The hard licks produced by former Bulldog defensive back Ashley Cooper probably still echo off the surface at Scott Field today. Sore times than not, when opposing players went across the middle of the field, there was No. 1 waiting anxiously to deliver them a hard knock and leave them on the field to think about it for awhile.
Cooper (1998-99) is still one of the most talked about defensive players in school history.
After leaving MSU in 2000, Cooper had a couple of free agent deals in the NFL - Tampa Bay and Chicago. However, knee injuries and ankle injuries kept Cooper out of professional football.
Cooper eventually returned to Starkville and MSU to complete his degree and two years ago, he did his internship under current MSU strength coach Richard Akins.
For the past five years, Cooper has been a certified athletic trainer and is also a certified speed conditioning coach. Since March, Cooper has been the fitness director at the Destin (Fla.) Health and Fitness Club.
He also had a four-year-old daughter that he calls his "little princess".
MSU CAREERDuring his time with the Bulldogs, Cooper was one that always brought his emotions to the field. And he still gets excited talking today about his time in the Maroon and White.
"Man, I miss it so much and just talking about it makes me blush," said Cooper. "I didn't stay in the NFL long but I so understand when I see guys retire and then want to come back. You have that passion and it is all you know. I miss that grass feeling on a SEC gameday.
"No matter if you were a walkon or a scholarship player, you never forget that pre-game feeling you have in the SEC. And our team played at a high level and we had Starkvegas going like it never had before. I would put our defense and that atmosphere we created against any atmosphere in the country."
Cooper was one of many standouts on State's defense in 1998 and 1999. In 1999, the Bulldogs finished the season as the top-rated defense in the country.
Of course, Cooper was a big reason for that lofty status with his secondary play. Cooper was All-American and All-SEC in 1999 and in his two-year career returned a couple of picks for touchdowns.
As Cooper noted, the defensive philosphy was simple and to the point back then.
"Go get them before they get you," said Cooper. "Our motto was always to get it before it got going. (Former MSU defensive coordinator) Joe Lee Dunn sent everybody and the drawback is that you better have two shutdown corners, which we did in Smoot and Robert Bean. We knew if we missed a tackle that it would mean a touchdown. We all played like that.
"But a lot of people talk about that defense but what was tough to me was our defensive line. Guys like Ellis Wyms and Dorsett Davis and Kevin Sluder could beat you every time. They were the best in the country that year on the best defense in the land.
"I had such a little time in the NFL and it was a short period. And it is a business and that is why guys love college so much. You respect the guys you played with in college so much, guys like Randy Thomas. And back then, our defense was young in some spots but we all helped to raise it to another level."
Cooper also acknowledged the reason why State's defense was so solid was because of their togetherness off the field.
"Off the field, you have to do things together as a team," said Cooper. "Back then, we thought it was silly and cheezy when Coach Sherrill would take us to so many different functions. Later in life, we understood why we did those things, things you understand when you get older. You've got to spend time with each other, get to know each other and not just an offense or defense thing.
"I will give you one example. When we were seniors, I think, Coach Sherrill took us all to Parchman, Parchman man. We all wondered what in the heck are we doing there. But it hit us when we left and we had all bonded well when we went on to those special functions. It helps so much to get to know each other and what your teammates are all about. And then when you are on the field, when there is no question you are tired and beat up, you still play hard at full tilt for your teammates."
While Cooper was known for his physical skills on the field, he was a very vocal player on the field. While secondary mates Robert Bean and Tim Nelson were more low key, Cooper and former Bulldog cornerback Fred Smoot loved to talk to their opponents.
So who talked the best trash, Cooper or Smoot?
"I got Smoot beat hands down," said Cooper with a big laugh. "I know he always got the pub and I told him that is because he was from Jackson and was a homeboy. But seriously, Smoot was a man of moxie and the way he approached the game is the way you are supposed to play. It was a pleasure to play with him but as far as talking noise on the field, I got him beat."
