September 30, 1998
Kentucky (3-1, 0-1) at Arkansas (3-0, 1-0)Sat. Oct. 3, 1998, 5 p.m. CDT (6 p.m. EDT)War Memorial Stadium (cap. 53,727)
Wildcats Headlines
First meeting between Arkansas and Kentucky
Kentucky’s 3-1 start the team’s best since 1992
UK leads the nation in passing offense, is second in total offense, and is fourth in scoring
QB Tim Couch is first in the nation in touchdown passes; second in attempts, completions, completion percentage, and yardage; third in total offense; and 14th in passing efficiency.
On the Tube
The game will be telecast live nationally by ESPN2. Joel Meyers calls the play-by-play, Todd Christensen is the analyst, and Chris Marlowe handles sideline reports.
On the Radio
The University of Kentucky Football Radio Network will carry the broadcast on approximately 80 stations. The network includes flagship station WVLK (590 AM) in Lexington and 50,000-watt stations WHAS (840 AM) and WSAI (1530 AM).
Tom Leach is in his second season calling the play-by-play for the Wildcats. Former Wildcats star Jeff Van Note is the analyst and Dick Gabriel is the sideline reporter.
Kentucky Results and Schedule (3-1, 0-1 SEC)
Sept. 5 UK 68, Louisville 34 (A)Sept. 12 UK 52, Eastern Kentucky 7 (H)Sept. 19 UK 31, Indiana 27 (H)Sept. 26 Florida 51, UK 35 (A)Oct. 3 at Arkansas, 6:00 p.m., ESPN2Oct. 10 South Carolina (Homecoming), 7:00 p.m.Oct. 17 at Louisiana State, 9:00 p.m., ESPN2Oct. 24 Georgia, 7:00 p.m.Oct. 31 openNov. 7 Mississippi State, 1:30 p.m.Nov. 14 Vanderbilt, 1:30 p.m.Nov. 21 at Tennessee, TBA
All times are Eastern and subject to change.
Arkansas Results and Schedule (3-0, 1-0)
Sept. 5 UA 38, SW Louisiana 17 (Fayetteville)Sept. 19 UA 44, Southern Methodist 17 (Little Rock)Sept. 26 UA 42, Alabama 6 (Fayetteville)Oct. 3 Kentucky (Little Rock)Oct. 10 at MemphisOct. 17 at South CarolinaOct. 31 at AuburnNov. 7 Mississippi (Fayetteville)Nov. 14 at TennesseeNov. 21 at Mississippi StateNov. 27 Louisiana State (Little Rock)
Series Information – Wildcats vs. Razorbacks
This is the first meeting between the schools. Arkansas did play a game against Kentucky University in 1905, won by KU 6-0. Kentucky University was the forerunner of what is now Transylvania University in Lexington.
How Experienced are the Tentative Starters?Sr. Jr. Soph. R Fr. Fr.UK 10 5 6 0 1UA 9 9 2 2 0
The Ouch Report (two-deep only)
Kicker Marc Samuel (strained groin muscle Sept. 3) is doubtful
Cornerback Kenneth Grant (broken hand Sept. 26) is out for 3-5 weeks
Free safety Willie Gary (knee sprain Sept. 26) is out for the season
On the Tube
Kentucky has an all-time record of 15-49-1 in nationally or regionally televised contests, including an 0-3 mark in games shown by ESPN2. This will be Kentucky’s third live TV game this season. The season opener at Louisville was televised on the Fox Sports Network and last Saturday’s game at Florida was carried by CBS. In addition, UK’s game at Louisiana State already has been selected by ESPN2. Kentucky had a school-record six national or regional TV appearances last season.
A Look Back at the Louisville Game
Kentucky got its season off to a flying start as the Wildcats won the inaugural game in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium with a 68-34 win over Louisville on Sept. 5.
The Wildcats rolled up school records for total offense (801 yards), passing yardage (571), first downs (37), and passing first downs (24) while scoring the most points in a game since 1951. Kentucky also tied its own SEC record with eight touchdown passes.
