Oct. 29, 1999

Guy Morriss Nominated for AFCA Assistant Coach of the YearAward: Guy Morriss, UK’s assistant head coach and offensive line coach,has been nominated for the Assistant Coach of the Year Award given bythe American Football Coaches Association.

Morriss has done a remarkable job with the Wildcats’ offensiveline since joining Coach Hal Mumme’s staff in 1997. In his firstseason, Morriss took run-oriented blockers and turned them into passprotectors, helping launch Mumme’s “Air Raid” offense. UK zoomed tosixth in the nation in total offense in 1997, up from 109th the previousyear. In 1998, Morriss’ senior-dominated offensive line helped UK scoremore points and gain more yards than any team in school history.

And, although Morriss had to replace the entire startingoffensive line this season, the Wildcats have averaged 31.6 points and401 yards total offense per game.

In addition to on-the-field coaching ability, criteria fornomination also includes service to the community, participation in AFCAactivities and events, participation in other professionalorganizations, and impact on student-athletes.

Dusty Bonner on Davey O’Brien Award List: Kentucky quarterbackDusty Bonner is one of 25 candidates for the 1999 Davey O’Brien NationalQuarterback Award.

Bonner has completed 229 of 340 passes (67.4 percent) for 2,573yards, 21 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions. Bonner has thrownfor at least 250 yards in all eight games and has at least three TDpasses in five games. He ranks second in the nation in completions andpassing yardage, third in completion percentage, fourth in TD passes,eighth in passing efficiency, and 11th in total offense.

Bonner is one of only six sophomores on the O’Brien Award list.He is in his first season as a starter after succeeding Tim Couch, whowas a finalist for the award a year ago.