Pieffer masters the art of dyeing

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2001 | 9:58 a.m.

It isn't hard to spot UNLV placekicker Dillon Pieffer on the sidelines these days.

Just look for the fellow with the hairdo that looks like the Michigan Wolverine helmet.

The sophomore from Colorado Springs has blond streaks running through his normally brown hair that look remarkably similar in design to that of the Michigan helmet.

Pieffer, who has connected on five of nine field goal tries this season, said he decided to dye his hair after getting off to a slow start. He missed three of his first four attempts after missing one try in seven attempts during the entire 2000 season.

"When I dye my hair, it just kind of totally relaxes me," Pieffer said. "It's like I'm having fun again."

Pieffer had dyed all his hair blond last season. However, this year he decided to just do several wide streaks through it.

"The first time I saw him a year ago, I thought he had gone over the edge," UNLV head coach John Robinson said with a smile. "But this time when I saw him I thought, 'Oh boy, maybe he'll kick better now that he has that weird hair back.' And he has.

"He's a great kid. There's humor in it. And he takes all kinds of abuse for doing it. It's kind of fun."

Since the dye job, Pieffer has connected on four of five field goals, including a season-best 41-yarder at Nevada-Reno.

"When I went to Reno, I obviously got it from their fans," Pieffer said. "But it kind of makes me laugh and chuckle."

What does Pieffer call his latest style?

"I have no idea," he said. "I did see a Michigan game this weekend and thought that it did kind of look like their helmets. I've been called 'Skunk' and 'Badger.' All my roommates call me 'Skunkhead' and 'Skunkboy,' stuff like that. ... I don't mind it because they're my friends."

Pieffer's style could be catching on. Team broadcaster Tony Cordasco, who also has brown hair, told Pieffer he'd match Pieffer's hairdo if Pieffer could kick a field goal over 40 yards. A few days later at Reno, Pieffer did just that.

"I'm still trying to get him on that one," said Pieffer, who even called Cordasco on the team's postgame show after Saturday night's victory to remind him of the bet. "He hasn't yet. He kind of got out of that. But maybe he can get a wig or something."

Or a Michigan Wolverine helmet.

Mason returned three punts for 114 yards, including a 52-yarder on the final play of the first half for his second career return for a touchdown. He also had a 57-yarder to the San Diego State 18-yard line that led to UNLV's second touchdown.

Mason also caught two passes for 56 yards against the Aztecs. He now ranks second in the MWC and 15th in the nation in punt return average with a 13.24 average.

"Troy Mason had been having a miserable year until Saturday when he broke out of it," Robinson said. "Special teams played a dramatic part in that game."

It was the second time in as many weeks that a UNLV player took home the honor. Punter Gary Cook earned the award a week earlier. Mason also won the honor once last season.

Air Force quarterback Keith Boyea was named MWC offensive player of the week while Wyoming linebacker Leo Cairnes earned the award on defense.