Dec. 22, 2000

LAS VEGAS - Fresh off helping earn his team a Las Vegas Bowl title in the Rebels' own stadium, UNLV tailback Jeremi Rudolph will get a chance to impress another set of home folks.

The senior, who became the first UNLV player to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season since Ickey Woods in 1987, has accepted an invitation to play in the 2001 Rotary Gridiron Classic on Jan. 13.

The game will be played at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando and be broadcast by ESPN2. Rudolph, who starred at nearby Apopka High School, will be back home as part of Team Florida, which will take on Team USA.

The all-star game's series currently stands at 1-1. Two year's ago, current Minnesota Viking starting quarterback Daunte Culpepper led Team Florida to a 17-9 victory over Team USA in the inaugural Classic. In the rematch, Tulane wide receiver and Cleveland Browns' third-round selection JaJuan Dawson used an MVP performance to give Team USA a 21-14 win over Team Florida. Designated by the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) as its official all-star game, the Rotary Gridiron Classic is played under NFL rules and staffed by former NFL coaches, including Lindy Infante (1999 & 2000), Buddy Ryan (2000) and Chuck Noll (1999). The proceeds from the game benefit the Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis, the Rotary International Foundation charities and Florida Citrus Sports charities.

Rudolph is the first UNLV player to earn a spot in the game and the first Rebel to head to a postseason all-star game since defensive lineman Talance Sawyer played in the Hula Bowl after the 1998 season.