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EspañolABILENE COOPER HIGH SCHOOL
'O.H. Cooper High School' (commonly called 'Abilene Cooper High School' to differentiate it from Cooper High in Lubbock, Texas) is the name of a high school in Abilene, Texas opened in 1960, in part to handle the increase in school age youth resulting from the Post World War II Baby Boom. O.H. Cooper stands for Oscar Henry Cooper, who was president of Baylor University from 1898 to 1902.[1] Prior to such time, his advocacy for a state-supported and state-controlled university led to the establishment of the University of Texas.[2] After his time at Baylor, Dr. Cooper was president of Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene until 1909. Thereafter, he headed "Cooper's Boys' School" in Abilene until 1915.[3]
In 2006, Cooper was among the smallest 5A high school in Texas, making 5A by only 11 students (total attendance of 2011), as a result of declining enrollment in the Abilene Independent School District. Enrollment Decline Continues [3] In the Fall of 2007, attendance is expected to fall to 1989 students.[4]
Faculty and academics
Educators at Cooper who taught from the time the school opened through 2006 included Robert Holladay and Rose Williams. Cheryl Haynes taught for 30 years at Cooper. Jim Short, who taught Government, was later principal of Cooper and L. D. Bell High School (Hurst, Texas), and is currently an Assistant Superintendent in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District.[4]
Abilene is the home of Dyess Air Force Base [5], and Cooper students have benefited from retired officers, and spouses of officers, from Dyess becoming teachers at Cooper. Retired US Air Force Colonel James Alderman, a mathematics and science teacher at the school, explained to his students that he worked on the development of the Gamma Ray Spectrometer and did research relating to nuclear fusion while in the United States Air Force. Retired US Air Force Colonel James Zumwalt taught Honors Calculus and, in 1981 - 1982, was zoo keeper over his homeroom class that called itself the "Zoo." Members of the Zoo included many of the top graduating students in 1982 and yet still managed to win the intramural sports championship.[5] Elizabeth Ivy, spouse of a Dyess officer, taught Honors chemistry and Honors physics.
In the years 1979 to 1982, Cooper consistently fielded teams for UIL competitions that finished in the top of their subject areas, including Speech, Creative Writing, Orchestra, Math, Band, and Choir.
Cooper graduates frequently were named as Scholars, Finalists, Semi-finalists, and Commended by the National Merit Scholarship Program. Six members of the Class of 1982 received the Scholar designation: Karen Cummings Ciotti, Stephen Cook, James Henderson, John Lane, Adam Paradoski, Andrew Tucker.[6]
Athletics
Golf
Cooper won Team state championships in 1982, 1983, and 1984. Bob Estes, Class of 1984, won the individual state title in 1983.[7] As a collegiate golfer at the University of Texas, Bob was selected as an All-American[8], received the Jack Nicklaus award, and was named 1988 College Player of the Year.[9][10] Mike Standly, Class of 1982, played for the University of Houston, finished in second place to Scott Verplank at the 1986 NCAA championship, won his first tournament in 1993, the Freeport-McMohan Classic in New Orleans,[11] and can still be found on professional golf tours.[12]
Tennis
Ricky Meyers won the state singles title in 1976 and Ryan Hughes did the same in 1995. David Meyers and Scott Meyers (identical twins) won boys doubles state in 1982. [10]
Jana Hanks won the state singles title in 1975 and 1976, Susie Ingram and Julie Jones won the state doubles title in 1976, and Leanne Hill and Stephanie Burnam won the state doubles title in 1982. [11]
Baseball
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the team consistently finished near the top in District. Baseball teams from Cooper have played in four state championship games, 1967, 1985, 1986, and 1993, winning the 5A state championship twice with consecutive wins in 1987 and 1988. Consecutive championships have only been accomplished by 3 other schools in the history of Texas high school baseball. Cooper players recognized in UIL records include Chris Feris and Robert McAdams in 1987 for Most Extra base hits (doubles) in tournament play, Chris Feris in 1987 for Most Hits in a Game (3), Philip Carpenter in 1988 for Most Hits in a Game (3) and Robert McAdams in 1987 for a .600 batting average in a two game series with at least 5 at bats. [12]
Football
Current Head Coach
Mike Spradlin is head coach at Cooper [13] and formerly was an assistant coach (offensive coordinator) at Cooper in the early 1980s.[13] In college, Coach Spradlin was a stand-out offensive lineman for the University of Houston football team in the mid 1970s.[14]
Active Professional Players
Dominic Rhodes[15] and Justin Snow[16] were members of the 2007 NFL champion Indianapolis Colts. Rhodes has since joined the Oakland Raiders.
