By LARRY VAUGHT
Randall Cobb didn’t mince words.
“This was a big loss for us and took a lot out of me,†said Cobb. “I hope we can pull it back together. This was a big game for us, one we knew we had to win. It was big for the pecking order of the SEC East and the bowl games.
“To come out and play the way we did  to not even show up  is very discouraging and disappointing. We played with no emotion. I do not know what to say. We did not play well across the board. I wish I knew why.â€Â
So do Kentucky fans after the Cats lost 31-24 to Mississippi State in Commonwealth Stadium Saturday night.
Don’t blame Cobb even if he did have a first-quarter fumble. He still accounted for 237 all-purpose yards (17 rushing, 32 receiving, 46 punt returns, 142 kickoff returns). He also scored his 10th touchdown this year and tallied a touchdown in a game for the 11th time in the 18 games he has played for Kentucky.
Forget the second-guessing about whether Kentucky should have gone to the wildcat package featuring Cobb at quarterback more in the fourth quarter  State had shut him down and twice the Cats did drive into scoring position with freshman Morgan Newton at quarterback. Instead, pay attention more to what Cobb thought about the team’s mental approach.
“We didn’t do much of anything right. They put a lot of stress on us with their defense. It was just a tough night all around for us in every phase of the game,†Cobb said.
Cobb admitted the players had openly talked about what winning this game could have done for UK’s bowl chances and placement.
Did UK take Mississippi State lightly?
“I can’t speak for my teammates. I don’t know how others feel. I gave my all out there, and I hope others can say that, too,†Cobb said. “But we didn’t play well or with the emotion I expected. This was a big night. It was homecoming. It was Halloween. It was a big SEC game.
“I could tell early that things were not right emotionally. I could see people hanging their heads when something didn’t go right. I thought we had moved past that, but we didn’t play together like we should have and we didn’t play as hard as we should have.â€Â
He’s right. It was obvious to everyone in Commonwealth Stadium, including UK head coach Rich Brooks, that his team was whipped physically. UK’s defensive front was manhandled. UK’s offensive front was not as dominant as it had been. UK’s defensive backs were punished by State’s blockers and runners.
“Now we’ve got to move past this somehow. I figured we would have so much emotion tonight but it just wasn’t there. All we can do now is let it go. There’s nothing else we can do now,†Cobb said.
12 Responses to Cobb questions UK’s emotion, effort
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This loss lies squarely on Steve Brown’s shoulders.
The man played pass defense against a running team all night long.
Way up here in Ohio the very things that Cobb mention were obvious as we watched on TV and discussed in total frustration that the Cats simply hadn’t come to play—other than the two or three that always do. Both O and D lines could have taken naps on the field for all the good they did on most plays.
Joker had said this might be the most important game of the last few decades. How the heck could the players come out so uninspired and lethargic? Something bad wrong in the gut of our football operation. And, no, I’m not over-reacting to this single loss. Sometimes this football team is as dispirited as the basketball team was under Gillispie—and that’s frightening.
Defense was hard to figure. Then again, nobody could tackle Mark so maybe it didn’t matter.
And it was as obvious here as it was in Ohio that something was wrong. how could a team that fought so hard at Auburn Jimcats play like Mildcats. Don’t blame you or any fan for being frustrated
Larry, I hope UK just made a bad decision when they pulled Newton’s Redshirt instead of Mossakowski’s. Please tell us Mossakowski has a much better arm than Newton, Fidler, Cobb or Hartline…
I feel sorry for Cobb. He’s a thoroughbred not only in his play but in his mental and emotional approach to the game. He deserves better than what his coaching staff and teammates gave him tonight. Very disappointing.
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Tough reading the paper today. They looked flat on both sides of the ball. I reaaly thought we would win. I never gave up but watching the end of the game was like pulling teeth.
THAT SAID THE REVIEW MIRROR IS SMALL FOR A REASON. BIGGER THINGS LAY AHEAD. THE CATS WILL COME BACK & WIN ATLEAST 3 OUT OF NEXT 4 GAMES.
I still believe in this team and these coaches. Did we have a flat team yes was there some suspect play calling sure, but they are still my Cats and I stand firmly behind them all.
So in the words from one of my favorite songs”People get ready there’s a train a comin(big blue train). You don’t need no tickets you just get on board. All you need is faith to hear the deisel humming you don’t need no baggage you just thank the LORD(It’s Sunday I always try to make sure I smile on Sunday. Daddy was a Deacon so it’s in my blood). I know it’s corny but if the player keep the faith and the coaches keep the faith and the FANS keep the faith(I know that’s hard) good things will come. Not preaching just keeping the faith. I probably messed up that song. LOL KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. GO BLUE OR STAY HOME
F R U T R A T I N G N I G H T
^ FRUSTRATING NIGHT
Keeping that smile is a good thing.
And feeling frustrated is something most UK football fans can relate to today in a big, big way
One of the worst prepaired teams ive seen in a long time,to play only 2 linebackers against the best rushing back in leauge is playing right into to there hands,,then they made no adjustments a hale time,miss st is not a passing team,def cord did not do his job,well another 6-6 season
Going to post a kind of explanation from Rich in a few minutes about defense