University of Houston Athletics
Three Cougars Honored By Conference USA
12/5/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 5, 2001
Despite their unfortunate travails in 2001, three members of the University of Houston football team were selected to the league postseason squad in Conference USA. A pair of record-setting upperclassmen and one up-and-coming freshman were named to the annual postseason teams.
Senior wide receiver Orlando Iglesias and junior safety Hanik Milligan were picked to the Conference USA Second Team, while freshman safety Jermain Woodard was a Conference USA All-Freshman selection.
Iglesias-who became the Cougars' all-time leading receiver at the conclusion of the year-led Houston in receiving with 63 catches for 710 yards and five touchdowns. After missing all but two quarters of last season, Iglesias returned to action this season with a vengeance, not only pacing the Cougars receiving attack, but also setting three major records along the way.
Iglesias began the season in the throws of a 32-game reception streak and ended 2001 with a school-record streak of 43 straight games with a catch. He broke the record of 33 consecutive held by Charlie West. Iglesias had at least one catch in 44 of the 45 games he played at Houston.
With six catches in the season finale, Iglesias also became the school's all-time leader in receptions with 222, eclipsing the mark of 220 set by Manny Hazard in 1989-90. Iglesias finished his UH career with 2,810 yards receiving and 17 touchdown receptions, which placed him second and fifth, respectively, on the school's receiving charts.
The final record established by Iglesias was catches in one quarter, when the Miami, Florida, native hauled in 10 passes in the third quarter against UAB. He finished the game with a career-best 13 receptions.
As for Milligan, he racked up an incredible 174 tackles on the season, which not only lead all Cougars, but also Conference USA. His total tackle marks are just three shy of the school record of 177 set by Frank Ditta in 1970. He had at least 10 tackles in every game while posting at least 20 on three occasions. Against TCU Milligan pulled down 22 would-be Horned Frog runners, which was the fourth best total in UH history.
Finally, Woodard illustrated he had no problems adjusting from All-Greater Houston running back to top-notch Division I-A defender in his first true season with the Cougars. Despite missing the final game of the season with a broken foot, Woodard finished third on the team in total tackles with 78-an average of 7.8 per game. He was second in tackles for loss with seven and also forced two fumbles.
-UHCougars.com-
