Justin Boone
jboone@ticats.ca
Q: How did you get into football originally?
Cooper: In grade nine I never really thought I was going to play football. It was my first year of high school, but there wasn’t a football team until grade 10, so I went to play volleyball, believe it or not, I’m sorry to say it’s kind of embarrassing. The head coach of the football team saw me and said, “You’re a big kid. We need you out here on the field.” I was scared. I didn’t know what to do. I got out on the field, and I didn’t know how to put my pads on. I put all my pads on backwards, but the first practice was great. We did a couple one-on-ones with some of the veteran guys and I did well, so my confidence went through the roof. Ever since that first day I really loved the game and haven’t stopped playing.
Q: Whose the best player you faced in the CIS?
Cooper: He actually plays on my team. Ryan Karhut. Jordan Rempel from the University of Saskatchewan is a great tackle as well. Those would be my two guys, but I’m going to have to say Ryan Karhut, he’s my boy from Edmonton. He moved out here with me, so I’m going to have to say it’s him.
Q: Is there a player already in the CFL that you would compare yourself to or you try to emulate?
Cooper: Tough one. We’ll you know Brian Guebert and Jerome Haywood, I’d like to say I could put myself with Jerome Haywood, the motor he brings to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. At least I’d like to believe I have that. That’s kind of where I see myself, I don’t know where others see me though.
Q: What’s been the highlight of your football career so far?
Cooper: Greatest football moment, easily is November 23, 2007 when we beat St Mary’s for the Vanier Cup. It was awesome. We were on a mission from Day One just a close group of guys we had in Manitoba, we just said from the beginning of the year, “We’re doing this, we’re getting this damn monkey off our back,” the off-season was incredible, we all tested through the roof and took it serious and did all the little things to get to that point and when we got to that stage we were prepared and it all paid off.
Q: What’s it been like having your teammate and friend Justin Shaw going through this draft process with you?
Cooper: It’s great, Shaw and I being here. I’ve been with the Manitoba Bisons for three years, he’s just finished his fourth. We’ve had a healthy competition and it’s a race to the quarterback every single play. We feed off each other’s energy and I think that cohesiveness that we have together is great and we brought that to the E-Camp. We were talking to each other, trying to get each other motivated to do the best we can do. It’s really nice having one of your best friends off the team here with you. It’s a bonus.
Q: Do you guys have any idea where you might be going in the draft?
Cooper: I haven’t a clue. I just went to the evaluation camp, worked as hard as I could, did the best I could and we’ll see where the marbles lie so to speak.
