Aug. 29, 2006

LAS VEGAS - Before UNLV's home-opening football game vs. Idaho State on Saturday, senior running back Erick Jackson will be recognized as this year's recipient of the Tom Wiesner Award and will have the honor of wearing the Wiesner Jersey throughout the season.

Jackson, a 5-foot-6, 185-pound former walk-on Palmdale, Calif., is UNLV's leading returning rusher and receiver and a member of the 2006 Rebels Leadership Committee.

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.

"We had several candidates on our team that embodied those same qualities but Erick Jackson came out on the top of the group," head coach Mike Sanford said. "Not only is Erick an excellent football player but he is a great person and comes to practice every day with a great attitude and a smile on his face. He is the type of guy you just want to be around." The first two jerseys went to Rebel offensive linemen, inaugural winner Tony Terrell and 2003 honoree Dominic Furio, while the last two have gone to safeties, All-American Jamaal Brimmer in 2004 and Joe Miklos last fall.

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 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 season by taking on the Bengals 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.