Aug 24, 2013
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - During UNLV's home-opening football game vs. Arizona on Sept. 7, senior fullback Max Johnson will be recognized as this year's recipient of the Tom Wiesner Award (pronounced "WEEZE-ner), Rebel head coach Bobby Hauck announced Saturday.
Johnson, the first fullback to win the award, will have the honor of wearing the Wiesner Jersey throughout the 2013 season, which will be designated by a special stitching on the back. The second former walk-on player to ever win the award, Johnson is now on scholarship and back for his final year and vying to be the team's top fullback. The native of Wildomar, CA, graduated from Elsinore High School in 2009. At UNLV, Johnson went from appearing in just one game in 2010 playing all 13 last fall, including making his first two career starts and catching two touchdown passes.
The award, which debuted in 2002 and is voted on by the coaching staff and senior class, was created to honor one Rebel senior that best exemplifies the late Mr. Wiesner's courage, enthusiasm, dedication and toughness. 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, Mr. Wiesner helped guide Rebel Athletics from their infancy and was inducted into the UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Contributor in 1994. Also a member of the Nevada Board of Regents, he died in 2002 at the age of 63 after a battle with Leukemia.
Individual tickets for all seven of UNLV's 2013 home football games are now on sale, while season tickets for the Rebels are also still available.
Log on to www.unlvtickets.com or call (702) 739-FANS (3267) to buy yours today or for more information regarding ticket offers and group pricing.
ALL-TIME WIESNER AWARDSYEAR PLAYER POS2002 Tony Terrell OL2003 Dominic Furio OL2004 Jamaal Brimmer DB2005 Joe Miklos DB2006 Erick Jackson RB2007 Chris Butler TE2008 Jacob Hales DL2009 Ryan Wolfe WR2010 Isaako Aaitui DL2011 Bryce Saldi LB2012 Aaron Reed TE/H2013 Max Johnson FB
