Abdulqaadir Named National Player of the Week

09/24/2002 | 12:00:00 | Football

Sept. 24, 2002

Southern Illinois running back Muhammad Abdulqaadir was named the national player-of-the-week Tuesday by a pair of media organizations that cover I-AA football.

The College Sporting News and Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette both selected Abdulqaadir for his record-setting performance against West Virginia Tech Saturday.

Making his first career start, Abdulqaadir had one of the biggest games in school and Gateway Conference history. He had 331 all-purpose yards and scored six touchdowns in SIU's 76-21 victory over Tech.

Abdulqaadir rushed 26 times for 264 yards and five scores and added another touchdown on his only pass reception of the game, a 67-yard play. The rushing and all-purpose totals were second best in school and conference history, while the six touchdowns and 36 points were also league single-game marks.

The 5-7, 190-pound back's five rushing touchdowns set still another Gateway single-game record.