Appearances in the state championship game
With the exception of a few periods, the Cougars have been a team which contended for the district title. The teams of the mid 90s to the early 2000s were consistently in the playoffs, and the 1996 team featuring Dominic Rhodes made it to the state championship game. Randy Allen, Head Coach at Cooper from the 1991 season through the 1998 season [14], was named to the Texas High School Coaches Association's Hall of Honor in 2006. [15] History came full circle, as Coach Allen was on the 1967 team, the only other Cooper team to advance to the state finals to date. The 1967 game was a thriller. The Cougars lost by one point to then powerhouse Austin, Texas Reagan High School (Reagan went on to defeat Permian High School in the 1968 and 1970 state championship games) when the officials declined to rule a possible touchdown in favor of Cooper in the closing minutes of the game. [16]
District Championships
Cooper plays in the district known around Texas as The Little Southwest Conference. [17] Member schools are Abilene High School (Eagles), Cooper, Midland High School (Bulldogs), Robert E. Lee High (Rebels) in Midland, Odessa High School (Bronchos), and Permian High School (Panthers) in Odessa. The Cougars won the district championship in 1967, 1969, 1971, 1979, 1996, 1997, and 2002.[18]
All-Decade Players
Jon Rhiddlehoover, a 1971 graduate of Cooper, was named to the All-70s Team by Texas Sports Magazine, along with 1980 graduate Terry Orr. (See, 1979 Team, below)[17]
Late 70s, early 80s
Facilities
In the years 1979 to 1982, the team had a large, two story tall workout barn that housed a weight room, coach's office, and an open Astro turf area large enough for the team to run plays when the weather was too bad or to prevent scouting by opposing teams. Next to the barn was a fieldhouse containing the Trainers' room, a common bathroom, and three locker rooms. As you entered the field house, a huge, red state of Texas was painted on one wall. A big blue star showed Abilene's location and above the state was painted, "Think State." The entry to the varsity locker room was just past that mural. The locker room had red and blue deep pile carpet, central a/c and heating, quad stereo, and its own showers and equipment room. The lockers were made of metal, painted blue, had doors with combination locks, and were about 5 feet tall by close to 3 feet wide.
Practice and pre-game
The football program during the years 1979 to 1982 was ahead of its time, probably on the level of many colleges. Each week during the season, the coaches studied scout game films intensely and then showed the players what formations to look for and tell-tale idiosyncrasies of the opposing players they would be keying on. Players were required to report to the locker room at 8 am on Saturdays for a review, and critique, of the film from the prior evening.[18] Non-varsity players ran the offenses and defenses of upcoming opponents at full speed into the No. 1 varsity offenses and defenses. Thursday nights during the season were all you could eat steak cook-outs and game film watching parties. On days of away games, varsity players met at the fieldhouse, gathered their equipment, and loaded on to chartered buses. Old Yellow buses would not have been sufficient for trips ranging from 90 miles to San Angelo to 180 miles to Odessa. On arrival, the team was treated to a meal of pancakes, orange juice, and ice tea. After a quiet time to digest, some players had various joints, mostly ankles and knees but also shoulders, wrists, and groins, wrapped with athletic tape to prevent injury by limiting range of movement. Eventually, everyone put on game pants (white with a red and blue stripe on the outsides of each legs) and undershirts and went over assignments with the coaches. Shoulder pads, game jerseys (white mesh with red and blue numbers) and Football helmets came last, before marching out and bursting through a banner onto the football field. Mental preparedness was stressed as much as physical. After games, the buses would stop at a cafe near the stadium (such as Zentner's, in San Angelo) and the players would chow down on chicken-fried steak dinners. Many of these things which contributed to the success of the Cooper program would not have been possible without the Cooper Booster Club, including the Steak Nights, the pre and post game food, and the safe buses.
1979 team
During the seasons mentioned under this topic, only one team from each district, the district champions, went to the play-offs. Also, Class 5A was not broken into divisions, so only one school could claim the state championship in any given year.
Head coach
Ray Overton was head football coach for Cooper in 1979. Coach O was inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Association's Hall of Honor in 1978 [19] and received of the Tom Landry Award in 1994.[19] In 2003, Coach O was honored by the Texas House of Representatives with resolution HR 1934.[20][20]
He was an excellent coach and quite a character, sometimes affectionately referred to as Shady Ray. In media interviews, he referred to his players as Kiddos and, when telling them what he thought they would do for a fun evening, would say they would probably be going home to "eat ice-cream and watch Spanky." Coach O was also known to good-naturedly refer to girlfriend's of his players as "Flossie Jane".
TEAM
The 1979 Cougars were ranked #1 in Texas in Class 4A, the largest classification at the time, for 11 weeks. [21] Also, they received a higher Power Rating than the 1978 Stratford High School Texas state championship team coached by legendary Texas High School head coach Oscar Cripps, a member of the Texas High School Coaches Association's Hall of Honor[21], that featured Craig James, who went on to excellent careers in college and the pros and is now a television network sportscaster. During the season (and the 1980 and 1981 seasons), when performing the practice-ending spell-out jumping jacks, the team would shout, "C - O - U - G -A - R - S, Cougars, State, Champs!" While gathering for those jumping jacks during the last practices before game day, defensive players would raise their arms over their heads to each make a circle / zero and shout to each other, "Goose Egg", announcing their intent to "pitch" another "shut-out" (a baseball reference meaning a game where the opponent does not score any points).
In 1979 members of The Little Southwest Conference were Abilene High School (Eagles), Big Spring High School (Steers), Cooper, Midland High School (Bulldogs), Robert E. Lee High (Rebels) in Midland, Odessa High School (Bronchos), Permian High School (Panthers) in Odessa, and Central High School (Bobcats) in San Angelo.[22]
Of the largest classification State Championship games since 1920, teams from The Little Southwest Conference (not including the former teams from Pampa, Texas, Borger, Lubbock and Amarillo) have played in 31 games and won 16. Teams from Permian High School have led the way, playing in 11 championship games and winning 5. [23]
The 1979 team scored 374 points and allowed only 44 points in regular play (384/57 or 14.84% for the year), shuting out Haltom City 52-0, San Angelo 35-0, Odessa 21-0, Big Spring 56-0, and Midland 35-0. They defeated a Permian High School team with 2 players who were named to the first team All-State defense by the score of 14 to 3, won the District Championship, and brought the District Bell back to Cooper. [24] [25] Unfortunately, they fell 13-10 to Lewisville High School[22] in the Bi-District game at Texas Stadium that involved several controversial calls.[23] Interestingly, in one final statewide poll of the season, taken after that game, the Cougars merely dropped to #2 and Lewisville was #8[24]. Lewisville went on to miss going to the championship game by a field goal, losing to the eventual champion Temple, Texas High School, their Center and Tailback were first team All-State offense, and they placed 2 players on the second team All-State defense. <Dave Campbell's Texas Football 1980, Summer Edition, page 206>
From the 1961 season, Cooper's first, through the 2006 season, only one team in the district, the San Angelo Central Bobcats (1966, 315/26, 8.25%), beat, or even matched, the 1979 Cougar's points allowed to points scored percentage. Also, in the same time period, only Permian High School (1979, 51 points allowed) and the 1966 Bobcats have allowed fewer points in a season. [26]
Terry Orr, Fullback and Linebacker, was a Parade Magazine High School All-American and second team All-State offense and hailed by sportswriters and University of Texas fans as "The Next Earl Campbell."[25] Terry scored the winning touchdown for the University of Texas in the 1982 Cotton Bowl against Paul "Bear" Bryant's University of Alabama Crimson Tide,[26] played eight seasons with the Washington Redskins [27], and was named to the all-decade Texas high school football team (1970s).[17] Alvin Jenkins, Tight End also played at the University of Texas and in the NFL. Greg Berry, Linebacker, was first team All-State defense, started at Texas A&M as a true freshman, and was made key stops in a game that season against a University of Georgia team featuring Herschel Walker.[28] Paul Mergenhagen (aka "Gooch"), Lineman, was second team All-state offense.[29]
Eleven players were named to the All-District Team: Orr, Jenkins, Berry, Mergenhagen, Kyle Stuard, Jay Zumwalt, Mike Howle, Kyle Ford, Ronny Houston, Steve Malpass, and John Slaughter.[30] Two seniors received athletic scholarships to Baylor University, Mergenhagen Defensive Tackle and Malpass Linebacker, two seniors received athletic scholarships to the University of Texas, Orr and Jenkins, and two seniors received athletic scholarships to Texas A&M University, Berry (Linebacker) and Stuard (Punter). Other notable seniors were Keith Pantalion, Tailback, and Dennis Robinson aka "Herc" (short for Hercules), Fullback.[31]
Jim Cook, Center, a junior letterman in 1979, received an athletic scholarship to Texas Christian University after his senior season in 1980. Lanny Dycus (deceased), also a junior letterman in 1979, was a Texas Football pre-season blue chip Quarterback for the 1980 season and received an athletic scholarship to Abilene Christian University. Ray Berry, Linebacker, a squadman in 1979 and younger brother of Greg Berry, was a Parade Magazine High School All-American after his senior season in 1981. Ray received an athletic scholarship to Baylor University, where coach Grant Teaff once described Ray as the second best Linebacker he ever coached (Mike Singletary being the first), was Sports Illustrated College Defensive Player of the week for his performance in Baylor's 1985 win over the University of Southern California Trojans in Los Angeles, California,[32] and played seven seasons for the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL.[28] Ray was inducted into the Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005 and honored as a Legend of Baylor Football during the 2006 season.[29] sophomore players Mike Stills, Rodney Jones, Oscar Riggins, and Scott Reedy contributed sufficiently to be lettermen in 1979.[33]
Before the 1979 season, the Cougars were known as the "Big Blue Crew" due to their blue uniforms. In warm-ups for the first game of the 1979 season against the Brownwood High School Lions coached by legendary coach Gordon Wood, a member of the Texas High School Coaches Association's Hall of Honor[30], the team wore the traditional blue jerseys. However, when they returned to the field to begin the game, they burst through the banner in shiny red jerseys.[34] Soon after Coach Overton left in the 1980s, Cooper returned to the blue. You can see these blue uniforms, and scenes at Shotwell Stadium, in the film about Permian High School football, ''Friday Night Lights''.
Abilene legacy & Friday Night Lights
The 1970s were the peak years of high school graduation for members of the Post World War II Baby Boom, and Cooper football was consistently a top program in Texas during those peak, and last, years of the baby boom. Dave Campbell, in his Texas Football Magazine for the 1981 season (Class of 1982), wrote in his introduction to the District 5-5A team outlook and prediction section, "Over the last 10 years, Odessa Permian and Abilene Cooper have staged one of the most intense rivalries in Texas High School Football. Last year, Permian's district title was the first step toward a state championship, but this year, an improved Cooper team plans on turning the tables."[35]
Looking back at the 1979 team and its supporting classes, Cooper may have had an opportunity to put together a string of playoff teams and carry forward an Abilene legacy by reaching and winning the state game 3 years in a row like the teams from Abilene High School in 1954, 1955, and 1956. [31] Regardless, the 1979 team and its supporting classes put together an impressive 3 year record of 24 wins, 5 loses, and 2 ties (16 - 3 - 2 in district play)[32] [33] Since the 1982 season, the opportunity to carry forward this legacy no longer exists, as more than one team from each district have gone to the playoffs and Class 5A has been split into divisions. That being said, Midland Robert E. Lee High School football teams deserve great respect for capturing the 5A state championship in 1998, 1999, and 2000. Former University of Texas and current NFL running back Cedric Benson played an important role in this accomplishment.[34]
===Gymnastics===
In the late 70s and early 80s, the team consistently finished in the top 3 in Texas.
===Swimming=
In the late 70s and early 80s, the team consistently finished near the top in District.
References==1. Oscar Henry Cooper at the Baylor University website
2. Cooper at the University of Texas website
3. [2]
4. Dave Campbell's Texas Football, Summer Edition, page 305
5. Abilene Reporter-News, May 27, 1982, "Theory of Zoo-itivity: We - MC2"
6. Abilene Reporter-News, April 23, 1982, page B1
7. [6]
8. 1994 Colonial Golf Tournament program “Colonial Suits Texans to a Tee”May 1994, page 20
9. [7]
10. [8]
11. 1994 Colonial Golf Tournament program “Colonial Suits Texans to a Tee” May 1994, page 22
12. [9]
13. Cooper Football Progam, 1981 Season
14. Dave Campbell's Texas Football Magazine, pages 111, 115
15. Dominc Rhodes at pro-football-reference.com
16. Justin Snow at pro-football-reference.com
17. Abilene Reporter News, August 1980
18. "Cougars employ films as learning tool" Abilene Reporter-News, October 14, 1982; Rich Dymond, Sports Editor
19. Abilene Reporter-New, April 29, 2004, Sandifer to be honored with Landry Award, by J. Parrott
20.
WHEREAS, When Ray Overton accepted his first teaching and coaching position in 1948, he gained more than a job, having found his life's calling; and
WHEREAS, Today, at 79 years of age, this remarkable man is still at it, teaching and inspiring kids and serving as a positive role model to students and peers alike in his job as a science teacher at MacArthur High School in Irving; and
WHEREAS, A graduate of Texas A&M University, he served with distinction in the U.S. Air Force during World War II and had intended to return to the family farm to make his career after college, but fate intervened in the form of a posting for a football coach at a school in nearby Paint Creek; and
WHEREAS, After 15 years in Paint Creek, "Coach O" accepted a job at Abilene Cooper before moving to MacArthur in the early 1980s; he is widely respected for his ability to motivate and engage students in the learning process and instill in them a love for education that continues long after they leave his classroom; and
WHEREAS, Several generations of Lone Star students are better educated and better prepared for their future because of Ray Overton, and it is a great pleasure to honor this esteemed gentleman, for whom teaching and helping teens remains the greatest reward; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
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