Barker

Doc4UK!

All-Conference
Aug 14, 2003
2,665
1,503
113
Last night I noticed Hoak and Wright were sending in the signals to Johnson but did not see Barker . I am a physician but definitely not a back expert.

But I do know there are three major issues that can affect anyone's back. You can break a vertebra or one of the transverse processes and that will heal as it did in the case of Tony Romo last year and there is a time table for that. If it is a disc then that either heals within a month or so with rehab or becomes an operative problem and is fixed and there is a timetable for a return.. If it is related to lumbar musculature like a lower back strain then again it heals and the player returns in an even shorter period of time.

So the entire thing is sort of strange. No word on when he might return or the exact nature of the injury. Anyone else have any insight since I have not seen any interviews with Barker or really any coverage of his status.
 

LadyCaytIL

Heisman
Oct 28, 2012
32,052
32,874
113
With no one around UK wanting to talk about it........ just gives me the feeling he'll transfer.
 

merrimanm

Heisman
Dec 14, 2009
17,837
30,616
113
I heard some things, but don't want to start rumors. Has nothing to do with the injury or any off field stuff, just about his future at UK.
 

Mr Schwump

Heisman
Nov 4, 2006
29,563
23,097
18
It's crazy how difficult it's been for us to find a good QB. SJ is doing well but has his limits. It would be nice to get someone in hear that can use the whole playbook.

Amazingly, UK's not had a 3000 yd/season QB since 2010(Hartline) and won't have one this year. A lot of bad QBs have come and gone.
 

Doc4UK!

All-Conference
Aug 14, 2003
2,665
1,503
113
Be surprised to ever see Barker wear blue again


Why would you not expect to see Barker back? If it is an injury then why would he not be back?

If it is something else why would they not be straightforward with us? Team rules violation, failed drug test , team chemistry issues, academics? Have I left anything out?

Surely someone knows what is going on with our four star "starting" QB?
 

Randy Bob

All-Conference
Jun 14, 2009
7,203
3,917
113
I thank it the injury , nothing more, do not know if anyone on here has every had back problems , if it major then it could take along time for it to heal for a sport like FB..
 

catfaninjackson

Redshirt
Aug 15, 2009
5
7
0
Last night I noticed Hoak and Wright were sending in the signals to Johnson but did not see Barker . I am a physician but definitely not a back expert.

But I do know there are three major issues that can affect anyone's back. You can break a vertebra or one of the transverse processes and that will heal as it did in the case of Tony Romo last year and there is a time table for that. If it is a disc then that either heals within a month or so with rehab or becomes an operative problem and is fixed and there is a timetable for a return.. If it is related to lumbar musculature like a lower back strain then again it heals and the player returns in an even shorter period of time.

So the entire thing is sort of strange. No word on when he might return or the exact nature of the injury. Anyone else have any insight since I have not seen any interviews with Barker or really any coverage of his status.
One other thing could be a pars stress fracture... this sometimes heals and other times only heals with scar tissue... either way, usually these folks are treated in a brace for a period of time and with therapy and could potentially return to play if pain and flexibility can be restored... if if it doesn't and requires surgery, the surgery is a spinal fusion, and would be career threatening... GBB
 
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LadyCaytIL

Heisman
Oct 28, 2012
32,052
32,874
113
Oh sorry, I forgot we're not allowed to say anything about something we've heard.
 

uk_king_cat2

Junior
Sep 5, 2006
2,038
265
0
Why would you not expect to see Barker back? If it is an injury then why would he not be back?

If it is something else why would they not be straightforward with us? Team rules violation, failed drug test , team chemistry issues, academics? Have I left anything out?

Surely someone knows what is going on with our four star "starting" QB?
If it is something else why would they not be straightforward with us?
Hmmm.... Regie Meant ring a bell.
 

Chadrock

All-Conference
Jul 12, 2004
2,811
1,837
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It's crazy how difficult it's been for us to find a good QB. SJ is doing well but has his limits. It would be nice to get someone in here that can use the whole playbook.

I agree about it being difficult to find a good QB...however, a few comments on SJ. I also agree about his limits but goodness, from last night:

Don't call slow forming pass plays inside your 15 yard line which more than likely will result in a sack or fumble.

Please call more plays with SJ keeping and running/moving the pocket...he has decent speed as we've seen and will pick up positive yards when he can hit the edge.

