Sept. 16, 2008

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Following a lackluster performance by the Kentucky football team in practice last week, Coach Rich Brooks was much happier after the Wildcats returned to the practice field Tuesday morning at the Nutter Training Center.

“The tempo was good. (If) We keep practicing like that, we have a really good chance to be a more productive football team,” Brooks said. “I hope the energy today is because they know we have to get better. They maybe are taking a lesson to heart about how we have been practicing, which is not good enough.”

Brooks noted that defensive end Jeremy Jarmon (ankle sprain) and wide receiver Dicky Lyons (stiff neck) did not practice today. The coach confirmed that defensive tackle Ricky Lumpkin, linebacker Micah Johnson and quarterback/wide receiver Randall Cobb will be out indefinitely because of their high-ankle sprains, with Cobb’s appearing to be the most severe.

Brooks said that one result of the inconsistent performance, both in practice last week and the 20-14 win over Middle Tennessee, was that some starting jobs were available to be won on the practice field. Kentucky (3-0) has an open date this week before playing host to Western Kentucky University on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.