Wikipedia

1998 Kentucky Wildcats football team

The 1998 Kentucky Wildcats football team represented the University of Kentucky as a member of the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Hal Mumme, the Wildcats compiled an overall record of 7–5 with a mark of 4–4 in conference place, placing fourth in the SEC's Eastern Division. Kentucky was invited to the Outback Bowl, where the Wildcats lost to Penn State. The team played home games at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky.

1998 Kentucky Wildcats football
Outback Bowl, L 14–26 vs. Penn State
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEastern Division
Record7–5 (4–4 SEC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMike Leach (2nd season)
Offensive schemeAir raid
Defensive coordinatorMike Major (2nd season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumCommonwealth Stadium
Seasons
← 1997
1999 →
1998 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Eastern Division
No. 1 Tennessee x$# 8–0  13–0 
No. 5 Florida % 7–1  10–2 
No. 14 Georgia 6–2  9–3 
Kentucky 4–4  7–5 
Vanderbilt 1–7  2–9 
South Carolina 0–8  1–10 
Western Division
Mississippi State xy 6–2  8–5 
No. 16 Arkansas x 6–2  9–3 
Alabama 4–4  7–5 
Ole Miss 3–5  7–5 
LSU 2–6  4–7 
Auburn 1–7  3–8 
Championship: Tennessee 24, Mississippi State 14
  • # – BCS National Champion
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • % – BCS at-large representative
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

Quarterback Tim Couch was the first overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft. Couch led Kentucky to a win on the road at No. 21 LSU. In the Outback Bowl, he completed 30 of 48 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns in a losing effort. The Wildcats beat Louisville to claim the Governor's Cup.

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 53:00 pmat Louisville*
FSNW 68–3442,643[1]
September 121:30 pmEastern Kentucky*
W 52–757,776[2]
September 191:30 pmIndiana*
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY (rivalry)
W 31–2757,788[3]
September 263:30 pmat No. 8 Florida
CBSL 35–5185,011[4]
October 36:00 pmat No. 22 Arkansas
ESPN2L 20–2755,782[5]
October 107:00 pmSouth Carolinadagger
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
W 33–2857,739[6]
October 179:00 pmat No. 21 LSU
ESPN2W 39–3680,524[7]
October 2412:30 pmNo. 11 Georgia
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
JPSL 26–2857,838[8]
November 76:00 pmMississippi State
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY
ESPN2W 37–3557,760[9]
November 141:30 pmVanderbilt
  • Commonwealth Stadium
  • Lexington, KY (rivalry)
W 55–1757,521[10]
November 2112:30 pmat No. 1 Tennessee
CBSL 21–59107,252[11]
January 1, 199911:00 amvs. No. 22 Penn State*
ESPNL 14–2666,005[12]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Rankings

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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
APRVRVRVRVRV—RVRVRVRVRVRV————
CoachesRVRVRV25RVRVRVRVRVRVRV25RVRV—RV
BCSNot released———————Not released

Game summaries

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At Louisville

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1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 17 24 7 20 68
Cardinals 7 3 6 18 34
StatisticsUKLOU
First downs3726
Total yards801501
Rushing yards230133
Passing yards571368
Passing: comp–att–int36–47–025–44–1
Turnovers21
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
KentuckyPassingTim Couch29/39, 498 yards, 7 TD
RushingDerek Homer19 rushes, 123 yards, TD
ReceivingCraig Yeast9 receptions, 150 yards, 2 TD
LouisvillePassingChris Redman25/44, 368 yards, 4 TD, INT
RushingRafael Cooper14 rushes, 72 yards, TD
ReceivingIbn Green8 receptions, 132 yards, 2 TD

Eastern Kentucky

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1 2 3 4 Total
Colonels 0 0 7 0 7
Wildcats 14 21 10 7 52

Indiana

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1 2 3 4 Total
Hoosiers 3 17 7 0 27
Wildcats 0 10 7 14 31
StatisticsIUUK
First downs2022
Total yards330469
Rushing yards16889
Passing yards162380
Passing: comp–att–int12–34–139–54–4
Turnovers26
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
IndianaPassingAntwaan Randle El12/34, 162 yards, INT
RushingChris Gall5 rushes, 100 yards, TD
ReceivingChris Gall4 receptions, 56 yards
KentuckyPassingTim Couch38/53, 301 yards, TD, 4 INT
RushingDerek Homer11 rushes, 65 yards, TD
ReceivingAnthony White9 receptions, 92 yards, TD

