Wildcats look to repeat romp of Cardinals in ’98 opener.
Aug. 30, 1999
Louisville (0-0, 0-0) at Kentucky (0-0, 0-0)
Sept. 4, 1999, 3:37 p.m. EDT
Commonwealth Stadium (cap. 67,530)
Wildcats Headlines
* Kentucky begins its 109th season of intercollegiate football
* First game in the expanded Commonwealth Stadium
* “Air Raid” offense features new quarterback, offensive line, receivers
* “Black Flag” defense is more experienced, deeper, and faster than a year
ago.
On the Tube
Three entities will be televising this game.
Live TV – The game will be televised by Fox Sports Net South. FSNS is thenation’s largest regional sports cable network, reaching more than 7.5million subscribers in seven states. A total of 17 cable systems inKentucky have FSNS.
The Intermedia cable systems in Lexington and Louisville do not have FSNS,but the game will be carried live on the “FX” channel in those markets.FSNS may syndicate the broadcast to other cable systems this week.
Bob Rathbun calls the play-by-play, Charles Davis is the analyst, andRalph Shaheen is the sideline reporter.
Delay TV – The UKTV Network, which features 13 stations and cable systems,will televise the game on a delayed basis. The UKTV Network will pick upthe UK Radio Network announcers’ call of the game. Rob Bromley will handlethe pregame, halftime, and post-game show.
Check local listings for the UKTV Network station and telecast time inyour area.
Television station WDRB in Louisville also will have a delayed telecast ofthe game. Don Russell and Craig Swabek call the action.
On the Radio
The University of Kentucky Football Radio Network will carry the broadcaston approximately 80 stations. The network includes flagship station WVLK(590 AM) in Lexington and 50,000-watt stations WHAS (840 AM) and WSAI (1530AM).
Tom Leach calls the play-by-play for the Wildcats. Former Wildcats starJeff Van Note is the analyst and Dick Gabriel is the sideline reporter.
Tickets
It’s a sellout. All six Kentucky-Louisville games have been sold outsince the series renewal in 1994.
Kentucky also is sold out in season tickets for the third time in schoolhistory, joining 1994 and 1998.
1999 Kentucky Schedule (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
Sept. 4 Louisville, 3:37 p.m., Fox Sports Net SouthSept. 11 Connecticut, 1:30 p.m.Sept. 18 at Indiana, noon, ESPNSept. 25 Florida, 1:30 p.m.Oct. 2 Arkansas, 1:30 p.m.Oct. 9 at South Carolina, 1:00 p.m.Oct. 16 Louisiana State, 7:00 p.m.Oct. 23 at Georgia, 1:00 p.m.Oct. 30 openNov. 4 at Mississippi State, 8:00 p.m., ESPNNov. 13 at Vanderbilt, time TBANov. 20 Tennessee, 1:30 p.m.
1999 Louisville Schedule (0-0, 0-0 CUSA)
Sept. 4 at KentuckySept. 11 ChattanoogaSept. 18 IllinoisSept. 25 OklahomaOct. 2 Eastern MichiganOct. 7 at ArmyOct. 16 at MemphisOct. 23 HoustonOct. 30 Alabama-BirminghamNov. 6 at CincinnatiNov. 13 Southern Mississippi
The History of Wildcats vs. Cardinals
Overall: UK leads the series, 9-2
Current streak: UK has won two in a row
First meeting: 1912, UK 41-0 in Lexington
Last meeting: 1998, UK 68-34 in Louisville
Last U of L win: 1996, 38-14 in Lexington
In Lexington: UK leads 6-2
Series notes: The teams played six times from 1912-24, with the Wildcats
winning all six games by shutout The series was dormant until the renewal
in 1994 UK has won three of five games since the renewal.
Last Season vs. Louisville
Kentucky got its season off to a flying start as the Wildcats won theinaugural game at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium with a 68-34 win overLouisville.
