Brooks didn’t know Cobb would not play, either
November 7th, 2009 | 
Author: By LARRY VAUGHT
Rich Brooks came to Commonwealth Stadium Saturday expecting Randall Cobb to play a big role in Kentucky’s offense against Eastern Kentucky.
Turns out the Kentucky head coach was just as surprised as fans when Cobb couldn’t play after a Thursday practice injury to his left thumb kept getting worse and worse.
“Randall Cobb sprained his thumb in Thursday’s practice. We didn’t think it was that bad, but it just kept getting sore and he couldn’t move it. We tried a splint on it before the game, but he couldn’t function with it,” Brooks said after the game. “We tried to put the cast on it so he would be able to play in. Bu, that would obviously make it pretty hard to catch punts and kickoffs, catch balls and take snaps from under center with a cast on your hand.”
That’s why Brooks decided not to use him in a game Kentucky eventually won 37-12 with both Cobb and running back Derrick Locke, UK’s leading rusher, out with injuries.
Brooks doesn’t think Cobb’s injury will be a long-term problem.
“It doesn’t appear to be serious because we did X-ray it and there are no broken bones so that means it is a pretty bad sprain or he jammed his thumb,” Brooks said.
Cobb didn’t indicate the thumb was bothering him in interviews after practice Thursday, but Brooks noticed it was bothering him at Friday’s team dinner. He was given an anti-inflammatory to try and reduce the swelling then.
“This morning it was bad. He went out to catch (in pregame warmups) and it really hurt,” Brooks said.
Cobb told the coach he still wanted to play and that he could at least block but Brooks said he didn’t want to irritate the injury and decided to hold him out.
Eventually Cobb put on a headset at the request of Joker Phillips, UK’s head coach of the offense, to help UK’s young receivers on the field.
“When we started, we were trying to get information to our receivers. Joker called down and wanted him on a headset so he could understand what was going on and at least help coach guys on our side about splits and adjustments. Randall knows our offense very good and is very helpful with our younger guys,” Brooks said.
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31-7?
The coaching staff needs to hook up with whoever treated Jeff Shepperd’s sprained ankle in 98. That was the most swollen, bruised ankle I have ever seen, but they had him back on the court in no time. We will definitely need him next week.
Thanks Will. Got the typo corrected. Too big a hurry and missed it.
And Jim, boy do I remember that ankle. I saw it personally and never dreamed he would play
[...] Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes about Randall Cobb’s injury. [...]
LARRY: I can remember akid at Arkansas back in like 82 or83, They would put some one back with him on Kickoffs and let the guy recieve it and hand it back to him…NOT SAYING WE DO THAT..But that brought back that memory seems like that Kid had that cast on the Whole season..LOL.> But it sounds like they will protect him this week..Maybe more wildcat?..Well we will leave that up to the COACHES not some has been like me..LOL..I like Joker letting Randall getting involved on the sidelines..GO CATS!!GO BIG BLUE!!!
Isn’t he lefthanded, that would make it worse. I ran into a huge power pole going full speeed and jumping to catch a ball playing tag football after basic training, my right thumb was about 90 degrees out and I put it back in place while still dazed. It was very weak trying to grip a football for six months, but hopefully his isn’t nearly that bad and he has the best of medical attention I am sure.
That Arkansas player must have been awfully tough AND a heck of a runner.
It is a concern and certainly would take the pass out of his arsenal I would think. then again, Cobb is a tough kid and nothing he does would surprise me. I just know to beat Vandy, they need him and Locke both healthy and productive