Sept. 12, 2007
LAS VEGAS - UNLV standout wide receiver Casey Flair was one of only 11 players in the nation named to the 2007 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team for the Bowl Subdivision, the Waco, Texas-based organization announced Wednesday.
A junior from Anchorage, Alaska, and graduate of East High School, Flair is the fourth Rebel ever selected to the prestigious collection of student-athletes that has been honored for its performance off the field for the last 16 years. Former UNLV lineman Tony Terrell was the first honoree in 2002, two-time All-American safety Jamaal Brimmer earned the nod in 2004 and Las Vegas native and standout defensive end Leon Moore was tabbed in 2005.
"I'm proud to be the fourth Rebel to earn this award," said Flair, who finished with a career-high 10 receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown vs. then-fifth-ranked Wisconsin last week. "I think it's great that the AFCA does the Good Works Team because it shows people that players, including a lot on our own team, actually do a lot to give back to the community.
"The reason that I'm so involved is that when I was young, I benefited from coaches and former players coming back to my school and motivating me. I go into the schools in Las Vegas and back home to open some kids' eyes that doors out there are not closed to them just because of where they are from or because of their social or economic status." Flair, who led the Mountain West Conference in receptions per game in 2006 and has caught at least one pass in every game of his college career, founded, promotes and oversees his own week-long, non-profit football camp for kids age 6-14 in his hometown of Anchorage each summer. He also volunteers for various team projects and is a part-time worker at a Las Vegas recreation center, acting as a tutor and sports coach for at-risk youth.
"It's a big deal because it shows that UNLV football puts a strong emphasis on community service," said UNLV head coach Mike Sanford. "Casey is certainly a guy we can count on to be a great representative of this team and this university."
UNLV was the lone representative from the Mountain West Conference on this year's team.
"It never ceases to amaze me to see the contributions student-athletes make to their communities," AFCA Executive Director Grant Teaff said. "Often times, these young men are better known for the good things they do on the field. The AFCA is proud to recognize these student-athletes for the good things they do in their communities."
Nominated by their school's sports information directors and voted on by an AFCA committee, successful candidates must be involved in working for charity and/or service.
2007 AFCA Good Works Teams®Bowl Subdivision
Name Cl. Pos. School Hometown (High School)Jason Cook Jr. FB Mississippi Suwanee, Ga. (North Gwinnett)Alex Derenthal Jr. C Temple Davie, Fla. (Western)Casey Flair Jr. WR UNLV Anchorage, Alaska (East)Nic Harris Jr. DB Oklahoma Alexandria, La. (Alexandria)George Hypolite Jr. DT Colorado Los Angeles, Calif. (Loyola)Kelin Johnson Sr. SS Georgia Daytona Beach, Fla. (Mainland)Adam Kadela Sr. LB Northwestern Dublin, Ohio (Coffman)Red Keith Sr. LB Central Mich. Franklin, Ga. (Heard County)Tom Schneider Sr. PK California Walnut Creek, Calif. (Las Lomas)Paul Smith Sr. QB Tulsa Owasso, Okla. (Owasso)Tom Zbikowski Sr. S Notre Dame Arlington Heights, Ill. (Buffalo Grove)