The Wildcats rolled up school records for total offense (801), passingyardage (571), first downs (37), and passing first downs (24) while scoringthe most points in a game since 1951. Kentucky also tied its own SECrecord with eight touchdown passes.
Junior quarterback Tim Couch led the offense by completing 29 of 39 passesfor 498 yards, seven touchdowns, and no interceptions. He was namedNational Player of the Week by the College Sports News internet service andon the CNN/SI and The Sporting News internet fan polls.
Wide receiver Craig Yeast caught nine passes for a then-career-high 150yards and two touchdowns. Fullback Derek Homer paced the ground game with123 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries.
QB Chris Redman led Louisville by completing 25 of 44 passes for 368 yardsand four touchdowns. Tight end Ibn Green caught eight aerials for 132yards and two touchdowns.
How Experienced are the Tentative Starters?
Sr. Jr. Soph. RFr. Fr.UK 6 8 7 0 1U of L 10 9 0 3 0
Louisville Ties
Kentucky has four players from Louisville, including sophomore DE ChrisDemaree, sophomore DT Richard Hardin, junior LB Gus Jacobs, and sophomoreFS Anthony Wajda.
In addition, sophomore kicker Marc Samuel, of Anchorage, Ky., played atLouisville’s Ballard High School.
Season Openers
Kentucky has a record of 77-26-5 (.736) in season openers, including twowins in a row. Kentucky has a 69-12-4 record (.835) in season openersplayed at home.
This is the sixth consecutive year that Kentucky and Louisville have metto open the season.
The Governor’s Cup and the Kroger Scholarships
The Governor’s Cup was created in 1994 as the trophy for the winner of theKentucky-Louisville game.
Donated by The Kroger Company at a cost of $23,000, the Governor’s Cupstands 33 inches tall and weighs 110 pounds. The trophy’s base andupright columns are hand-milled black marble. The glass components areoptic-grade crystal. All metal parts are 23-karat, gold-plated brass. Thecup itself is made of pewter with a 23-karat gold-plated finish.
The Governor’s Cup was designed by Kendall Costner and sculpted by JamesCorcoran of Bruce Fox, Inc.
The Kroger Company also is involved in supporting academic pursuits at theschools. Kroger is donating $10,000 to the general scholarship fund ofeach school in each year of the current six-year football contract.Kroger’s donations now total $120,000 — $60,000 to each school.
First Game in Expanded Stadium
Saturday’s game marks the first contest in the expanded Commonwealth
Stadium. Here are some facts and figures on the expansion:
Seating Capacity: 67,530, including the Commonwealth Suites. The former
capacity was 57,800.
Video Boards: Mitsubishi Diamond Vision, 19 x 34 feet on the west end
zone (University Drive) and 16 x 28.5 feet on the east end zone (Nutter
Field House).
New Sound System: Coordinated by Mitsubishi as part of the video board
project.
New Scoreboards: Two, one in each end zone, constructed by Fairtron
Scoreboards.
New Restrooms: Eight, four on each end.
New Concession Stands: 10, five on each end.
New Concourse Televisions: 38, one at each concession stand in the stadium.
Cmmonwealth Suites: Total of 40, 10 in each corner of the stadium 36
suites seat 18 people each and are leased for $39,600 per year Four
suites seat 24 people each and are leased for $52,800 per year.
Architect: HNTB of Kansas City, Mo.
Construction Manager: Turner Construction of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Cost: Projected at $24 million, with spending authority up to $27.6 million.
Notes on the TV Appearance
* This is the second consecutive season that Fox Sports has televised theUK-U of L game.
* This is the third time that the UK-U of L game has been nationally orregionally telecast, along with 1996 by ESPN2 and 1998 on Fox Sports.
* Kentucky will have at least three live TV appearances in the 1999 season. The Indiana and Mississippi State games already have been selected by ESPN.
* Kentucky has been a popular TV team under Coach Hal Mumme. The Wildcatswere made six live national or regional appearances in 1997, a schoolrecord. The 1998 ‘Cats broke that record with eight live TV games.
