May 14, 2004

LAS VEGAS - Former Rebel and current Arizona Cardinals running back Larry Croom is this year's recipient of the Wayne Nunnely Outstanding Contributor to UNLV Athletics Award as part of the Fifth Annual African American Graduation Celebration, which was held Friday at the Beam Music Center on campus.

Croom, who will graduate Saturday with his bachelor's degree in sociology, joins four former Rebel football greats in having earned the award. Receiver Len Ware won the inaugural honor in 2000 and was followed by wideout Nate Turner a year later. Current Buffalo Bills defensive back Kevin Thomas was 2002's recipient while quarterback Jason Thomas took home the honor a year ago.

The award is named after UNLV graduate Nunnely, who became the first black head football coach in school history and one of the first in Division I-A in 1986 and is now a respected NFL assistant for the San Diego Chargers. The event, which annually celebrates the graduation of friends and family through culture, was sponsored by UNLV Hall of Famer Randall Cunningham, Findlay Toyota and John and Linda Robinson in conjunction with Student Involvement and Activities/Multicultural Student Affairs.

Despite playing at UNLV for only two seasons after transferring from the University of Arizona, Croom rushed for 1,537 yards and notched 41 receptions. The native of Long Beach, Calif., finished with five 100-yard games as a Rebel and his 220 yards in an upset victory over 13th-ranked Colorado State in 2002 broke a 30-year-old school record for yards per carry in a game with 11.1. After his senior campaign, he became the first Rebel to play in three postseason all-star games and ended up scoring at least once in every game. Last month, he was signed to a free-agent contract by the NFL's Cardinals.