Sports
 

'Kolonel' Kolb wins honor

Cougar Sports Services

It was only a formality. 

Conference USA announced its 2003 individual awards today, including Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and Freshman of the Year. As expected, UH quarterback Kevin Kolb was named the 2003 C-USA Freshman of the Year.

Kolb helped revitalize a moribund Houston football team that only two years ago was 0-11. The 2003 Cougars under head coach Art Briles are 7-5 this season and will play in the Hawaii Bowl against Hawaii on Christmas Day.

C-USA named Kolb to its All-Freshman Team on Wednesday. He was one of five Cougars selected to the team. In addition, seven Cougars earned spots on the C-USA all-conference teams. Senior wide receiver Brandon Middleton and senior center Rex Hadnot were named to the first team.

Kolb led all Division I-A freshmen with 201 pass completions, 2,799 passing yards and 23 touchdown passes. He threw only five interceptions in 326 attempts, the lowest total of any freshman with more than 200 attempts.

The 5.8-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio is the second-highest in UH history. Against Texas Christian on Oct. 25, Kolb became only the fourth player in Division I-A history to pass for more than 400 yards and throw for more than 100 yards in a single game.

He also helped the Cougars on the ground, carrying the ball 107 times for 339 yards and seven touchdowns. Kolb led a balanced Cougar offensive attack that averaged 453.4 yards per game.

The true freshman from Stephenville High School decided to come to UH after he learned Briles had earned the head coaching job. Though Kolb never played for Briles, he played under the system Briles installed as Stephenville's head coach.

Kolb is the third UH player to win the C-USA Freshman of the Year award. Running back Ketric Sanford won the award in 1996, and quarterback Jason McKinley won the award in 1997.

The C-USA Offensive Player of the Year award was given to Memphis sophomore running back DeAngelo Williams. Southern Miss senior linebacker Rod Davis earned the Defensive Player of the Year Award, and TCU place kicker Nick Browne won the C-USA Special Teams Player of the Year award.

The Coach of the Year award went to Southern Miss head coach Jeff Bower, who led the team to a 9-3 overall record and an 8-0 record in C-USA. By winning the C-USA championship, Bower and the Golden Eagles earned a spot in the Liberty Bowl against Utah.

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