* Kentucky holds an all-time record of 17-53-1 on national or regional TV,including 1-0 on Fox Sports.
Kentucky vs. Conference USA
Kentucky has an all-time record of 47-19-3 against teams currentlycomprising Conference USA, including 9-2 vs. Louisville.
First Starts
The tentative lineup has seven players – three on offense, three ondefense, and one specialist – slated to make the first starts of theircareers.
The list includes QB Dusty Bonner, OG Kip Sixbery, OG Josh Parrish, DTGeorge Massey, LB Jamal White, CB Kenneth Grant, and K Marc Samuel.
Sixbery is a true freshman. This marks the fourth consecutive year that atrue freshman could start for UK in the season opener. WR Quentin McCordstarted the first game in 1996, followed by FS Willie Gary and HB DerekHomer in 1997, and SS David Johnson in 1998.
Sixbery also holds the distinction of being the youngest starting playerin Division I-A football. Born on Nov. 27, 1981, on game day he will be 17years, nine months, and eight days old.
Charting the Tendencies
Kentucky has a 12-11 overall record in two seasons under Coach Hal Mumme.
Here are some tendencies that have emerged that generate success for the
Wildcats. Kentucky’s record when:
* UK scores 40+ points: 6-0
* UK scores 30+ points: 11-2
* Opp. scores less than 30 points: 8-4
* UK loses 0 or 1 turnover: 6-1
* UK is plus or even in turnover margin: 6-1
* UK rushes for more yards than opponent: 6-2
* UK holds opponent to less than 100 rushing yards: 5-0
UK in the 1998 NCAA Stats
Last season, Kentucky ranked second in the nation in passing offense(412.2 yards per game), third in total offense (534.2 yards per game), andeighth in scoring (37.9 points per game).
Individually, quarterback Tim Couch led the nation in completions (400),is second in completion percentage (72.3), touchdowns (36), and passingyardage (4,275), and is fourth in total offense (377.4 yards per game)
Wide receiver Craig Yeast rated seventh in the country in receptions (7.7per game), sixth in receiving yardage (119.2 yards per game), ninth inall-purpose yardage (167.4 per game), and is fifth in the nation in kickoffreturns (29.3 yards per return).
Halfback Anthony White ranked ninth place nationally in receptions with7.1 catches per game. He led the nation’s running backs in pass receptionswith 78.
Wildcats in the 1998 SEC Stats
Team and individual stats in the top three in the SEC during the 1998 season:
Team
Scoring: 1st, 37.9 points per game
Passing Offense: 1st, 412.2 yards per game
Passing Efficiency: 1st, 155.3 rating points
Total Offense: 1st, 534.2 yards per game
First Downs: 1st, 292 first downs
Quarterback Sacks: 3rd, 29 sacks
Third Down Conversions: 2nd, 43.8 percent
Third Down Conversion Defense: 2nd, 28.9 percent
Time of Possession: 1st, 32:55 of time per game
Field Goal Percentage: 3rd, 73.3 percent
Individual
Passing Yardage: Tim Couch 1st, 388.6 yards per game
Passing Efficiency: Tim Couch 1st, 153.3 rating points
Total Offense: Tim Couch 1st, 377.4 yards per game
Receptions: Craig Yeast 1st, 7.7 per game, Anthony White 2nd, 7.1 per game
Receiving Yardage: Craig Yeast 2nd, 119.2 yards per game
All-Purpose Yardage: Craig Yeast 2nd, 167.4 yds. per game
Kickoff Returns: Craig Yeast 1st, 29.3 yards per return
TD Scoring: Craig Yeast 3rd, 8.2 points per game
Kick Scoring: Seth Hanson 3rd, 7.4 points per game
Field Goal Percentage: Seth Hanson 3rd, 73.3 percent
“Air Raid” Offense
UK’s “Air Raid” offense must be rebuilt following the departure of eightstarters, including the move of starting tight end Jimmy Haley to thedefensive line. … UK’s 1998 offense produced more points and more yardsthan any team in school history.
