Oct. 11, 2004

LAS VEGAS - UNLV senior safety Jamaal Brimmer was named Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the first time this season but the third time in his storied Rebel career, the league announced Monday.

He joins fellow Rebel safety Joe Miklos, who won the same award last week, as the only UNLV honorees so far this season.

In a game dominated by UNLV's ability to force turnovers, Brimmer had the biggest to help his team win at BYU 24-20 Friday before a national TV audience.

The preseason First Team All-American totaled nine tackles (six solo), including one tackle for a loss of two yards, forced a fumble, helped return a fumble 10 yards, posted one pass breakup and hauled in his first interception of the season.

With BYU leading 10-3 in the third quarter and looking to extend its lead, Brimmer stepped in front of a third-down John Beck pass attempt for his seventh career interception and returned it 24 yards to the Cougar 13-yard line. Two plays later, UNLV scored a touchdown to take a 14-10 lead. Later in the same quarter, Brimmer forced a fumble after a 14-yard reception by Jason Kukahiko and after Rebel teammate Beau Bell picked up the ball, he lateraled the ball to Brimmer who continued down field and was credited with 10 fumble return yards. Brimmer now has 56 total tackles, which ranks him sixth in the MWC at 9.3 TPG.

Wyoming wide receiver (87 yards on six catches and a touchdown in win over San Diego State) was named the MWC Offensive Player of the Week. Despite UNLV punter Gary Cook's career-high 12 punts for a 43.8 average (including eight boots 46 yards or longer), Cowboy place-kicker Deric Yaussi (two field goals and two extra points) was tabbed Special Teams Player of the Week.