Buckeyes Arrive in New Orleans – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/26/1998 12:00:00 AM | Football
December 26, 1998
New Orleans, La. – %^$
NOKIA Sugar Bowl Notes Day One
%^$Coach John Cooper Update-%^$Ohio State University head coach John Cooper will miss two Sugar Bowl practices this week while attending funeral services for his mother, Mildred Cooper, who died Christmas Eve after a year-long battle with lung cancer. “My missing practice won’t affect anything regarding our preparation for the Sugar Bowl,” Cooper said during the Buckeyes’ initial workout Saturday afternoon at the Superdome. “[Defensive coordinator] Fred Pagac will run our defensive drills and [offensive coordinator] Mike Jacobs will run our offensive drills. My plans are to leave early Monday morning and be back on Tuesday.” Ms. Cooper, who was 88, lived in Orlando, Fla. She is being transported to Tennessee and will be buried in the town of Heiskell. Cooper, who attended grade school in Heiskell and high school in nearby Powell, Tenn., visited with his mother just four days ago (Dec. 22) while recruiting in the state of Florida.
%^$Cooper press conference will be Wednesday-%^$Due to his leaving New Orleans, John Cooper will not meet the press from 11 until 11:30 a.m. Monday at the Hyatt Regency. Instead, he will meet with the press Wednesday at 11 a.m.
%^$Bucks Arrive-%^$The Ohio State coaching, support and administrative staff, and their families, arrived in New Orleans at 11:35 local time off a direct charter flight from Columbus, Ohio. Members of the football team arrived on their own in time for the team’s 4 p.m. practice at the Superdome. Cooper indicated at practice that a couple of players were stranded in St. Louis and would be arriving later in the day.
%^$Cooper Quotes. . .%^$On the team’s focus- “Our focus is not a problem. I’ve always said that the best thing about this football team is its chemistry and work ethic. We don’t have to be wondering whether these guys are focused or not.”
%^$On practicing in the Superdome- “You know that I always prefer to practice on grass, but it is simply a lot more convenient practicing in the Superdome. Last year, as you know, we practiced at the New Orleans Saints facility and had to commute back and forth. I don’t think it will give us any advantage by practicing in the Superdome. It is our first time in a dome this year -Texas A&M played the Big XII championship game in a dome – so it may help us to get used to the surroundings.”