Offensive Line – All five seniors who handled the majority of playing timelast season have departed … The tentative starting line includes onejunior, three sophomores, and a true freshman … The 1998 senior linemenfinished their careers with 142 starting assignments, the 1999 line beginsthe season with a total of six starts — four by LT Matt Brown, one by CNolan DeVaughn, and one by RT Omar Smith in 1996 … LG Kip Sixbery and RGJosh Parrish will be making their first starts.
Tight Ends – Probably ranks as the deepest position on the team, with fourplayers who will see action … Senior James Whalen, a part-time starterlast season, leads the way … Freshmen Derek Smith, Chase Harp, and BobbyBlizzard should make this position secure for years to come.
Running Backs – Senior HB Anthony White and junior FB Derek Homer form oneof the best tandems in the Southeastern Conference. White and Homer havecombined for 4,019 rushing and receiving yards the last two seasons, morethan any other duo in the SEC. White is one of 19 players in NCAA DivisionI-A history who have more than 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receivingyards in a career (see chart below) … Senior A. J. Simon sees a lot ofplaying time, primarily as a blocker … Sophomore HB Kendrick Shanklinplayed very well in the spring and should see greater playing time thisseason … Senior Lee Wesley returned to the backfield in August after twoyears at linebacker, he looked good and should see spot duty.
Wide Receivers – A less experienced group than a year ago following thedeparture of three seniors, including Craig Yeast, the leading passreceiver in SEC history … The only senior in the current group, JimmyRobinson, sustained a broken arm during the summer and might be lost forthe season … Junior Quentin McCord is the leading returnee … Alsoexpected in the rotation are junior Garry Davis, sophomores Dougie Allen,Vincent Harrison, and Mike Beirne, and with true freshman Brad Pyatt.Quarterbacks – Sophomore Dusty Bonner is the successor to All-American TimCouch, the No. 1 pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. As Couch’s backup in 1997,Bonner completed 10 of 14 passes for 114 yards. He redshirted last season… Redshirt freshman Mike Scipione is the backup, followed closely byjunior walk-on Mark Perry.
Anthony White Makes Elite NCAA List
UK halfback Anthony White is one of only 19 players in Division I-Ahistory who have reached the 1,000-yard mark in rushing and receiving in acareer, according to research by the NCAA.
White has 1,196 rushing yards and 1,051 receiving yards as a Wildcat.With his senior season to come in 1999, White can add to those totals. Arealistic goal would be the 1,500-yard mark in rushing and receiving. Onlytwo players in I-A history, Stanford’s Darrin Nelson and Brad Muster, havereached the 1,500-yard mark in each category.
Here is the list of 1,000-yard rushers and receivers, in order of yearachieved:
Player, Team, Years Rush Rec.Donny Anderson, Texas Tech, 1963-65 2,280 1,347Frank Quayle, Virginia, 1966-68 2,695 1,145Darrin Nelson, Stanford, 1981-84 4,033 1,368Dalton Hilliard, Louisiana State, 1982-85 4,050 1,133Steve Bartolo, Colorado State, 1983-86 4,813 1,079George Swarn, Miami (Ohio), 1983-86 4,172 1,057Brad Muster, Stanford, 1984-87 2,940 1,669Eric Metcalf, Texas, 1985-88 2,661 1,394Steve Broussard, Washington St., 1986-89 2,915 1,168Chuck Weatherspoon, Houston, 1987-90 3,247 1,375Glyn Milburn, Okla. '88/Stanford 1990-92 2,302 1,495Terry Kirby, Virginia, 1989-92 3,348 1,022Ryan Benjamin, Pacific, 1990-92 3,119 1,063Mike Alstott, Purdue, 1992-95 3,635 1,075Andre Davis, Texas Christian, 1992-95 3,182 1,084Leon Johnson, North Carolina, 1993-96 3,693 1,288Warrick Dunn, Florida State, 1993-96 3,958 1,314Hines Ward, Georgia, 1994-97 1,063 1,965Anthony White, Kentucky, 1996-present 1,196 1,051
“Black Flag” Defense
Coordinator Mike Major calls his unit the “Black Flag” defense. The ideais to give his players the mindset of “never surrender.”
