Dec. 28, 2008
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Kentucky football team convened in Memphis, Tenn., a day earlier than required and began practice for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on Sunday afternoon.
The Wildcats worked out for two hours and 20 minutes at Rhodes College. The weather was beautiful, with sunny skies and temperatures in the high 40s, but footing was slippery on fields made soggy by a heavy rainstorm Saturday night.
“I felt with the four-day break, (we needed) an extra day to get here and get the kinks out,” Brooks said. “(I wanted the players to get) A good day of running and get them back in the thinking of getting ready for football. It gives one extra day and I’m glad I did, particularly since the footing as bad as it was today. The effort was fine, we just need to get the execution (better).
“We’ll probably change practice sites tomorrow. The fields were very wet. It is a nice facility but because of the rain last night we’ll probably go to the artificial field at MUS (Memphis University School) tomorrow.”
The weather projects for sunny skies and mild temperatures for the remainder of the week. The Wildcats will practice each day leading up to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, scheduled for Fri. Jan. 2 at 5 p.m. EST (4 p.m. CST) at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
R. Cobb Will Not Play; Sanders Sidelined by Kidney Stones: Quarterback/wide receiver Randall Cobb will not play in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Coach Rich Brooks announced.
Cobb sustained a knee cartilage injury during the Tennessee game on Nov. 29 and underwent arthroscopic surgery on Dec. 2. Brooks said that Cobb was still in the healing process and that the knee was not ready for weight-bearing.
Cobb has played quarterback, wide receiver and as a punt returner this season. He started the last four games at quarterback and was named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team selected by SEC coaches and by Rivals.com.
Sophomore Mike Hartline, who started the first eight games of the season at quarterback, will return to the lineup. Freshmen Gene McCaskill and Winston Guy have been working out on punt returns, but neither has returned a punt in a game this season.
Brooks also announced that quarterbacks coach Randy Sanders did not make the trip to Memphis because of kidney stones and it is uncertain when he will be able to come to the bowl site.
