Cooper finds way to help Pokes

 

A year ago, the Cowboys’ starting point guard was getting ready to take on Gonzaga in the NCAA Tournament.

This year, Omar Cooper is helping McNeese prep for another tourney opener but in a much different capacity.

Cooper will be dressed and on the bench in Providence, R.I. Thursday when McNeese takes on Clemson in the first round of the Midwest Regional. However, the 6-foot senior hasn’t played since Dec. 22 against Louisiana-Lafayette.

On Dec. 28, just hours before McNeese was set to open its Southland Conference season against New Orleans at home, Cooper experienced pain in his abdomen and was rushed to the hospital. He was suffering from a swollen appendix. 

“It was scary and frustrating,” Cooper said. “Wasn’t sure at first what was going on.”

Cooper didn’t need surgery; doctors monitored him until the swelling went down. He would miss eight games, and even when he returned to practice, he was limited in what he could and couldn’t do. His season all but slipped away.

During his absence, the Cowboys began to roll, with Quadir Copeland stepping into his spot and T’Johnn Brown lifting his redshirt to fill the void. So, his role changed when Cooper, who is now healthy, came back.

“It was extremely frustrating at first, but we had no clue if I would be able to come back at all,” said Cooper. “The fact that TB gave up a year, I didn’t want to come back and have him waste a year. That would not have been fair to him.”

So Cooper, who’s still a team leader, moved into his new role and became the squad’s voice of reason.

“After I got sick, I wanted to find a way to best impact and help the team,” Cooper said. “I became an extra voice for the coaches. Sometimes, I could help bridge the gap when it was needed.

“Playing point guard for Wade isn’t particularly easy, so Q. asks me a lot of questions, and I try to help.”

Cooper said he especially talks to DJ Richards, who he became close with last year.

“Omar is still my guy,” Richards said after McNeese won its second straight Southland Championship last week. “He has always been our leader.”

Even the coaching staff has noticed. He could’ve chosen to cause problems when he returned, but he didn’t. 

“It has been great to see how Omar still is with the guys,” Wade said. “It shows he is the ultimate team guy. He sacrificed for us.

“That’s why I think he can make a good coach.”

Wade has offered Cooper a chance to join his staff next season as a graduate assistant if he wants to try his hand at coaching. Cooper will graduate from McNeese in May, though he has another year of eligibility. 

“Unless an amazing opportunity comes along to play, I’m done,” Cooper said. “Right now, I contribute in a lot of ways, especially in practice. And I play through DJ when he’s out there. 

“Yes, I miss it. It is tough. You want to be out there with your brothers, but I’ve accepted my role.”

Cooper will do what he can for the Cowboys.  He hopes his trip to the tournament isn’t as short as last year’s, which ended in just one game.

“We have gone through some rough times this year, so to win a tournament game would make that all worth it,” Cooper said.

As for his ordeal, Cooper has accepted it with class.

“Life hit me with some adversity, but I still love playing,” Cooper said. 

And he’s still helping to lead the team.