In 1998, despite an inexperienced starting lineup that featured eight newstarters, Kentucky improved its scoring defense by 1.2 points per game andits total defensive yardage by 6.2 yards per game, compared to 1997. Sevenstarters are back from last season, plus FS Willie Gary, a starter in 1997before missing most of last year because of injury.
Defensive Line – Three seniors start in the defensive forward wall … DEAnwar Stewart was ineligible last season, but looked very good in thespring and could be poised for a big year in ’99 … Gordon Crowe returnsto DT after playing DE last season … DT George Massey gets his firstchance as a starter after playing as a reserve the last three seasons …Sophomore DE Dennis Johnson figures to be much improved a year in theweight room and recovery from a wrist injury that hampered him last season. He played well in ’98, earning Freshman All-America honors, despitelimitations from the wrist injury. Internet site College Football News.comhas chosen him as a preseason first-team All-American … There is good,experienced depth at DE and promising, but inexperienced depth at DT.
Linebackers – All three starters return from last season, but there hasbeen some movement in positions … Junior Marlon McCree, who is alightning bolt of a blitzer, returns at OLB … Senior Jeff Snedegar, whostarted at OLB last season, moves inside to start at MLB. Snedegar is onthe Butkus Award watch list … Last year’s starter at MLB, John Rader, hasmoved to DE … Sophomore Jamal White has come on strong to earn a startingpost at OLB … There is excellent depth with sophomores Ronnie Riley, RyanMurphy, and Chris Gayton Longtime observers believe this is one of thedeepest sets of Kentucky linebackers in school history.
Secondary – Although there are no seniors in the secondary, there is someexperience … Junior FS Willie Gary and sophomore SS David Johnson eachearned Freshman All-America recognition in their rookie seasons … Thereis quality depth behind them with sophomore FS Anthony Wajda and truefreshman SS Quentus Cumby … Steady junior Eric Kelly returns at one CB… The other CB is junior Kenneth Grant, who has outstanding athleticability but needs experience … Junior Jeremy Bowie is a dependable backupat cornerback.
A Look at the Specialists
Kickers – Junior Seth Hanson, a two-year starter and preseason All-SECpick by some selectors, has been sidelined by a strained quadriceps muscle… Sophomore Marc Samuel will be called upon in Hanson’s place. Samuelhandled kickoffs two years ago but missed the 1998 season because of astrained groin muscle. Samuel has not attempted an extra point or fieldgoal in a collegiate game. He also will handle kickoffs.
Punters – Senior Andy Smith is the new starting punter. He has neverpunted for the Wildcats, but does have some collegiate experience. He wasthe starting punter for Western Kentucky in 1995, averaging 37.4 yards perpunt.
Returners – Sophomores Dougie Allen (kickoffs) and Kendrick Shanklin(punts and kickoffs) project as UK’s top returners Shanklin hopes toimprove his average of 12.2 yards per kickoff return last season. He alsoreturned one punt in 1998.
Defense Scoring, Too
The Wildcats defense has done its part to help UK rank among the national
leaders in scoring. The defense scored in six games in 1998, including:
* David Johnson 21-yard fumble return vs. Eastern Ky.,
* John Rader 46-yard interception return vs. Indiana,
* Matt Layow six-yard interception return at Florida,
* Marlon McCree sack for a safety vs. South Carolina,
* Eric Kelly two-point defensive PAT return at LSU,
* Marlon McCree 22-yard fumble return vs. Vanderbilt.
Block That Kick!
