Blue jersey 'better fit'

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Randall Cobb wants to set the record straight.

"Tennessee did offer me a scholarship," said Cobb, the former Alcoa (Tenn.) High School football great who now stars for Kentucky.

"It was late, but they offered. And it was tough to say no to the team you'd grown up cheering for. I went back and forth there a few times. But in the end, I just thought UK was a better fit for me."

When Tennessee's Volunteers and the Wildcats renew one of the more lopsided rivalries in Southeastern Conference history tonight at 7 in UK's Commonwealth Stadium, it's hard to envision anyone being a better fit for a program than Cobb with the Cats.

Tennessee's 2007 2A Mr. Football, Cobb has scored touchdowns by run (9), reception (4) and return (1). That's 14 total, and his 8.4 points per game lead the SEC among non-kickers.

Moreover, he's played at his best when it's mattered most, producing fourth-quarter touchdowns at both Auburn and Georgia as UK won its final three SEC road games against the Tigers, Vanderbilt and Bulldogs.

"Amazing," UK coach Rich Brooks said after Cobb played with a splint on his thumb during the 24-13 victory at Vanderbilt. "He's got the heart of a lion."

Said UT coach Lane Kiffin earlier this week when asked what most impresses him about the 5-11, 188-pound Cobb: "His ability to make plays. He's not necessarily the fastest guy. He's not the biggest guy. He's one of those football-savvy players."

That part was never much in question during his Alcoa career. He helped lead the school to back-to-back state titles during his junior and senior seasons, throwing for 22 touchdowns and just two interceptions his final campaign while scoring 13 touchdowns on the ground.

Nearly every school in the South wanted him, but Kentucky initially promised him an opportunity to play quarterback while Phillip Fulmer's UT staff saw him as primarily a defensive back or wide receiver.

Even Alcoa coach Gary Rankin told the Knoxville News Sentinel this past week: "I knew he would be a good player there. I had no idea he would have the kind of impact he's had there in two years."

But true to their word, the Cats often played Cobb at quarterback last season and have lined him up in the wildcat formation there this season.

Perhaps that's why he said of Brooks during a Wednesday interview: "I want to coach one day, and I hope I coach a lot like him. Just his drive, the way he always pushes us to be better."

And the Cats have gotten better in one way or another under Brooks during almost every one of his seven years on the job. This year's current 7-4 record is UK's fourth straight seven-win season. The Cats have won three straight bowl games.

What they haven't done, however, is beat Tennessee a single time since 1894. That's a span of 24 Novembers and 24 straight losses. That's also the longest active streak of futility between two schools in all of major college football.

As UK defensive lineman Cory Peters said, "That's an embarrassment."

Even Cobb, who should have known about the Streak as much as anyone, said he'd never heard of it until he came to Lexington.

"I just knew Tennessee always won," he said.

If that changes tonight, Cobb will almost assuredly be one of the biggest reasons. Kiffin said earlier this week that the difference in Cobb playing for Kentucky or Tennessee in this game could be as much as 14 to 21 points. Brooks has acknowledged that the Cats need to keep pace early, rather than trying to stage another late rally with true freshman quarterback Morgan Newton.

"I just know I'm glad we're playing them in Commonwealth this year," Cobb said.

So the transformation is complete. Even though he still counts UT defensive linemen Ben Martin and Chris Walker among his best friends, the kid who grew up cheering for the Vols is now true blue. He's come to embrace horse racing at Keeneland and basketball in Rupp Arena.

And if Tennessee's able to rough him up a bit, don't expect him to leave the game.

"I'm not coming out," he told the UK staff after being dinged a bit against Vanderbilt. "If you have to carry me off the field, that's what I want. I'm always going to bleed blue."

Like he once bled orange.