Junior quarterback Tim Couch led the offense by completing 29 of 39 passes for 498 yards, seven touchdowns, and no interceptions. Couch broke the SEC record for total offensive yards per play by averaging 11.9 yards on his 42 rushing and passing plays. Couch also tied his own SEC records for touchdown passes in a game with seven and touchdown responsibility (rushing and passing) in a game with seven. Couch broke his own school records for total offensive yardage (498) and passing yardage (498). He was named National Player of the Week by the College Sports News internet service and on the CNN/SI and The Sporting News internet fan polls.
Senior wide receiver Craig Yeast caught nine passes for a career-high 150 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore fullback Derek Homer paced the ground game with 123 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries. The UK defense played better than the score might indicate. The Wildcats allowed 286 yards and 18 points through the first three quarters before going exclusively with reserves in the final quarter.
A Look Back at the Eastern Kentucky Game
Kentucky got its home schedule off to a good start with a 52-7 win over Eastern Kentucky.
Tim Couch completed 32 of 41 passes for 372 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions. The five TD passes give him 50 in his career, tying the school record set by Babe Parilli from 1949-51. Couch also tied his own school record by completing 13 consecutive passes. Craig Yeast led the receivers with seven catches for 113 yards. His TD reception was the 17th of his career, tying the school record held by Steve Meilinger. Derek Homer led the running game with 16 carries for 58 yards and one touchdown.
Defensively, UK limited Eastern to 184 yards of total offense. The defense also scored when freshman strong safety David Johnson scored on a 21-yard fumble return.
A Look Back at the Indiana Game
Special teams and defense sparked a second-half comeback as Kentucky rallied to defeat Indiana, 31-27, before a capacity crowd in Commonwealth Stadium.
Trailing 27-10 with less than six minutes remaining in the third quarter, Matt Mumme hit Garry Davis with a 79-yard touchdown pass on a fake punt on 4th-and-21.
Early in the fourth quarter, freshman strong safety David Johnson knocked loose a fumble that was recovered by George Massey. Two plays later, Tim Couch hit Anthony White with a 48-yard touchdown pass to pull the Wildcats within 27-24.
On Indiana’s next possession, Dennis Johnson and Marlon McCree disrupted a shovel pass that was intercepted by John Rader and returned for a 46-yard touchdown. That made the score 31-27 and the Wildcats hung on the rest of the way.
Couch led the offense by completing 38 of 53 passes for 301 yards and one touchdown, but suffered a career-high four interceptions as the Wildcats turned it over six times. White caught nine passes for 92 yards, including the TD play. Derek Homer led the ground game with 65 yards on 11 carries.
A Look Back at the Florida Game
Although Kentucky scored its most points against Florida since 1974, the Wildcats were defeated 51-35 by the Gators in “The Swamp.” Tied at 14 in the second quarter, the Gators gained the advantage with three touchdowns in a span of 2:22. The Wildcats pulled with 13 points in the fourth quarter, but a Florida drive and field goal late in the fourth quarter put the game away.
Tim Couch completed 40 of 61 passes for 404 yards and three touchdowns. He broke the UK career records for passing yardage and total offense.
Craig Yeast enjoyed a marvelous day. He caught six passes for a school-record 206 yards and two touchdowns. His average of 34.3 yards per catch also was a UK single-game record. He had a 100-yard kickoff return and 97-yard pass reception for touchdowns that were the longest plays in school history. He added a 74-yard touchdown reception. All totaled, Yeast had 331 all-purpose yards.
Although the defense struggled at times against the potent Gators attack, the Wildcats made their share of big plays. Defensive end Matt Layow had a six-yard interception return for a touchdown, the third consecutive game that the Wildcats defense had scored a TD. Linebacker Marlon McCree had six tackles for loss, breaking the single-game school record.
UK in the NCAA Stats
Kentucky leads the nation in passing offense (435.8 yards per game), is second in total offense (541.5 yards per game), and is fourth in scoring (46.5 points per game).
Individually, quarterback Tim Couch is third in the nation in total offense (386 yards per game) and 14th in passing efficiency (161 rating points). He leads the nation’s quarterbacks in touchdown passes (16) and is second in pass attempts (194), completions (139), completion percentage (71.6), and yardage (1,577).
Wide receiver Craig Yeast is fifth in receptions (7.8 per game) and receiving yardage (134.5 yards per game). He leads the nation in kickoff returns (39.4 yards per return) and is fourth in all-purpose yardage (213.3 yards per game).