During the two seasons that Coach Mike Major has been in charge of theKentucky defense, the Wildcats have blocked seven opponent kicks, includingfive field goals, one extra point, and one punt. Here’s the list:
1997, Indiana punt (Bob Holmberg)
1997, Alabama field goal (David Ginn)
1997, Georgia field goal (Jeff Zurcher)
1997, Georgia extra point (Lamont Smith)
1997, Louisiana State field goal (David Ginn)
1998, Arkansas field goal (Dennis Johnson)
1998, Louisiana State field goal (Jermaine White)
Preseason Honors for the Wildcats
* LB Jeff Snedegar first-team All-SEC by Athlon
* HB Anthony White first-team All-SEC by Lindy’s
* K Seth Hanson first-team All-SEC by The Sporting News and Preview Sports
* DE Dennis Johnson first-team All-America by College Football News.com,
first-team All-SEC by Street and Smith’s, and second-team All-SEC by TheSporting News
Post-Season National Award Watch
Jeff Snedegar is on the watch list for the Dick Butkus Award, which goesto the nation’s top linebacker.
Anthony White is on the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, which goesto the nation’s top running back.
Numbers Here, Numbers There
Here are some various statistical superlatives among current players,including regular-season games only.
Most Games Played: 33 by Gordon Crowe
Most Games Started: 22 by Jeff Snedegar
100-Yard Rushing Games: 4 by Derek Homer, 3 by Anthony White
100-Yard Receiving Games: 1 by Jimmy Robinson, 1 by Anthony White
Games With Double-Figure Tackles: 7 by Jeff Snedegar, 3 by Willie Gary
Consecutive Games With at Least One Pass Reception: 22 by Anthony White,
White also has caught at least four passes in the last 12 games
Consecutive Games With a Quarterback Sack: 4 by Jeff Snedegar
Scoring in the Blue Zone in 1998 (20-and-in, regular season only)
Kentucky: Converted 38 of 46 opportunities for 223 points (28 touchdowns,10 field goals, one held on downs, two interceptions, two fumbles, onemissed field goal, one punt, one end of game).
Opponents: Converted 33 of 42 opportunities for 191 points (23 touchdowns,10 field goals, one punt, two blocked field goals, four missed field goals,one held on downs, one end of half).
Head Coach Hal Mumme
Hal Mumme (Tarleton State, 1975) has a 12-11 record in his third season ashead coach of the Wildcats. Mumme was the first UK coach to have a winningrecord in his first two seasons since Blanton Collier in 1954-55. He wasvoted 1997 GTE Region 2 Coach of the Year by his peers in the AmericanFootball Coaches Association. He is in his 11th season as a collegiatehead coach and has a career record of 77-38-1 (.668).
Mumme had a 40-17-1 mark from 1992-96 at Valdosta State, where he took theBlazers to the NCAA Division II national playoffs in 1994 and 1996. He wasnamed 1994 Georgia Coach of the Year by the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame,the 1996 GTE Region 2 Coach of the Year by the AFCA, and the 1996 GulfSouth Conference Coach of the Year.
Mumme had a 25-10 record from 1989-91 at Iowa Wesleyan College. He tookhis team to the Steamboat Classic bowl game in 1989 and ’90 and to the NAIAnational playoffs in 1991. He was named the NAIA District Coach of theYear in 1989 and 1991.
“Mummeball”
New UK coach Hal Mumme is known for his unconventional ways. Here aresome examples of his off-the-beaten-path approach:
* Throwing the football: Mumme’s offensive goal is to throw the ball to setup the run. His run-pass ratio at UK in 1997 was 36 percent run and 64percent pass. In 1998, the ratio was 37 percent run and 63 percent pass.
* Taking risks: In the 1997 season, Mumme went for it 38 times on fourthdown, making 21, including three out of four on fake punts. He also triedseven onside kicks, recovering one. See the note below for 1997 and 1998fourth-down analysis.
* Limited hitting in practice: The Wildcats had four scrimmages in thespring and none in August. Otherwise, hitting in practice is limited towork on technique, there is no full-scale hitting or tackling to the ground.
“We’re not going to get anybody hurt if we can help it,” Mumme says. “Why get hurt during the week when you’regoing to play on Saturday?”
