Kentucky coach Joker Phillips got straight to the point Monday upon announcing that redshirt freshman defensive lineman Mister Cobble had earned his academic eligibility.
Mister Cobble
“We just got better today,” Phillips said. “Probably one of the biggest ‘recruits’ we’ve had this year.”
Cobble, a 6-foot, 320-pound defensive tackle and two-time all-state selection during his career at Louisville Central High School, missed the regular season after seeing his grades drop from the spring semester. However, since the Wildcats’ BVAA Compass Bowl matchup with Pittsburgh on January 8 falls in the second semester, Cobble will be able to play against the Panthers.
“How many plays, I don’t know… but he’s gonna play,” Phillips said with a smile that suggested he had received an early Christmas gift. “… He’s made our offense better already this year by being down there practicing against him every day.”
It will mark the first game action for Cobble since arriving at UK in 2009. He learned the news earlier Monday when Phillips made an announcement at the Nutter Training Center.
“Coach came in the room and said pause everybody, I’ve got an announcement,” Cobble said. “We’ve got a new player on the team – Mister Cobble’s eligible. A window just opened in my heart. I just – whew – let it all out.”
Asked if he screamed upon learning the news, Cobble said “I screamed on the inside. I wanted to leave and call my momma… It’s pretty exciting. I called my family as soon as I got out (of the meeting). I’m trying to find (bowl) tickets for everybody. It’s just amazing and wonderful. I’m thankful to God that I can play.”
One could say Cobble borrowed from the classic Seinfeld episode “The Opposite” to make his turnaround. In the sitcom, the chronically-challenged George Costanza one day decides to start doing the opposite of his natural instincts… and suddenly finds success.
“I did everything the opposite of what I did last semester,” Cobble said. “I didn’t procrastinate. I didn’t chase girls. I stayed in my room and read my book. And I answered the phone if momma called.
“Tell everybody that: stay in your room, don’t chase girls, talk to your momma.”
It was a frustrating experience, but one that Cobble believes will ultimately help him throughout his life.
"I've seen myself grow as a person, as a man," he said. "The fact that I came from this situation, I grew up from it and became a better person. In my heart, I feel like I did something good. I can look back and tell somebody's kids or my kids that if something happens like that, you have to learn from it and have no regrets."
