Aug. 29, 2005
LAS VEGAS - Before UNLV's home-opening football game vs. Idaho on September 10, senior defensive back Joe Mikos will be recognized as this year's recipient of the Tom Wiesner Award and will have the honor of wearing the Wiesner Patch on his jersey throughout the season.
Miklos, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound safety out of famed prep program De La Salle High School is UNLV's leading returning tackler and the team's only member of the 2005 preseason All-MWC Team.
"It's a great honor to wear the Wiesner name and join the list of players that have over the last few years," Miklos said. "I am humbled to represent the seniors on this team and will do it with pride."
The award, which debuted in 2002 and is voted on by the coaching staff and senior class, was created to honor one senior player that best exemplifies the late Mr. Wiesner's courage, enthusiasm, dedication and toughness. The first two jerseys went to Rebel offensive linemen, inaugural winner Tony Terrell and 2003 winner Dominic Furio, who is now with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles. Last year, another safety, hometown hero Jamaal Brimmer wore the patch through what became his second straight All-America season.
A Wisconsin native and three-time letterman on the Badger football team, Mr. Wiesner sought his fortune out West and became one of the Las Vegas' leading businessmen, philanthropists, politicians and ambassadors.
The founder of the highly successful restaurants that are part of Big Dog's Hospitality Group, Wiesner helped guide Rebel Athletics from their infancy and was inducted into the UNLV Athletic Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Contributor in 1994. Also a member of the Nevada Board of Regents, Wiesner died in 2002 at the age of 63 after a battle with Leukemia.
The Rebels will kick off their home season by taking on the Vandals beginning at 7 p.m. at Sam Boyd Stadium. Tickets are available now by calling (702) 739-FANS or logging on to www.unlvtickets.com.
UNLV's 2005 season begins on Monday, Sept. 5, when it travels to play Mountain West Conference rival New Mexico beginning at 10 a.m. PT on ESPN2.