FAVORITE MEMORIES/HITSDuring Cooper's two-year stay in Starkville, the Fort Walton Beach, Fla., native had plenty of memories to cherish - from the 1998 SEC Championship Game to the 8-0 start the following season.
But Cooper has three moments that stick out to him, well, make that four, actually.
"I tell you what, man," said Cooper. "There are so many of them, from the meeting room with Jackie Sherrill to gameday at the Cotton Bowl. But if I had to stack three top moments, this is how they would read.
"My first one was the SEC Championship game when Kevin Prentiss returned that punt for a touchdown. That atmosphere right then was so crazy and once we took the lead, it was a whole other level of butterflies. Then number two would be when we started 8-0 and went to Alabama ranked high and all. That place was rocking and a great atmosphere and the game came down to the wire. And then at number three, it would be a tie between the win over Arkansas in 1998 and the win over Ole Miss in 1999."
Of course, Cooper also remembers some of the hardest hits he unveiled on Scott Field and at other SEC venues.
Again, though, two stick out in his mind and they occurred against the exact same receiver from Arkansas.
"Oh, you know I got a couple of them," said Cooper. "Obviously, the top ones that stick out is the receiver from Arkansas (Boo Williams) and he was a good receiver. But I broke his collarbone two years in a row and it was basically on the same route. Williams was in camp with me at Tampa Bay and that is all we talked about, how I cost him the end of two seasons.
"And then I remember well when I rushed and popped the Kentucky quarterback and caused him to fumble."
Cooper also recalls well the times he came out on the short end of vicious hits in the SEC.
And yes, there was a time in the Cotton Bowl where Cooper was left wondering where he was at the time.
So does Cooper think about those hits as well?
"Whew, all the time," said Cooper. "The worst was against Ricky Williams in the Cotton Bowl. And the bad thing about it was that he busted me with his thigh, his thigh, man. He was a strong dude."
NEW CAREERAs Cooper noted above, he misses the gridiron every day. But he is still involved in athletics but from a different perspective.
"I have been a certified athletic trainer for five years now and I am also a speech impediment coach," said Cooper. "When I decided to leave school early for pro football, I was behind in school and had to come back and finish up. I was so glad Mississippi State helped me out and I did my intern under MSU's strength coach - Coach Akins - two years ago and finished up everything."
After completing his degree, Cooper also had the opportunity to return to his old stomping grounds.
Cooper is currently the fitness director at the Destin Health and Fitness Club in Destin, Fla.
"It was good to be back where I grew up," said Cooper. "But the thing is that I hadn't been back in 12 years. I knew the area but I felt like a tourist at first. But my parents are close by in Fort Walton Beach and it is good to be back again.
"I wanted to venture out into the sports agency field. But I now have some stability with my job and got my foot in the door, so to speak. We just opened the health club in March but it was a plan that was in the works for a year and a half. One of my grade school friends opened up the club."
RETURN TO STARKVILLENext weekend when the Bulldogs host Auburn, Cooper will be back on campus with several of his college teammates. Mississippi State will honor the 1998 Western Division champs in their 10-year anniversary and those festivities will take place in the pre-game functions.
"Man, I will be there in a crisp new shirt and all," said Cooper. "I would not miss it for anything. I am coming back with a couple of MSU boys, my good friend Ryan Carroll who sells medical equipment down here and Shane Power, too."
Cooper mentioned that he still keeps up with several former college teammates - Bean, Sluder, Barrin Simpson and Rod Gibson among others.
And he still follows the Bulldogs as much as possible and like all the fans, was deeply disappointed in State's upset loss at Louisiana Tech last weekend.
But Cooper sees a program that can still finish strong and hopes that starts this weekend.
"Man, I bleed maroon and keep up with State now...all that I can get my hands on," said Cooper. "And giving my own personal opinion, it is time to win and win consistently like we did. Our fans have suffered enough and they deserve that. There are only two ways you can go, either up or down. I believe State is on the verge of climbing and winning consistently. But they still have a ways to go but I believe they can do it."
