Sports
 

Four score for Cougars

By Keenan Singleton
The Daily Cougar

The Cougars are going to party like it's 1999.

In 2003.

Three members of former head coach Kim Helton's last recruiting class in 1999, seniors Rex Hadnot, Brandon Middleton and Stephen Cucci were named to the Preseason First-Team, All-Conference USA team as selected in a poll from the head football coaches in the conference.

Senior punter Jimmy McClary, who transferred to UH from Hofstra in 2000, was also selected.

But everyone is reserving the celebration until season's end.

"The individual accolades are OK, you always like to be noticed for what you are doing, but football, as we all know, is a team sport," said center Rex Hadnot, who only allowed one sack last season. "The more wins we get, the more people we can get on the (All-Conference) team. I'm just trying to spread the wealth."

Without good friend and fellow interior offensive lineman Al James (out this season with a knee injury), Hadnot is the undisputed leader of the O-line. He was consensus Second-Team, All-C-USA awardee last season. He was named UH Offensive Player-of-the Game against Texas last year and was a two-time Offensive Player-of-the-Game in 2001.

Middleton has always had to defer the wide receiver spotlight while at UH. First it was arguably the Cougars' all-time greatest receiver, Orlando Iglesias. Last season it was departed seniors KeyKowa Bell and Brian Robinson.

He has the green light to dominate this season.

"This is a good thing for Brandon," outside receivers coach Jason Phillips said. "He's starting to get some notoriety. He's going to start the season with high expectations, but he should respond well."

Middleton led all Houston receivers in reception yards (674) and touchdowns (6) last season. 

Cucci stretched the field for the Cougars last season, shedding blockers for 12 catches for 173 yards and three TDs. Surgery on both shoulders in 2001 didn't prevent Cucci from garnering Second-Team, All-C-USA honors in 2002. 

"(He's) an intelligent player, a good leader and runs good routes, his stats should go up this year," head coach Art Briles said.

Briles doesn't want to see punter Jimmy McClary on the field. Seriously.

If McClary sees extended time on the field, it means the offense isn't getting its job done.

"Jimmy has a real powerful leg," Briles said. "But I hope we don't have to use him."

McClary's balls often kissed the clouds last season, netting a 38.9 per kick average on 62 punts. Fourteen of his kicks landed inside the 20-yard line, the measuring stick of a punter's prowess.

Let the party begin.

 Send comments to dcsports@mail.uh.edu