“Mummeball is more classroom than battlefield,” wrote John Clay of theLexington Herald-Leader. “The head coach is not a Schwarzkopf but analchemist, busy turning ordinary metals into gold.”
The approach paid off with fewer injuries in 1997, when only four playersmissed games because of injury. Seven players missed at least one game viainjury in 1998. By comparison, a total of 18 players missed games becauseof injury in 1996 under a conventional practice system.
* Open practices: All practices are open to fans and media. “I think theguys like crowds,” Mumme says. ” I know when I was playing I liked toperform in front of crowds. I think it makes them practice better.”
As for the fear of having his plays stolen, Mumme replies,”There aren’t many secrets anymore. Everybody pretty much knows whateverybody is doing.”
* Punting the ball out of bounds: UK’s punts are designed to go near thesideline or out of bounds. The strategy improved Kentucky’s net puntingfrom 32.7 yards per punt in 1996 to 37 yards per punt in 1997. In 1998,Kentucky was fifth in the SEC in net punting with 37.4 net yards per punt.
* Playing true freshmen: Mumme believes in playing true freshmen. Fifteenof Kentucky’s 25 players in the 1998 signing class saw action.
* Junior varsity team: Mumme continues to field a junior varsity team againthis season. See below for a story on the JV squad.
Fourth-Down Analysis
Last season (including the Outback Bowl), Kentucky made 17 of 39 onfourth-down conversions, including three of four on fake punts. The 17successes eventually led to nine touchdowns and two field goals. The 22missed conversions resulted in five touchdowns and two field goals on theensuing opponent possessions.
In 1997, Kentucky made 21 of 38 on fourth down. The 21 successeseventually resulted in 15 touchdowns and no field goals for the Wildcats.The 17 missed conversions resulted in five touchdowns and no field goals onthe ensuing opponent possessions.
UK Football History
The Kentucky Wildcats are in their 109th season of intercollegiatefootball. The first Southeastern Conference school to introduce football(1881), Kentucky has an all-time record of 511-482-44 (.514).
Kentucky has two SEC championships, 1950 and 1976. The Wildcats have beento nine bowl games, most recently the 1999 Outback Bowl. Kentucky’shighest in-season national ranking is third, by The Associated Press, onNov. 20, 1950. UK’s highest final ranking is sixth in the AP poll in 1977.
Junior Varsity Team
One of Coach Hal Mumme’s innovations was the start of a junior varsityteam. The team is comprised primarily of walk-ons, in addition to a fewscholarship players who are not being redshirted.
The 1999 JV team will be coached by graduate assistant/tight ends coachSonny Dykes. Dykes will be assisted by graduate assistant Rob Manchesterand student coach Randy Garver.
Here is the 1999 JV schedule:
Mon. Sept. 13 Maryville 5:30Thu. Sept. 23 at Georgetown 7:00Thu. Oct. 7 Hargrave Military Acad. 7:00Mon. Oct. 18 Georgetown 5:00Mon. Oct. 25 at Campbellsville 3:00
Catscellaneous
* Team captains for 1999 on offense are QB Dusty Bonner and HB AnthonyWhite. Defensive captains include DT George Massey, LB Marlon McCree, LBJeff Snedegar, and DE Anwar Stewart.
* Kentucky is in its 26th season in Commonwealth Stadium. The Wildcatshave a record of 90-68-4 (.568) in Commonwealth since the stadium opened in1973. Kentucky is 8-4 at home under Coach Hal Mumme.
* UK has led or tied for the league lead in most players on the SECAcademic Honor Roll in 10 of the last 15 years.
* Six current players are walk-ons who were awarded full scholarships – TECheddi Acham, WR Garry Davis, FB A. J. Simon, P Andy Smith, DE GraysonSmith, and TE James Whalen.
* The Kentucky cheerleaders won an unprecedented ninth nationalchampionship at the 1999 Universal Cheerleaders Association competition inJanuary. The Wildcats cheerleaders have won the last five national titles- 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999.
