University of Houston Athletics
Fantastic Freshman Receives League Honor
9/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 22, 2003
HOUSTON, Texas - Fresh off another outstanding performance against Mississippi State last Saturday night, University of Houston freshman quarterback Kevin Kolb (Stephenville, Texas) today was named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week.
Kolb is the second Cougar this season to be honored by the league office in Chicago. Junior linebacker Lance Everson picked up C-USA Defensive Player of the Week accolades after his performance in the win over Rice in the season opener.
In leading the Cougars to a 42-35 win over the Bulldogs at John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium two days ago, Kolb passed for a career-best 321 yards and four touchdowns on 20-of-29 throwing. He suffered no interceptions for the third time in four games in 2003.
Kolb set the tone for the evening by hooking up with Brandon Middleton on a 74-yard touchdown on the first play of the game. He later directed the Cougars on five other scoring drives, and he personally culminated three of those drives with touchdown strikes to Vincent Marshall (13 & 23 yards) and Leonard Gibson (50 yards.) Kolb also tacked on seven yards rushing.
In becoming the first true freshman to start the season at quarterback in the Cougars' 58-year history, Kolb has guided Houston to a 3-1 mark heading into the East Carolina game on Tuesday, September 30. It is Houston's best start since the 1990 season, when the Cougars won their first eight games en route to a 10-1 finish.
Kolb's four touchdown passes were the most for Houston quarterback in almost five years. Former UH quarterback Jason McKinley threw five touchdowns against Cincinnati in 1998.
For the year Kolb has thrown for 788 yards and seven touchdowns, while completing 60.6 percent of his passes (60-99 with only one interception.) He also has rushed for 84 yards and two touchdowns on 38 total carries.
Kolb is quickly moving up the charts for freshman quarterbacks at UH. He is already second all-time in TD passes (7), trailing McKinley's nine in 1997, and his touchdowns responsible for tie him with McKinley's mark in 1997. His 60 completions trails Andre Ware (83, 1987) for third-best all-time, while his 99 attempts are fifth best behind the 120 attempts by Gerald Landry in 1983.
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