Sept. 21, 2006

Curtis Cooper's role on the field is simple: shut down opposing wideouts, and close off his half of the field. Its execution, however, is easier said than done. As a senior leader on the 2006 UNI football team, Cooper has seen his role expand this season, both on and off the field.

"More is expected of all of us this year," Cooper said. "As part of an experienced and veteran secondary, we're sort of the leaders on the defense."

He's used to being a leader. As an all-state defensive back and wide receiver, Cooper lead his Blue Springs (Mo.) High School team to a 13-0 record and a state championship. Colleges came calling, and he listened to Kansas, Missouri State, Southern Illinois, and Wyoming before ultimately deciding to don the purple and gold for UNI.

"UNI gave me a chance to not just play, but to play for a winner," he said. "Cedar Falls is a great place, and I get to be part of something special here."

Cooper came to UNI to be part of a winning tradition and to compete for a national championship. He's done both, but he isn't satisfied with last year's run.

"Last year wasn't an A-plus year," he said. "Winning it all would be an A-plus."

That's the goal for the boys in pads this season; a second-straight Gateway Championship and back to back trips to Chattanooga. But just getting there isn't enough for Cooper and company this year. With sky high expectations this season, the spotlight couldn't be brighter and the pressure couldn't be more intense. Cooper takes it in stride, however.

"I use it as motivation," he said. "We sort of have a chip on our shoulders from getting there and falling just short last year. We have to prove to people that last year was no fluke, that everyone's expectations for this year are legitimate."

Coming out of the gate with a 48-7 victory over Drake helped matters in that department, but winning games, Cooper says, stems from everyone knowing what is expected of them.

"Everyone has to work hard every day if we are going to win," he said. "We have to do things the right way and practice the right techniques if we're going to win in this conference."

The Gateway Football Conference, one of the nation's top conferences, has sent 10 teams to the playoffs in the past four years. This year, the Gateway could be as tough as ever, and with talented teams from top to bottom, no one gets a week off.

"You never know who's going to beat who in this conference," he said. "Teams that some people think aren't as good can sneak up on you. In this league, everybody is good."

Including Cooper, who may not have quite the starting experience that his cross-field counterpart Dre Dokes has, but proved to be a major asset on the road to Chattanooga last year; most notably during the Panthers' stunning upset of top-ranked New Hampshire.

"That was definitely a hostile environment to play in," Cooper said. "There was a lot of talk about how good they were and how explosive their offense was, but we knew if we went in there and played our game that we could beat them."

Beat them they did, with help from a timely career game from number nine. Cooper recorded a career-best 14 total tackles and notched his only career tackle-for-loss in the ulcer-inducing 24-21 Panther victory.

Having a game like that every time he laces up his cleats isn't necessarily what Cooper had in mind when he set his personal goals for this season. Rather, he kept things simple.

"When I'm on the field, I just want to be the best player I can be and help my team win in any way that I can," he began. "I want the team to win because everyone did what they were supposed to do, including myself."

After college, Cooper doesn't plan to stray too far from football. With a degree in General Studies with a coaching minor coming his way at graduation time, he plans to be on the gridiron as a coach.

"I'd love to be a college coach somewhere," he said. "I think it would be a great challenge and something I would find really rewarding."