Dec. 29, 1999
By TERESA M. WALKER
AP Sports Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Kentucky vs. Syracuse looks like a bowl matchupthat’s a year too late.
When the Wildcats (6-5) took the field today against Syracuse (6-5) in theMusic City Bowl, the quarterbacks involved were Dusty Bonner and either TroyNunes or Madei Williams.
Not Tim Couch and Donovan McNabb.
Replacing players who went first and second overall in the NFL draft isnever easy. But unlike Syracuse, Kentucky coach Hal Mumme found Couch’sreplacement quickly, and his offense hasn’t missed a beat.
“We’re real proud of Dusty,” Mumme said. “I think somebody wrote abouthim late in the year that `Could anybody replace Tim Couch with more class?’and I think that really adequately describes Dusty.”
The sophomore had Couch-like numbers in turning what was supposed to be arebuilding year into Kentucky’s second straight bowl game. He completed 65.2percent of his passes for 3,266 yards and 26 touchdowns and led theSoutheastern Conference in total offense.
The dropoff was much worse at Syracuse.
Coach Paul Pasqualoni never settled on one quarterback, splitting the workbetween Nunes and Williams. The Orangemen subsequently finished with an offensethat ranked 80th in the nation with 335.8 yards.
Pasqualoni wasn’t expected to name his starter for the Music City Bowl untiljust before kickoff.
“I used to say this last year with Donovan McNabb that when the supportingcast around the quarterback plays well, the quarterback has a chance to playwell,” he said.
Syracuse has depended on its defense, which ranks 14th in the country, tocarry the offense. Pasqualoni will need the unit, led by linebacker KeithBulluck and end Duke Pettitjohn, to slow down Bonner.
The Orangemen haven’t faced anybody quite like Kentucky with the way theWildcats throw to everybody on the field, and Pasqualoni said they must tacklequickly.
“After the catch, they’ll really hurt you. … It’s going to really be atremendous challenge to us to try to cover the whole thing,” he said.
Mumme was hoping for a high-scoring game. Kentucky lost only once thisseason when scoring 30 or more points, and Mumme is 8-0 when the Wildcats top40.
“That’s not our deal,” Pasqualoni said. “A year ago, I’d have said `Yeah,let’s go.’ But right now, I’m not ready to say that.”
Playing in the Music City Bowl is a drop from the Bowl Championship Seriesgames the Orangemen played in the past two seasons.
But the Orangemen are trying to salvage their worst season since 1986,especially since they haven’t won a bowl game since 1996’s Liberty Bowl. Theywere routed by Kansas State in the 1997 Fiesta Bowl and lost to Florida 31-10in last season’s Orange Bowl.
“It’s as big a game for us as it would be for anybody,” Pasqualoni said.”Our team is going to be hungry to play in this game.”
Kentucky hasn’t won a bowl game since the 1984 Hall of Fame game. TheWildcats lost to Penn State 26-14 in last season’s Outback Bowl, their firstbowl game since 1993.
Kentucky tight end James Whalen, fifth nationally with 8.2 receptions agame, said the Wildcats partied too much last year. But he and other playerskeep reminding the Wildcats that they can match last season’s record with avictory.
“Now we need to take that to the next level and actually go in there andwin the bowl game,” he said.
The Music City Bowl is sponsored by HomePoint.com.