At No. 8 Florida

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1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 14 7 7 7 35
No. 8 Gators 14 21 13 3 51
StatisticsUKFLA
First downs2121
Total yards448582
Rushing yards42130
Passing yards406452
Passing: comp–att–int40–61–222–37–1
Turnovers31
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
KentuckyPassingTim Couch40/61, 406 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
RushingDerek Homer6 rushes, 20 yards
ReceivingCraig Yeast6 receptions, 206 yards, 2 TD
FloridaPassingDoug Johnson13/23, 270 yards, 5 TD
RushingTerry Jackson22 rushes, 116 yards
ReceivingNafis Karim6 receptions, 145 yards, 3 TD

At No. 22 Arkansas

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1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 7 7 6 0 20
No. 22 Razorbacks 7 0 6 14 27
StatisticsUKARK
First downs2823
Total yards507355
Rushing yards8132
Passing yards499223
Passing: comp–att–int47–67–114–28–1
Turnovers21
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
KentuckyPassingTim Couch47/67, 499 yards, 3 TD, INT
RushingCraig Yeast1 rush, 21 yards
ReceivingKevin Coleman6 receptions, 105 yards
ArkansasPassingClint Stoerner13/27, 199 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingMadre Hill23 rushes, 106 yards
ReceivingAnthony Lucas6 receptions, 149 yards, TD

South Carolina

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1 2 3 4 Total
Gamecocks 7 7 0 14 28
Wildcats 7 10 7 9 33
StatisticsSCARUK
First downs2025
Total yards453526
Rushing yards85211
Passing yards368315
Passing: comp–att–int19–46–029–42–0
Turnovers11
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
South CarolinaPassingAnthony Wright11/29, 219 yards, TD
RushingTroy Hambrick6 rushes, 83 yards, TD
ReceivingBoo Williams7 receptions, 167 yards, TD
KentuckyPassingTim Couch29/42, 315 yards, 3 TD
RushingAnthony White18 rushes, 108 yards
ReceivingAnthony White8 receptions, 117 yards

At No. 21 LSU

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1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 7 9 20 3 39
No. 21 Tigers 0 13 9 14 36
StatisticsUKLSU
First downs2718
Total yards573342
Rushing yards18274
Passing yards391268
Passing: comp–att–int37–50–115–26–0
Turnovers20
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
KentuckyPassingTim Couch37/50, 391 yards, 3 TD, INT
RushingDerek Homer11 rushes, 60 yards
ReceivingCraig Yeast7 receptions, 122 yards, 2 TD
LSUPassingHerb Tyler15/26, 268 yards, 2 TD
RushingKevin Faulk20 rushes, 67 yards
ReceivingLarry Foster5 receptions, 137 yards, 2 TD

No. 11 Georgia

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1 2 3 4 Total
No. 11 Bulldogs 0 14 14 0 28
Wildcats 10 7 9 0 26
StatisticsUGAUK
First downs1829
Total yards332530
Rushing yards185204
Passing yards147326
Passing: comp–att–int10–14–134–47–3
Turnovers23
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
GeorgiaPassingQuincy Carter10/14, 147 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingQuincy Carter14 rushes, 114 yards, TD
ReceivingTony Small3 receptions, 50 yards, TD
KentuckyPassingTim Couch34/46, 326 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
RushingDerek Homer16 rushes, 91 yards, TD
ReceivingKevin Coleman6 receptions, 100 yards

Mississippi State

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1 2 3 4 Total
Bulldogs 6 16 7 6 35
Wildcats 3 15 12 7 37
StatisticsMSSTUK
First downs1631
Total yards417519
Rushing yards254181
Passing yards163338
Passing: comp–att–int8–17–035–45–1
Turnovers12
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Mississippi StatePassingWayne Madkin8/16, 163 yards, 2 TD
RushingJames Johnson28 rushes, 209 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingKevin Prentiss4 receptions, 88 yards, TD
KentuckyPassingTim Couch35/45, 338 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingDerek Homer10 rushes, 130 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingKevin Coleman8 receptions, 103 yards, TD

