Highway65
08-08-2006, 10:01 AM
Cooper finally the top RB again
The former SEC all-freshman back hopes to see his carries increase.
Joe Cress
News-Leader
Temperatures were already in the 90s by mid-day Monday, just as the Missouri State University football team wrapped up another day of practice.
As the players slowly dispersed from Plaster Sports Complex, senior running back Michael Cooper set his jersey and pads on the turf and wiped his brow.
So, hot enough for ya?
"Nah, this ain't too bad," Cooper said with a smile. "I'm from Georgia. It's a different kind of heat down there."
Terry Allen wasn't within earshot as Cooper spoke, but the Missouri State coach would certainly be glad to hear that the No. 1 running back on the Bears' depth chart says he can handle the heat.
Allen said at the start of fall practice that Cooper — who rushed for 151 yards on only 49 carries last year in his first season after transferring from the University of Georgia — had the potential to be a 25-carries-per-game back for the Bears.
That was music to the ears of Cooper, who left Georgia after the 2004 season in search of a chance to be a marquee back.
"I have great expectations," Cooper said. "God willing, I get 25-30 carries a game, I'll do my best with it."
Not that long ago, it looked as if Cooper would be a feature back in the Southeastern Conference, not the Gateway.
A native of Sylvania, Ga., Cooper rushed for more than 5,000 yards and 60 touchdowns in high school, and signed with the Bulldogs in 2002. He redshirted his first season in Athens, then broke onto the scene in a big way in '03, rushing for a team-high 673 yards and six TDs, earning SEC all-freshman honors.
Illness and a neck injury slowed him down the following spring, though, and he missed most of spring practice. That time away from the field proved costly, as Georgia continued to import talented backs, who then moved ahead of Cooper on the depth chart.
He played in only four games that season, rushing for 125 yards. With yet another talented class on its way, Cooper wasn't sure where he would fit in.
"We had new coaches coming in, and a lot of depth at running back," he said. "The amount of carries that everyone wants to get, it was going to be tough to get that."
So Cooper made the tough decision to leave Georgia, and ended up in Springfield. He again found himself in a crowded backfield last year, with Lee Baker getting the majority of the workload. Cooper was used primarily in short-yardage and goal-line situations, and scored six touchdowns.
With Baker gone and a new coach in place, Cooper turned heads with a solid spring, although he missed the spring game with a nagging neck injury that he says is no longer an issue.
At 6-foot-1 and roughly 230 pounds, Cooper has the build of the punishing, physical backs that Allen likes. And the fact he ran a 4.5 40 in the spring doesn't hurt either.
"Michael has a great combination of speed and power, but I'd say it's power first, then speed," said running backs coach Andy Follett, the only MSU coach left on staff from when Cooper transferred in. "He just works hard and wants the opportunity to play. He wants to be the guy."
Cooper certainly has competition in the backfield, including returnees junior P.J. Ikner (465 yards, 3 TDs in 2005), senior RaMel McIntosh (71 yards last season) and a group of promising newcomers.
So, will Cooper finally get his opportunity to "be the man" this season?
"No question," Follett said. "He's the No. 1 guy. The other guys are pushing him, but he's doing what he needs to do to keep that spot."
Bears notes
- President visits: Missouri State president Dr. Michael T. Nietzel stopped by at the end of Monday's practice to wish the team the best.
Nietzel briefly addressed the team at midfield, and even participated in the huddle afterward.
"It means a lot to have him here," Ikner said. "It shows he cares about the team, and the school."
- Here we go: After practicing in shoulder pads and shorts the last few days, the Bears will have their first workout in full pads at 9 a.m. today.
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The former SEC all-freshman back hopes to see his carries increase.
Joe Cress
News-Leader
Temperatures were already in the 90s by mid-day Monday, just as the Missouri State University football team wrapped up another day of practice.
As the players slowly dispersed from Plaster Sports Complex, senior running back Michael Cooper set his jersey and pads on the turf and wiped his brow.
So, hot enough for ya?
"Nah, this ain't too bad," Cooper said with a smile. "I'm from Georgia. It's a different kind of heat down there."
Terry Allen wasn't within earshot as Cooper spoke, but the Missouri State coach would certainly be glad to hear that the No. 1 running back on the Bears' depth chart says he can handle the heat.
Allen said at the start of fall practice that Cooper — who rushed for 151 yards on only 49 carries last year in his first season after transferring from the University of Georgia — had the potential to be a 25-carries-per-game back for the Bears.
That was music to the ears of Cooper, who left Georgia after the 2004 season in search of a chance to be a marquee back.
"I have great expectations," Cooper said. "God willing, I get 25-30 carries a game, I'll do my best with it."
Not that long ago, it looked as if Cooper would be a feature back in the Southeastern Conference, not the Gateway.
A native of Sylvania, Ga., Cooper rushed for more than 5,000 yards and 60 touchdowns in high school, and signed with the Bulldogs in 2002. He redshirted his first season in Athens, then broke onto the scene in a big way in '03, rushing for a team-high 673 yards and six TDs, earning SEC all-freshman honors.
Illness and a neck injury slowed him down the following spring, though, and he missed most of spring practice. That time away from the field proved costly, as Georgia continued to import talented backs, who then moved ahead of Cooper on the depth chart.
He played in only four games that season, rushing for 125 yards. With yet another talented class on its way, Cooper wasn't sure where he would fit in.
"We had new coaches coming in, and a lot of depth at running back," he said. "The amount of carries that everyone wants to get, it was going to be tough to get that."
So Cooper made the tough decision to leave Georgia, and ended up in Springfield. He again found himself in a crowded backfield last year, with Lee Baker getting the majority of the workload. Cooper was used primarily in short-yardage and goal-line situations, and scored six touchdowns.
With Baker gone and a new coach in place, Cooper turned heads with a solid spring, although he missed the spring game with a nagging neck injury that he says is no longer an issue.
At 6-foot-1 and roughly 230 pounds, Cooper has the build of the punishing, physical backs that Allen likes. And the fact he ran a 4.5 40 in the spring doesn't hurt either.
"Michael has a great combination of speed and power, but I'd say it's power first, then speed," said running backs coach Andy Follett, the only MSU coach left on staff from when Cooper transferred in. "He just works hard and wants the opportunity to play. He wants to be the guy."
Cooper certainly has competition in the backfield, including returnees junior P.J. Ikner (465 yards, 3 TDs in 2005), senior RaMel McIntosh (71 yards last season) and a group of promising newcomers.
So, will Cooper finally get his opportunity to "be the man" this season?
"No question," Follett said. "He's the No. 1 guy. The other guys are pushing him, but he's doing what he needs to do to keep that spot."
Bears notes
- President visits: Missouri State president Dr. Michael T. Nietzel stopped by at the end of Monday's practice to wish the team the best.
Nietzel briefly addressed the team at midfield, and even participated in the huddle afterward.
"It means a lot to have him here," Ikner said. "It shows he cares about the team, and the school."
- Here we go: After practicing in shoulder pads and shorts the last few days, the Bears will have their first workout in full pads at 9 a.m. today.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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