Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Abdulqaadir Named Gateway Conference Player of the Week
09/22/2002 | 12:00:00 | Football
Sept. 22, 2002
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Southern Illinois running back Muhammad Abdulqaadir was named the Gateway Conference co-offensive player-of-the-week on Sunday. He shared the honor with Southwest Missouri State's Zach Dechant.
Abdulqaadir, in his first career start, had 331 yards combined rushing and receiving in SIU's 76-21 victory against West Virginia Tech.
His 264 yards rushing were the second-most in school history and the second-most all-time in Gateway history. He scored SIU's first five TDs, while averaging 10.2 yards per carry.
Abdulqaadir's five rushing TDs are a Gateway record for rushing touchdowns in a game. In addition, his six TDs and subsequent 36 points are also league single-game records. His 331-yard all-purpose figure ranks second all-time in the Gateway for a single game.
Abdulqaadir became the first Saluki offensive player in more than two years to win the player-of-the-week honor. The last SIU player to do it was Tom Koutsos, who won the award for his 168-yard rushing performance against Northern Iowa on Sept. 16, 2000.
Koutsos, a senior, was injured last week against Murray State and is likely out for the season.
