FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -Stephen Cooper estimated he had about 30 to 40 family and friends in attendance to watch him and the San Diego Chargers end the New England Patriots’ 21-game home winning streak Sunday.
He couldn’t say exactly how many, though, because the Wareham, Mass., native and former University of Maine star, was overwhelmed with ticket requests.
“I don’t know how much, but there was a lot,” he said. “Pretty much immediate family, but a lot of friends here, too. I wasn’t really inviting anybody. People were just calling me for tickets. I couldn’t get everybody tickets, but whoever got to the game, got to the game.”
Just three years ago, few would have believed Stephen Cooper was writing his own ticket to the NFL. He was a two-time All-American and won two Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year awards while at Maine, but he was also an undrafted free agent out of a Division 1-AA school who earlier in the year pleaded guilty to steroid possession (He later claimed he never used them while at Maine, and was planning to take them to bulk up for the NFL).
When Cooper reported to his first training camp in 2003, a dozen linebackers were listed ahead of him on the San Diego depth chart.
But now in his third season with the Chargers, the linebacker has climbed the ladder, and is no longer content to be just a nice underdog story.
“When I first got into the NFL, that’s how it was. But now, I don’t think about it that way,” he said. “What I’m trying to do is trying to get into that starting role and just keep working in the off-season to get there.”
After being relegated to special teams as a rookie, Cooper drew his first start on Sept. 14, 2004 in place of an injured Randall Godfrey and led the Chargers in tackles that day with nine. He drew one more starting assignment last year and battled Godfrey for that nod in training camp this year.
Though still primarily a special teams player and a run-stopping backup at inside linebacker in the Chargers’ 3-4 defense, Cooper played an integral part in defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ third down package that allowed the Patriots to convert only once in four tries in the second half.
“I played a lot of nickel this week,” he said. “Coach Phillips gave me a lot of opportunities to get on the field and I did (Sunday), and when I was out there, I tried to do the best job that I could.”
Cooper finished with two assists, both with the regular defense, and made his presence further known by arguing with some Patriot players in the first half.
“It wasn’t really about a match-up,” Cooper said of his role yesterday. “It was about knowing your job, doing your job. That was the biggest thing.”
Cooper said he still keeps in touch with Maine head coach Jack Cosgrove “here and there” and admitted his alma mater passed through his mind last week as he prepared for his own homecoming in Massachusetts.
“I hope all’s well in Maine,” he said.
“All is well with me.”
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