April 22, 1999
With just two days left before the kickoff of the University of Kentucky’sannual Blue/White Spring Football Game, Coach Hal Mumme held a pre-gamepress conference on Thursday in UK’s Nutter Field House.
After naming redshirt sophomore Dusty Bonner as the team’s startingquarterback two weeks ago, Mumme said he has been impressed with the QB’sprogress.
“Dusty has completed between 65 and 70 percent of his passes. He’s thrownfor a lot of scores and only two interceptions,” Mumme said. “He has quickfeet and a quick release and will make a more- than-adequate replacementfor Tim (Couch). Tim made plays that no other quarterback in the countrycould make, but Dusty is faster than Tim. When Dusty tucks the ball andruns, he can hurt you.”
Mumme also had praise for Mike Major’s defensive corps. “We’re a lotfaster on the other side of the ball, and deeper, too.” Mumme said. “Wecan do so much more with defensive fronts and blitzes because we’re so muchquicker at cornerback.
“Eric Kelly and Kenneth Grant have gotten a lot of repetitions at cornerand have improved a lot at that position. Their confidence level andefficiency have both gotten higher.”
A new group of linemen will be up front for Mumme’s “Air Raid ’99 – TheNext Mission” offense, and the coach is pleased with their progress.
“We’re really happy with that group of kids. They’ve come about as faras they can in a spring,” Mumme said. “I think it’s a real tribute toCoach Morriss. They’ve worked so hard since the beginning of practice andhave gotten a lot better. They are ahead of schedule.”
When asked about impressive individual showings this spring, Mummementioned freshman Bobby Blizzard. “I think Bobby has really made somestrides. He’s a great talent. Bobby, much like Dennis Johnson, is a guywho can dominate his position.”
With such a wealth of talent at tight end including Blizzard, JamesWhalen, Chase Harp and incoming-freshman Derek Smith, Mumme said fans willsee some new formations in the “Air Raid” arsenal. “You’re going to see usline upin more two-tight-end sets,” he said.
In the backfield, Mumme says the Cats will look to Anthony White and DerekHomer for productivity.
“I think Anthony White is going to give us a great year. When he’s on topof his game, we’re really hard to stop. In the last two years, Anthony andDerek have had over 2,000 yards between them.”
The receiver position has become a glamorous spot in the UK offense and UKwill again have gifted players on the outside. “Garry Davis and DougieAllen had great springs. We had a nice little contest going on there todetermine who would be the starter. Quentin McCord and Vincent Harrisonhave been great at flanker. Mitt Crowe has stepped up coming off hisredshirt year and Jimmy Robinson is back, too. And Kendrick Shanklin hasreally impressed us in the slot.”
On special teams, Mumme says the Cats will still have some tricks up theirsleeves. “On punts, we’ll have Chase Harp and A.J. Simon as up-backs, twoguys who can complete passes.”
Fans can catch the spring game this Saturday, April 24, at RawlingsStadium on the Georgetown College campus at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 and areavailable at the UK Ticket Office or at Rawlings Stadium on game day.
