COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT

The excitement of a game Saturday against No. 1 Tennessee and a pending bowl invitation became irrelevant at Kentucky as the team mourned a truck crash that killed one player and injured another.

Also killed was the best friend of Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch, who opted not to join the others on an ill-fated hunting trip Sunday.

“Being a football player, you think you’ve been through a lot of tough things, losing games in the last seconds, taking big hits,” said Couch, who broke down in tears as he talked about the death of lifelong friend Scott Brock. “You think you’re a tough person until you have to deal with going in and seeing your best friend’s parents after he’s just passed away.”

Brock, a student at Eastern Kentucky University, was killed along with Kentucky defensive lineman Arthur “Artie” Steinmetz when center Jason Watts’ pickup truck went out of control and flipped over on U.S. 27 near Somerset, Ky.

Watts, the driver, was thrown from the vehicle with the other two. He severely cut his right arm. The three were headed to a farm near Somerset to go deer hunting when the accident happened.

The crash occurred hours after Kentucky celebrated Senior Day at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky., with a 55-17 victory over Vanderbilt. Watts was among those honored in a pregame ceremony.

Kentucky Coach Hal Mumme canceled practice Monday.