WR's, please in critical situations, catch and keep the ball. GJ fumble, JB handoff to the defensive back on a sure touchdown, CJ (yes it was high but it hit both hands).

Oh, if we are going to run the wildcat a lot, unless part of the jet sweep or pass package, please replace SJ with someone who can get on a block.

Just my random thoughts after last night.
 
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77blueuk

Junior
Sep 4, 2007
208
236
0
Was he on the sidelines last night? For those of you who have never had a serious back injury, they can be tricky.
 

Chimaera717

Heisman
Oct 25, 2008
6,006
13,078
83
Correct me if I'm wrong, but do find it strange he hasn't been seen at any games or on the sidelines.

I saw him multiple times on the sideline during the...MSU game? I think I saw him in street clothes during the Mizzou game, too.

This is a crazy rumor. Don't think there's anything to it. Barker had one or two really minor discipline incidents, but he's been squeaky clean since as near as anyone knows.
 
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merrimanm

Heisman
Dec 14, 2009
17,837
30,616
113
May I laugh at this without it being rude.

This is a fan board. All we do is start rumors and comment about them until they become reality.
Yeah, I just never like to throw out names and situations unless I know for sure it is true.
 

BlueRunner11

Heisman
Mar 26, 2011
11,563
35,624
0
I saw him multiple times on the sideline during the...MSU game? I think I saw him in street clothes during the Mizzou game, too.

This is a crazy rumor. Don't think there's anything to it. Barker had one or two really minor discipline incidents, but he's been squeaky clean since as near as anyone knows.

Thank you. Hadn't seen him.
 

SmokinGun9

Senior
Apr 4, 2014
519
449
0
Drew was at the Cat Walk and on the sideline yesterday.
He has been on the sideline every home game. He did not travel to the Missouri game. CMS is very good at maintaining a player's privacy. I said last week that from what I have heard, his football career is probably over. The situation he has is a degenerative condition. It's more about maintaining a comfort level than worrying about playing football. Anything else making the rounds is hogwash
 
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Tskware

Heisman
Jan 26, 2003
25,151
21,763
113
He has been on the sideline every home game. He did not travel to the Missouri game. CMS is very good at maintaining a player's privacy. I said last week that from what I have heard, his football career is probably over. The situation he has is a degenerative condition. It's more about maintaining a comfort level than worrying about playing football. Anything else making the rounds is hogwash

Great, so we are back to Johnson next year, who was never expected to be the starter, plus raw freshmen. You gotta love Kentucky football . . .
 

Mikey Likes It

All-Conference
Sep 9, 2007
11,247
3,776
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You're corrected. Don't know about last night but he's been spotted at several games on the sidelines since his injury.
Seriously. At Miss State they showed a close up shot of him talking to Stephen Smith and Stanley Johnson on the sidelines about the plays.
 

jgraf1

All-Conference
Feb 2, 2006
2,043
2,588
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Great, so we are back to Johnson next year, who was never expected to be the starter, plus raw freshmen. You gotta love Kentucky football . . .
And a redshirt Gunnar Hoak who came in the spring. So he'll be a "seasoned" redshirt freshman. And if it's Johnson then so be it. He's played decent and another set of bowl practices and spring practices will only help.
 
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KyCatFan1

Heisman
May 6, 2002
30,808
31,521
113
I am an expert when it comes to back problems. I've had 3 surgeries on my spine (one on neck and two on lower back). The first surgery was 8 years ago. I tried physical therapy and also spinal blocks before the first surgery. Neither helped at all and was forced to have a discectomy. It took probably 3 months just to get to the point of surgery. Then another 6 weeks until i was released to go back to work. So if Barker has a similar problem, I could see it taking a number of months before realizing how much of a problem it is for him.

I have since had a cervical fusion in January of this year and a lumbar fusion in August. All of this due to Degenerative Disc Disease. Hopefully he doesn't have as bad of a problem as I have had with my back. I doubt we see him on the field the rest of the year and if he needs surgery, he might be set back a little for Spring practice if it is minor or be done playing football if it is a major surgery. Hopefully Hoak is getting up to speed this year in practice because he could definitely be forced to start next year if Barker isn't 100% and he can make the throws that Smith (Johnson) struggles with making consistently.