as members of the media voted for Rhett Nelson's block of Ray Cheetany's extra point attempt at Colorado State on Oct. 14, which preserved the league champion Rams' 20-19 victory.

2000 MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE AWARDS

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR    Mike Thiessen, quarterback, Air ForceDEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR    Rick Crowell, linebacker, Colorado StateCOACH OF THE YEAR       Sonny Lubick, Colorado StateOFFENSIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR  Jason Thomas, quarterback, UNLVDEFENSIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR  Jason Kaufusi, defensive lineman, UtahCITIZENSHIP AWARD       Kimball Christianson, UtahGAME OF THE YEAR        Air Force 44, Colorado State 40PLAY OF THE YEAR            Rhett Nelson's blocked extra point vs. UNLVBEST FANS           Air Force, BYUBEST STADIUM            BYU's LaVell Edwards Stadium


2000 Las Vegas Review-Journal Media Football Team

FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB  Matt Newton, Colorado State, seniorRB  Jeremi Rudolph, UNLV, senior, Adam Tate, Utah, juniorWR  Ryan Fleming, Air Force, junior, Steve Smith, Utah, seniorTE  Jose Ochoa, Colorado State, juniorOL  David Hildebrand, Air Force, senior, Tim Stuber, Colorado State, senior,        Justin Borvansky, Colorado State, senior, John Greer, UNLV, senior,        Jon Samuelson, New Mexico, senior

DEFENSE
DL  Brian Johnson, New Mexico, junior, Garrett Smith, Utah, sophomore,        Jerome Haywood, San Diego State, junior, Jamie Bennett, Colorado State, seniorLB  Rick Crowell, Colorado State, senior, Patrick Chukwurah, Wyoming, senior,        Mike Barnett, New Mexico, seniorDB  Andre Dyson, Utah, senior, Kevin Thomas, UNLV, junior,        Jared Lee, BYU, senior, John Howell, Colorado State, senior

SPECIAL TEAMS
K   Dave Adams, Air Force, seniorP   Aaron Edmonds, BYU, juniorKR  Patrick Dyson, Utah, seniorPR  Troy Mason, UNLV, sophomore



SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE
QB  Mike Thiessen, Air Force, seniorRB  Cecil Sapp, Colorado State, sophomore, Nate Beard, Air Force, seniorWR  Pete Rebstock, Colorado State, junior, Nate Turner, UNLV, seniorTE  Tevita Ofahengaue, BYU, seniorOL  Ben Miller, Air Force, junior, Doug Kaufusi, Utah, junior,        Aaron McCubbins, BYU, junior, Broc Finlayson, Colorado State, junior,        David Moreno, San Diego State, junior

DEFENSE
DL  Jason Kaufusi, Utah, freshman, Andy Bowers, Utah, senior,        Setema Gali, BYU, senior, Hans Olsen, BYU, seniorLB  Jomar Butler, San Diego State, junior, Justin Ena, BYU, junior,        Kautai Olevao, Utah, seniorDB  Stephen Persley, New Mexico, junior, Randy Black, UNLV, senior,    Justin Gallimore, Colorado State, junior, Will Demps, San Diego State, junior

SPECIAL TEAMS
K   Owen Pochman, BYU, seniorP   Brian Simnjanovski, San Diego State, sophomoreKR  Pete Rebstock, Colorado State, juniorPR  Pete Rebstock, Colorado State, junior