Van Pelt, Brimmer set to square off in battle

Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003 | 9:38 a.m.

Bradlee Van Pelt and Jamaal Brimmer. An irresistible force versus ... another irresistible force.

In the Mountain West Conference, it doesn't get any better than Van Pelt, Colorado State's senior quarterback, and Brimmer, UNLV's junior strong safety.

On Saturday, the odds-on favorites for MWC offensive and defensive player of the year will go head to head, toe to toe, and, owing to their physical nature, most likely shoulder pad to shoulder pad in an intriguing matchup that could decide which of their teams will remain bowl eligible after Saturday's game at Sam Boyd Stadium.

"I feel confident, but I'm also confident he's going to make plays and force our defense to play better," said Brimmer, the MWC leader in interceptions with five and a member of the College Football News Midseason All-America Team.

"But I think our defense plays better against playmakers. Hopefully, we can just contain him as a defense, because I don't know what I can do against him by myself."

Well, give Brimmer full marks for being humble, but he can do plenty by himself. Just ask Jim Sorgi and the Wisconsin Badgers. On Sept. 13, Brimmer returned a fumble for a 55-yard touchdown, had 11 tackles, including two quarterback sacks, forced a fumble and made the first two interceptions of what is fast becoming a brilliant career.

For leading the Rebels (5-5) to a startling 23-5 upset victory, Brimmer was named the national defensive player of the week by the Football Writers Association of America.

Van Pelt, the son of former All-Pro linebacker Brad Van Pelt of the Giants, hits just as hard as old man, only he does it while running with the football. He might be the best running back in the MWC, only he's a quarterback.

But this year, the free-spirited Van Pelt also has become quite the passer, with 156 completions in 256 attempts (61 percent) for 2,548 yards and 19 touchdowns against just eight interceptions. With every yard he gains against the Rebels, Van Pelt will build upon his school record of 8,011 career yards.

Brimmer has developed an uncanny knack for getting to the quarterback, but against Van Pelt, that may not be enough. Once you get to him you have to bring him down, and it's not very often that one man can do it.

"He's real good at making things happen," Brimmer said of the Rams' battering ram, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 225 pounds, with most of it packed around his thighs and biceps. "When things break down and aren't going too well, he tries to spark their offense.

"He's the spark, so we'll have to put it out. Hopefully, we'll win the game if we can stop -- er, contain him a little," Brimmer added, changing to a more realistic goal in mid-sentence.

But Brimmer said this is the kind of matchup by which every defensive player measures himself.

"Oh yeah," he said in a tone that conveyed both eagerness to line up against Van Pelt and respect for what he has accomplished. "Especially in this kind of game, this kind of hype job. You want to see what a guy like that's got, and whether they can make your game better."

But before Van Pelt can get excited about going against Brimmer and the Rebels' stingy defense, he first has to get himself healthy. For the first time in his career, Van Pelt was slow to get up from a hit in the CSU's 21-6 victory against San Diego State in Fort Collins Saturday.

After running over about four Aztecs en route to a 25-yard gain, Van Pelt absorbed a a blow to the ribs from San Diego State linebacker Kirk Morrison. He had to be helped off the field but didn't miss a snap, and later threw a touchdown bomb to wide receiver Eric Hill that broke the game open in the fourth quarter.

"I told (our coaches) I'm sore, but if I can't do what you need me to do to win, I'll take myself out of the game," Van Pelt told the Denver Post.

In strong-armed Justin Holland, CSU (6-5) had a more-than-capable backup ready to go. But as the ESPN announcers are so found of saying, Van Pelt plays with a warrior's mentality, so Holland never got to put down the clipboard.