Las Vegas Bowl Moment 8: UNR linebacker Mike Crawford takes MVP honors
To celebrate the local bowl’s 25th anniversary milestone, the Review-Journal will rank the top 25 moments in Las Vegas Bowl history. We’ll relive one moment per day until game day on Dec. 17 at Sam Boyd Stadium:
No. 8: UNR’s Mike Crawford becomes first defensive player to take MVP
Date: Dec. 19, 1996
Score: UNR 18, Ball State 15
Back story: The Wolf Pack entered Sam Boyd Stadium looking to snap a two-game losing streak at the Las Vegas Bowl (1992, 1994). Ball State, the champions of the MAC, was riding an eight-game winning streak.
Game: UNR linebacker Mike Crawford was a one-man wrecking crew when he took MVP honors at the Las Vegas Bowl. Crawford’s 14 tackles, three sacks and a game-clinching interception helped the Wolf Pack fight off Ball State in the fifth Las Vegas Bowl.
Since: Crawford was the only defensive MVP in the local’s bowl history until last year. Utah cornerback Tevin Carter took the award in a victory over BYU. Crawford played two seasons for the Miami Dolphins and was once a member of the Las Vegas Outlaws. UNR hasn’t returned to the Las Vegas Bowl.
Contact Gilbert Manzano at gmanzano@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0492. Follow @gmanzano24 on Twitter.