Wildcats in the SEC Stats
Team and individual stats in the top three in the SEC:
Team Scoring: 1st, 46.5 points per game
Passing Offense: 1st, 435.8 yards per game
Passing Efficiency: 3rd, 166.1 rating points
Total Offense: 1st, 541.5 yards per game
Net Punting: 3rd, 39.1 yards per punt
First Downs: 1st, 100 first downs
Third Down Conversion Defense: 1st, 15.4 percent
Fourth Down Conversions: 1st, 66.7 percent
Time of Possession: 1st, 31:46 of time per game
Individual Passing Yardage: Tim Couch 1st, 394.3 yards per game
Total Offense: Tim Couch 1st, 386 yards per game
Receptions: Craig Yeast 1st, 7.8 per game;
Anthony White 2nd, 6.5 per game
Receiving Yardage: Craig Yeast 1st, 134.5 yards per game
All-Purpose Yardage: Craig Yeast 2nd, 213.3 yds. per game
Kickoff Returns: Craig Yeast 1st, 39.4 yards per return
Kick Scoring: Seth Hanson 2nd, 9 points per game
“Air Raid” Offense
Offensive Line – Kentucky’s all-senior starting line has combined for a total of 111 starts during their careers. LT Jonas Liening is in his fourth year as a starter. RT Kris Comstock and C Jason Watts are three-year regulars. RG Mike Webster and LG Jeremy Streck are in their second year as starters Watts snaps the ball with his left hand (dominant hand) in the shotgun formation and righthanded when the quarterback is under center The second-team line got a full quarter of work at Louisville and two series against Eastern Kentucky.
Tight Ends – James Whalen, Jr., has 13 receptions for 146 yards and two TD receptions. He ranks second among the nation’s tight ends in receptions and is third in yardage Jimmy Haley has eight catches for 63 yards and a TD Haley and Whalen each made his first touchdown reception at UK in the Louisville game. Haley’s spectacular one-handed 21-yard TD grab was chosen the CNN/SI “Play of the Day.”
Running Backs – Fullback Derek Homer carries the bulk of the rushing load and leads the team with 266 yards and three TDs. His 123-yard effort against Louisville was the third 100-yard game of his career Halfback Anthony White is both a runner and pass receiver. He has rushed for 132 yards and averaged 6.0 yards per carry. He is the team’s second-leading receiver with 26 grabs for 164 yards and one TD True freshmen Kendrick Shanklin and Martez Johnson have played well as backups.
Wide Receivers – Twelve wide receivers have caught at least one pass Craig Yeast leads the way with 31 catches for 538 yards and five touchdowns. Yeast leads the SEC and is fifth nationally in both receptions and receiving yards per game. He had an outstanding game at Florida with six receptions for a school-record 206 yards and two TDs, including a school-record 97-yard TD play Quentin McCord is next with 19 for 235 yards and two TDs.
Quarterbacks – Tim Couch has completed 139 of 194 passes (71.6 percent) for 1,577 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has thrown for at least 300 yards and at least one touchdown in every game this season. He is first in the nation in touchdown passes, second in attempts, completions, completion percentage, and yardage, third in total offense, and 14th in passing efficiency. Couch leads the SEC in all of those categories, except he is fifth in passing efficiency Senior Matt Mumme has played well as the backup, completing 11 of 13 for 166 yards and two touchdowns, including the 79-yard TD on the fake punt against Indiana.
“Black Flag” Defense
Defensive Line – A total of seven linemen have been seeing regular action Reserve DT George Massey leads the linemen with 14 tackles and two fumble recoveries Starting DTs Marvin Major and Mark Jacobs have 12 and 10 stops, respectively Gordon Crowe leads the ends with eight tackles, including two for loss plus a sack.
Linebackers – Marlon McCree is tied for the team lead in tackles with 26. He leads the team in tackles for loss (eight), sacks (two) and fumbles caused (two). McCree set a single-game school record with six tackles for loss at Florida Jeff Snedegar has 21 tackles and John Rader 17.
Secondary – Freshman SS David Johnson is tied for the team lead in tackles with 26. He returned a fumble 21 yards for a touchdown against Eastern Kentucky and caused a key fumble in the win over Indiana FS Willie Gary is third on the team with 24 stops, but suffered a knee injury against Florida and his status is uncertain as of this writing CB Marvin Love leads the team in pass breakups with four CB Jeremy Bowie has three pass breakups and an interception.
