When Jamaal Brimmer takes the field at Wisconsin's Camp Randall Stadium early Saturday morning, it will be just two days shy of the one-year anniversary of perhaps the biggest victory in UNLV's short football history.
It also will mark the one-year anniversary of perhaps the greatest defensive game by a Rebels football player.
The Rebels stunned 14th-ranked and 20-point favorite Wisconsin in the rain that day, 23-5, and Brimmer was a huge reason. He was named national player of the week after compiling a statistical line that seemed right out of a PlayStation game: 11 tackles, 2 interceptions, 2 sacks, a forced fumble and 120 return yards, including a 55-yard fumble return in the first quarter that proved to be the winning touchdown.
"As far as being in the right spot at the right time, it was about as good as you can get," UNLV coach John Robinson said.
Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez agreed.
"He was fantastic," Alvarez said Tuesday. "He was all over the field making plays. I was impressed with his awareness of the game, how physical he was, and how one person can impact a game as much as he did."
So you would think during the past spring or summer, when he was bored and had nothing better to do, that Brimmer would pop in the tape of the nationally televised game just to enjoy his shining moment in the national spotlight again.
Wrong.
"Nah, I really don't need to save it or recap it because it's still up there," Brimmer said pointing to his temple. "I can remember in my head how good it was and how good it felt."
There's another reason Brimmer hasn't watched a replay of the game: He doesn't have a copy of it. Nor, he says, do his parents, Jimmy and Pamela Brimmer, of Las Vegas.
"No, I just remember it in my head," Brimmer said. "I know what it is."
Well, not exactly.
"I don't remember certain plays. Some of the sacks I don't remember because they happened so fast. Really, I didn't even remember I had two sacks until I saw the stat sheet.
"I remember the interceptions. The fumble? I don't remember that play. I didn't really see what happened. I was just running to the ball, and the ball popped out, and I just picked it up. I don't really remember what the play was, what happened, and why it happened the way it did."
What Brimmer does remember is "getting into a good rhythm. I think I got into a phase in the game where I felt comfortable on the field even with the rain and everything. My feet felt good and I got in a good rhythm and I made some good plays, I guess."
A pretty good guess there, Jamaal.
Brimmer says he also remembers how classy the disappointed Wisconsin fans were to the Rebels.
"When we got on the bus they were clapping for us as were leaving the stadium and everything," he said. "It really was a good situation and a good atmosphere there. I'm looking forward to going back there."
Brimmer was asked what he expects from the Badgers this time around.
"I think it will be more or less them making it seem like they're not going to come at me," he said. "But I think they are going to come at me. I think there are going to be plays where they come at me and see what happens and try and catch me out of position."
A preseason All-American, Brimmer, like most of his defensive teammates, struggled against a good Tennessee squad in Sunday night's 42-17 loss in Knoxville. The Rebels missed 30 tackles in that game and had several pass coverage miscues. Brimmer, the object of a few rips from ex-Notre Dame coach and TV color analyst Bob Davie, who will also be on hand to help broadcast Saturday's game, was beaten for a touchdown on one pass play and missed five tackles.
"I think there were a lot of plays that I normally would have made and tackles that I should have made," Brimmer said. "In the first half, and even in the third quarter, I found myself trying to do too much and I got myself out of position which I normally don't do. I don't know if it was first-game jitters or trying to do too much. But a lot of it is technical stuff that I know I can correct.
"I'm anxious to get back out there this week and see how we bounce back. I think we are going to do a better job this game of being more consistent."
Still, it will be almost impossible to top last year's game.
"That was a good feeling after that game," Brimmer said. "Hopefully we can experience it again on Saturday."
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