October 12, 1998
Kentucky (4-2, 1-2) at No. 21 LSU (3-2, 1-2)
Sat. Oct. 17, 1998, 8 p.m. CDT (9 p.m. EDT)
Tiger Stadium (cap. 79,940)
Wildcats Headlines
* Kentucky’s 4-2 record is team’s best since the 1993 team also opened at 4-2
* UK is second in the nation in passing offense, third in the nation in total offense, and eighth nationally in scoring
* QB Tim Couch is second in the nation in pass attempts, completions, completion percentage, passing yardage, and touchdown passes; Couch is third nationally in total offense
Live Telecast by ESPN2
The game will be telecast on ESPN2. Joel Meyers will call the play-by-play, with Todd Christensen prov-iding analysis and Dean Blevins handling 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 calls the play-by-play for the Wildcats. Former Wildcats star Jeff Van Note is the analyst and Dick Gabriel is the sideline reporter.
How the Wildcats Have Done (4-2, 1-2 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 Arkansas 27, UK 20 (A)Oct. 10 UK 33, South Carolina 28 (H)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. How the Tigers Have Done (3-2, 1-2 SEC)
Sept. 12 LSU 42, Arkansas State 8 (H)Sept. 19 LSU 31, Auburn 19 (A)Sept. 26 LSU 53, Idaho 20 (H)Oct. 3 Georgia 28, LSU 27 (H)Oct. 10 Florida 22, LSU 10 (A)Oct. 17 KentuckyOct. 24 Mississippi StateOct. 31 at MississippiNov. 7 AlabamaNov. 21 at Notre DameNov. 27 at Arkansas
History of the Catfight – Wildcats vs. Tigers
Overall: LSU leads the series, 34-13-1
Current streak: LSU has won two in a row
First meeting: 1949, UK 19-0 in Baton Rouge
Last meeting: 1997, LSU 63-28 in Lexington
Last UK win: 1995, UK 24-16 in Lexington
In Baton Rouge: LSU leads the series, 20-4-1
Series notes: Since the series began in 1949, the teams have played every year since 1951.
How Experienced are the Tentative Starters?
Sr. Jr. Soph. RFr. Fr.UK 11 5 4 0 2LSU 8 6 5 2 1
Louisiana Ties
Kentucky has one player from Louisiana, freshman HB Kendrick Shanklin of Baton Rouge.
The Ouch Report (two-deep only)
Linebacker Jeff Snedegar (inflamed rotator cuff) is questionable
Cornerback Kenneth Grant (broken hand Sept. 26) is out for 1-3 more weeks * Free safety Willie Gary (knee sprain Sept. 26) is out for the season Last Season vs. the Tigers
LSU broke open a tight game in the second half as the Tigers defeated Kentucky, 63-28, in Commonwealth Stadium. Tiger tailback Kevin Faulk rushed for 212 yards and five touchdowns in the offensive shootout. Rondell Mealey rushed for 131 yards and two TDs. QB Herb Tyler also enjoyed a fine evening, completing 15 of 20 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown.
The matchup was even at halftime, with UK clinging to a 21-20 lead, but LSU outscored the Cats 43-7 over the final two periods. The Tigers piled up 613 offensive yards and the Wildcats accounted for 529 yards.
Kentucky QB Tim Couch set an SEC record with 41 completions. He completed 41 of 66 for 410 yards and four touchdowns. Jimmy Robinson caught eight passes for 100 yards. Anthony White caught nine passes for 76 yards and a TD and he led the rushing attack with 63 yards.
On the Tube
Kentucky has an all-time record of 15-50-1 in nationally or regionally televised contests, including a 1-2 TV record this season. The Wildcats have an all-time mark of 0-4 mark in games shown by ESPN2. This will be Kentucky’s fourth live TV game this season. The opener at Louisville was televised by the Fox Sports Network, the game at Florida was carried by CBS, and the game at Arkansas was also on ESPN2. Kentucky had a school-record six national or regional TV appearances last season.
UK in the NCAA Stats
Kentucky is second in the nation in passing offense (426.2 yards per game), third in total offense (533.2 yards per game), and eighth in scoring (39.8 points per game).
Individually, quarterback Tim Couch is second nationally in pass attempts (303), completions (215), completion percentage (71.0), yardage (2,391), and touchdowns (22). He is third in total offense (384.5 yards per game).
Wide receiver Craig Yeast ranks 10th in receptions (7.3 per game), 15th in receiving yardage (105.2 yards per game), 12th in all-purpose yardage (168 per game), and is second in the nation in kickoff returns (35.8 yards per return).