Vanderbilt

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1 2 3 4 Total
Commodores 3 0 14 0 17
Wildcats 3 14 31 7 55
StatisticsVANUK
First downs1131
Total yards285585
Rushing yards10094
Passing yards185585
Passing: comp–att–int14–37–047–58–3
Turnovers35
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
VanderbiltPassingGreg Zolman7/22, 165 yards, TD
RushingJared McGrath12 rushes, 53 yards
ReceivingTavarus Hogans3 receptions, 95 yards, TD
KentuckyPassingTim Couch44/53, 492 yards, 5 TD, 3 INT
RushingDerek Homer10 rushes, 62 yards
ReceivingCraig Yeast16 receptions, 269 yards, 2 TD

At No. 1 Tennessee

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1 2 3 4 Total
Wildcats 7 0 7 7 21
No. 1 Volunteers 14 24 14 7 59
StatisticsUKTENN
First downs2121
Total yards376466
Rushing yards39237
Passing yards337229
Passing: comp–att–int35–58–115–25–1
Turnovers11
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
KentuckyPassingTim Couch35/56, 337 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingDerek Homer13 rushes, 50 yards, TD
ReceivingCraig Yeast7 receptions, 102 yards
TennesseePassingTee Martin13/20, 189 yards, TD
RushingTravis Henry15 rushes, 67 yards, TD
ReceivingCedrick Wilson Sr.4 receptions, 100 yards, TD

Vs. No. 22 Penn State (Outback Bowl)

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1 2 3 4 Total
No. 22 Nittany Lions 3 10 6 7 26
Wildcats 14 0 0 0 14
StatisticsPSUUK
First downs2424
Total yards420441
Rushing yards233105
Passing yards187336
Passing: comp–att–int14–27–030–48–2
Turnovers13
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Penn StatePassingKevin Thompson14/27, 187 yards, TD
RushingEric McCoo21 rushes, 105 yards
ReceivingTony Stewart7 receptions, 71 yards
KentuckyPassingTim Couch30/48, 336 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
RushingAnthony White8 rushes, 61 yards
ReceivingDerek Homer7 receptions, 64 yards

Roster

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1998 Kentucky Wildcats football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
QB 2 Tim Couch Jr
WR 3 Craig Yeast Sr
QB 16 Matt Mumme Sr
WR 25 Quentin McCord So
RB 32 Anthony White Jr
C 61 Paul McGonagle Sr
TE 85 James Whalen Jr
RB Artose Pinner Fr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
CB 20 Eric Kelly So
LB 30 Marlon McCree So
DT Chris Demaree Fr
DE Dennis Johnson Fr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 10 Seth Hanson So
P 18 Jimmy Carter Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Mike Leach – Offensive coordinator/wide receivers
  • Chris Hatcher – Quarterbacks
  • Tony Franklin – Running backs
  • Mike Fanoga – Tight ends/assistant offensive line
  • Guy Morriss – Offensive line/assistant head coach
  • Mike Major – Defensive coordinator/linebackers
  • Bob Brush – Defensive assistant
  • Tom Adams – Defensive line
  • Darrell Patterson – Safeties
  • Tim Keane – Cornerbacks
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

1999 NFL draft

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Player Position Round Pick NFL club
Tim CouchQuarterback11Cleveland Browns

[13]

References

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  1. ↑ "Couch means ouch for Cards". Messenger-Inquirer. September 6, 1998. Retrieved October 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ Clay, John (September 13, 1998). "Cats cream Colonels 52–7". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved October 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Whitmire, Tim (September 20, 1998). "Cats escape Indiana, 31-27". Messenger-Inquirer. Associated Press. p. 1B. Retrieved October 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Florida outguns Kentucky, Couch 51–35". Messenger-Inquirer. September 27, 1998. Retrieved October 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Aw, Nutts! Hogs overtake 'Cats". The Paducah Sun. October 4, 1998. Retrieved October 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Balanced attack lifts Kentucky over South Carolina". The Charlotte Observer. October 11, 1998. Retrieved October 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Wildcats nip LSU". Daily World. October 18, 1998. Retrieved July 28, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Botched kick snaps Couch's final march". The Paducah Sun. October 25, 1998. Retrieved October 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "MSU falls short against 'Cats". The Greenwood Commonwealth. November 8, 1998. Retrieved October 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "If it was a farewell, it was a doozy". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 15, 1998. Retrieved October 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Top-ranked Vols wallop flat Wildcats". Messenger-Inquirer. November 22, 1998. Retrieved October 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Paterno has plenty of time, but Couch doesn't". The Los Angeles Times. January 2, 1999. Retrieved October 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "1999 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Archived from the original on December 21, 2007.
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