Facing Hammerheads Easy Motivation For Frisco QB Cooper
April 11, 2008 - Intense Football League (Intense)
Frisco Thunder News Release
FRISCO, Tex. -- Think Frisco Thunder quarterback Wes Cooper is going to have any problem getting motivated for Sunday's key Intense Football League showdown with the Corpus Christi Hammerheads?
``I'm ALREADY motivated,`` Cooper said.
Throw out all the cliches about it being a team game and there's 14 other guys out there ...yada yada yada. Sunday's game between the Thunder (4-2) and the undefeated Hammerheads (3-0) has one of the best storylines in the IFL so far this season with its quarterback match-up.
Cooper came to Frisco after leading the Hammerheads to consecutive appearances in the Intense Bowl league championship game the past two years. His counterpart, Dustin Almond racked up some huge passing numbers for the Thunder in its 2007 inaugural season, but wound up playing for ... yep, Corpus Christi.
Sportswriters salivate over stories like this. It's kinda like the Cowboys signing Tom Brady, then the Patriots turning around and inking Tony Romo.
Cooper's motivated by what he admits is ``a slight chip on his shoulder.``
``Don't get me wrong, I appreciate everything that [Hammerheads owner] Chad Dittman did for me down there and we had a great run,'' Cooper said. ``But I feel like I was underappreciated as a quarterback and I feel like I have something to prove. Corpus Christi was in the championship game two years in a row for a reason and Frisco's going to win it for the same reason .. the fact that we play well together as a team and we practice harder than anyone else.''
There's nothing but respect for Almond, though. Corpus Christi's played three less games than Frisco, but the two quarterbacks' per game averages are practically even.
``Dustin's a great quarterback, I can't take that away from him,'' Cooper said. ``He had success up here last year and he`s off to a 3-0 start this season. But if we take care of business and play up to the level we're supposed to be playing, we won't have a problem being competitive ...they are coming to our house.``
Thunder coach Troy Esprit expects his veteran quarterback to keep things in perspective. ``From day one, he's been itching to play this game. We'll see what happens Sunday,'' Esprit said. ``Wes understands its okay to get motivated, but at the same time, stay focused. You have to make plays for your team.''
Frisco's coming off a 47-46 loss to Odessa last week on the game's final play. This game is the Thunder's home finale due to renovations on the Dr Pepper StarCenter beginning later this month.
``This game came at a perfect time -- the last home game against a proven, undefeated team with a lot of veterans,'' Esprit said. ``It couldn't have come at a better time and I think the Frisco Thunder will step up to the challenge.''
Pre-game activities include former Dallas Cowboys WR Michael Irvin officiating the coin toss. Tickets start at $10. For more information, contact (972) 731-6968 or visit www.friscothunderifl.com
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- Facing Hammerheads Easy Motivation For Frisco QB Cooper - Frisco Thunder
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