Halfback Anthony White has moved into 10th place nationally in receptions with 7.3 catches per game.
Wildcats in the SEC Stats
Team and individual stats in the top three in the SEC
Team
Scoring: 1st, 39.8 points per game
Passing Offense: 1st, 426.2 yards per game
Passing Efficiency: 2nd, 160.1 rating points
Total Offense: 1st, 533.2 yards per game
Net Punting: 2nd, 38.7 yards per punt
First Downs: 1st, 153 first downs
Third Down Conversions: 2nd, 43.6 percent
Third Down Conversion Defense: 1st, 23.4 percent
Time of Possession: 2nd, 32:18 of time per game
Field Goal Percentage: 3rd, 83.3 percent
Individual
Passing Yardage: Tim Couch 1st, 398.5 yards per game
Passing Efficiency: Tim Couch 2nd, 156.6 rating points
Total Offense: Tim Couch 1st, 384.5 yards per game
Receptions: Anthony White 1st, 7.3 receptions per game; Craig Yeast 2nd, 6.8 receptions per game
Receiving Yardage: Craig Yeast 2nd, 105.2 yards per game
All-Purpose Yardage: Craig Yeast 2nd, 168 yds. per game
Kickoff Returns: Craig Yeast 1st, 35.8 yards per return
TD Scoring: Craig Yeast 3rd, 8 points per game Kick
Scoring: Seth Hanson 3rd, 7.5 points per game Field
Goal Percentage: Seth Hanson 3rd, 83.3 percent
“Air Raid” Offense
Offensive Line – Kentucky’s all-senior starting line has combined for a total of 121 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 Watts suffered a concussion at Arkansas but was able to return the next week against South Carolina The second-team line got a full quarter of work at Louisville and two series against Eastern Kentucky.
Tight Ends – UK tight ends James Whalen, Jr., and Jimmy Haley have combined for more pass receptions (27) than any other team’s tight ends in the country Individually, Whalen ranks second among the nation’s tight ends in receptions (17) and third in yardage (198). He also has two TD catches Jimmy Haley has 10 catches for 93 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 323 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 244 yards and averaged 5.2 yards per carry. He leads the SEC and ranks 10th nationally in pass receptions with 44 catches. White rushed for 108 yards and had 117 receiving yards against South Carolina, the first player in UK history to eclipse the century mark in both categories in the same game Junior A. J. Simon sees most of his action as a blocking back.
Wide Receivers – Twelve wide receivers have caught at least one pass Craig Yeast has 41 catches for 631 yards and seven touchdowns. Yeast is second in the SEC and 14th nationally in receptions. He is second in the SEC and 15th nationally in receiving yardage. 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. He is on the “watch list” for the Fred Biletnikoff Award Quentin McCord has emerged with 29 catches for 353 yards and three TDs. He ran 80 yards for a touchdown on a reverse on the first offensive play against South Carolina.
Quarterbacks – Tim Couch has completed 215 of 303 passes (70.1 percent) for 2,391 yards and 22 touchdowns. He has thrown for at least 300 yards and at least one touchdown in every game this season. He is second in the nation in pass attempts, completions, completion percentage, yardage, touchdowns, third in total offense, and is 11th in passing efficiency. Couch leads the SEC in all of those categories, except he is second 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
Coordinator Mike Major calls his unit the “Black Flag” defense. The idea is to give his players the mindset of “never surrender.”
Defensive Line – Starting DTs Mark Jacobs and Marvin Major lead the linemen in tackles with 17 each. Jacobs is second on the team in sacks with three George Massey is the top reserve at DT and has 15 stops. He also leads the team in fumble recoveries with two Gordon Crowe and Dennis Johnson lead the ends with 11 tackles apiece. End Matt Layow started the first five games and now plays as a reserve. He has nine stops and also intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown at Florida.
Linebackers – OLB Marlon McCree leads the team in tackles (37), tackles for loss (nine), quarterback sacks (six), and fumbles caused (two). McCree set a single-game school record with six tackles for loss at Florida and he had three sacks, including one for a safety, against South Carolina OLB Jeff Snedegar has 26 tackles, including five for losses. He missed the South Carolina game because of an inflamed rotator cuff and is questionable for this week’s game MLB John Rader has 23 stops, including six for losses. His 46-yard interception return against Indiana was the game-winning touchdown in UK’s 30-27 victory.
