Scotty Cooper was thrust into a starting role for Clemson last year in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. The Lake City native rose to the occasion, making 10 tackles in the Tigers' loss to Auburn. Coming into 2008, Cooper will be relied on for more than just one game. The sophomore is tops on the depth chart at Sam linebacker.
He'll be one of a group of underclassmen manning the middle of the Clemson D - freshman Brandon Maye and junior Kavell Conner are the other starters.
Leaving Lake City, Cooper was known for his smile, and the emotion with which he plays. While he still can play like a wild man, he's grown to take his work seriously. Cooper admits that he's trying to focus more, and stop playing with as much emotion. "This year I've been trying to stay calm," says Cooper. "The emotion will come on Saturday, because that's my style, that's my personality. But during the course of the week, I've been trying to stay focused. More is expected of me this year."
Awww... little Scotty has grown up. "I'm the same old Scotty," he says. "Just smarter."
But Tommy Bowden says, that's what he likes best about Cooper. Plus, he always has a smile on his face. "He could run for politics and be successful," Bowden says. "He has the gift of gab, he's always talking, always says something positive. That's something that he inherited, or it's God-given."
That smile was visibly missing after last year's bowl loss to Auburn. Tiger faithful hope they'll be seeing plenty of that Panther grin throughout 2008.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement