UC Announces 2020 Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees

The University of the Cumberlands Athletic Department in conjunction with the UC Alumni Association is announcing the five-member class that will be inducted into the Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame as the Class of 2020.  Football Coach John Bland, running back Terrance Cobb, wrestler Eric Flinchum, Golf Coach Chris Kraftick, and runner Darcy (Mascotti) Whyte will represent the 2020 class that will be inducted February 8, 2020. 

Coach Bland guided the Patriots football team to a 70-21 record and five Mid-South Conference division championships over his eight seasons at the helm.  Bland helped Cumberlands qualify for the NAIA Football Championship Series six times in his eight seasons, including guiding the Patriots to their lone national championship game appearance in 2013. Bland was a five-time MSC Coach of the Year, had two NAIA All-Americans, and had ten players earn top honors in the MSC.

Cobb is Cumberlands’ program leader in rushing yards for a season with 1,991 yards and a career with 4,414, while also leading UC in career rushing touchdowns with 53.  Cobb played in 39 games over his four-year Patriot career averaging 113.2 yards per game and helped the Patriots to three postseason appearances.  His best season came during his junior year when Cobb recorded 1,991 yards rushing, 2,218 total yards, and 26 touchdowns. For his performance, Cobb was named an AFCA First Team All-American, a BSN First Team All-American, and the Mid-South Conference Player of the Year.  Other accolades that Cobb received was being named a Victory Sports Second Team All-American (2010), the Mid-South Conference Freshman of the Year (2010), and was a four-time MSC All-Conference selection.

Flinchum compiled an 89-5 record while earning NAIA All-American honors four times during his Patriot career (2003-2007).  Competing at the 197 lbs. weight class, Flinchum placed fifth in 2004 before finishing as the NAIA national runner-up in 2005 and 2006.  He transitioned to the 285 lbs. class for his senior year and posted a perfect 28-0 record en route to winning an NAIA national title.  In addition to his success at the national level, Flinchum tallied an impressive 18-1 record in dual meets and posted ten tournament wins over his Patriot career.  Flinchum helped Cumberlands to a top-ten finish at the NAIA National Championships each of his four years.

Coach Kraftick tallied a .773 win percentage and helped build the UC golf programs into a national power over his nine-year stint.  On the men’s side, UC recorded seven Mid-South Conference regular-season championships and six MSC tournament titles, while the women’s side earned seven straight regular season and five straight tournament titles.  Combined, the Patriots competed at 11 NAIA National Championships.  Over his nine-year run, Kraftick compiled seven MSC Coach of the Year honors, coached ten NAIA All-Americans, had eight MSC Players of the Year, 45 MSC all-conference selections, 14 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes, and two MSC Freshmen of the Year.

Whyte was a four-time NAIA All-American and set five program records over her four years at UC.  Whyte had a breakout season during the 2012 country season, placing 19th at the NAIA National Championships to earn All-American honors.  She followed that up by being part of UC’s Distance Medley Relay team that earned All-American honors in both 2012 and 2013.  In addition to that, Whyte gained her final All-American honor in the 1000 meter run at the NAIA Indoor National Championships.  Whyte also set school records for the 1000 meters, 3000 meters, the distance medley relay, and the 1500 meters.  Whyte was the MSC Freshman of the Year for cross country in 2009 and was a four-time all-conference selection. 

The official induction ceremony will be held during halftime of the men's basketball game. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. with the women's game beginning beforehand at 2 p.m. Both teams will be playing Cumberland University.

For a chronological listing of inductions, induction criteria and nomination information, please visit our website:  https://www.ucumberlands.edu/alumni/hall-fame.  

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Located in Williamsburg, Kentucky, University of the Cumberlands is an institution of regional distinction offering quality undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and online degree programs. Learn more at ucumberlands.edu.