Dec. 7, 1999

LEXINGTON, Kty. – Jerry Claiborne, who was a player, assistant coach, and head coach at theUniversity of Kentucky, will be inducted into the College Football Hallof Fame tonight at the annual National Football Foundation and CollegeHall of Fame dinner in New York City.

Whalen, Sixbery Honored by The Sporting News: Tight end JamesWhalen and offensive guard Kip Sixbery have been honored by The SportingNews for their outstanding performances during the 1999 season. Whalenhas been chosen third-team All-America and Sixbery has been namedfirst-team Freshman All-America.

Whalen, a senior from Portland, Ore., caught 90 passes for1,019 yards and 10 touchdowns during the 1999 season, leading thenation’s tight ends in all three categories. He set NCAA records formost receptions in a season by a tight end and most receptions per game(8.2) by a tight end. His 90 catches also broke UK’s single-seasonrecord for receptions, eclipsing Craig Yeast’s mark of 85 set a yearago.

With 1,019 receiving yards, Whalen became the second Wildcat tosurpass the 1,000-yard receiving mark in a season. His 10 TD catchesalso are the second-best single-season mark in UK history.

Whalen had four games with double-digit receptions during the1999 season. With 10 catches against Indiana and 12 against Florida, hebecame the first player in school history to have double-digitreceptions in consecutive games. He duplicated that feat later in theseason with 10 catches at Georgia, followed by 11 at Mississippi State.

Whalen had five 100-yard receiving games, topped by 151 yards atGeorgia. He also caught four touchdown passes against the Bulldogs,tying a school record.

Whalen’s top individual play came in the season opener vs.Louisville. His 57-yard touchdown catch-and-run, capped by a dive intothe end zone, was named the Compaq “Best Hustle Play of the Week inCollege Football.”

Whalen has been named first-team All-America by the FootballWriters Association of America and the Walter Camp Football Foundation,second-team All-America by Football News, and third-team All-America byThe Sporting News.

Sixbery started all 11 games for the Wildcats and played everyoffensive down of the season. His blocking helped the Wildcats average28.6 points and 374.5 yards of total offense per game, fifth best in theSEC in both categories. The Wildcats led the SEC and ranked 13th in thenation in passing yardage with 299 passing yards per game. Kentuckyalso set a school record by scoring 30 or more points in fourconsecutive SEC games.

At 17 years old, Sixbery was the youngest Division I-A player inthe nation who started every game. He did not turn 18 years old untilafter the completion of the regular season.

Sixbery also has been named to the Freshman All-SEC team asselected by the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Smith, Snedegar, Whalen, Wajda Chosen for Coaches’ All-SEC Team:Punter Andy Smith, linebacker Jeff Snedegar, and tight end James Whalenhas been chosen first-team All-SEC and free safety Anthony Wajda was asecond-team choice on the Coaches’ All-SEC team selected by the league’shead coaches.

Whalen, a senior from Portland, Ore., was one of only threeplayers who were unanimous selections on the coaches’ team. (See abovestory for Whalen’s statistics and accomplishments this season.)

Like Whalen, Smith rose to stardom in his first season as astarting player. A senior from Franklin, Ky., Smith averaged 42.7 yardsper punt, third best in the league, but it was his excellent hang timeand punt placement that caught the eye of the league coaches. UKallowed only 53 punt return yards during the entire season. UK’s teammark of 39.92 net yards per punt led the SEC and ranked fifth in thenation in that category, and also set a school record. Smith placed 18punts within the opponent 20-yard line.

Snedegar, a senior from Salesville, Ohio, has been a three-yearstarter for the Wildcats at outside linebacker. He led the team with 84tackles, including five tackles for loss (-13 yards) and fourquarterback sacks (-32). He also had two interceptions, three passbreakups, and caused one fumble. He had a career-high 14 tackles atMississippi State. He was a candidate for the Butkus Award that goes tothe nation’s top linebacker.

Wajda, a sophomore from Louisville, entered the starting lineupin the second game of the season and made an immediate impact at freesafety. He garnered seven turnover plays during the season, fiveinterceptions and two fumble recoveries. He ranked third in the SEC and20th nationally in interceptions per game. He contributed a turnoverplay in four of Kentucky’s six victories this season. He was namedCNN/SI “Unsung Hero of the Week” and SEC Defensive Player of the Weekfollowing the win over LSU when he made two interceptions, had a passbreakup on the goal line, and had eight tackles. He broke open a closegame at South Carolina when he pounced on a fumble and returned it for atouchdown.

Team Schedule: