Dec. 10, 1999
Mumme Chosen as one of the Nation’s Top 15 Recruiters: KentuckyCoach Hal Mumme has been chosen as one of college football’s top 15 recruiters by recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, as reported on theESPN.com website.
In addition to listing the top 15 coaches alphabetically,Lemming also wrote his impressions of each coach. Regarding Mumme,Lemming wrote, “I must admit I was skeptical when Mumme took the reinsin Lexington three years ago. Now I have nothing but admiration forthis highly charged, fast-talking and smooth recruiter. He has puttogether the hardest-working staff in college football and he himselfwill outwork most head coaches. In the home he is a humorous andemotional recruiter with a convincing style.”
In addition to Mumme, Lemming’s choice of 15 head coachesincludes Barry Alvarez (Wisconsin), Gary Barnett (Colorado), BobbyBowden (Florida State), Mack Brown (Texas), Lloyd Carr (Michigan), JimDonnan (Georgia), Phil Fulmer (Tennessee), Tom Holmoe (California),Steve Logan (East Carolina), Dan McCarney (Iowa State), Joe Paterno(Penn State), Nick Saban (Louisiana State), R. C. Slocum (Texas A&M),and Frank Solich (Nebraska).
Whalen Picked by CBS Sports Line: Tight end James Whalen, Jr.,has nabbed another first-team All-America honor, this one coming fromthe CBS Sports Line internet site.
Whalen caught 90 passes for 1,019 yards and 10 touchdowns duringthe 1999 season, leading the nation’s tight ends in all threecategories. He set NCAA records for most receptions in a season by atight end and most receptions per game (8.2) by a tight end. His 90catches also broke UK’s single-season record for receptions, eclipsingCraig Yeast’s mark of 85 set a year ago.
With 1,019 receiving yards, Whalen became the second Wildcat tosurpass the 1,000-yard receiving mark in a season. His 10 TD catchesalso are the second-best single-season mark in UK history.
Whalen had four games with double-digit receptions during the1999 season. With 10 catches against Indiana and 12 against Florida, hebecame the first player in school history to have double-digitreceptions in consecutive games. He duplicated that feat later in theseason with 10 catches at Georgia, followed by 11 at Mississippi State.
Whalen had five 100-yard receiving games, topped by 151 yards atGeorgia. He also caught four touchdown passes against the Bulldogs,tying a school record.
Whalen’s top individual play came in the season opener vs.Louisville. His 57-yard touchdown catch-and-run, capped by a dive intothe end zone, was named the Compaq “Best Hustle Play of the Week inCollege Football.”
Whalen also has been named first-team All-America by theFootball Writers Association of America, the Walter Camp FootballFoundation, and the CNN/SI website. He was a second-team All-Americapick by Football News and a third-team choice by The Sporting News.
Team Schedule
Dec. 10-16 – No practice, final examinations
Dec. 17 – Last day of examinations, practice resumes
Dec. 17-22 – Practice in Lexington
Dec. 23-24 – Off
Dec. 25 – Return to Lexington
Dec. 26 – Travel to Nashville, begin bowl practice and activities
Dec. 27-28 – Bowl practice and activities
Dec. 29 – Kentucky vs. Syracuse, 4 p.m. EST (3 p.m. CST), Adelphia Coliseum