A Look at the Specialists
Kickers – Seth Hanson is 4-of-5 on field goals, including a career long of 41 yards at Louisville, and has made 24 of 25 extra points. Two of his extra points have been 35-yard kicks after UK was penalized for “excessive celebration” after a touchdown Hanson is tied for the team lead in scoring Hanson also has kicked off in the absence of Marc Samuel, who is sidelined by a strained groin muscle.
Punters – Jimmy Carter is averaging a career-best 40.4 yards per punt, but just as important has been his good hang time and accuracy on the sidelines The Wildcats have given up only 22 yards on punt returns and UK is third in the SEC in net punting with 39.1 yards per punt.
Returners – Craig Yeast leads the nation in kickoff returns with a average of 39.4 yards per runback. Yeast has three KO returns for a touchdown during his career. This season he has a 100-yarder for a TD against Florida and an 89-yarder that set up a touchdown against Indiana Yeast also handles punt returns and averages 3.4 yards.
Defense Scoring, Too
The Wildcats defense has done its part to help UK rank fourth in the nation in scoring.
The defense has scored a touchdown in each of the last three games, including:
David Johnson 21-yard fumble return vs. Eastern Ky.
John Rader 46-yard interception return vs. Indiana
Matt Layow six-yard interception return vs. Florida.
Cats Nipped Into Top 25
Kentucky achieved a No. 25 national ranking on Sept. 19 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches’ poll.
We do not have week-by-week records available on the last time that UK was ranked in the coaches’ poll. However, UK’s last appearance in The Associated Press media poll was following the 1984 season when the Wildcats were ranked #19.
Preseason Honors for the Wildcats
Kentucky was ranked No. 24 in the preseason by Sports Illustrated. Quarterback Tim Couch was a first-team preseason All-America pick by Street and Smith’s and Lindy’s and a second-team All-America choice by Athlon Publications.
Wide receiver Craig Yeast was a third-team pre-season All-America choice by Athlon Publications.
Couch and Yeast were consensus preseason All-SEC picks.
Honoring the Wildcats in 1998
QB Tim Couch was named National Offensive Player of the Week for the Louisville game. The honor was chosen by the College Sports News internet service of Houston, Tex.
OT Jonas Liening, WR Lance Mickelsen, and LB Jeff Snedegar have been named to the All-American Farm Team by Successful Farming magazine in honor of players who have farm or ranch backgrounds. Liening is a first-team choice for the second consecutive year while Mickelsen and Snedegar were named honorable mention. Snedegar, by the way, breeds horses as a hobby and has sold several in horse shows.
Senior punter Jimmy Carter was one of only 11 players on the national “Good Works Team” chosen by the American Football Coaches Association. Carter is a four-year volunteer in UK’s mentor program with local elementary school students; has been an organizer for UK’s “Schoolhouse Rock” academic pep rally for 2,000 local fourth- and fifth-grade students; has been a volunteer at the annual UK Hospital “Breakfast With Santa”; has been a guest speaker at numerous schools, churches, and youth groups; and has been president of the UK Fellowship of Christian Athletes for two years.
True Freshmen Get the Call
A total of 18 true freshmen have played this season, including 15 players in the 1998 recruiting class.
True freshmen from the 1998 recruiting class who have played are Dougie Allen, Mike Beirne, Chris Demaree, Richard Hardin, Vincent Harrison, David Johnson, Dennis Johnson, Martez Johnson, Anthony Kelly, Adrian Patton, Ronnie Riley, Matt Schneider, Kendrick Shanklin, Anthony Wajda, and Jamal White.
In addition, true freshman walk-ons Neal Brown and Nick Heald have played, as has true freshman Mike Kamphake, who signed in January but counts as part of the 1997 recruiting class.
Scoring in the Blue Zone (20-and-in)
Kentucky: Converted 12 of 13 opportunities for 68 points (eight touchdowns, four field goals, one interception).
Opponents: Converted 11 of 13 opportunities for 65 points (eight touchdowns, three field goals, one punt, one end of half).
Head Coach Hal Mumme
Hal Mumme (Tarleton State, 1975) has an 8-7 record in his second season as head coach of the Wildcats. He was voted 1997 GTE Region 2 Coach of the Year by his peers in the American Football Coaches Association. He is in his 10th season as a collegiate head coach and has a career record of 73-34-1 (.681).
