At the introductory news conference for University of Kentucky Coach Hal Mumme,Athletics Director C. M. Newton — a former basketball coach — described his newhire in hoops terms.

“I told Hal,” Newton said, “that what we’re looking for here is someone who willpress, fast break, and shoot the threes on grass. He said, ‘I’m your man.'”

And with that, Hal Mumme was named head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats footballteam. The appointment of Mumme moves UK in a new direction of coaching andplaying styles. Mumme will use a pass-oriented offense similar to the systemBrigham Young has used so successfully for many years. The defense will be anattack-oriented 4-3 alignment, patterned after the system originated bylong-time college coach Larry Lacewell and currently used by the Dallas Cowboys.

“Much like Coach (Rick) Pitino, who I gave the challenge of putting the fun backinto Kentucky basketball, I see Coach Mumme as someone who can put the fun inKentucky football. I think he’ll bring that kind of excitement and that kind offun to Kentucky football. Not only will it be fun, the fun (also) comes inwinning and he’s a proven winner.”

Mumme’s track record is impressive, indeed, having won in both a rebuildingsituation and with an established program. He took over an 0-10 team at an NAIAschool, Iowa Wesleyan College, and turned it into an immediate winner,eventually leading IWC into the national playoffs. Mumme then took over a good program atValdosta State, an NCAA Division II school, and turned it into a nationalchampionship contender.

The question is, can he do the same at Kentucky in what many consider to be thenation’s premier college football conference? Mumme believes he can, and heeagerly awaits the opening of spring practice on March 31 and his first seasonin charge of the Wildcats.