WAC Football Players of the Week Awarded
11/20/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
Tomlinson, a senior from Waco, Texas (University HS), won his second straight player of the week award and fourth of the year after he rushed for 305 yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries in a 47-14 win against UTEP.
Two of the touchdowns came on his longest runs of the season - 68 and 89 yards. It was his fifth 200-yard game of the season and third career 300-yard game. Tomlinson became the WAC's all-time leading rusher and currently has 5,089 yards. He also broke his own WAC single-season rushing record of 1,850 yards set last year and now has 1,984 yards with one game left against SMU.
Espiau, a junior from Kailua, Oahu (Western Oregon), tied a school record with three interceptions in Hawai'i's 27-10 win over Louisiana Tech. The WAC's leading tackler also made six tackles and broke up another pass in the game while returning the three picks for 27 yards.
Hardiman, a freshman from San Diego, Calif. (Lincoln HS), returned two kickoffs for 70 yards and made three tackles on special teams in Nevada's 34-28 win versus Rice. He returned one of the kickoffs 52 yards. Hardiman also added six tackles on defense.
Other offensive nominees included freshman quarterback Timmy Chang, Hawaii; junior quarterback David Neill, Nevada; and freshman running back Eric Richardson, Tulsa.
On the defensive side, nominees included freshman free safety Bryce McGill, Fresno State; freshman defensive tackle Derek Kennard, Nevada; junior linebacker Chad Bayer, TCU; and senior linebacker Ashon Farley, Tulsa.
There were no other special team nominations.