Mumme had a 40-17-1 mark from 1992-96 at Valdosta State, where he took the Blazers to the NCAA Division II national playoffs in 1994 and 1996. He was named 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 Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year.
Mumme had a 25-10 record from 1989-91 at Iowa Wesleyan College. He took his team to the Steamboat Classic bowl game in 1989 and ’90 and to the NAIA national playoffs in 1991. He was named the NAIA District Coach of the Year in 1989 and 1991.
For more on Mumme, see pages 22-27 of the Kentucky football media guide.
Mumme Makes Best Start Since Collier
Coach Hal Mumme has a 8-7 record during his first 15 games at Kentucky. The last Wildcats coach to post a winning record in his first 15 games was Blanton Collier (9-5-1) in 1954-55.
“Mummeball”
New UK coach Hal Mumme is known for his unconventional ways. Here are some examples of his off-the-beaten-path approach:
Throwing the football: Mumme’s offensive goal is to throw the ball to set up the run. His run-pass ratio at UK in 1997 was 36 percent run and 64 percent pass. In 1998, the ratio is 35 percent run and 65 percent pass.
Taking risks: In the 1997 season, Mumme went for it 38 times on fourth down, making 21, including three out of four on fake punts. He also tried seven onside kicks, recovering one. See the note below for 1997 and 1998 fourth-down analysis.
Limited hitting in practice: The Wildcats had four scrimmages in the spring and none in August. Otherwise, hitting in practice is limited to work 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 have a car wreck during the week when you’re going to have one on Saturday?”
“Mummeball is more classroom than battlefield,” wrote JohnClay of the Lexington Herald-Leader. “The head coach is not aSchwarzkopf but an alchemist, busy turning ordinary metals into gold.” The approach paid off with fewer injuries in 1997, when only four players missed games because of injury. Only one player has missed a game this season because of injury. A total of 18 players missed games because of injury in 1996 under a conventional practice system. Open practices: All practices are open to fans and media. “I think the guys like crowds,” Mumme says. ” I know when I was playing I liked to perform 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 what everybody is doing.”
Punting the ball out of bounds: UK’s punts are designed to go near the sideline or out of bounds. The strategy improved Kentucky’s net punting from 32.7 yards per punt in 1996 to 37 yards per punt in 1997. Currently, Kentucky leads the SEC in net punting with 41.1 net yards per punt.
Playing true freshmen: Other than offensive linemen, Mumme believes in playing true freshmen. So far this season, 15 of Kentucky’s 25 players in the 1998 signing class saw action.
Junior varsity team: Mumme continues to field a junior varsity team again this season. See below for a story on the JV squad.
Fourth-Down Analysis
In 1998, Kentucky has made 8 out of 12 on fourth-down conversions, including two of two on fake punts. The eight successes have eventually led to five touchdowns and a field goal. The four missed conversions have not resulted in any scores on the ensuing opponent possession.
In 1997, Kentucky made 21 of 38 on fourth down. The 21 successes eventually resulted in 15 touchdowns and no field goals for the Wildcats. The 17 missed conversions resulted in five touchdowns and no field goals on the ensuing opponent possessions.
UK Football History
The Kentucky Wildcats are in their 108th season of intercollegiate football. The first Southeastern Conference school to introduce football (1881), Kentucky has an all-time record of 507-478-44 (.514). Kentucky has two SEC championships, 1950 and 1976. The Wildcats have been to eight bowl games, most recently the 1993 Peach Bowl, and have the best bowl game winning percentage (.625) of any Southeastern Conference school. Kentucky’s highest in-season national ranking is third, by The Associated Press, on Nov. 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 varsity team.
The team is comprised primarily of walk-ons, in addition to a few scholarship players who are not being redshirted.
The 1998 UK JV opened on Sept. 24 with a 49-45 victory over the Campbellsville JV.
UK graduate assistant coach Chris Hatcher is in his second season as the head coach of the JV team. The Wildcats JV posted a 2-3 record in 1997.
