MikeBeirne

? SEC Academic Honor Roll (1999, 2000)
? Verizon Academic All-America nominee (2000)

A wide receiver for three years, he moved to inside linebacker in the spring ? Showed some aptitude for the new position ? Also will be counted on for special-teams contributions ? Outstanding student ? Has played in 25 regular-season games, starting three.

2000 (Junior): Played in all 11 games ? Made two catches for 28 yards, including a 21-yard grab at LSU ? Made one tackle in special-teams action ? Named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll for the second year and also earned a nomination for the Verizon Academic All-America team.

1999 (Sophomore): Played in nine games … Started the season opener vs. Louisville and caught one pass for 13 yards … Also made two tackles on special teams during the season … Sustained a hamstring injury vs. Mississippi State and missed the final two regular-season games … Member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll.

1998 (Freshman): Played in five regular-season games plus the Outback Bowl … Started against Vanderbilt and Tennessee … Caught one pass for three yards in the win over Eastern Kentucky … Also played four games for the Wildcats? junior varsity team.

High School: Three-year starter at wide receiver for The Woodlands (Tex.) HS ? Caught 24 passes in his senior season, good for 356 yards and three touchdowns ? Career stats feature 51 receptions for 812 yards and 11 TDs ? Also started at cornerback as a senior and had one interception ? Two-year selection on the all-district, all-county, and All-Greater Houston area teams ? Chosen third team on the preseason All-Super Texas Team ? Tabbed as one of the top 50 players in Texas by First Down Recruiting ? Helped lead The Woodlands to one district championship and three consecutive years in the playoffs ? Coached by Weldon Willig ? Also participated in baseball and track ? Competed in the 100-meter dash, the long jump, and the sprint and mile relays ? Ran a leg on the district champion 1600-meter relay team ? Member of Young Life and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes ? Graduated cum laude ? Final choices included UK, Purdue, and Tulane.

Personal: Full name is Michael Joseph Beirne ? Last name is pronounced ?BURN? ? Born 7-27-79 in Houston ? Son of Jim and Jodie Beirne ? Comes from a great football family ? Mike?s father, Jim, was an All-America wide receiver at Purdue and enjoyed a long professional career with the San Diego Chargers and Houston Oilers ? Mike?s older brother, Kevin, was a two-time all-state receiver, went to Texas A&M, and is now a baseball pitcher with the Chicago White Sox ? Major is management.

The Cats? Cause: Participated in UK?s ?Schoolhouse Rock? academic pep rally for 4,000 fourth- and fifth-grade students (2000).

Beirne Career Statistics

YearPositionG-GSRec.Yds.Avg.TDLong1998Wide Rec.5-2133.0031999 Wide Rec.9-111313.00132000Wide Rec.11-022814.0021Totals25-344411.0021