Dec. 12, 2003
LAS VEGAS - Three Rebel juniors earned major team honors as the UNLV football awards were announced as part of the program's annual postseason banquet Friday at the Four Seasons Hotel.
With the voting done by their teammates, safety Jamaal Brimmer was tabbed both UNLV Defensive Most Valuable Player and team MVP for 2003. The Las Vegas native turned in an All-American season with a league-leading six interceptions, a league-leading four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, 77 total tackles, including 10 TFL, three quarterback sacks and two defensive touchdowns. A semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, he was the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week after leading his team to an upset victory at then-No. 14 Wisconsin on Sept. 13. College Football News named Brimmer a first team All-American and he is the first Rebel to earn the title of team MVP since current Minnesota Viking defensive lineman Talance Sawyer in 1998.
The team's offensive MVP honor went to junior receiver Earvin Johnson. Despite missing the first game of the season, the Los Angeles native led the Rebels in receptions (60), yards (834) and TD catches (four). Extending his streak of catching at least one pass to 30 games, Johnson ranked 45th in the nation with 75.8 yards per game and 46th with 5.45 receptions per game.
The UNLV Special Teams Player of the Year Award was shared by two 2003 second team all-conference performers: senior place-kicker Dillon Pieffer and junior punter Gary Cook. Pieffer, out of Colorado Springs, led the team with 86 points, which ranked 47th in the nation, became his school's career leader in PATs and booted 20 field goals, just one off the single-season record. Cook ranked 21st in the nation with an average of 43.4 on a school-record 83 attempts. The native of Truckee, Calif., kicked a stunning 31 percent of his kicks 50 yards or longer.
Other honors handed out Friday included senior DE Chris Eagen receiving the Rene Arceneaux Scholarship Award, which is given to a player who has demonstrated exemplary improvement in academic progress, while senior DE Dietrich Canterberry won the Robert Cline Scholarship Award. Both honors are worth $2,000 toward assisting the players in completing their degrees.
Senior center Dominic Furio took home multiple honors, including the Bill "Wildcat" Morris Most Inspirational Award, which is voted on by Rebel players, and the John Robinson Man of the Year Award, which is given to the student-athlete who possesses the highest integrity while aspiring for excellence. Furio also was one of two permanent team captains along with Canterberry.
UNLV's leading rusher, tailback Larry Croom, earned the "Doc" Tobler Senior Award, which is given to the final-year player who brings the highest credit to himself and the university. Senior TE Ryan Clifford picked up the Jack Gilmore Coaches Award, which is given to a former walk-on player who excelled on the field, while the team's scholar-athletes of the year were junior LB Reggie Butler and sophomore TE Michael Freund.
2003 UNLV FOOTBALL AWARDS
Most Valuable Player - Team Jamaal Brimmer, DB, JuniorMost Valuable Player - Offense Earvin Johnson, WR, JuniorMost Valuable Player - Defense Jamaal Brimmer, DB, JuniorMost Valuable Players - Special Teams Dillon Pieffer, PK, Senior Gary Cook, P, JuniorRene Arceneaux Scholarship Award Chris Eagen, DE, SeniorRobert Cline Scholarship Award Dietrich Canterberry, DE, SeniorJack Gilmore Coaches Award Ryan Clifford, TE, SeniorBill "Wildcat" Morris Most Inspirational Award Dominic Furio, OL, SeniorJohn Robinson Man of the Year Award Dominic Furio, OL, Senior"Doc" Tobler Senior Award Larry Croom, RB, SeniorScholar-Athletes of the Year Reggie Butler, LB, Junior Michael Freund, TE, SophomoreCaptains Award Dominic Furio, OL, Senior Dietrich Canterberry, DE, Senior