Here is the schedule for the JV team:Thurs. Sept. 24 UK JV 49, Campbellsville JV 45 (H)Thurs. Oct. 1 Hargrave Military Academy 7:00Thurs. Oct. 8 at Georgetown College JV 5:00Thurs. Oct. 15 Georgia Military College 3:00Sun. Oct. 25 Tennessee-Chattanooga JV 2:00
Love Those Reruns
Some of the Kentucky players must enjoy television reruns, as three Wildcats have been tagged with TV-related nicknames.
Junior halfback Anthony White is known as “Aunt Bea” from “The Andy Griffith Show.” White’s nickname originated on the practice field during the 1997 season and was supposedly given by either Tim Couch or Craig Yeast, but none of the principals involved can remember the exact origin.
Senior Lance Mickelsen and soph Jermaine White are known as “Ward” and “The Beav” from the “Leave it to Beaver” show. Mickelsen and White play the “Z” wide receiver position and when Jermaine arrived at UK in 1997, the veteran Mickelsen took the younger player under his wing. The fact that Mickelsen is now 24 years old and married adds to his fatherly “Ward” image.
The GraduatesFour Wildcats have completed their bachelor’s degrees and are adding another major or minor or are in graduate school.
The diploma ‘Cats are:
Offensive tackle Kris Comstock, who has his bachelor’s degree in marketing;
Defensive tackle Mark Jacobs, who has his bachelor’s degree in social work;
Offensive tackle Jonas Liening, who has his bachelor’s degree in social work; and
Free safety Jeff Zurcher, who has his bachelor’s degree in English and advertising and is working on his master’s degree in diplomacy. For more on Zurcher, see below.
From A’s to Z(urcher)
Senior free safety Jeff Zurcher is enjoying a remarkable academic career at the University of Kentucky.
Zurcher completed his bachelor’s degree in May, 1998, with a 4.0 grade point average and a double major in English and advertising. In 1998, he was one of two UK students nominated for the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. Zurcher also was a member of a five-person UK team that designed an advertising campaign that reached the finals of the American Advertising Federation’s national collegiate contest.
This fall, he has begun working on his master’s degree in diplomacy from UK’s Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce.
Zurcher is an avid reader and writer of poetry and also has published columns in the student newspaper, the Kentucky Kernel. Checking the Opponents
Here's what Kentucky's opponents are doing this week:Cincinnati at Louisville (2-2)Eastern Kentucky (3-1) is openWisconsin at Indiana (2-1)Florida (3-1) at AlabamaKentucky at Arkansas (3-0)South Carolina (1-3) at MississippiGeorgia (3-0) at Louisiana State (3-0)Mississippi State (3-1) is openVanderbilt (0-3) at Texas ChristianTennessee (3-0) at Auburn
What’s Going on in the South End Zone?
The work in the south end zone is the beginning of the expansion of Commonwealth Stadium.
By the beginning of the 1999 season, both end zones will be enclosed and 40 suites will be constructed. Capacity will increase to approximately 67,500. The project will cost approximately $24 million.
Catscellaneous
Junior QB Tim Couch and junior LB Jeff Snedegar are the team captains for 1998.
Two Wildcats are married, senior OT David Berringer (wife Amanda) and senior WR Lance Mickelsen (wife Adrianne).
There is excellent continuity on the UK coaching staff. All nine of the Wildcats’ full-time assistant coaches return for the 1998 season, although there were two changes of assignment. Tom Adams, who coached the defensive tackles in 1997, takes over the entire defensive line this season.
Kentucky is in its 26th season in Commonwealth Stadium. The Wildcats have a record of 87-67-4 (.563) in Commonwealth since the stadium opened in 1973. Kentucky is 5-3 at home under Coach Hal Mumme.
UK has led or tied for the league lead in most players on the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 10 of the last 14 years.
Seven current players are walk-ons who were awarded full scholarships – P Jimmy Carter, WR Garry Davis, TE Paul McGonagle, C Mike Riddle, FB A. J. Simon, DE Grayson Smith, and FS Jeff Zurcher.
No, junior punter Jimmy Carter of Dunwoody, Ga., is not related to the former United States president.
The Kentucky cheerleaders won an unprecedented eighth national championship at the 1998 Universal Cheerleaders Association competition in January. The Wildcats cheerleaders have won the last four national titles – 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998.
Wildcats on the Web
Visit the official University of Kentucky Athletics worldwide web site at www.ukathletics.com.
The official Southeastern Conference web site is www.secsports.com.