Secondary – Freshman SS David Johnson is second on the team in tackles with 35. He returned a fumble 21 yards for a touchdown against Eastern Kentucky and caused a key fumble in the win over Indiana. He also had an interception at Arkansas and broke up a crucial fourth-down pass play against South Carolina. He was named one of the nation’s top 10 freshmen in the Oct. 3 issue of Sports Illustrated CB Marvin Love leads the team in pass breakups with eight CB Jeremy Bowie has four pass breakups and an interception FS Willie Gary is out for the season with a knee injury. In his place, FS Jeff Zurcher has 29 tackles and two pass breakups.
A Look at the Specialists
Kickers – Seth Hanson is 5-of-6 on field goals, including a career long of 41 yards at Louisville, and has made 30 of 32 extra points. Two of his successful extra points have been 35-yard kicks after UK was penalized for “excessive celebration” after a touchdown Hanson is second on the team in scoring with 45 points Hanson also handles kickoffs.
Punters – Jimmy Carter is averaging a career-best 40.7 yards per punt, but just as important is his good hang time and accuracy on the sidelines The Wildcats have given up only 30 yards on punt returns and UK is second in the SEC in net punting with 38.7 yards per punt.
Returners – Craig Yeast is second in the nation in kickoff returns with a average of 35.8 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 averages 2.1 yards on punt returns.
Defense Scoring, Too
The Wildcats defense has done its part to help UK rank seventh in the nation in scoring. The defense has scored three touchdowns this season, 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.
Block That Kick!
During the two seasons that Coach Mike Major has been in charge of the Kentucky defense, the Wildcats have blocked six opponent kicks. 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)
Cats Nipped Into Top 25
On the strength of Kentucky’s 3-0 start, the Wildcats achieved a No. 25 national ranking on Sept. 19 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches’ poll.
Week-by-week records are not 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.
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. OT Jonas Liening and WR Lance Mickelsen 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 was named honorable mention.
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 freshman SS David Johnson was named one of the nation’s top 10 freshmen in the Oct. 3 issue of Sports Illustrated.
Post-Season Award Watch
QB Tim Couch is a candidate for the Heisman Memorial Trophy and the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. Couch finished ninth in the 1997 Heisman voting, the first Wildcat to reach the top 10 since Lou Michaels finished fourth in 1957.
WR Craig Yeast is on the “watch list” for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, which is given to the nation’s top pass receiver.
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 18 of 22 opportunities for 105 points (13 touchdowns, five field goals, one interception, one fumble, one punt, one end of game).
Opponents: Converted 18 of 23 opportunities for 106 points (13 touchdowns, five field goals, one punt, one blocked field goal, one missed field goal, one held on downs, one end of half).
Head Coach Hal Mumme
Hal Mumme (Tarleton State, 1975) has an 9-8 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 74-35-1 (.677).
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.
Mumme Makes Best Start Since Collier
With a 9-8 record, Coach Hal Mumme has the best record for any UK coach in his first 17 games since Blanton Collier. Collier notched an 11-5-1 record in 1954-55 in his first two years in charge of the Wildcats.
“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 36 percent run and 64 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 John Clay of the Lexington Herald-Leader. “The head coach is not a Schwarzkopf 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. 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 is second in the SEC in net punting with 38.7 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 17 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 nine missed conversions have resulted in one touchdown on the ensuing opponent possessions.
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 508-479-44 (.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 JV team has a record of 1-2.
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 1998 schedule for the JV team:
Thurs. Sept. 24 UK JV 49, Campbellsville JV 45 (H)Thurs. Oct. 1 Hargrave Mil. Acad. 40, UK JV 7 (H)Thurs. Oct. 8 Georgetown JV 48, UK JV 40 (A)Thurs. Oct. 15 Georgia Military College 3:00Sun. Oct. 25 Tennessee-Chattanooga JV 3:00
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 Graduates
Four 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:
Louisville (3-3) at Tulane
Murray State at Eastern Kentucky (3-2)
Iowa at Indiana (2-3)
Auburn at Florida (5-1)
Arkansas (5-0) at South Carolina (1-5)
Kentucky at Louisiana State (3-2)
Vanderbilt (0-5) at Georgia (4-1)
East Tennessee State at Mississippi State (4-1)
Tennessee (5-0) open
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 88-67-4 (.566) in Commonwealth since the stadium opened in 1973. Kentucky is 6-3 at home under Coach Hal Mumme, including 3-0 in the 1998 season.
* 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, senior 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.
