JOHN COOPER



Cooper the Choke Artist

Cooper always choked in big games. He was 2-10-1 against Michigan. He was 3-8 in bowl games, with his fate sealed by losing to unranked South Carolina in the 2001 Outback Bowl. Ohio State under Cooper managed to lose important games that cost Ohio State chances at undefeated seasons, such as 1998 against Michigan State.



Cooper the Educator

Cooper left Ohio State with a 29% graduation rate, and cases like Reggie Germany, who accomplished a 0.0 in his last semester at Ohio State.That is pathetic.



Cooper the Team Builder

Under Cooper, Ohio State was in disarray. Aside from the ubiquitous choking or the lack of any educational standards, you saw teammates fighting each other, whether in the lockerroom or in court.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- An Ohio State lineman has filed a civil lawsuit charging a teammate with assault and battery in connection with an incident that occurred after winter conditioning drills.

Senior offensive tackle Tyson Walter, who was sidelined this season with a hip infection, said he was injured by punch thrown by junior center LeCharles Bentley on Feb. 17.

Walter is asking a Franklin County (Ohio) Common Pleas Court for more than $50,000 in damages for injuries that included a fractured nose, a fractured cheekbone and broken teeth. 

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Note that no discipline for this was ever handed out.



Cooper the Classless

John Cooper's decision to run up the score on Penn State in 2000, which led to Adam Taliaferro becoming paralyzed. Had Cooper eschewed the meaningless score at the end of a 38-6 game, the Buckeyes would have certainly run the ball instead of pass with less than two minutes remaining. Rather than take a knee AFTER Taliaferro was paralyzed, Cooper decided to score a touchdown. In a shameful display lacking any perspective whatsoever, Cooper grinned when Ohio State scored. Buckeye fans applauded this decision for the most part.