TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

UM Back's Return Trip Creates Big Buzz

ADVERTISEMENT

By CHRISTOPHER STOCK, Tribune correspondent

Published: September 8, 2007

Graig Cooper would like nothing better than an encore performance in his homecoming.

After rushing for 116 yards in his University of Miami debut last week, Cooper returns to Oklahoma for today's game against the No. 5 Sooners.

He played defensive back Carl Albert High, a football powerhouse program in Oklahoma City, for his freshman and sophomore years.

And he's expecting 50 family members, former high school coaches and friends in attendance today.

'It is going to be a big game,' Cooper said. 'I'm not going to say they expect a lot of me, but everybody is just proud of me in Oklahoma and proud to see me playing and trying to make it.'

After his sophomore year in Oklahoma City, Cooper moved back to Memphis, Tenn., and attended Melrose High, where he rushed for 1,981 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior and 2,123 yards and 30 touchdowns as a senior. He led the team to a state title and was named Mr. Football in 2005.

He signed with Miami, but after falling one point short on his ACT score, went to Milford Prep in New York. There he rushed for 1,327 yards and 15 touchdowns. But when UM fired coach Larry Coker, Cooper de-committed and would have signed with Oklahoma State had it not been for the in-home visit by Canes coach Randy Shannon.

'He didn't make any promises,' Cooper said. 'He told me, if I come in and work hard, I am going to play. ... He didn't talk about any other schools. Some schools talk down on other schools, but Coach Shannon just talked about what he has got planned and his background.'

Cooper enrolled in Miami in January and made an immediate splash during spring ball. He made an even bigger splash when he set a UM record by rushing for 116 yards in his Hurricane debut.

'That is just the start of it. I still have a long ways to go,' Cooper said. 'Who knows what might happen.'

If Cooper has a big game against the Sooners, he will create more of a buzz and excitement.

'I just don't want all the hype around me because people expect too much out of you, then when you do bad they want to talk down on you,' he said. 'So I would just rather be that normal player and just play my role and do what I have to do.'

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT