Cooper named Offensive Player of the Week
Published on May 7, 2002 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Buffalo Destroyers News Release
(BUFFALO, NY) - The Arena Football League announced Buffalo Destroyers OS Lamont Cooper was honored as the league's Offensive Player of the Week this afternoon.
"This is the first time I have received this award since I've been in the league" said Cooper, a seven year AFL veteran. "It's been a long time coming."
Cooper, the two-time Don't Blink Player of the Year, was named game MVP Saturday night in Detroit amassing 415 all-purpose yards, breaking seven Destroyers single game records. Cooper had 11 catches for 202 yards and two touchdowns, eight kick returns for 202 yards and two touchdowns and one missed FG return for 11 yards. His 415 all-purpose yards in that game is second highest in AFL history.
"Our game plan going in was to get Lamont the ball more," said Destroyers head coach and general manager Ray Bentley. "I'm sure Detroit will do something different this week, but we will plan accordingly to get the ball in Lamont's hands."
Cooper signed with the Destroyers in the off-season as a free agent. Last season with Oklahoma, he set career highs with 111 receptions for 1,418 yards (third in the AFL) and 22 touchdowns. He returned 92 kickoffs for 1,951 yards and six touchdowns. He averaged 247 yards per game of total offense, tops in the AFL. With Milwaukee in 2000, Cooper reeled in 77 passes for 923 yards and 13 touchdowns. He returned 79 kickoffs for 1,667 yards and seven scores. Cooper holds the AFL's all-time record for kickoff returns for touchdowns with 23. In fact, his 13 kickoff returns for touchdowns in 2000 and 2001 would be good enough for fifth all-time. He is in the top six all-time in almost every kickoff statistical category in the AFL and in 2001 broke his own records for single season combined yards and combined kick returns.
Cooper and the Destroyers host the Detroit Fury Saturday night May 11 at the HSBC Arena; kickoff is scheduled for 7:00PM. Single and group tickets are on sale now. Call 881-4444 today.
A list of Cooper's new single game records follows;
Super Coop
Below is the list of records Cooper broke and the previous record holder.
Most receiving yards, Game:
202, Lamont Cooper, May 4, 2002 vs. Detroit
194, Kevin Mason, May 4, 2001 vs. Carolina
Most kickoff returns, Game
8, Lamont Cooper, May 4, 2002 vs. Detroit
8, Darrick Branch, June 12, 1999 vs. Iowa
Most kickoff return yards, Game:
202, Lamont Cooper, May 4, 2002 vs. Detroit
201, Reggie Allen, April 27, 2001 vs. New York
Longest Kickoff Return, Game:
56, Lamont Cooper, May 4, 2002 vs. Detroit
4 others tied with 56, most recent Willie Latta, May 4, 2001 vs. Carolina
Combined kick return yards, Game:
213, Lamont Cooper, May 4, 2002 vs. Detroit
201, Reggie Allen, April 27, 2001 vs. New York
Most combined kick returns for touchdowns, Game:
2, Lamont Cooper, May 4, 2002 vs. Detroit
Many tied at 1, most recent Lamont Cooper, April 28, 2002 vs. New York
All-purpose yards, Game:
415, Lamont Cooper, May 4, 2002 vs. Detroit
366, Reggie Allen, April 27, 2001 vs. New York
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